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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2006 21:03:20 GMT
S'reena narrowed her eyes and suddenly it dawned on her. "Ah yes I remember you!" she finally exclaimed, flashing a grin at both men, "you served as first officer in my stead for a while, when someone thought it'd be nice to accuse me of spying for no apparent reason. Well other than me being who I am: Romulan."
She remembered Felix Savali well, but she'd lost track of him when he left the Hanson. "So you're the sector JAG officer huh?" At Felix' nod, she smiled again. "Then I'm in good hands. Trial's set for tomorrow isn't it? I heard something like that on the ship's galah session."
At Felix nod, she nodded in return. "Michael'll bring my dress uniform by later this evening. Should I wear every ornament I've ever received or is it better to leave them off?" She didn't really want to wear them, but on the other hand it would show that she'd served honourably enough to have received some.
"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," Felix cut in.
Again, S'reena nodded. "Well Michael would gladly testify on my behalf, and I have no doubt Noah Bates will do so too. I'm even fairly positive that Admiral McCormick will. Drew would probably not be such a good idea, even though it won't do me any harm to ask him. I have served with a variety of officers who know me very well. Some still serve on the Hanson, others have transferred. Perhaps Admiral Keztrek will testify on my behalf. All as character witnesses of course. As my lawyer, I doubt you could put yourself on the stand. However, I do want to be put on the stand too."
She wondered how many people would step up to speak on her behalf, and she hoped she wouldn't be disappointed. She didn't have that many friends. A slight cough caught her attention and she smiled. "Of course...Salek would you say something on my behalf? You have served with me too....surely I wasn't that bad a first officer? Despite shirking physicals that is."
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2006 10:10:39 GMT
OOC:
In the interests of wrapping this up quicker, I am going to speed forward a while. This post takes place halfway through S’reena’s hearing, Drew has been called forward to give evidence.
Let us presume he is one of the last witnesses, and that S’reena’s closing statements will follow, then the sentence.
My apologises as well for the sudden disappearance, blasted internet connection.
ON:
“I was then informed my Operations Officer that the aerowing had been launched without authorisation,” Drew finished, after explaining the events leading up to S’reena leaving the Hanson.
“At this point, did you know who was aboard the aerowing?” the prosecuting officer asked. The Senior Justice looked up in interest at this question, and watched Drew carefully, as did his fellow justices. There were three JAG Justices in total, sat along a bench in the middle of the room; on either side were two tables, one used for the defence, and the other the prosecution. Drew was currently stood in the middle of the room giving his evidence.
“Several members of my senior staff were uncounted for,” Drew replied, “despite my calling all senior staff to the bridge.”
“And Commander Hope failed to report?” the prosecution officer inquired.
“That is correct,” Drew replied, “it soon became clear that Commander Hope was aboard the aerowing, attempting a rescue mission.”
“Had you given orders for such a mission?”
“No,” Drew answer, looking across at S’reena who at this moment couldn’t look at Drew.
“What orders did you issue to the Commander?”
“I established a comm channel and ordered her twice to return to the Hanson, there was no response.”
“So she disobeyed your direct orders?”
“Yes,” Drew replied.
The Prosecution Officer nodded at Drew’s answer, and walked slowly around the room, making eye contact with various people. Finally he turned back to face Drew.
“The Hanson was facing two hostile vessels, is that correct Admiral?” “It is yes,” Drew answered, “we were facing a Ferengi Marauder class cruiser, and a Romulan Shadow Class cruiser.”
“So you were outnumbered and outgunned,” the Prosecution Officer carried, “and it was Commander Hope, not you, who first opened fire against the Ferengi.”
“That is correct,” Drew agreed.
“And this then placed the Hanson in a combat situation, one in which it is unlikely it would have survived.”
“We had established a defence against the Shadow Class’s main weapon,” Drew explained, “but we would not have been able to withstand an assault from both vessels, and recover the aerowing.”
“Thank you Admiral,” the Prosecution Officer said, “I have no further questions Your Honours.”
OOC:
I pass the torch on to the accused and her defence…
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2006 11:26:55 GMT
Felix was sitting on his seat carefully listening to the statement admiral was giving to the prosecution attorney. As usual, they were only interested to show the downsides of the event. After the prosecution was finished Felix rose to his feet to question the witness.
"Admiral"; Felix started, "How long have you served with the accused?"; he asked
<Tag Drew>
"I see", Felix said
"And during that time how many times has she endangered the lives of the crew and the cadets?", he asked
<Tag Drew>
"In your own opinion, Admiral, what would have happened if Admiral McCormick was not rescued.", he asked, "Would the damage of loosing a highly rank Starfleet Admiral cause a lot more damage to Starfleet than this unauthorized rescue mission has done?", he asked
<Tag Drew>
"Admiral has anyone who has been involved in this rescue mission been killed?", Felix asked
<Tag Drew>
"And would you report to the court what was the final outcome of the mission, and how many casualties there were?", he asked
<Tag Drew>
"Now admiral, what exactly stopped the Ferengi from destroying your vessel?", he asked
<Tag Drew>
"I see"; Felix said
"One last question Admiral", Felix asked, "If we do not take the last mission in consideration how would you evaluate cmdr. Hope as an officer and as your second in command?", Felix asked
<Tag Drew>
"No further questions", Felix said as he sat down
After Admiral Drew stepped down, the court asked for the next witness.
"The defense calls Commander 1st Class S'reena Hope to the stand", Felix said
After the usual proceedings about telling the truth and the usual formalities, S'reena was ready to testify.
"Cmdr. Hope", Felix said, "Would you tell the court what happened in your own words", Felix said
<Tag S'reena>
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2006 18:13:03 GMT
ooc: apologies for the late response...I was unable to post yesterday.
Again, S'reena recounted her version of the events, exactly as they had happened and without omitting any information. Except the part where Shinsei had blackmailed her in order to actually come along and not be left behind. S'reena still was of the opinion that besides herself and Drew, nobody needed to know.
"But we did not fire on the Marauder until we got fired upon and thanks to quick thinking of now Ensign Isis, we were able to disable the Marauder's weapon's systems and impulse engines," she added, "and Aerowing sensor logs will show that they were disabled."
<Felix>
"Yes I fired on the Hanson," she admitted, "but only at the tractorbeam emitter to get the Aerowing released."
<Felix>
"Well," S'reena started, then hesitated, "I owe the admiral a great deal, including my life. I felt it was my duty to go after her to rescue her from the Ferengi."
<Felix>
"I know I am prone to making rash decisions," she answered truthfully, "but it is always to save lives, not consciously to endanger them. I would sooner endanger my own life, than put others unnecessarily at risk."
<Felix>
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2006 20:56:43 GMT
“I see", Felix said,” Please let the record state that we are submitting the Aerowing's sensor logs as evidence to confirm the statement given by Cmdr. Hope", Felix said as one of his assistants brought forwards the pad with the sensor logs, "What happened next", he asked the Commander “I see", he said, "And why did you fire on the Hanson?", he asked "And you felt going against your current orders was the only way to get the Admiral back?", he asked "Thank you commander", Felix said After the judge released Cmdr. Hope from the witness stand it was time to call on the next witness... --Several hours later-- After the rest of the witnesses for the defense were questioned it was time for the prosecution to give its closing statement. <Tag Drew> After the prosecution was finished it was time for Felix to give his closing statement. "Ladies and gentlemen of the tribunal", he said to the 3 judges presiding in the courtroom "Today we have witnessed an attempt to lynch an officer, who did nothing more than attempt to save her friend, a Starfleet Flag Officer, Admiral McCormick from the Ferengi. Now sure she disobeyed her orders, but she has already pleaded guilty on that accusation, and that was not something the prosecution had to prove here today.", he resumed "However even tough she broke her orders, no one was killed because of her actions, no one was injured and she rescued a Starfleet Flag Admiral, whose loss would be a major blow to both Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets. Sure, she could have chosen a better way to do it, could have appealed to her commanding officer more, but let me ask you this. How many of us would not do the same as her when faced with the same situation. How many of us would not go to any lengths to rescue our friend and mentor, our role model, the person who has helped us numerous times and who has defended us against false accusations and discrimination? I ask you how many would not do the same in her position?", he said "But let us face the reality, what she has done, she has done and she has decided to plead guilty in her trial, this should tell you something. She not only rescued the admiral but decided to face the consequences after the act. She decided to protect those who accompanied her and decided to take the full responsibility for the rescue mission as a responsible officer. She not only demonstrated her command ability but she also demonstrated that she possesses the responsibility to be a commander. She did not hide behind false statements, she decided to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth."; he said "Now I ask you does this person deserve to be expelled from Starfleet. Does this person deserve to be imprisoned for 20 years? I say she does not deserve it! She is a hero and a responsible officer and she is a friend like every one of us in this room would give everything he has to have! Now I say again, do not allow Starfleet to loose such an officer just to prove a point, yes she deserves a punishment for disobeying orders, but she does not deserve to be expelled from Starfleet nor does she deserve to be locked away. I rest my case now and call upon the mercy of the court and the objectivity of the tribunal to see past those words, disobeyed orders.", Felix said as he finished and sat down <Tag Drew> Off: Well time to wrap it up
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2006 11:21:59 GMT
OOC:
My apologises for taking so long with this, I have been all over the place recently.
ON:
The trial finished, the three JAG Justices announced that they would be retiring to consider their decision, and that the court would reconvene in two hours.
Drew watched as S’reena and Captain Savali discussed in whispers the progress of the trial. Drew did feel sorry for his First Officer, she looked incredibly worried, and when she was led out of the court to return to her holding cell, he could see she was fearful of what might happen.
Sighing deeply, Drew also left the court, and made his way back to the Hanson. He disliked spending too much time on the Starbase at the moment, and much preferred being back on his ship. There he did not have to put up with the stares and whispers.
It seemed he had hardly been back on the Hanson anytime at all when someone contacted over the comm system to let him know the Justices were ready to give their decision. Straightening his uniform, he briskly walked back over to the court room.
When he arrived, he was surprised to see that S’reena was already present, the Romulan XO still looked worried, but thankfully soon they would all know the decision.
Taking his seat, Drew watched as the lead Justice, a Commodore Shipley stood up, holding a padd out infront of her.
“Commander First Class S’reena Hope, it is the decision of this court that you are guilty of breaking the chain of command, disobeying direct orders, stealing a Federation shuttle craft, and launching an unauthorised mission that endangered not only yourself, but also your colleagues.”
S’reena hung her head in her shame.
“However,” Commodore Shipley continued, “we have taken into account that your actions did save the life of Admiral Karynn McCormick, and for that reason we have decided not to grant you a discharge.”
Drew and S’reena both exchanged shock glances, it seemed things might not be as bad as expected.
“Instead, it is our decision that you be demoted in rank to Commander,” Shipley said, “and your movements aboard the Hanson will be restricted, you will be unable to leave the ship without the direct permission of Admiral Drew, nor will you be able to authorise the launch of shuttle craft from the ship.”
The punishment read out, the Commodore walked over to S’reena and removed the black Commander First Class pip from her collar, leaving S’reena with just three golden pips.
“The court now stands adjourned,” Commodore Shipley said, as she and the other two Justices left the room. “Well Commander, I guess I will be seeing you later on the Hanson,” Drew said walking over to his Exec, “I would like a ship status report on my desk by tomorrow morning.”
“Yes sir,” S’reena replied, “I will have it on your desk first thing.”
“Good,” Drew answered, hiding his smile as he left the court room, “very good.”
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