“So what? My father is the Vice Chair of the Council. They aren’t going to convict me,” Del’Tarim replied with supreme arrogance.
Junon thought he was sadly mistaken. “Then nothing I do will matter, will it? I’ll do your friends a favor though and not call them to the stand so they won’t have to perjure themselves.” And with that he went back into the court room with Del’Tarim seething behind him.
The vice admiral looked at him. “Are you done, Commander Junon?”
“Yes, Ma’am, thank you. I have no questions for the witness.”
Reylenth looked at him in surprise. “Very well, the witness is excused.”
“The prosecution calls General Crineal,” Illyat said.
Del’Tarim felt a surge of cruel satisfaction as Crineal hobbled into the court room to the witness stand. Junon winced. An injured and decorated war hero as a witness, you couldn’t ask for better.
When Crineal had been sworn in, the Lt. Commander addressed him. “General, thank you for making yourself available today despite your injuries. Now, could you please relate the events of the sixth of this month to the court?”
“Certainly, Lt. Commander. I arrived back at my quarters to find that my assigned recreation assistant, Cyndora, was in a state of distress. I asked her what was wrong and she told me that she had been assaulted by an officer whilst returning to my quarters. She said that he had threatened her life if she didn’t let him in the following morning. I asked her to describe the officer and from what she told me I believed the officer to be Commander Del’Tarim.”
“Then what did you do, Sir?”
“I called Colonel Jaynes as head of security. I believed that any attempt to breach a senior officer’s private quarters was a matter of the utmost seriousness and should not be taken lightly. I told her of the incident involving my assistant but did not name the officer I suspected it to be. Colonel Jaynes agreed that this would be a most serious breach of ship’s security if it were true and agreed to attend my quarters the following morning with a security team.”
“I see. And in the morning?” Illyat prompted.
“Colonel Jaynes and two other marines arrived as agreed at oh seven hundred hours and we had breakfast. I then placed a call to the two officers I was due to meet at oh nine hundred and explained to them that I would be detained but asked them to enter my office and wait for me there. Then at just a little after oh nine hundred, the door comm buzzed and my assistant answered it. A man’s voice ordered her to let him in. The colonel and a marine joined me inside my bedroom to wait whilst the second marine concealed himself in the kitchen area, in case Cyndora was in need of immediate protection. The door comm to the bedroom was active and we could hear the man threaten Cyndora and then the door to my quarters opening. I heard booted footsteps enter, the door closing and the man utter more threats. At that point I opened the bedroom door and the three of us entered the lounge area to find Commander Del’Tarim standing there with a key card in his hand.”
“I’d like to play the court a recording, if I may?” Reylenth nodded her assent.
Illyat picked up her data pad and Del’Tarim’s voice filled the court room, uttering threats.
“Was that what you heard from your door comm, General?”
“Yes, Lt. Commander, it is.”
“Thank you, General. I would like to enter the recording as evidence, if it pleases the court.”
Reylenth glanced at her fellow judges. “The court will accept the recording.”
“Thank you, Your Honor. General Crineal, do you know why Commander Del’Tarim might want to assault and rape your assistant?”
Junon stood. “Objection, your Honor. That would be speculation.” It wasn’t much, he thought, but he had to try.
Reylenth agreed. “Objection sustained.”
Illyat was quick on her feet though. “General, could you tell the court where you first met Commander Del’Tarim?”
“It was in Flight Bay Alpha Ten. I had just finished a combat patrol in which my squadron had taken casualties and heavy damage in the defense of this carrier. As per Local Flight Regulations I left my craft before completing the post-flight checks I would normally carry out so I could go and check on my injured pilots. Before I could leave the bay Commander Del’Tarim ordered me over and began to verbally abuse me in front of the entire flight bay for not completing the checks. He didn’t ask for my rank until some way into his tirade.”
“I see. And what did you do?”
“I told him who I was and suggested that he needed to read the local flight regulations. And that when he had done so, he should report to my office the following morning.”
“And how did that meeting go?”
“I asked the commander if he had read the regulations. He said he had and apologized. I suggested that it might be wise to acquaint himself with the local procedures to avoid any repetition of the unfortunate incident. Then I dismissed him.”
Illyat put on a look of amazement. “I see. Didn’t you press charges against Commander Del’Tarim for his behavior or threaten to do so, at least?”
Crineal shook his head. “No, Lt. Commander. It was the commander’s first day and everyone makes mistakes. I thought that I should go easy on him in light of the stress he was under.”
“That was most forbearing of you, Sir. No further questions.”
Reylenth looked over to Junon. “Commander? Your witness.”
“No questions, Your Honor.”
The vice admiral looked at him silently for a moment before dismissing Crineal.
“The prosecution calls Colonel Jaynes,” Illyat said.
The tall, scarred marine colonel took the stand. “Colonel Jaynes, would you relate to the court the events of the sixth and seventh of this month, please?” Illyat asked.
“Certainly, Lt. Commander. On the evening of the sixth I received a call from General Crineal explaining that his assistant had been approached and threatened by an unidentified officer in an attempt to gain access to his quarters for the following morning. He said he felt that this was a serious threat to the security of the ship if someone thought they could gain access to senior officers’ private quarters. I concurred. He requested that I arrive at his quarters at oh seven hundred to await events.”
“And the following morning?” Illyat nudged.
“I arrived at the general’s quarters at oh seven hundred with two marines and placed two security holo recorders, one either side of the door, before entering. The general’s assistant served us breakfast and we waited. At just gone oh nine hundred the door comm activated and a male voice demanded to be allowed entry.”
“Colonel, is this what you heard?” Illyat played the colonel the same recording she had played Crineal.
“Yes, Lt. Commander.”
“Please continue, Colonel Jaynes.”
“I placed one marine in the kitchen area for the assistant’s safety. I, and the other marine, joined General Crineal to wait inside the bedroom. Once we heard the man enter the room we came out to apprehend him.”
“And the man was Commander Del’Tarim?” Illyat asked.
“It was,” Jaynes said, looking at the commander.
“And did he have an explanation for his presence?”
“He said that the general’s assistant had invited him there.”
Illyat adopted a look of surprise “Really? And in light of the threats you had just heard, did that seem likely to you?”
“No, not at all.”
“And how did he explain his gaining access to the general’s quarters?”
“He was holding a key card. He said that he’d found it outside the door and thought it might be illegal. A few minutes later he claimed instead he thought the key card might belong to the general or his assistant.”
“And is this the key card you took from the commander?” Illyat took a bag containing the gray card over to the colonel who examined the identifying seal on the bag.
“Yes, that
’s my identifying evidence seal.”
“If it pleases the court I’d like to have the key card admitted as evidence,” requested Illyat.
Reylenth nodded to the clerk. “The card is accepted.”
“And what did you do with the card, Colonel?”
“I took it from the commander and ran it through a diagnostics pad. It showed to be an illegal uncoded key card.”
Illyat addressed the panel. “The prosecution has entered the diagnostic readout as evidence item fifteen.” The three judges studied the information on their data pads. “I would like to play the court the recordings from the devices that the colonel had placed outside the general’s quarters, if I may?”
Reylenth waved her permission and Illyat started the playback. The recordings showed Del’Tarim approach the door, check the corridor, activate the comm panel, threaten Cyndora and finally take the key card from his pocket and use it to open the door before disappearing from view. Junon watched the whole thing in a state of depression; so much for ‘finding’ the key card.
“Colonel, is that the recording you took from your device?” Illyat asked.
“It is.”
“And did you see any signs that the commander picked the key card up from outside of the general’s door as he claimed?’
“None at all. He clearly took it from his pocket.”
“Thank you, Colonel Jaynes. I have no further questions. I request that the court accept the recording to be admitted as evidence.”
“So accepted,” Reylenth said. “Commander, your witness.”
Junon stood again. “No questions, Your Honor.”
“Colonel, you are excused,” the vice admiral said.
Illyat rose once more. “The prosecution rests its case, Your Honor.”
The vice admiral turned to Junon. “Commander, would the defense like to make an opening statement now?”
He stood up. “Thank you, Ma’am, but the defense wishes to decline to make a statement.”
Reylenth looked more than a little surprised. “Very well, then you may call your first witness.”
Junon looked straight ahead. “Ma’am, the defense declines to call any witnesses.”
Everybody in the room stirred at this, even Illyat looked taken aback. Reylenth fixed him with a stern gaze. “Commander, I was under the impression that the defense had entered a plea of Not Guilty?”
“Yes, Ma’am. That is what I was instructed to do by my client.”
“But you have hardly cross examined the prosecution witnesses and failed to bring any of your own forward to support your case?”
“Yes, Ma’am. I believe that any cross examination would have not furthered my client’s case nor would any witnesses I might call. Therefore, to protect my client’s interests, the defense rests.” Junon could not have made a plainer statement to the court that Del’Tarim was as guilty as hell.
“Very well. Lt. Commander, would you like to make a final statement?”
Illyat rose and, to Junon’s relief, kept it brief, but then he thought that she hardly needed to work at it.
“Your Honor, the prosecution believes that it has shown that Commander Del’Tarim is guilty of the offenses he is charged with and requests that the maximum sentence be applied.”
The vice admiral nodded. “Thank you, Lt. Commander. Commander Junon, would you like to make a final statement?”
Junon stood. “Your Honor, my client states that he is innocent of the charges set before this court.” There wasn’t much else he could say.
“The court will now retire to consider its verdict,” Reylenth said, and she and her fellow judges rose and left the room.
They were gone less than thirty minutes. Everyone stood as they reentered the court room. Standing next Junon, Del’Tarim looked completely unconcerned. He knew that his father would have paid off the judges and they would acquit him.
Vice Admiral Reylenth spoke. “Commander Del’Tarim, having heard the charges and listened to the evidence against you, this court unanimously finds you guilty on all charges. Do you have anything to say?”
Del’Tarim stood there open-mouthed and unbelieving, as he tried to comprehend Reylenth’s words. Junon carried out his final act for the defense.
“Your Honor, the defense asks that leniency be shown in your sentence in light of the officer’s past record.”
Reylenth nodded at him. “Thank you, Commander. The court will adjourn until tomorrow morning to consider its sentence.”
The following day the court reassembled, but with the addition of Crineal and Cyndora as observers.
Junon sat by Del’Tarim’s side once more as Reylenth opened the final proceedings. This morning Del’Tarim just looked uncomprehending as to what was happening to him.
“Commander Del’Tarim, having been found guilty on all charges, this court notes that the appropriate punishment for the crime of illegally accessing a flag rank officer’s quarters is death by firing squad. However, the members of this court received a petition from General Crineal.” Junon became alert as this was hardly usual and he couldn’t imagine General Crineal saying anything nice about Del’Tarim. Maybe he’d asked for him to be boiled in oil or something. “The general suggested that the commander had perhaps suffered a mental lapse due to stress and that the court might find a way to show leniency.” Junon couldn’t have been more surprised if the Emperor himself had appeared. Del’Tarim looked equally amazed as well. “In light of this extraordinary request this court finds as follows: That Commander Del’Tarim will be immediately stripped of all military rank and privileges. He will then be transported to Dalgon VI on the first available transport where he will serve a term of seven years. In view of the evidence submitted to this court and the circumstances of the case, no appeal will be permitted. The prisoner will be allowed to apply for parole after one year of his sentence. This application will be heard by General Crineal. If the general is not available to hear the application then it will be automatically rejected and the prisoner will serve the remainder of his sentence. This court is dismissed.”
Junon sat there as Del’Tarim was led shambling away in total shock. So, he thought, General Crineal was the ruthless bastard everyone said he was. Seven years on Dalgon VI. Shooting Del’Tarim would have been kinder.
Chapter Fourteen
Admiral Ken’Rathel watched as Crineal sipped his tea. Cyndora sat at the general’s side looking nervous at being in the admiral’s office.
“Well, General, I have to say that was as fine a piece of maneuvering as I have seen. Del’Tarim gets to live at your whim and you buy yourself a year free from the vengeance of Del’Herat. What do you plan to do once that year is up? If you grant Del’Tarim parole, then his father is free to act against you. If you decline it, then there’s no reason for him not to act against you. His son is as good as dead, anyway.”
“I’m sure that the conditions of Del’Tarim’s parole will buy me some more time… in fact I think they might buy me a lot more time.” Crineal smiled at his superior.
Ken’Rathel steepled his hands together. “And if Del’Tarim doesn’t survive Dalgon VI?”
Crineal shrugged. “It’s a chance I’m willing to take with him.” The admiral chuckled.
Cyndora looked between the two of them in confusion. “I don’t understand. What’s Dalgon VI?”
“It’s the Empire’s harshest military penal colony. We reserve it for the worst of the worst. The longest anyone has survived there is four years,” Crineal replied.
“Oh, I thought that the short prison sentence meant that he was getting off lightly.”
The admiral shook his head. “No, young lady. Even one year there will likely make a wreck out of him. Seven years is a long, slow death sentence.” He turned back to Crineal. “Leave finishes tomorrow and we go back on full duty. I thought we’d run an outer system sweep to see if we could find anything. Also, we’re due to get our replacement pilots tomorrow. Would you mind giving them the usual welcome
speech? I know that you’re not officially off the sick roster until the day after…”
“I think I can manage that, Admiral. I might have to do it sitting down though.”
“Good, I’ll leave the pilot allocations to you. We’re expecting the probe information back in the next few days. I’ll let you know as soon as we have it.” Ken’Rathel looked thoughtful. “Why don’t you assign Hera the first patrol on the sweep?’
“But, Sir, I won’t be flight approved by then,” Crineal protested.
“Exactly. It will extend your non-flying time a little and give Major Strieger some practice at leading a squadron.” Crineal looked rebellious, but nodded his acquiescence. “That’s settled. Now all I need to do is find a new Alpha Flight Bay commander,” he grumbled good naturedly. “General, all you do is cause me problems.”
“That’s what Doctor Marrash says, too,” Crineal replied with a little shrug. “In fact, I’m heading to med bay next to improve his day.”
“Very well, General, I wouldn’t want to deprive the good doctor of your company. I’ll let you know when I get those reports in. Dismissed.”
Crineal’s visit to medical took longer than expected as he had to ease out of his uniform to get the bandages removed and then back into it afterwards. Doctor Marrash gave him clearance to begin light duty in two days and then shooed him out of the bay. Crineal was relieved to get back to his quarters and sit down. It had been a long couple of days with his injuries. Cyndora fetched him a nice, cool glass of soda.
“Thanks, Cyndy,” he said after taking a gulp. “At least that’s one problem out of the way for the moment. You’re protected, too, you know? Del’Herat will know that if anything happens to you, his son will be staying on Dalgon VI.” Cyndora nodded. “And tomorrow I get to see what kind of replacements we get.” She looked at him sympathetically, knowing how much the loss of the Ares pilots had hurt him.
“Crin? Can I get some new nightwear please? My current pjs are just too warm.” She knew she had his permission to get what she needed, but she liked to ask first.
Crineal Chronicles 1: In Hera's Service Page 23
