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to present my own credentials, which you will find as proper as those of my colleague, Mr. Soughton. It is my pleasure to be newly posted to Earth’s consulate on Ceres as His Majesty’s Secretary for Economic, Diplomatic, and Legal Affairs. I will be representing both Captain Wofford and Mr. Soughton here today.”
    Tycho looked questioningly at Diocletia, who shrugged.
    â€œHe’s an Earthman, all right,” Huff growled. “Lots of fancy talk when plain speech would do.”
    Judge Quence gaveled for order once again, sending his wig sliding left and back into its original position. Tycho peeked back to see Huff muttering and tugging at his yellow tie.
    Threece Suud was talking again, marching back and forth at the front of the courtroom, waving his hands with each point he made.
    â€œI have rarely seen such a flagrant violation of the laws of space,” he said. “When the illegal interception was made, the Shadow Comet was commanded by a twelve-year-old boy—a minor who should have been in school, not behind the guns of a pirate ship.”
    Tycho felt his face grow hot.
    His mother was on her feet, a bright rose of color in each cheek.
    â€œYour Honor, my family has operated the Shadow Comet for two hundred and thirty-eight years. On top of everything else, I’m supposed to listen to this man tell me how to run a starship?” she demanded. “Besides, the Comet is no pirate ship, as he knows perfectly well. We are privateers operating legally on behalf of the Jovian Union, in accordance with—”
    â€œI withdraw the characterization,” Suud said airily. “But changing one word does nothing to change the facts of the case, Your Honor. Which are that—”
    BANG! went the gavel.
    â€œYour views are quite clear, Secretary Suud,” Judge Quence said. “You should know, however, that in this region of space it’s not uncommon to find young boys—and girls, too—serving aboard starships.”
    â€œPoint taken, Your Honor, however unfortunate the practice may be,” Suud said. “It grieves me to see a child’s formative years thrown away as some sort of apprentice criminal.”
    â€œCriminal?” demanded Huff, getting to his feet with a roar and ignoring both Diocletia’s hisses for him to quiet down and the sharp reports of Judge Quence’s gavel. “Tyke here is a far finer boy than any of you pampered, pretty Earthfolks! Why, if I had my laser cannon, I’d show this insolent pup what ‘criminal’ means!”
    â€œGrandfather, be quiet!” yelped Yana. “You’re going to get us into trouble!”
    Huff subsided, muttering.
    Threece Suud smiled a rather oily smile.
    â€œYour Honor, it seems appropriate to add menacing to the long list of charges pending against the Hashoone family,” he said.
    â€œDenied,” Judge Quence said. “It was so noisy in here I couldn’t hear exactly what was said. But I’ll have no further outbursts in this courtroom. Is that understood, Huff?”
    Huff muttered something that Judge Quence chose to interpret as a yes.
    â€œMr. Soughton, stand up, please,” the judge said.
    Soughton got to his feet, arms folded.
    â€œYour Honor, I will speak on behalf of—” began Suud.
    WHAM!
    â€œSecretary Suud, first you speak when I am addressing Master Hashoone, and now you speak when I am talking to Mr. Soughton,” Judge Quence said. “Please get control of whatever identity crisis it is that you are having. Now then, Mr. Soughton, how many years have you been with Earth’s diplomatic service?”
    Suud tugged at the larger man’s jacket and whispered something in his ear.
    â€œAbout three weeks, sir,” Soughton said.
    â€œYou may address me as Your Honor,” Judge Quence said. “Before your three weeks of service, Mr. Soughton, how long was your diplomatic training?”
    â€œYour Honor,