Judge Lorenzo R. Bradford smacked his gavel against the table and leaned forward into the microphone in front of him. “Will the defendant and his counsel rise and approach the bench?”

Cliff and his attorney stood and came around to stand before him. Travis also stood, unhooked the microphone on his table, and handed it to Cliff’s attorney.

“None of us have a lot of precedence for conducting a trial of this nature,” the judge continued, “so we shall proceed as best we know how.”

He picked up a long sheet of paper before him. “Dr. Clifford C. Cameron, you stand here today accused of the following charges: eight counts of high treason through the illegal removal of the implantations of citizens of the Alliance of Four Cities; six counts of aggravated assault; six counts of illegal manufacture, possession, and use of high explosives; three counts of illegal possession and use of dangerous weapons; four counts of conspiracy to commit treason; and one count of being an accessory to forcible abduction and kidnapping.”

He leaned back in his chair, his face grave. “Those are the charges. Do you understand them?”

Nicole saw Cliff nod, but heard no answer. “I’m sorry, Dr. Cameron, but would you speak into the microphone. Would you repeat your answer, please?”

As his attorney held the microphone up to him, Cliff’s voice boomed out over the speakers in the stadium. “Yes, your Honor, I understand the charges.”

“And how do you plead?”

“To these particular charges?”

“Of course.”

“Guilty.”

Nicole’s head jerked up as a gasp of surprise swept the stadium. “No,” she whispered.

“What was that again?” the judge said, leaning forward in his chair.

“I said guilty. I plead guilty to the charges read.”

Cliff’s attorney stepped forward and took the microphone. “Your Honor, may I speak?”

“Yes.”

“Your Honor—” He paused, evidently as stunned as everyone else. “I don’t think my client fully understands the implications of what he’s saying. He doesn’t—”

Cliff gently took the microphone back. “Your Honor, I appreciate Mr. Wingate’s concern, but I do fully understand what I am doing. The Major, in his opening address, charged me with trying to overthrow peace, introduce violence, foster crime. Now if those were the charges, I would plead not guilty and defend myself vigorously. But you said I am charged with operating on people and taking out their implantations, with using weapons and explosives,” he shot Nicole a quick glance, “in aiding and abetting in a kidnapping. To those charges I must plead guilty.”

“Well…” The judge gave the Major a searching look, pleading for help.

Cliff continued, his voice amiable and friendly. “Does there have to be a trial now? I mean, do we still need to call witnesses, argue the case, all of that?”

“Well, I—no, I mean, I guess not. If you refuse to deny your guilt, I guess we just—sentence you.”