Revenge of the Heir

Testing and Hearing

Eric had spent two weeks setting up his research team, and they had already flown through the initial testing on small scale to see if it was possible.

The first time they had turned the rail on to simulate the scaled down weight, it had launched the small prototype through a two inch steel plate. The speed test showing it had been traveling an 2800 MPH when it went through.

"I thought I said set it to low." Eric said as he looked at it.

"It was 20 pounds at less than 100 watts sir. Apparently we streamlined the separation and angles in it to well." his design team had said when they reset the test and had trouble weighing the model down to run the test properly.

They were currently working at 200 pounds on the system, and it would move it with ease each time they ran the test. They had not even scaled above 100 watts yet for the maglev engines. Of course this was the unmanned system, as it was launching the weight in excess of 20 Gs.

He was reviewing the reports of all the companies in his battalion, when he received the orderers from a Captain from the admin office. "Sir, you are hereby ordered to Washington DC for genetic testing by the Boston District Imperial Court. Your plane departs at 1600 hours." he said handing Eric the orders.

He looked at them, and saw the hearing would be the day after he did the testing, and than would be back on his way back. He looked up the testing center, and decided to schedule his sitting for the BAR, as they had a scheduled testing two hours after he had to do the testing.

He went to his quarters, wrote a note for Holly, and slid it under her door so she would not wonder what happened. He left out why he had to go, just that he had to go.

The next morning he walked into the testing center, and pulled out an identification card he never thought he would use after he was given it. It was his identity chit from the Imperial Witness Security Service, and was the key to his claiming his real identity.

"Thank you Mr. Heinrich, if you will place both palms on the scanner." she asked as she pointed at the station for it. "Also place your head here, look into the lens here, and do not one your eyes." she finished as he did as instructed.

Both lights turned green quickly as having confirmed matches, and he knew the scan would pull up both of them.

"Identity confirmed Mr. Heinrich, if you will take a seat, the lab techs will be with you in a few moments." she said pointing to a bench he barely made it too when his name was called.

20 minutes later all 3 samples had been taken, each taking saliva, blood and hair to run every conceivable identity confirmation test they had. He knew he had nothing to worry about, as he bailed a cab to take him to the testing center.

It wasn't long after he arrived he was taken into the testing center, and handed the test so he would be able to practice law if he passed.

The next morning while he was waiting in the courthouse he was emailed the confirmation that he had indeed passed the BAR exam, and was now a licensed member eligible to practice pending his meeting with the character and fitness board that evening. He smiled as his attorney walked up, and sat down.

"I hope you are ready for this, Imperial Judges do not suffer fools." Melissa said as he looked at her.

"They also do not follow local guidelines that will allow them to remain as having standing once those results are published." Eric said as she looked at him.

She was about to respond when his Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Kevin approached with a new attorney. He had seen the notification.

"Ms. Monroe, Mr. Heinrich, we are still willing to settle before the judge rules that he is in fact not the heir." the attorney said as they sneered at him.

"My previous offer was the last and final one those two gold diggers will receive." Eric said as he looked at her.

"Yes, I was informed of that offer. I assure you we will be dealing with that issue at a later date. Desmona Pierce." she said offering her hand.

"Sorry, I do not shake hands with con artists of their attorneys. Now, if you do not mind, my attorney of record and I were having a discussion about how badly we were going to clean the floor with this suit. Tell me, does a brother have standing when a verified heir has been left everything by a Last Will and Testament? It seems I missed that question when I passed the bar yesterday." he asked her to illustrate his point. She might be able to scare some of her opponents clients, but he would not be one of them. The lack of color in her face as she realized they would likely move to add him to the legal team as well would not bode well.

"There are ways around that." she said with a smile.

"Maybe in the corrupt local courts, but I assure you the Imperial Courts are much different than you are accustomed too." Melissa said with her own smirk. They did not allow a person to reveal their identity, and she was not even dumb enough to ask.

"If you will excuse us please, we really have no desire to settle a case for any percentage greater than 1, just to make them go away. If they are ready to accept, we will draw up the papers. Contingent on them being cleared when the Imperial Investigation is finished." Eric said with a sadistic smile. He knew they would never be cleared just by the look on Kevin's face when he added that stipulation. "That's what you are afraid of? Fine, any settlement will be contingent on that stipulation. You must be cleared by an Imperial Inquiry into the matter of my parents death. Seeing as the local courts have not seen fit to perform the Inquiry after 15 years of investigation." he told them as he knew he would be able to delay any payout for years if they agreed.

"What percentage were you thinking?" Mrs. Pierce asked him.

"You should discuss that condition with your clients. It appears they know they would not be cleared by an actual inquiry. Why do you think it has taken 15 years for the Investigation?" Eric asked her as his Uncle finally tried to cover the shocked expression he had developed. He was truly afraid of an inquiry into the death of his parents as he was demanding now.

"No need, they will be cleared." she said sure of herself.

"Any payment would be contingent upon them being cleared first. After the full inquiry is completed in the Federal Courts and all evidence verified by forensic investigators. Otherwise you and your clients will take your chances with the judge, when we request those very things. I am quite happy to wait until the Inquiry into their plane crash is completed." Eric told her as he saw fear finally cross her face. What he was demanding would no longer be handled at the local level, because her own clients had called the local authority into question.

"Case of Heinrich v Estate of Heinrich, your case is now before Imperial Judge Dennis Walker." the Bailiff called into the corridor for them to enter while the last case left the room.

They walked in, and to their seats while the judge watched them. "Before I hear any motions you might have, we will get the genetic verification out of the way. In the matter of the identity of Eric Heinrich, the Respondent has been undoubtedly confirmed by all 3 companies selected by the Imperial Court. The Palm, fingerprint, and retinal scans are all perfect matches to those on file with one Eric Heinrich. As such the Petitioners are hereby sanctioned $1 million credits for this violation of court rules." Judge Walker said as each of them was handed a copy of the results from the lab. "Now, I am sure there are motions to be had. Petitioner?" he asked looking right at them.

"Your honor, we move that this now be remanded back to local trial courts. It is beyond the need for the Imperial Courts to hear a simple estate matter." Mrs. Pierce said without standing.

Eric stood at the table before he looked at the judge. "Your honor, Eric Heinrich for the Estate. The local courts have proven themselves unable to handle a simple matter as closing the estate of my parents. It has been 15 years, and to my knowledge no report from the local government exists detailing the incident that caused my parents plane to crash. Furthermore the local courts have quashed evidence previously relating to my identity and survival, in order to have me declared dead so that they would continue to have standing to access the estate of my late parents. It is for these reasons and many others we ask that the Imperial Court retain jurisdiction in order to bring this matter to a final conclusion. Furthermore the Estate would like an order by this Court to force the Transportation Board to conduct it's review at the soonest opportunity. We move that the Inquiry into their death be handled by this Court, to ensure that any who may have had a hand in their demise face justice. If it would please the court the Estate would be willing to cover any potential costs associated with these actions as well." Eric said before he sat down.

"Your honor-" Mrs Pierce said when the judge looked at her and exploded.

"I do not know what zoo you got your license in councilor, but when you address this Court you will do so while you stand in accordance with court rules. Fail to abide by them again, and you will be sanctioned personally, as well as held in contempt of court."

Mrs. Pierce stood up, clearly embarrassed by what just happened. "Your honor, Mr. Heinrich is not an attorney that can just address this Court." she said as he remained standing.

"Apologies your honor, I move that recent graduate Eric Heinrich be added to the legal team of the Estate of Steven and Joanne Heinrich. We would be glad to forward the final paperwork after my hearing before the Fitness and Character Board tonight." he said as he smiled.

"Pending final approval Eric Heinrich is added to the legal team of the Estate. Motion to return to lower courts is denied. As for the Respondent Motions, Petitioner has 72 hours to respond to all motions, as well as file a response as to why the Petitioner has standing to bring this suit." the judge ordered as he slammed his gavel.

They stood and left the courtroom, Mrs. Pierce even more afraid now, as she had been way under prepared for that encounter. Eric on the other hand seemed unphased by how brash the judge had been.

"Now that that is over, let's have some real fun. Shall we Mrs. Pierce?" Eric asked her as she was beginning to realize that she was in far over her head at this point. He had come in and blown her dream attack on this case with a bazooka.

"What do you mean real fun?" she asked him.

"That is what I could think of in two days. Now I have 3 more to figure out your next move, and how I am going to counter them." Eric said as he looked at her. "You assumed that this case would come up and you would get it thrown back down because some Judge in my Uncle's Pocket has been stringing him along for 15 years, and requested it. You failed to account for the fact that the Imperial Court rarely sceeds jurisdiction back down to the lower courts. Your clients gave me my entire dream when they challenged the results of my genetic tests, and I will ensure we play in my playground from now on." Eric told her before he laughed and walked away.