by D. J. Holmes
At once a wave of murmuring broke out among the public gallery, even one or two of the naval officers sat behind James who had come to observe the court martial broke into conversations with their neighbors.
“Silence,” Blackwood said. “If those of you who are here to observe this court martial cannot remain quiet I will have you removed.”
It took a couple of seconds, but the look on Blackwood’s face said he was serious and everyone settled down.
“Your words are highly unusual Counselor,” Blackwood said. “I must request that you take back your allegations against the Shadow Defense Secretary. This court martial has been convened to ascertain the truth concerning the allegations made against Captain Somerville, it does not concern the Shadow Defense Secretary.”
“The truth sometimes takes us in unusual places, Your Honor,” Cynthia said, her tone turning Blackwood’s title into something of disgust rather than a sign of respect, allowing those who had ears to hear to discern just how far Reynold’s influence reached. “I therefore cannot take back my words.”
“Have it your way,” Blackwood said. “You are hereby fined twenty thousand credits, and I order that your comments be stricken from the official record.”
As Cynthia sat down beside James she couldn’t help but give him a wink, “That’s how it’s done,” she said.
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to poke sleeping bears?” James whispered.
“Yes,” Cynthia said, “but that only applies to bears you don’t want to attack, we want Blackwood to show his true colors.”
“We will now hear the mission brief, as per regulations,” Blackwood said. “I call Captain Thompson to the stand.”
From behind James an officer stood and made his way to the front witness box to the left of Blackwood’s bench. As he walked past the large holo projector in the middle of the room he inserted a datachip. The projector sprung to life, displaying the Independence Colony.
“You may begin,” Blackwood said to Thompson once he was settled in the witness box.
“After covertly making his way to Haven territory as per his orders,” Thompson began gesturing to the holo projector.
James couldn’t help switching off. It was customary for court martials to begin with an independent officer walking the jury through the mission logs from the ship or ships in question. Thompson had spent the last two days memorizing all of Endeavor’s logs from the period in question and so he was able to walk the jury through every decision James made and every action Endeavour took.
James had already talked through his actions with a number of Admirals over the last few days and he had replayed them over and over in his head examining his own motives. He didn’t need to hear things again and so he drowned Thompson out and began to day dream.
He was pulled out of a very pleasant fantasy he had been having when he heard his name called out. Quickly he replayed the last few sentences that had been said in his mind to figure out what was happening. Blackwood had thanked Thompson for his detailed overview of events and then he had turned the trial over to the prosecution. They had called their first witness.
I guess that’s me, he said to himself as he jumped to his feet and made his way to the witness box.
Chapter 25 – Silent Witness
Even today, after all the skirmishes we have had with the Antari, there are many who campaign to cut our military spending and recall the fleets. They so easily forget that our history has shown that those who let down their guard quickly disappear into the history books.
-Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD
4th June 2467 AD, Admiralty House, London.
As James sat down in the witness box he stole a glance at the jury. As one the Captains averted their gaze, everyone except Captain Lightfoot. He gave James a small, almost imperceptible nod, then he too looked away. James took it as a positive sign. Lightfoot would be one to make up his own mind and if he was willing to meet James’ eye, it meant that the official report they had listened to justified James’ actions. At least to Lightfoot. His confidence disappeared when another thought hit him. If the opposition has Admiral Blackwood in their pocket, might they not have some of the jurors as well?
The voice of the prosecution attorney prevented James dwelling on his latest concern. “Now Captain Somerville,” Rodgers said as he approached the witness box. “It seems you have a lot of explaining to do. Let’s begin with the obvious, why did you attack the Indian cruiser?”
James cleared his throat and spoke his well-rehearsed line, “I have been advised by my counsel that my record and my actions will speak for themselves.”
“Really?” the prosecution attorney said. “That is surprising. So, you are not going to answer any of my questions?”
“I have been advised by my counsel that my record and my actions will speak for themselves,” James said again.
“So you have already said,” Rodgers said. “But maybe that record needs a little explaining. Let’s begin with your actions in the Haven system. Did you intentionally allow Endeavour to be detected as you approached Haven to drop off Major Johnston?”
“My record and actions speak for themselves,” James said, his anger growing.
“I think you did, in fact, I think it was your plan all along. What’s more, I think you attacked the cruiser in Independence so that word would get back to Haven that you were operating in the area. What do you think of that?” Rodgers asked.
“My record and actions speak for themselves,” James struggled to say.
“Maybe that is why you let the Indian frigate escape from Independence, so that it could return to Haven and warn the Indian fleet there. That way when you came back to the system, you would be able to engage any ships that tried to stop you completing your mission.
“What, no response?” the prosecution attorney asked.
When James glanced at Cynthia she gave him a nod. Forcing himself, James said the words everyone was expecting, “My record and my actions speak for themselves.”
“So they do Captain. Let’s consider them for a moment,” Rodgers continued. “Let’s go back to your first mission with Endeavour. You were sent to the Chester system to map out the unexplored space in that sector. How did you come to attack an Indian mining station, more than thirty light years away from your assigned station?”
Now James got really angry, the prosecution had been made fully aware of the details of his previous mission. He had been sent into Indian space to hunt down Chang. Yet it wasn’t public knowledge. The hearing he had attended at the UN Interplanetary Committee more than six months ago had made it clear that he had been searching for Chang, but unless anyone was to go back and look up the transcript of the hearing, they wouldn’t know what he was really doing in Indian space, and the prosecution attorney knew that.
“Cat got your tongue Captain? Then I will continue,” Rodgers said. “I believe you went there intentionally seeking out a confrontation with the Indians. It has been your desire all along to try to start a war with them. Your latest actions are only the tip of the iceberg. Weren’t you the one who started the war with the Chinese in the Void?”
Now James’ anger really began to boil, that was a blatant lie. Still, knowing that this was what his uncle wanted, he tried to reply as calmly as he could. “My record and actions speak for themselves.”
“And after you fought with the Vestarian fleet that had come to Haven, didn’t you take your ship to Vestar? There you openly fought and overthrew the ruling government of the planet. All without supervision or orders from the Admiralty. And then, as if that wasn’t enough. You went to Kulthar and fought two more battles with alien ships that were not your enemy. Admit it Captain, you are a bloodthirsty killer. You go out of your way to seek out wars and battles because you enjoy killing and crave the attention it gets you. You put your own ambitions and desires above those of your country and your fellow naval officers. Go on, deny it if it is not true,” Rodgers said, a smile on his face a
s he knew what James was going to say.
“My record and actions speak for themselves,” James said, head bowed in shame and anger, giving the prosecution exactly what they wanted.
“You see,” the prosecution attorney said, turning to face the jury, “Captain Somerville’s actions do speak for themselves. They speak of a bloodthirsty traitor who will ignore his orders whenever he pleases to satisfy his bloodlust.”
“Objection,” Cynthia shouted out playing her role. “The prosecution is testifying.”
“Abstained,” Blackwood said slowly. “The jury will ignore those last remarks.”
Despite being reprimanded, when he turned back to James, Rodgers had a confident smile on his face. He knew the jury would remember what he said and so he obviously thought he had won this round. Stealing a glance at the jury, James wasn’t sure why. More than one of the Captains looked visibly angry at the attorney’s behavior and accusations, Lightfoot looked furious. Maybe Fairfax and Cynthia are on to something after all, James said to his anger, allowing it to lessen.
“But his record is secondary to this court martial, it is his actions in and around Haven that we wish to focus on,” Rodgers continued. “Captain, let’s turn to the attack you made on the Indian convoy. Your direct orders were to scout out the Indian fleet positions and to deliver a marine recon team to the planet’s surface. At the time, you detected the convoy, had you completed your mission?”
This was the most difficult part for James, the rest of the charges he could easily dismiss as the opposition seeking to discredit him and his uncle. But his attack on the convoy had been rash. It had put the fleet in danger. Yet, for the sake of that same fleet he couldn’t speak up now, either to confess or to defend himself.
“My record and actions speak for themselves,” James simply said.
“That does not answer the question Captain,” Rodgers responded. “It is a simple yes or no, had you already completed your mission?”
“My record and actions speak for themselves,” James repeated, sure his words were condemning him.
“Your Honor,” the attorney said, tuning to face the bench. “I request that you compel Captain Somerville to answer my line of questioning. This is the turning point of the court martial. If Somerville had completed his order and if he knew that, then the attack on the Indian convoy was in direct disobedience to his orders and was an act of treason against the crown.”
“The prosecution is right,” Admiral Blackwood said, “Captain Somerville, I command you to answer these questions.”
James wasn’t sure what to do, he couldn’t just ignore a fleet Admiral’s command could he? That would itself be disobeying a direct order. He looked to Cynthia for advice. She had already picked up the piece of paper he had left on the table. She held it in her hand and nodded to him.
Stealing himself for Blackwood’s response, he once again said what the paper said, “My record and actions speak for themselves.”
This time Blackwood seemed unable to control his anger. “You insubordinate bastard,” he shouted. “You cannot hide behind your record; your record shows that you have been a glory hunter all of your career. Now answer the damn question or I will have you thrown out of this court.”
“As I have said,” James replied slowly, “my record and my actions speak for themselves, I do not think I requested the independent Judge of this court martial to interpret them for me,” James couldn’t help adding.
For a second a fierce look of anger flooded Blackwood’s face. James thought he was about to fulfil his earlier promise and add a charge of insubordination to his crimes. All of a sudden though, the Admiral seemed to regain control and calmed down.
Maybe he realizes he overstepped his authority, James thought, he certainly hoped everyone else would come to that conclusion.
“Are you finished with your line of questioning?” Blackwood asked the prosecution attorney.
“If this is all Captain Somerville is going to say, then yes, Your Honor,” Rodgers answered.
“And I assume you have no questions for Captain Somerville?” Blackwood asked, turning to Cynthia. “Seeing as he is not going to answer them anyway.”
“That is correct your honor, we believe his record and actions will speak for themselves,” Cynthia said with a smile as she emphasized ‘themselves.’
For another second, Blackwood’s anger appeared to swell before it dissipated. “Very well then, this court is adjourned for today, we will reconvene at 10am tomorrow.”
As they walked out of the court James couldn’t help asking, “Is this how the plan is meant to be going?”
Pulling him into a quiet alcove Cynthia peered up into James’ face with a look of compassion. “I know it is hard to just sit there Captain, especially when so many lies are flying about. You have to trust me. Think it through for yourself. The Captains on the jury are experienced Captains, they will be able to see through the prosecution’s lies. It is the public’s opinion you need to worry about. Fairfax has his own reporters in the public gallery. Within an hour, full visuals of the entire proceedings will be on the data net. The public will be wondering just what it is about your past that makes you so confident that you can rely on your record to defend you. And let me assure you, Fairfax plans to show them. You should go home Captain, relax, you have done your part. The rest is up to me. Tomorrow may be difficult for you. But by the end of the day, you will be vindicated. And if my plan comes to fruition, we may well have a little fun along the way.”
“I don’t think I will be able to relax, but I will take your advice, I don’t want to stay in the capital another second. The place is swarming with reporters.”
“I will see you tomorrow then Captain,” Cynthia said. “I have a lot of work to do, so you will have to excuse me.”
“Until tomorrow then,” James said, Cynthia simply nodded and turned and strode off down the corridor. James was left wondering just how close she was to Fairfax, she seemed to know a great deal about what he was up to.
Still, that’s out of my hands for now, James thought, at least I can go and see Suzanna.
*
Three hours later James was sitting, stroking his wife’s hair in one of Badminton House’s sitting rooms. A large fire was crackling in the fireplace. James didn’t remember the last time a fire had been lit in the summer, but Suzanna had insisted. The trees back on Haven gave off poisonous fumes when they were burnt and so she had never experienced a log fire before. Now she was basking in the heat as she snuggled up to her husband. They had already discussed the day’s proceedings. Suzanna was fully up to speed on the details, she had watched the highlights from the court martial before he had arrived home. She had been more concerned about how James was handling it.
“Let’s see what the news reports are making of everything,” Suzanna said, reaching over to power up the room’s holo projector.
“Do we have to?” James asked, already tired of thinking about it.
“Yes,” Suzanna said. “If Fairfax really does have a plan, we need to know if it is working.”
“If you insist,” James said reluctantly.
With James’ approval, Suzanna switched the holo projector on to show the broadcast from one of the British Broadcasting Cooperation’s main news channels.
“Look, it’s Admiral Cunningham,” Suzanna said.
“What is he doing on there?” James wondered. “He’s the commander of the Home Fleet, not a political commentator.
“I don’t know,” Suzanna said, “but this should be interesting, let’s listen,”
“Welcome to the show,” the presenter said to Cunningham.
“Thank you for the invitation,” Cunningham said.
“Now for those of you who don’t know, do you mind telling us a bit about yourself?” the presenter asked.
“Certainly,” Cunningham responded. “I am Admiral Keith Cunningham, Commander of the British Home Fleet.”
“And you were posted to the Home Fleet
after your victory over the Chinese fleet in the Void War weren’t you Admiral?”
“Yes,” Cunningham said.
“Captain Somerville served under you during the war?” the presenter followed up.
“He served under the late Rear Admiral Jensen first, and then both officers came under my command when my fleet was sent into the Void,” Cunningham explained.
