Chapter 27 - THE TRIAL OF THE FOUNDERSThe investigation lasted fourteen months.
This time Mara refused secrecy.
Evidence was independently reviewed.
Names were released only after corroboration.
Twenty-three senior officials resigned.
Eleven officers were court-martialed.
Four defense contractors collapsed under fraud charges.
Three senators were cleared publicly after Black Tide's false records were exposed.
Admiral Keene was convicted.
He received life imprisonment.
But Thomas and Eleanor were prosecuted too.
Nathan could not understand.
“They helped us.”
Mara answered quietly:
“They also built it.”
Thomas pleaded guilty.
He admitted that good intentions had become justification, then habit, then corruption.
Eleanor accepted responsibility for illegal surveillance and unauthorized intelligence operations.
Neither asked Mara to defend them.
At sentencing, Thomas looked toward his daughter.
“I spent fifteen years telling myself I disappeared for my family.”
He shook his head.
“The truth is I disappeared because I was ashamed to face them.”
Nathan cried.
Mara did not.
Not until Thomas said:
“Claire—”
He stopped himself.
Then corrected the old childhood habit.
“Mara. You became better than what I built.”
The judge sentenced him to prison.
Eleanor received a reduced sentence for cooperation.
Outside the courthouse, reporters surrounded Mara.
“Commander! Did justice destroy your family?”
Mara stopped.
“No.”
May you like
She looked back at the courthouse.
“Secrets did.”
