The Hanson returneth/The Trial

[Deleted]

ooc: anyone feel free to join in here...might be fun.

ic:
S'reena sat back in her cell, which was suddenly awfully quiet. She could understand Drew's anger and disappointment; had the roles been reversed she'd feel the same. But the roles weren't, nor would they ever be reversed. She knew exactly where she'd gone wrong and she also knew she'd now be paying the price.

When she watched him leave, she could tell he was still angry; his whole posture was tense and his expression was drawn. It hurt her to see him like this, but nothing she would say or do now would help him, and it would most likely only make matters worse. Even as he walked away, she also knew she wouldn't be transferred to a starbase holding cell. ~the dangers of escape are far too great~ she mused idly, but then realised Drew may also have another reason. ~to spare me further humiliation~ she thought, as tears formed in her eyes.

Yet, she was relieved to see he was still holding the Honour Blade she'd given him for safe keeping. She knew he would do at least that for her, and it was still some form of showing honour. S'reena gazed at her left hand and tried to flex her fingers, but to her horror she couldn't even get to move them. She had been clenching her hand into a fist after the blade had cut into her palm, trying desperately to avoid someone detecting that she'd been hurt. Angrily, she wiped the tears from her face, thinking that she was showing him a further dishonour by breaking down.

The cut was still bleeding, but not as much as before, yet she refused to call for help. She wanted to suffer for her actions, and this was one way to do it, however stupid it may be in the long run. Angrily, she pulled off her tunic and using her teeth she ripped it to shreds, carefully wrapping it around her injured hand.

When she was done, she lay back on the bench and closed her eyes, wondering just how lonely her brigtime once again would be. She wondered if this was going to be a solitary confinement, but Drew hadn't ordered the forcefield to be turned opaque; something which would've prevented her from looking beyond her cell walls.

The Romulan sighed miserably as she tried to relax, wondering which JAG officer would be assigned to her, and just how bad the damage would be. She didn't want to leave the Hanson, her position and her family were all she had. The Hanson was her home. Again, the tears started to flow, and this time she let them flow freely.

[anderson]

Joan had heard the news through her information net, and hurried over to the Hanson as quickly as she could get away from the festivities. She entered the brig area to find the romulan laying on the bed behind a raised forcefield. She walked over to the guard. "Let me in there," she ordered, and the guard gave her a look. Joan remembered she was in the Roman robes instead of her uniform.

"I am Commander Joan McCormick," she said quickly, and he did as he was told.

Joan entered the cell and walked over to the woman. "Here I thought we would be doing this the other way around, me in the brig and you coming to visit," she said, and then noticed the tears. She walked over sitting carefully on the edge of the bed, finding there wasn't much to sit on.

"I'm not going anywhere," she said feeling it needed to be known. She pulled S'reena up and put her arms around her for a hug.

[Deleted]

S'reena stiffened as Joan proceeded to hug her, and quietly wondered what she'd done to deserve that. She debated pushing Joan away, as she wanted to be alone with her thoughts for now, but didn't.

Instead she proceeded to move the younger woman to arm's length to look at her. "You look...different," she commented between her sobs, "did something to your hair?" She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked away, avoiding Joan's inquisitive gaze. "Please," she said, "don't say anything and don't ask anything either. I deserve to be here, mulling over my own misery. How did you find out anyway?"

S'reena knew that Joan probably had her ways of finding things out, especially when a small ship like Hanson returned to a large base like Conqueror. "Go away," she finally said and demonstratively turned her back on Joan, "I want to be alone."

After a pause, she turned around to find Joan still sitting on the bench. "Should you not be with your mother?" S'reena querried, sighing at the woman's silent persistence, "she should be in VIP quarters, or in sickbay. She suffered quite a shock, being bereft of her attire and goggled at by Ferengi men. Not to mention being treated like a prize of some sort."

Even this did not seem to shake the younger woman, and S'reena made no further effort to shoo her away. A coughing sound drew her attention, and she saw Michael stand before the forcefield, Kahlan clutching at his pant leg and Yarna on his arm. "Commander, could I have a word alone with my wife please?" he spoke quietly.

<Joan>

Michael entered the cell as Joan left, and set the struggling Yarna down on the deck. The empathic three-year old scurried towards her mother, demanding to be lifted on top of her lap. Kahlan stayed close to her father, seemingly not wanting to have anything to do with her once again jailed mother. "How could you S'reena," Michael softly chided her, "you knew what was at stake."

"An admiral's life," S'reena answered, "and you know as well as I do that I would do it again. Had I not done it, Starfleet would now be mounting a search for her. I am accepting the full responsebility of this rescue mission, if I can call it such, and I am bearing the consequences of it too."

Michael nodded in understanding, knowing only too well that she would. She was an honourable and honest person, which was why he had fallen in love with her in the first place. "Ironic isn't it?" he spoke up, "our first meeting was here in the brig." Then he noticed her bandaged hand. "Are you injured?"

"It is nothing," S'reena countered, quickly hiding her hand behind her back. "Really, just a minor cut. I'm fine, trust me."

Michael nodded, but he would alert his chief anyway to have a look at her hand. He knew S'reena would be angry about it, but he could be just as stubborn as she was. He watched her as Yarna clung to her and S'reena uncomfortably tried to comfort her crying daughter. "She misses you, as do the triplets," he commented, then nudged Kahlan forward, "go on, go greet your mother like a good daughter."

Kahlan shuffled forward and quietly hugged her mother, then wrapped her arms around her mother more tightly. "That's more like it," Michael smiled, "unfortunately we have to go now. I'll be back later with the triplets, and I'm sure you'll have more visitors later." ~she looks lonely~ he thought, somewhat miserably, knowing how little friends she had aboard the Hanson. And with betraying everyone's trust, she was even bound to lose a few more. He gave her a long kiss, peeled Yarna away from her embrace and held out his hand to Kahlan.

"Take care of yourself," were his parting words to her. He delivered his daughters into the nanny's care then went in search of the CMO. Soon there would be the graduation ceremony, which he'd be attending also, so he had little time. He found the CMO in her office. "Doc, can I have a word with you?" he asked softly, after knocking on the door, "I believe my wife's injured...badly but she won't let me have a look at her. I understand you don't have much reason for liking nor trusting her right now...but she really could use a friend right now."

He paused, looking down at the CMO, pleading. "She's ripped her uniform top to shreds and wrapped it around her hand...would you happen to know what happened there in the cargobay? You were there...she keeps hiding her hand and insists she's fine. However, I can she she's all but fine. Please, have a look at her?"

<Brelev?>

[Deleted]

Salek was strolling down the corridor leaving out of the docking bay, where the USS Nolan had just docked for repairs and restocking. The ship has been away on a deep space assignment and this is the first time after a very long time that they see another Starfleet installation. The assignment of course was classified but that was something he had grown accustomed to. Even if it was a first such assignment for him it would not pose a problem for him to keep it under wraps as humans say. After all he was not a human... he was a Vulcan and emotions did not interfere with his judgment.

Seeing this was the first time after a while and seeing the ship just so happened to dock at Starbase Conqueror, he decided to pay a visit to an old patient. Usually he would read up on her record before stopping by for a visit so he would avoid some of those unexpected surprises as humans refer to them but this time he had no time and the ships computer was damaged and was unable to connect to the central federation information network, so he had to work without any info, but hopefully he will manage.

After a long walk around the station and bumping into a few familiar faces he finally arrived to the temporary base quarters S'reena Hope always used during the time the USS Hanson was docked with the station. He wondered if she had any more children. She always stuck him as someone who was keen on expanding her genes as much as possible to avoid her genome disappearing. But perhaps there was the possibility of her actually loving children in there too. But that was contemplation for a different time and place. He came to visit this time not analyze, determine or perform psychoanalysis on the woman.

When he finally reached officers quarters, he chimed the bell. He was hoping she was inside. He did not appreciate wasting time on tasks which he would not accomplish in the end. After he chimed again he heard someone moving towards the door and saying “Just a minute". It was an odd expression, just a minute; it never represented an actual amount of time before something would occur but merely meant that the person would be there as soon as humanly possible. Perhaps it was something he could use to write a new thesis. It has been a long time since he issued his last paper, too long. People probably no longer thought too highly of him or his work. His influence in the scientific circles was not anymore what they used to be. He was sure of that. But it could not be helped. For now Starfleet needed his expertise in different areas but perhaps in a few years or even sooner he would be able to get back to his research. Something he regarded as a more "Vulcan" occupation then the one he was in at the moment.

Just as his thoughts trailed into oblivion the door opened and revealed a humanoid form at the door...

<Tag S'reena>

[Deleted]

Yarna looked up at the tall Vulcan male standing in the doorway, a huge smile appearing on her tiny face. "Uncle Salek!" she cried, holding up her arms to the man.

A human female appeared behind the little girl, carrying an infant boy on her arms. "Greetings," she started, "I'm Polly o'Shasserra, the nanny. I'm afraid you just missed Doctor Hope."

<Salek>

Polly smiled down at the three year old. "Seems she hasn't forgotten you sir," she grinned, just as a second girl scooted by, smiling equally brightly at the newcommer.

"Mommy'll love to see you!" Kahlan smiled, but then her face fell. "Mommy's not here," she continued, glancing up at the nanny.

Polly sighed. "I'm afraid S'reena has gotten herself into quite some trouble again," she explained, then started to relay the past Hanson adventure to the ship's former CMO. "And she won't see anyone, she is telling visitors to go away, wanting to be alone." She sighed again, more deeply. "And she's a lonely woman doctor, she hasn't got many friends and her species works against her too. People don't trust her, and now she's betrayed Admiral Drew's trust too. He's just about the only person she looks up to..."

<Salek>

Yarna tugged Salek's pant leg, trying to get his attention. "You vist mommy?" she querried, as she was finally picked up. She draped her arms across his neck and planted a wet kiss on his cheek. "Please?"

<Salek>

[anderson]

Joan noticed what was going on, but she didn't want to let go. She realized S'reena hadn't pushed her away, and wondered if maybe they were getting past their first year. Then she found herself at arms length, and didn't show on her face the disappointment she felt.

"No, same old style, just different clothing," she said feeling a bit embarrassed about not changing before she came. Joan wanted to know more about what had happened on the last training mission, and it seemed her eyes did the talking for her.

"I heard from a couple of different people on where you were, but none of them could agree on the story of what happened," she said.

Joan was very stubborn, and didn't want to leave her alone, not like this. She stayed put.

Joan sighed, "Yes, I will make sure mother is fine, but you are first. Besides, knowing her, she probably wasn't too thrilled, but I doubt she was shocked too badly. Especially since some guys were paying her some attention, too bad they weren't more her type."

Joan was about to say something else when she heard the cough too finding the romulan's husband and family outside the forcefield.

"Of course, I should be checking on mom anyways. I hope things turn out, I plan on being at the trial if possible," she said and left when the forcefield was down. Joan stopped for a second.

"Don't be too hard on her, it seems she is being hard enough on herself," Joan said then continued out of the room.

[Deleted]

After the little girl appeared in front of him Salek had to look at her for a bit before he could connect her to a name. She has grown since the last time he saw her. Children he thought... they certainly grow fast. Then he mind slipped to his children... yes his children who stayed with their mother on Vulcan. They were over 4 years old already. Then he shook the picture from his mind as a human female appeared at the door.

"It is unfortunate I missed the doctor.", Salek said looking at the girl who stood before him

"I trust your mother has been looking after you well", he said to the little girl, "Speaking of her, where is the commander ", he asked directing his question at the nanny but receiving an answer from another of S’reena’s children.

After the brief explanation of the situation his trail of thoughts was once again interrupted by another child asking him if he was going to visit S'reena.

"Of course I shall visit the commander, it would be a waste of time if i would not accomplish the reason I came here for and that is not logical", he said

"Do not be concerned", he spoke to the nanny, "She will want to see me, after all i shall not allow her choice in the matter", he said

"It was convenient I got to see you all", he said to the children at the door, "You now be good and do as your nanny instructs you and I shall see if I can help your mother come back to you soon", he said as he turned on his heels and proceeded out of the doorway.

Typical he thought. He should have expected this, S'reena has always been hardheaded when it came to certain things and was never one to follow the rules. But this time she broke the limit, broke the line of tolerance and she would be lucky if they stop at a dishonorable discharge for her actions. She will be fortunate if they do not sentence her to a penal colony, he thought as he strolled through the decks of the Starbase on his way to the Hanson. He still knew his way around and it did not take him long to reach the ship. After a small formality at the airlock, due to the tightened security of a pending court-martial he finally arrived to the holding are of the USS Hanson. He greeted the guard and after a small disagreement was able to persuade him to step out side and give them some privacy.

He slowly made way towards the cell and deactivated the force field as he approached.

"Commander Hope", he said, "In trouble again I see", he commented

<Tag S'reena>

[Deleted]

S'reena woke from her brief slumber, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw who was visiting her. "Salek!" she exclaimed, managing a wry smile, "yes same old same old, but a little worse this time. Admiral Drew was very angry."

Her face fell when she recalled his expression. "And very disappointed," she added, her voice barely audible. "He said I was going to get court martialed. I understand his reasoning, and I fully accept the responsebility and consequence of my actions...but he was so...calm about it."

She motioned for Salek to sit down, wondering why she was actually talking to him, whereas she wouldn't even talk to her fellow crewmembers who'd come to visit. Perhaps it was because she knew Salek wouldn't condemn her just out of hand. "I had expected him to yell at me, but not to be so calm. I wanted him to yell at me, isn't that ironic?"

The Romulan sat up to make place for her Vulcan friend. "So what are you doing these days? Still playing spy for Starfleet?" She wanted to change the topic, wanted to hear about his adventures rather than dwell on her misery.

<Salek +anyone else wanna barge in? cadet or instructor...anyone's welcome>

[Deleted]

"For once a human has acted logically and you miss his illogical responses. But that should not strike me as odd in your case", he said

He thought that S'reena had not changed one bit. She was still the old hardheaded Romulan who once spent her days in sickbay devising ways on how to escape. And it appeared she still seemed to have her knack for avoiding issues at hand. His suspicions were confirmed when she attempted to change the subject to his past activities.

"I have spent most of my time on Earth in an office analyzing the unusual rate of reproduction on K'torian Algae", he responded

"Now let us get back to the issue at hand", he said, "I would like to offer assistance in this court-martial you are facing I just so happen to have in acquaintance a member of the JAG who could serve as your defense council... and I know he would be glad to take on your case if you are willing. I would advise you to take me up on the offer after all it can not hurt your case but could help you immensely.", he said

<Tag S'reena>

When he was done speaking, he heard a silent cough coming from somewhere behind him. The voice did not sound familiar so it was not the security guard. He rose from his seat and step into the brig. He scanned the brig with his eyes and noticed a piece of a cadet uniform appearing behind a bulkhead.

"Why don't you join us cadet", he said, "The commander here does not bite I am sure she could use some company to help her pass the time as some would say", he said calling out to the cadet

<Tag Kiara>

[Deleted]

S'reena nodded at Salek. "If you say he'll be able to help me, or she for that matter, then I'll accept," she answered, "I doubt things could go much worse for me."

The Romulan officer sighed in misery. "I know I've brought all this down on myself, and I probably deserve it, but in all those years you've known me, have I ever done anything that I personally would get better off? Have my actions not always been in favour of someone else?"

As far as she could remember, she had always acted in the best interest of other people. Yes they had endangered lives, but most often just her own. She regretted having betrayed her CO's trust, and she knew she'd do anything to regain favour with him again...in an honest way. By asking him to care for the most precious item she possessed she'd hopefully shown him that she still respected him.

"However," she finally added, "I will not plead anything else but guilty, for I am guilty of what I am accused of. I will not resort to lying, that is not my way."

Finally they were joined by a cadet, who acted as if she were an old friend. "Who are you?" S'reena snapped, "go away, I don't want any more visitors. Are you coming to gloat at me? You aren't the first, many have come before you. Go away."

She looked up at Salek, who seemed to frown down on her. "Talk to Admiral Drew," she suggested, "I want to be alone now."

[crystal]

Crystal stood briefly still, her eyes trying to pick at a particularly difficult word on the PADD she was reading. After a few seconds she managed it, her mind translating the Breen word, and adding it to the rest of the document. Her feet resumed their pacing and Crystal worked on reading the rest of the short story she was struggling through. Sheer stubbornness was the only reason she wasn't pressing the convenient button to translate the whole document to a language she could actually read at a normal pace. But then again, sheer stubbornness was the only reason she was still pacing here, rather than walking into the holding area.

“Can I help you sir?” asked an ensign, the security guard, for what must have been the fourth time. Crystal had ignored him the first few times, but he didn't seem to be taking the hint. Crystal insisted on finishing reading her sentence, before looking at the ensign.

“No thanks,” she replied. She reached the corner of the corridor and turned back the other way.

“Generally people either go into the holding area or go elsewhere. This corridor isn't the most popular of places.”

“Interesting,” Crystal said, refusing to treat the fact as if it pertained to her at all. Crystal had seen a few people go near the brig cell, but most of them didn't seem to be staying for long. At least if Crystal stayed out here S'reena couldn't be mad at her because the Romulan wouldn't know. Crystal knew eventually she was going to enter the brig, there was only so long she would be content to pace, but for the moment she could be patient. And antagonizing the security guard was taking her mind off a few other things.

“I may have to call security,” the ensign informed her.

“Why? Is this corridor off limits?”

“No, but-”

“And aren't you security yourself?”

“Yes. But I'm not supposed to leave my post, which I would have to do to escort you out of the area.”

Crystal nodded. “I see,” she said, then looked thoughtful. “Am I bothering you?” she asked.

“Yes,” the ensign managed to grind out.

“Oh. Sorry.” Crystal smiled impetuously, then dropped the smile as she started to enter the holding cell.

“I'm here to see Commander Hope,” Crystal said softly.

The Lt. nodded, and pointed at the occupied brig cell, but added “I don't think she wants to see anyone though.”

Crystal nodded back. She had expected that would be the case, but wasn't put off by it. Crystal hadn't been expecting that S'reena would be happy to see her, but Crystal knew she had to be here. Crystal walked closer by the cell, and just stood there, not saying anything, she was not sure what she would say anyway.

[Deleted]

After departing from the brig Salek made way past the security officer who gave him an unfriendly look for having to stay in the corridor for so long. After he passed him Salek made way down the corridor towards the nearest turbo lift. Tough case this was going to be... maybe. By pleading guilty she avoids the ability of presenting any actually defense but limits it merely to giving in to the mercy of the court. But no matter, he was sure the defense attorney will be able to 'cause reasonable doubt in the judges to let her slide without kicking her out of Starfleet.

But now to pay a visit to the admiral, who was in command of the Hanson. After inquiring with the computer about the location of the good admiral, Salek proceed in that direction. He had anyway some business with the admiral of his own so inquiring about the case of the commander would not be a huge alteration of his time table. After strolling to the bridge and running into a few more familiar faces, Salek arrived to the sliding door separating the office of the admiral from the corridor. He chimed the bell and waited. A few moments later he heard the word: "Enter"

After the door slid open he entered the admiral’s office and introduced himself. He was a bit foggy on the fact if he ever actually met the admiral. He suffered a mild concussion just a little over a week ago and certain parts of his memory were still foggy.

"Commander 1st Class Salek, requesting a moment of your time admiral", Salek said as he stood to attention

<Tag Drew>

[kiara]

*kiara attempted a smile regardless of the Cmdr's attitude, she would not show fear of any sorts, she did however frown at the cmdr a bit*

I'm not here to gloat or Mock *she spat back* I had heard rumors of someone being here and i had to come and see if it was true *she frowned slightly* I meant no harm by it.

<tag S'reena>

I am here because i had heard there was a romulan commander being held here, i had to find out if it was a friend of the family *she replied, noticing the cmdrs cut as she attempted to swoo her away* Is it bad? *She questioned*

<Tag S'reena>

the Cut, i noticed it when you was waving your hand for me to leave *she said in a more standard tone*

<Tag S'reena>

[Deleted]

S'reena watched Salek leave, while she waited for the cadet to respond. From the corner of her eyes she also saw Shinsei linger near the cell. For now, she ignored the Hanson's navigator and instead focused on the Trill cadet.

I'm not here to gloat or Mock *she spat back* I had heard rumors of someone being here and i had to come and see if it was true *she frowned slightly* I meant no harm by it.

"And what would those rumours be then?" S'reena retorted, while she watched Shinsei come closer. Still, she pretended not to have seen the navigator.

I am here because i had heard there was a romulan commander being held here, i had to find out if it was a friend of the family *she replied, noticing the cmdrs cut as she attempted to swoo her away* Is it bad? *She questioned*

"I am a Romulan Commander," S'reena replied fiercely, but the fierceness abrubtly disappeared as soon as she realized she might not be a commander much longer. While she hoped for the best, she still feared the worst. "However I don't think I am who you believe I may be." Then she realized the cadet had asked yet another question. "Is what bad?" she querried.

the Cut, i noticed it when you was waving your hand for me to leave *she said in a more standard tone*

S'reena quickly hid her still bleeding hand in her lap. By now she was starting to wonder why she was still bleeding, she couldn't remember ever having poisoned her own blade, especially not when small children could possibly get their hands on it. "It is nothing," she suddenly snapped.

Again her eyes fell on Shinsei. "I assume you're here to argue with me?" she querried, her eyes still ablaze with anger, "it's a wasted efford. Admiral Drew released you and I will not change my statement so that you would be punished as well."

<Sienta/Shinsei>

[crystal]

When the cadet mentioned she saw a cut, Crystal was a little surprised S'reena was injured, as she didn't remember that having happened. But S'reena obviously didn't want to talk about it, which Crystal could respect. “No, I'm not here to argue,” Crystal replied. She had realized the futility of trying to get punished for this, and she knew she should be relieved that she wasn't also being punished. But that wasn't how her brain worked. Still, she was willing to drop the subject.

“I won't even insist you talk to me,” Crystal continued. “But if you do want to, I'm here. Oh, and don't think of trying to get me to leave. It won't work.” Crystal didn't have anything she really had to do, since the Hanson was in dock there was little enough for a chief navigator to do. That was one of the advantages of not working, in, say, engineering.

Crystal glanced around the outside of the brig. *Funny how there weren't any chairs out here* she thought. *Nothing that could even be moved and serve as a chair.* Crystal decided that since she didn't want to stand the whole time, and she didn't have any plans of leaving soon, she sat down on the ground, just as she done not-so-long ago inside the actual brig cell. The advantage of sitting down, besides the fact that it was more comfortable, was that it signaled to S'reena just how serious Crystal was about staying.

While Crystal waited for S'reena to object, she glanced briefly at the cadet that was here. Crystal wasn't quite sure what the cadet was thinking, but then again, Crystal wasn't quite sure why the cadet was here in the first place, since S'reena didn't seem to know her.

<Tag S'reena, Sienta>

[Deleted]

S'reena watched with dismay as Shinsei seated herself before the cell. The cadet was still standing as the guard had not let her in. Funnily, Salek had been alowed into the cell with her, but S'reena suspected that was only because he was Vulcan, and a doctor.

The thought of a doctor still made her uneasy, and she willed the thought out of her mind. "Tell me about the graduation ceremony," she requested, "did my cadet graduate? And at what rank?" She was starting to get desperate for news about the cadets. It was bad enough that people came to visit her to either gloat or pity her, but it was worse that nobody offered her any information about the graduees.

This was the first graduation ceremony that she'd missed, and she felt miserable about it. Especially since she hadn't been there to congratulate Isis.

The Romulan officer clenched her teeth together and tried to clench her left hand into a fist. While the hand was numb it was also starting to throb agonizingly and she didn't know how much she could take. That it was still bleeding was one thing, but the agony was quite another. At times like this she regretted she wasn't a Vulcan who could just simply shut off the pain.

Aside from that, she was starting to get cold. There had been no blankets provided to her, nobody had thought about that when they'd locked her in. Her uniform top was shredded into bandages and she was now only wearing her sleeveless undershirt. She shivered involuntarily then gazed at her visitors.

"Hanson news?" she prompted them again, through still clenched teeth. She took a deep breath and tried to relax, but she was starting to see spots and the edge of her vision was starting to turn grey. She fought it, trying to focus on Shinsei and Sienta. She didn't want pity, she'd be pitied if she passed out and she didn't want that. She abhored showing such weakness. However it was unavoidable and her vision turned black.

With that, she slumped on the bench while a soft moan escaped her lips. She wasn't aware of both visitors jumping to their feet in alarm.

[Deleted]

“And then,” Drew said, “she stole the aerowing right under my noise, taking half my senior staff and a cadet with her!”

“You don’t have much luck with First Officer’s do you?” Rear Admiral KezTrek chuckled, “they always seem to commit mutiny one way or another.”

“I blame it entirely on you,” Drew laughed, “You set a bad example to the rest.”

“Me?” KezTrek repeated in mock confusion, “What did I do? I was the perfect First Officer.”

Drew really did laugh at that. It had been a stressful few days since the Hanson had returned to the Starbase. The Cadet’s had now all graduated and were busy preparing for their new assignments, and most of the crew were now enjoying some while earned shore leave on the base. That just left Drew to catch up on his ever mounting paperwork, but also to put in a call to an old friend.

“You relieved me of command and threw me in the brig on two separate occasions,” Drew reminded his former Exec.

“I had good reason on both accounts,” KezTrek retorted.

“So you say,” Drew replied.

“Yes I do say,” KezTrek answered, and then her expression turning serious she returned back to topic, “So what are you going to do about S’reena?”

Drew signed deeply, “what can I do?” he asked.

“Throw away the key to the brig,” KezTrek suggested.

“And what if I had been that hard on you Number One?” Drew asked in mock concern.

“I never sabotaged the ship and stole a shuttle to go on an unauthorised and dangerous rescue mission,” KezTrek reminded him.

“True,” Drew answered, shaking his head wearily, “at the moment, everything will rest with the court martial.”

“It’s a shame,” KezTrek reflected, “S’reena was a good officer.”

“Indeed,” Drew agreed, “she was.”

Just then, the computer alerted Drew to someone wishing to enter his ready room, Drew looked up in surprise, he wasn’t expecting anyone.

“Visitor?” KezTrek asked.

“Apparently so,” Drew replied, “I’ll call you again later.”

“Speak to you then,” KezTrek answered, as she leaned forward to close the channel on her end.

Pushing a control to deactivate his computer, Drew called out for his guest to come in.

A Vulcan male in the teal uniform of a medical officer walked into the ready room, the three golden and one black pip identified him as a senior Commander.

"Commander 1st Class Salek, requesting a moment of your time Admiral", the Commander said as he stood to attention.

“Of course Commander,” Drew said, rising from his chair to greet his guest, “what can I do for you?”

[Deleted]

"Thank you Admiral", Salek said after he and the admiral shook hands

"I must apologize for coming unannounced but the mater is... somewhat urgent and i have only just learned about it.", he said

"Commander S'reena Hope is being subjected to a court-martial if I understand it correctly?", Salek said and without waiting for a response resumed to speak

"Seeing she and I go back, I used to serve with her therefore I am obliged to provide assistance to her. One of my acquaintances will be acting as her legal council in this case against her and when he gets here I would like to have the official report of what exactly occurred on this mission and the official charges for him to study before the hearing", Salek said, "And seeing you are S’reena’s commanding officer I understand you have the reports I require", Salek said looking at Drew

<Tag Drew>

"Will this be a standard court-martial with three Justices?", Salek inquired

<Tag Drew>

"I see", he said, "I thank you for your time Admiral", Salek said as he received the information he required and as he was about to go out he turned to the admiral once more,

"Admiral", Salek called out to him, "It is a welcome sight to see humans act logically at times like these.", and he walked out of the Admiral's office

After he departed the office of the Admiral, Salek made it way to the promenade and then to a public communication terminal, he had a message to transmit.

[Deleted]

(OOC: Interesting place to have to jump in, but should be fun. Note to everyone not familiar with Bates: he's in a wheelchair)

Bates rolled himself over to a wall panel. "Computer, locate Commander S'reena Hope."

"Commander Hope is in the Brig," came the mechanistic reply.

Brig...visiting or being detained he wondered. He thought a moment, then said, "Computer, remind me where that is."

"Deck 64."

He headed towards the turbolift. As it opened, he got some looks of surprise and/or confusion from other occupants of the turbolift. Took them a moment to think of moving aside for him. As he started to turn himself around, an occupant next to him said, "Commander Bates?" He looked up into the face of his old Assistant CEO, Lieutenant Bates. "Well hello there! This is a surprise, what brings you here?"

"Vacation. Decided to visit the Hopes," he said, as he finished turning his chair.

"Have you not heard then?" Lt. Bates asked.

"Heard what? Has she been arrested?" he asked, almost knowing the answer already.

"Yes sir, she has," Lt. Bates said as the turbolift reached his deck and he worked his way to the door. "I'll let her tell you. Good seeing you again, we'll talk later!" he called over his shoulder as he left.

Noah rode the rest of the way in silence, wondering what she might have done. As he neared the Brig, he was stopped by an ensign. "Sir, I'll need to have clearance to let you pass."

"I take it you've been serving here less than a year, ensign?" Noah asked, figuring the ensign didn't recognize him.

"7 months, Commander," he responded, looking slightly puzzled at the question.

"Thought so. I'm Commander Noah Bates, the Hanson's former Chief Engineer. I had Clearance Level 9 when I served here. As far as I know it's still valid."

"Very well, sir. Continue," the ensign said, moving aside.

Noah rolled into the Brig. He stopped short of the Lieutenant on duty. "Lieutenant, where might I find Commander Hope?"

The Lt. gestured, and Noah headed over. The cell came in view just in time for Noah to see an unknown Commander in a red uniform, probably a new Instructor, a Cadet....and Commander Hope slumping over, unconscious and shivering. He rolled forward quickly. "Let me in! I can help her," he called to the Lieutenant, then tapped his commbadge. "Brig to Sickbay, medical emergency." In slight desperation, the Lt. dropped the force-field. As Bates rolled forward, he called, "Computer, activate replicator..." he glanced over at the one on the wall "79J, and replicate a heavy blanket. Transport it into my lap upon replication. Authorization Bates Alpha Nine Two," he said, hoping his codes still worked.

Fortunately they did, and it appeared in his lap. As he unfolded it, he looked to the Commander and Cadet and said, "Help me put this on her. What happened just before she blacked out?" he asked the Commander.

<Tag Shinsei, Sienta, and whoever's responding for medical>

[crystal]

Crystal's hand was already on her way to her commbadge when a wheel-chair bound man entered, and took hold of the situation. She tapped it a fraction after a second after he had tapped his, so Crystal followed up her first tap with a fast second, closing the channel.

"Help me put this on her. What happened just before she blacked out?" the man asked.

Crystal helped, as much as she could. She tried quickly to think over what had happened and to pick out what parts of it were important. “Her hand has a cut that's bleeding,” she said. S'reena had said it wasn't serious, and Crystal had believed her, or at least been willing to let the matter drop. “But I'm not sure how, or when, she got it. I didn't even see it, but the cadet did.”

Crystal glanced from Kiara to S'reena's form to this new person, trying to figure out where to go from here. Fortunately the person sent from sickbay arrived then. Crystal was too relieved that there was someone here, someone who knew what to do in this situation was here to see if she recognized them. Crystal's knowledge of first aid was severely limited by the fact that she hadn't ever been in a sickbay for long at all, and that her regular method of treating injuries was to pour cold water over them, and maybe wrap them in cloth. Then again, she had usually had to work with what she had, which had hardly been state-of-the-art technology. Crystal watched at the person from sickbay approached Commander Hope and then started to take charge of the situation.

<Tag Bates, Sienta, medical (?)>

[brelev]

Brelev had spent the day recovering from the graduation party, saying goodbye to the cadets and arranging her hibernation with the Station CMO. She was looking forward to the latter, it was getting increasingly difficult to concentrate on her work and while writing up her debreifing on the last mission and Cadet Henchard, she'd almost lapsed into the sleep cycle early.

Brelev was explaining to Michael Hope about her upcoming LOA. "So I'll just need you to hold the fort while I'm...."

=A=Brig to Sickbay, medical emergency.=A= an unfamiliar voice resounded over her Comm badge.

=A= I'll be there right away=A= Brelev grabbed the nearest medkit. "stay here Michael. I'm sorry but it's just not right for you to be there. I'll keep you posted."

She bolted out the door leaving the stunned husband behind. What had S'reena done, and why had she not been transferd to the Station?

The weelchair bound Engineer who'd left the crew when Brelev arrived weeled around, she could telll he was distressed. "She's injured." he had a hevay blanket on his lap. In the cell S'reena was passed out and shivering. Green blood wetted the floor under her hand.

"Deactivate the force field." Brelev orderd. "When did this happen?" she began to unwrwap the crude and soaked bandage from the hand.

"I'm not sure, she'd had it for awhile, I think." The security guard replied.

"You did not think to call for someone? It's infected, She's going into Neural metaphasic shock...." Brelev furrowed her brow, the pain must be emense, she might have severed nerves the infection was bad... how had she managed to hide this kind of injury for so long? "We need to act now our there will be no one to put to trial."

"Take her to Sickbay?" The security guard asked.

'NO, S'reena hates sickbay, she'd be uncontrollable there. Run, go get me her husband, don't tell him anything."

The young man left at. "Go through my kit, get me a hypospray." Brelev directed, tossing Bates her medkit. He tossed her back the instrument and she programmed it for a dose of tricordrazine. Immediatly injecting it. S'reena groaned, and the shivering began to reside. "I need a dermal regenerator."

'This?" Bates aske'd holding up a microsuture.

'No, the other one.. that's it." Brelev caught the dermal regenerator and set to work on the cut. "She'll be awake soon. I'm giving her some Rexaline..."

"S'reena!" Michael hope cried out as soon as the door opened, behind him the Security officer was struggling to keep up. "What happened?"

"Your wife was too proud to admit she was injured and almost died because of it." Brelev replied. "She's waking up, we need to give her some space. Michael, replicate her a new uniform, Commander Bates, out of the cell she needs her space."

"S'reena, can you hear me?" Brelev asked, "I know you hate taking orders, but here it is. Next time you have any sort of injury you tell someone immediatly or I'm filing a reprimend."

[Deleted]

S'reena slowly came to and glanced around a little groggily. "Brelev?" she murmured, just as the CMO's words sunk in. "Yes doctor," she replied meekly, recalling a time when a CMO cadet actually HAD filed a reprimand against her.

She gave Michael a weak smile as he returned with a dress uniform. "You'll need this. I'm sure your legal representation will arrive any time now."

S'reena furrowed her brows at the thought of the trial, recalling Salek had said a friend of his would represent her. "Yes probably," she replied, somewhat slowly as her brain was still trying to register what her senses were recording. She looked down at her left hand, the skin properly healed now, though still somewhat sore. "Thank you doctor," she continued, a little more clear-headed now as medications started to kick in.

She was surprised to see so many visitors, then spotted Bates. "Noah!" she exclaimed, her smile widening, "what are you doing here?"

By that time, Shinsei and the cadet had already exited the holding cell area, and Michael had given her a kiss before returning to sickbay, promising he'd come back later when things were quieter. So only Brelev and Bates were left as visitor, though S'reena knew Brelev wouldn't stay long. The Romulan did note that the CMO looked extremely tired.

Before Noah could respond, Salek and an unknown officer entered the holding cell area.

<Bates/Salek>

[Deleted]

(OOC: Note to Crystal: In case you weren't aware, Jason Black and I are the same person)

Noah waited patiently until S'reena saw him, thinking that a reprimand on S'reena's record wouldnt phase her that much. Finally she noticed him. "Noah!" she exclaimed, her smile widening, "what are you doing here?"

Noah chuckled slightly. "If you'll recall in my last transmission that I mentioned I'd be visiting," he said, somewhat ignoring the newcomers. They were high-ranked, but Noah hadn't seen S'reena in a year I sent a message, or at least tried to, right before I left Earth warning you of my visit. I guess it got lost along the way, or it just wasn't delivered to you. The latter is more likely, given your current circumstances," he said, looking around the holding cell. I arrived on the Starbase about 20 minutes ago. I would have arrived here a minute or two sooner, but was waylayed by a green Security Officer that didn't know me."

Figuring that the two other gentlemen were here concerning the subject of his next question, he asked more seriously. "Now, S'reena, what happened?"

[Deleted]

Figuring that the newcomer who was to be her legal representative, and who had yet had to introduce himself hadn't yet been informed about the whole story, S'reena motioned for them to find themselves a seat. Certainly, the cell was large enough to occupy them all, but she doubted that security would agree.

Already Noah had been chased out of the cell, after Brelev had finished her ministrations. Privately, S'reena wondered if the Denobulan doctor would ever thaw in her reactions toward her. ~probably not~ she mused, though it was something she could live with, she didn't like sickbays anyway.

Once Salek and the lawyer had seated themselves, S'reena took a deep breath and then began explaining how the Hanson had received orders to search for the missing USS Sutherland. The ship which had Admiral Karynn McCormick aboard. S'reena had instantly known that the admiral would've been abducted from the vessel, there had been no scan needed for that.

S'reena paused for a few seconds, letting that part of her story sink in. Then she continued to explain how she had requested permission to go after the admiral, especially after some experimental Romulan craft had showed up that was plagueing the Hanson. When Admiral Drew had denied the request, she'd been angry, feeling betrayed herself as she felt they should rescue the admiral first. THen she decided to confide in her cadet, who could've gone to Drew to inform him of her instructor's plans.

She hadn't planned on taking additional people but when Daya had tried to stop her there had been no other choice but to take him. And then Shinsei had showed up, blackmailing them. "But she will not take the fall for this," S'reena insisted, "I have conviced the admiral that I forced her to come, she's a pilot and we needed one."

S'reena told of their hunt aboard the marauder, and Shinsei being beamed out after triggering some sort of trap. Then they retrieved Shinsei and finally rescued the admiral. Upon return to the Hanson, they were all arrested.

The Romulan left out the part where he hand had nearly been sliced off due to the actions of one too eager security guard. She didn't feel any more people should be suffering because of this. Silently she promised herself she'd talk to the guard when this was all over.

"You see," she concluded, "it was a matter of honour. Mnei'sahe. I owed the admiral because she stood up for me when Romulans hijacked the Hanson. And she is the godmother of three of my children. I owed it to them to save her too. I'm really sorry about having had to betray Admiral Drew. The other charges don't mean much to me, it was a matter of honour, but having betrayed my commanding officer hurts me more than anything."

<Salek/Bates/Drew>

[Deleted]

After S'reena finished speaking, the newcomer rose from his seat to introduce himself.

"I know some time has passed since we last met commander"; he said, "But I had no idea you would forget me so soon.", "My name is Felix Savali, and am currently the sector JAG officer serving on Starbase Assaillant", he said extending his hand to S'reena

<Tag S'reena>

Salek said nothing but let the two get reacquainted.

"Cases like yours have happened several times in Starfleet history but rarely did the matters go as far as a court-martial", he said, "I believe that the only actual charge here would be the one for disobeying orders. But I do not believe we have much changes of going against that”, he said

"And if I understand correctly you will plead guilty. So the only thing I can do in this case to help is provide a closing argument and perhaps several character witnesses which could increase your position in the eyes of the court", he said

<Tag S'reena>