Chapter 76 – Battle Lines
May 2, 2014 – Friday – 6:57 AM
Pearson Hardman – Logan Moore's Office
Logan's phone vibrated nonstop.
CNN, Fox News, Politico, the New York Post, the Washington Times they all had a new headline about him.
"Logan Moore, former DOD employee, accused of violating confidentiality protocol."
"Anonymous whistleblower may have ties to radical political groups, sources say."
"Atlas case may be a calculated ploy by internal government adversaries."
Rachel walked in, holding a stack of newspapers and her tablet with notifications open.
"Logan… this is escalating fast. They're distorting everything."
Logan picked up one of the newspapers and read the headline calmly. Beneath the sensational headline, an unconfirmed quote:
"Sources say Moore is acting personally motivated after disagreements with federal agencies."
"They're following the playbook," Logan said. "First they try to silence us. When they can't, they try to smear us."
Rachel sat across from him.
"The DOJ hasn't taken a position yet. But the DOD..."
"...has already filed a request for dismissal," Logan added. "For 'risk to national security.' I received the notification this morning at five this morning. They want to use section 42-F of the Military Intelligence Protection Code."
Rachel was silent for a few seconds.
"If this is accepted..."
"It buries the case. And turns the whistleblower into a target. And me into a traitor."
Logan stood up.
"Let's get ahead of ourselves."
9:12 AM – Strategy Room – Pearson Hardman
Jessica, Harvey, Louis, Rachel, Mike, and Logan were gathered. On the screen, the official Department of Defense petition:
Formal Request for Dismissal of Report due to imminent risk to national security, pursuant to section 42-F.
Jessica read aloud:
"The contents of the complaint, if made public, could compromise active intelligence operations and put American lives at risk." The language was generic and weaponized.
Harvey closed the folder.
"This isn't protection. It's censorship."
Logan stood firm.
"They don't want to protect the country. They want to cover their tracks."
Rachel commented:
"And they're using the media to create the 'context.' The whistleblower was linked today to a peaceful environmental protest group. They're trying to turn him into an extremist."
Mike added:
"And you, Logan, have become 'disillusioned with the government.'"
Jessica crossed her arms.
"Shall we contest the dismissal?"
Logan nodded.
"With everything we have."
"And if it's denied?"
Logan glared at everyone.
"Then the truth will come out... by other means."
11:30 AM – Office of Attorney General Mariana Wells – DOJ
Logan sat across from Mariana, his defense in hand.
"They're using an emergency clause to cover up a crime. That can't be allowed."
Mariana read the document. Then she took a deep breath.
"Logan, you know that, technically, they have legal backing. That's exactly what the clause is for. If any part of the complaint is deemed sensitive enough—"
"Mariana," Logan interrupted firmly, "that clause wasn't designed for the execution of innocent civilians with no criminal record. There's no national threat. There's no terrorist cell. What exists is institutional shame."
She stared at him. Finally, she nodded.
"I'll schedule a special hearing. Face-to-face. Before a federal judge. If you can prove that maintaining secrecy does more harm than good… you can win."
Logan squeezed her hand gratefully.
"I'll prove it."
1:45 PM – Whistleblower's Safe Haven
Logan arrived at a remote property, discreetly rented through the firm. "A." the whistleblower was there, calmer but still anxious.
"They're painting me as a terrorist, Logan. My parents are being persecuted. My bank account was frozen last night."
"You're safe here," Logan replied. "And we'll legally shield you. We're already preparing your immunity letter."
"They'll destroy you too."
"They'll try. But I'm used to it."
A. was silent for a moment.
"Are you going to continue anyway?"
"Until the end."
4:30 PM – Logan's Office
Rachel entered with an envelope.
"Official letter from the federal court. The hearing on the dismissal will be in five days. Judge assigned: Eliot Stone."
Logan looked up.
"Stone is known for being conservative, but impartial." "Do you think he'll allow the case to proceed?"
Logan replied without hesitation:
"If he hears the truth, he will."
8:55 PM – Live Interview – CNN, Special Program
Logan was invited to a primetime interview. Against all odds, he accepted.
The anchor, Charlotte Greaves, began:
"Good evening, Dr. Moore. Many know you as a disciplined lawyer, a former DOD consultant, and now, the man at the center of the most controversial case of the year. Are you a traitor, as your critics claim?"
Logan looked directly into the camera.
"If you defend the Constitution, protect the lives of innocent people and reporting crimes committed in the name of secret contracts is treason... then I am.
"You were accused of acting out of revenge. What is your real motivation?"
"Justice. And memory. Because the three dead in this case were not terrorists. They were not armed. They were not in hiding. They were living. And now... they are dead. By order of someone who hides behind silence and power."
The interview lasted 12 minutes. But it spread in less than two hours.
On Twitter, the hashtag #MooreVsMáquina topped the trending topics. In Congress, representatives began asking the Pentagon for clarification.
11:40 PM – Logan's Apartment
Rachel sent a message:
"The truth is beginning to speak. And it has your voice."
Logan turned off the light.
He looked at the sleeping city.
Then he spoke quietly, to himself:
"You can attack. You can lie. But you cannot undo what I have already started."
Chapter 77 – The Court of Silence
May 7, 2014 – Wednesday – 8:59 AM
Federal Court for the Southern District of New York – Courtroom 9A
It was as if the entire world were compressed within the cold walls of that courtroom. The case at hand wasn't just about a private company or three deaths in distant countries. It was about the line between power and responsibility, between national security and veiled impunity.
Logan Moore, in a dark gray suit and navy tie, entered the room with a firm stance. He carried only a folder and the conviction that the truth could not be shelved.
Beside him were Rachel Zane, with the supporting material, and Mariana Wells, from the Attorney General's Office, who had chosen to officially support the prosecution's continuation.
On the other side of the room were two lawyers from the Department of Defense: Robert Langdon, an experienced, cutting former NSA consultant, and Elaine Ferris, an expert in institutional security. Both had the demeanor of someone who knew the system was, in theory, stacked in their favor.
In the center of the courtroom sat Judge Eliot Stone, 63, a former military judge known for his strict textualism. His light gray eyes scanned the documents unhurriedly.
He tapped his gavel gently.
"Session commenced. Today's case concerns the request to dismiss, due to national security risk, a formal complaint filed by attorney Logan Moore against the company Atlas Guardian, with alleged implications involving federal government departments."
Silence.
"Mr. Langdon, Ms. Ferris," the judge said, "the DOD maintains that Moore's complaint compromises active intelligence protocols. Do you wish to present your arguments?"
Langdon stood with the confidence of someone who knows every comma of the exception legislation.
"Your Honor, the content of the complaint exceeds the legal limits of what can be discussed in open court." The information exposed by the whistleblower and Attorney Moore puts ongoing operations at risk, as well as field agents, who could be compromised if details are made public.
"Is there material evidence that the operations are still active?" Stone asked.
"These documents are classified. But under Section 42-F, the mere presumed risk is grounds for dismissal," Elaine Ferris said.
The judge made a brief note.
"Mr. Moore, your response."
9:28 AM – Logan's floor
Logan stood, walked to the center of the courtroom, and looked directly at the judge.
"Your Honor, Section 42-F exists to protect actual counterintelligence operations. But in this case, it is being used as a shield for impunity."
He handed a set of documents to the clerk, who took them to the judge.
"These are the death certificates, independent forensic records, analyses of ties to extremist groups, and international criminal background checks for each of the three victims."
"And what do they show?" the judge asked.
"That none of them had any involvement with terrorist cells, militias, or illegal organizations. They were civilians. Executed without due process, without a warrant, without an investigation—under verbal pretext and without documentation."
Langdon stood.
"Objection, this argument presupposes access to records that may be incomplete or—"
"You may object later," the judge cut in. "Continue, Mr. Moore."
Logan looked at the judge. His eyes didn't twitch.
"This complaint doesn't threaten national security. It threatens the structure of silencing that has grown under the guise of security. Allowing this filing is saying that any citizen can be executed, as long as someone whispers 'national security' in the right ear."
Silence in the room.
9:47 AM – Cross-Examination
The judge allowed Langdon to question Logan.
Langdon walked slowly.
"Mr. Moore, you used to work for the Department of Defense, correct?"
"Yes."
"You had access to classified information?"
"Limited. Not related to this case."
"But you understand the risk a leak could pose."
"I understand the risk of using that risk as an excuse to kill innocent people."
Langdon smiled.
"Do you consider yourself more qualified than the DOD directors to determine what constitutes a threat?"
"No. But I consider myself qualified to determine what constitutes a crime."
The judge took notes silently. The reporters took notes. The audience, composed of analysts, legal experts, and NGO representatives, watched in absolute silence.
Federal Attorney Mariana Wells requested to speak.
"Your Honor, the Attorney General's Office has reviewed the documents submitted by Moore. The evidence shows abuse of contractual authority, executions without legal authorization, and manipulation of mission reports. We ask that the court keep the complaint active to ensure the integrity of the proceedings and the right to justice."
Langdon stood impatiently.
"This jeopardizes international relations!"
Logan immediately countered:
"This isn't about diplomacy. These are three people killed without trial. There is no doctrine that justifies this."
11:15 AM – The Judge Speaks
Judge Stone requested silence and then spoke.
"The court recognizes the sensitivity of the case. It recognizes the value of Section 42-F. But it also recognizes that the principle of justice cannot be overcome by fear."
He leafed through the documents slowly.
"The DOD presented generic risk arguments, but without objective evidence that the complaint, in itself, compromises active operations. In contrast, Moore's documents are concrete, traceable, verifiable."
Pause.
"This court denies the motion to dismiss."
The silence was broken by a collective whisper in the room.
"The complaint continues, and will be processed in full. The State will respond."
Langdon sank in his chair. Logan closed his eyes for a second.
12:10 PM – Court Exit
As he was leaving, reporters surrounded Logan.
"What do you have to say after blocking the filing?"
"The DOD can appeal. Are you prepared?"
"Are you afraid for your safety now?"
Logan stopped. He looked at the cameras.
"Justice does not remain silent. Nor does it retreat. And today it chose to walk."
He got into the car with Rachel.
She looked at him. And said:
"You started this. And now no one can stop you."
Logan replied firmly:
"You don't need to. The truth is already walking on its own."
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