Deborah Strange
an excerpt

“The pirate vessel in question appeared on the fringes of our planetary sector not two days later,” Sarita continued. “Since your disappearance, we’ve been recieving news of attacks daily. It seems there was an even larger number of pirates in Lo’s fleet than we had guessed. That coded message was more catastrophic than even Lucy had believed.”

Deborah frowned again at the mention of the former Prime Minister. Both Sarita and the bounty hunter were watching her closely.

“I’m sure you’re aware,” said Deborah slowly, “that I never pleaded guilty to sending that message. I don’t even understand the code it was sent with.”

“And that,” said Sarita, glancing at Staci, “is where the story gets interesting.”

“Excuse me?”

“There are some,” said the bounty hunter, speaking up for the first time, “who were more... hesitant to believe that you were involved in the scandal.”

Deborah’s mouth fell open in shock.

“The situation is certainly suspicious,” Sarita said. “Your personal passcodes must have been used to authorize sending a message that great a distance. All other members of your crew could be accounted for at the time the message was sent, except you. And yet...”

“Impartial judgement of the crime seems to reveal a lack of motive on your part,” said Staci. “You must have known you would be caught. Surely you would have chosen a better time, a time when not all of your crew members could be accounted for, to make your move? Surely you would have provided for yourself an alibi?”

“You are an intelligent person,” said Sarita. “To be frank, we have to wonder why, if you were going to commit a crime, you went about it so badly.”

“The more we looked at it the more it seemed as though you’d been framed,” said Staci.

“You believe me?” said Deborah, shocked.

“Not entirely,” said Sarita, and Deborah’s heart plummeted. “We can’t be certain. This is all a theory, after all. I’ve only spoken about this with Staci - my office is already weak enough as it is, I can’t afford to make any questionable moves. But our suspicions are strong enough that we, collectively, have come up with an offer.”

“An offer?” said Deborah.

“For redemption,” said Staci, nodding.

“What do you mean?”

“This room is sound proof,” said Sarita. “The cameras do not pick up sound. No one will ever find out what is said between us here. Do you understand?” Deborah nodded.

“I would like to be able to pardon you,” said Sarita. “I would like to. The Allied Fleet is not the same without your leadership, and in current times it is all the more important to have a strong army. The pirates are starting to press on the borders, harder than before. Weak as the fleet is after being shaken by your departure, we’ve been finding it difficult to get a hold on them. They're beginning to become a real threat.”

“I don’t understand,” Deborah said slowly.

“He’s powerful enough to hold back the Allied Fleet,” Staci said. “But there’s a chance for a small team to slip through his defenses. One or two people might be able to board his control ship and take out his fighters from the inside.”

“I’m still not sure what you want from me,” Deborah said.

“Think about it,” said Sarita. “One or two people.”

Deborah’s eyes darted to Staci. “The bounty hunter?”

“Exactly,” said the Prime Minister. “Do you see? I would like to pardon you, but I can’t be sure that you weren’t involved in sending that message. At last, we have a chance to stop the invaders; I find myself in need of a pilot, and here I have the greatest pilot in the galaxy. In flying this mission, you could prove yourself innocent..."