Chapter Twenty-Five
~ January 19h, 2268 ~
"Commander Spence, do you wish to cross-examine?" Admiral Margolan asked.
"Yes sir. Most definitely."
Walking to the witness chair in a deliberately unhurried manner, Commander Spence looked placidly at Jenetta and said, "Ensign, I think it would benefit the court to hear all the events— in the order they occurred. Would you tell us, in your own words, everything that happened from the time you awoke on the Hokyuu with the alarms sounding to abandon ship, until you were arrested at the Higgins Base Hospital. Take your time and don't skip any details, however small."
"I object most strenuously, Admiral," Commander Pierce said, jumping up from his seat. "This could take weeks and we don't have time to listen to ridiculous tall tales, fabrications, equivocations, and prevarications."
"Objection overruled. Commander Pierce, in this court I decide what we have, or do not have time for. As for it being a tall tale, fabrication, equivocation, or prevarication, you will have the right to object to anything that you feel is immaterial or inaccurate, and you have the right to re-cross at the end of the defendant's testimony. Proceed, Ensign."
So Jenetta began recounting her story once again, in minute detail. Her testimony took sixteen long days, owing mainly to seemingly constant objections from Commander Pierce that required Jenetta to repeatedly relate key points concerning her attacks on the Raider destroyer and cruiser, and the escape from the detention center. Then another six days were exhausted with his additional cross-examination. The court had ordered Lt. Commander Spence to have Jenetta skip over testimony regarding her meeting with Commander Pretorious near the cargo-bay detention area, and she was restricted from even mentioning it, but there was little else that wasn't covered in excruciating detail. When Jenetta recounted events of her attacks on the Raider warships, the Vordoth bridge logs played on monitors in the courtroom. And when she told of the Raider base destruction, the image logs from the Prometheus displayed.
Pierce next questioned Kanes and the members of his intelligence section, then rested the prosecution's case.
Spence then called Doctor Rebecca Erikson, Lieutenant Gloria Sabella, and Lieutenant Charles Moresby to testify about events aboard the Vordoth. Gunny Rondell and Crewman Browne were called to testify about their trip in the space tug, the escape, and the taking of the Prometheus; and Captain Yates was called to testify about the escape and the taking of the Chiron. Commander Pierce seemed to grow angrier and more belligerent as each witness extolled the conduct of Ensign Carver.
Lt. Commander Michaels was the last defense witness to be called. Under cross-examination, Pierce grilled him about his knowledge of Jenetta's rank and when he learned that she was really just an ensign.
"Commander Michaels, you first met Ensign Carver on the day that you escaped from the Raider detention center. Is that correct?"
"Not precisely, sir."
"Oh? Well, then when did you first meet her?"
"I first met Ensign Carver on the day that she rescued me and forty-nine others from the detention center."
"I see," Commander Pierce said, scowling slightly at the correction. "And what was your understanding of her rank?"
"She identified herself as Captain Jenetta Carver."
"And you accepted that?"
"After three months of suffering at the hands of the sadistic guards in the Raider detention center, I would have accepted her as God if it got me out of there."
"Yes, I quite understand, Commander. And you agreed to follow her orders if she released you?"
"Yes sir."
"And you were present when she callously shot down Captain Starnos and his first mate, and then ordered them locked up again to await their cruel fate?"
"Uh— yes sir, I was present when the incident occurred."
"And you followed her orders because you feared that she would shoot you down as well?"
"No sir. I had given my word. Unlike Starnos, I keep it."
"But you believed that she held the rank of captain in Space Command?"
"No, sir."
"No?"
"She appeared much too young to be a captain, sir. Although I separated from the service a couple of years ago, I was reasonably sure that I would have heard if such a young looking officer had attained even Lt. Commander rank. But— Gunny Rondell and Crewman Browne called her ‘Captain' and immediately followed what-ever orders she gave, without question or hesitation. When we rendezvoused with the Vordoth, the entire crew of the freighter referred to her only as ‘Captain' and also followed her orders without question. And all of the Nordakian officers called her ‘Captain' and also did whatever she asked of them. Furthermore, she has a Space Command ring that shows her to be a graduate of the NHSA class of ‘56, so it was— I suppose— possible that she had reached the rank of captain. I guess that I came to accept her rank as genuine because of the overwhelming corroboration by— everyone around me. And I very quickly came to respect her abilities and judgment."
"But she didn't reveal to you that she was actually only an SC ensign until ten days before arriving at Higgins?"
"Yes sir."
"Thank you. No further questions."
"I have a couple of more questions for the witness," Lt. Commander Spence said, standing. "Commander Michaels, when you did learn of Ensign Carver's Space Command rank, what did you do?"
"I, uh," Lt. Commander Michaels took a deep breath and sighed. Looking clearly embarrassed, he answered quickly, "I was so upset that I jumped up, spilling a mug of coffee on myself."
The courtroom erupted in laughter and the Admiral admonished them, citing the seriousness of the charges.
"No, I mean did you try to take control of the ship?"
"No sir."
"Why not? You found yourself taking orders from a young female officer, very junior to your own former Space Command rank?"
"To me, she was still Captain Carver. I had promised to follow her orders until we reached a Space Command base, and my word is my bond."
"But you would have tried to take control at that point if the ship was in danger?"
"Uh— no sir, I wouldn't have. Knowing Ensign Carver as I did by then, I can't imagine that I could have done any better, so I would have followed whatever orders she gave. And besides, if I had tried to seize control, every other person on that ship would have voted to throw me out an airlock."
"The rest of the ship's personnel respected her?"
"Respected her?" Lt. Commander Michaels echoed, his voice rising substantially in pitch. "That would be a gross understatement. Sir, in my twenty years in Space Command, I never saw such unfeigned respect afforded to any captain, or even any admiral. She had saved every last one of them from death or worse, and they knew it. I've heard some of the Vordoth crew call her the Ice Queen, but that's strictly a reference to her professional demeanor on the bridge during combat operations. They all knew of her competence, her compassion, her personal warmth, and her genuine concern for their safety and wellbeing. They would have done anything that she asked of them. Anything!"
"Thank you, Commander, that's all."
Lt. Commander Spence turned away, then turned back.
"Oh, one last thing, Commander. Did you concur with Ensign Carver's action when she temporarily incapacitated Captain Starnos and his first mate with a stun pistol?"
"Absolutely. If she had let him go off on his own, he might have destroyed all our chances for escape. We were deep in the bowels of a Raider stronghold with 18,000 Raiders between us and freedom. A second escape party doubled the likelihood someone would be detected. Once an alarm sounded, the station would go on alert and be locked down. Nobody would have gotten out."
"That's all, Commander, thank you. Admiral, the defense rests."
Jenetta locked eyes with Lt. Commander Michaels and gave him a hint of a smile as he stepped down and passed the defense table on his way to the back of the courtroom.
"Commande
r Pierce," Admiral Margolan said, "do you have any rebuttal witnesses to call?"
"No sir."
"Then you may begin your closing arguments, gentlemen. Commander Pierce?"
Commander Pierce stood and approached the jury. "Ladies and Gentlemen, you've sat here patiently, day after day, and listened to witnesses laud the virtues of Ensign Carver. She has apparently made a great many friends during the past few months. But this case isn't about friendship, it's about the rules that form the basis for our service. Ensign Carver has repeatedly chosen to disregard those rules and we cannot allow this to become an example that others will imitate.
"Rather than proceeding directly to this base when she had the opportunity, she willfully chose to remain away. That constitutes desertion according to the regulations that all Space Command officers, noncoms, and enlisted personnel live by.
"She blatantly impersonated a superior officer by wearing the rank insignia of a Captain, and while she may never have stated it outright, she certainly allowed people to believe that it was her official rank by virtue of Space Command appointment.
"She appropriated private property, and then caused it to be destroyed when she intentionally detonated an explosive device of incredible power inside the Raider space station.
"By her direct actions, she is responsible for the deaths of 18,231 citizens. It makes no matter what their occupation; they were alive before Ensign Carver caused their deaths inside the spaceport. She was acting independently, and with-out authorization, when she carried out this mass execution.
"Lastly, this— this— Ice Queen— willfully tortured three fettered prisoners on the bridge of a Space Command vessel, in plain sight of others. This can not be tolerated in this day and age.
"You must find her guilty of all charges, so that others won't consider following her example by ignoring the military regulations that we in Space Command live by. Thank you."
"Commander Spence?" the admiral said.
"Yes sir, I'm ready."
Lt. Commander Spence stood and approached the jury. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for your patience with this case. It's not the usual type of case that's heard in this courtroom. In fact, it's not the usual type of case that's heard in any courtroom. Why do you think that is? I think it's because cases like this are not usually prosecuted. When someone displays the courage, strength, and intelligence that Ensign Carver has exhibited, they're hailed as heroes, and parades are given in their honor. They aren't shackled hand and foot and thrown into a dark, tiny prison cell, left to wonder and worry in solitude about their fate, as has been done to Ensign Carver since she was taken into custody.
"Let's examine each of the charges carefully. First, Desertion. There is simply no basis for this charge. Ensign Carver was the victim of an explosion aboard a ship soon after she graduated from the Academy. She was just beginning her career when, all of a sudden, she's flung out into space and lost." Lt. Commander Spence paused for effect. "She was extremely lucky to be found and awakened ten years and eight months later, and has since that time been trying to get to a Space Command base. Every witness that has testified has spoken of her intense desire to return to Space Command. There was never any intention on her part to either leave Space Command originally, or remain away one minute longer than necessary. Her deviations were for good and valid reasons and strictly followed the oath that she took when becoming a Space Command officer.
"Second, Impersonating a Superior Officer. Again, there is no basis for this charge. Ensign Carver was asked to take command of the Vordoth. She didn't demand, or even request, to become its captain. And the uniforms she wore, which were not even Space Command issue, were altered without her consent, by a second-in-command who felt that the insignia of rank was appropriate aboard a freighter to help the crew identify with her new position. You've all had an opportunity to examine the uniforms, marked as defense exhibits C through F, and seen that the buttons are clearly stamped with the merchant services logo. When she referred to herself as captain, it was as the Captain of the Vordoth, and later of the Prometheus. In the detention center, it was necessary for her to quickly gain the acceptance and support of the captives if she was to successfully lead them to freedom and safety. She never said that ‘Captain' was a Space Command rank, and she was the legitimate Captain of the Vordoth at that time.
"Third, Appropriation of Private Property without Space Command Authority. There isn't any basis for this charge because Ensign Carver was the duly recognized Captain of the Vordoth. By accepting the temporary position of Captain, she accepted responsibility for the assets of the freighter company, and was duly authorized on that basis under Galactic Law to use the assets as she saw fit to preserve and protect the remaining assets. The freight company has not pursued any legal remedies, indicating that they are happy with the situation, and in fact most appreciative of Ensign Carver's assistance in saving the ship, crew, and most of the cargo.
"Fourth, The Murder of 18,231 Galactic Citizens. These were not galactic citizens; they were Raiders. They were murderers— rapists— drug dealers— slavers— thieves— and criminals of every sort. In a word, scum. If any Space Command ship had encountered them, its captain would not have hesitated to blow them out of existence. Ensign Carver simply saved the Space Command lives that might have been lost in future encounters and engagements with these Raiders and their fifty-four destroyed warships.
"Fifth and last, Torturing a Prisoner. Ensign Carver had just minutes to get the Prometheus moving or all on board would be lost. They desperately needed the lockout command override-code, and she got it in the only way possible. She only used the same shock techniques that had been repeatedly used on her and the others in the detention center, and stopped as soon as the senior officer supplied the code. There was no lasting damage to any of the Raider officers. And you heard Lt. Commander Michaels clearly state that the nickname Ice Queen was used as a sign of utmost respect, not disparagement, as Commander Pierce would have you believe.
"Ensign Carver deserves to be acquitted of all charges, and she deserves the respect and gratitude of all the citizens of the Galactic Alliance for what she has accomplished. It's an incontrovertible fact that there has not been a single attack by a Raider ship in this entire deca-sector of space since the spaceport was destroyed four months ago. We can thank Ensign Carver for that. I ask that you do what is right and just, and acquit her of all charges. Thank you."
As Lt. Commander Spence returned to his seat, you could hear the soft tread of his shoes on the carpeted deck. Not a single sound came from the gallery. They seemed to have stopped breathing.
After Admiral Margolan had given instructions to the jurors, and they had filed out, he addressed the courtroom. "Ladies and Gentlemen, the proceedings are in recess until the jury reaches its decision."
Everyone in the courtroom rose as the Admiral left. Jenetta turned to Lt. Commander Spence and said, "Whatever the outcome, thank you, Commander."
"It's been my honor, Ensign. I mean that, just as I meant everything that I said in my closing arguments. I don't know how long it will take the jury to reach a decision, but Lt. Marlo and I will meet you back here when they return."
Jenetta was escorted back to her cell to await the verdict. She hadn't worn the restraints since the Admiral had ordered them removed, but her four guards were never more than an arm's length away whenever she was outside the courtroom or the cell.
* * *
Chapter Twenty-Six
~ February 13th, 2268 ~
Jenetta paced nervously around her cell for three days before being informed the jury had reached a decision. After changing into her dress uniform, she was escorted to the courtroom. Lt. Commander Spence and Lieutenant Marlo were already waiting.
"Three days for their deliberations," Jenetta said as she took her seat. "Is that good or bad, Commander?"
"Impossible to say, Ensign. I've seen the verdict go both ways in that time."
Before Jenetta could say
anything else, Admiral Margolan entered the court from his chambers door. Everyone rose to their feet until he had climbed to the bench and taken his seat. After the usual taps on the chime, signifying that the court was in session, the Admiral told the chief petty officer to bring the jury in.
When they were seated, Admiral Margolan said to the jury, "Ladies and Gentlemen, have you reached a verdict?"
The captain who had led the way into the room, stood and said, "We have, sir."
Jenetta, Lt. Commander Spence, and Lieutenant Marlo stood up and came to attention. Jenetta was so scared that she had to clench her teeth to keep them from chattering, and remind herself to breathe. Lt. Commander Spence, aware of her anxiety, reached down and held her right hand. His simple action seemed to have the desired calming effect.
"Please read your decisions," Admiral Margolan said.
The captain depressed the power button on a holo-tube and began reading from the display as the first page emerged along the length of the viewer. "To the first charge, Desertion, we find the defendant, Ensign Jenetta Carver, not guilty.
"To the second charge, Impersonating a Superior Officer, we find the defendant, Ensign Jenetta Carver, not guilty.
"To the third charge, Appropriation of Private Property without Space Command Authority, we find the defendant, Ensign Jenetta Carver, not guilty.
"To the fourth charge, The Murder of 18,231 Galactic Citizens, we find the defendant, Ensign Jenetta Carver…" The captain paused as his eyes left the display and traveled to Jenetta's face before he announced, "…not guilty."
That had been the big one, and Jenetta squeezed Lt. Commander Spence's hand tightly and let out a sigh of relief but remained at attention.
Returning his eyes to the holo-tube, the captain said, "To the fifth charge, Torturing a Prisoner, we find the defendant, Ensign Jenetta Carver, not guilty."
The captain switched off the holo-tube and handed it to the chief petty officer before retaking his seat. The chief petty officer then carried it to the Admiral.
A Galaxy Unknown Page 37
