MSNPC RAdm Elizabeth Aubrey - Verdict

[Derek Walter]

((Court Room - Starbase 104))  

Admiral Aubrey regarded the courtroom with her iron-grey eyes. Though she found Commander Skepus' style to lack a certain amount of polish, she kept her face stoic enough to impress the most reserved Vulcan. She absorbed the information, filtering out the bravado. Skepus would be good in front of a jury, quite good, but this was no circus of public opinion. There was only one member of the audience that mattered, and the Admiral didn't care for theatrics. The facts spoke above all, and so far Skepus had gotten onto a few threads that were starting to cast some doubt on Captain Rajel's actions. Was it enough to damn her in light of decades of jurisprudence exonerating captains for actions far more catastrophic? That would remain to be seen. 

The current witness, a Commander Foster, was no stranger to these proceedings and it was refreshing to the cynical admiral to hear raw truth from someone on the stand instead of a filtered, coached set of answers. 

Skepus: I recognize that, Commander. :: He shrugged. :: I even said something similar, though with less flourish, earlier in the proceedings. Perhaps you weren’t in the room. The fact of the matter is that the actions of Fleet Captain Rajel trigged the calamity on Xatrac City, and also altered the balance of power not just on that planet but potentially for the quadrant and beyond. Those actions are inexcusable. The Federation must hold its own accountable in these tragic scenarios, not only because it is just, but because it is right.

Foster: Well, that, I suppose is not for either you nor I to decide, but the court.  ::He shrugged, meeting the Vulcan’s gaze straight on, unyielding.::

Skepus: :: to the judge :: No further questions, Your Honor.

Aubrey simply inclined her head toward Foster.

Aubrey: You may step down, Commander Foster. The court thanks you for your candour. Please remain close at hand in case you are recalled as a witness. 

Any: response

Aubrey: Commander Maddox? 

Maddox: I have one more witness; Commander Maxwell Traenor. He has joined the crew in Captain Rajel’s absence and with him, I would like to introduce new evidence. ::looking between Aubrey and Skepus:: Before I proceed. I want it on record that three separate Starbase 104 engineering and science teams have reviewed the findings and concur that they are authentic and accurate.

Aubrey nodded. This kind of eleventh-hour evidence was not unheard of. And Aubrey herself had signed off on the Commander's involvement in searching for any evidence that may have been missed. It was, after all, in the interest of justice to have all the facts. 

Maddox: Here are the original, undoctored orders for the USS Constitution-B’s mission to Zeltin IV. It shows that Captain Rajel was ordered to negotiate trade. Commander Traenor, can you walk us through how you and Ensign Foley uncovered this as well as walk us through the details of the document?

Aubrey raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected that kind of evidence to have been uncovered. 

Traenor: The metadata obscuration protocols and packet traffic trace details are appendicized in the presentation to the court. I can elaborate on the technicalities if required, but otherwise will condense our findings. On Stardate 239706.01, on the orders of Commander Maddox and with the authorization of the court, Ensign Chip Foley and I completed a thorough parse of related mission communication logs embedded in the USS Constitution's computer core. File size metadata inconsistencies, elaborated in Appendix I, between Starfleet Command and the Constitution were noted. Following the packet data routing outlined in Appendix II, it was found that the communication files in question were altered on Stardate 239704.26. 

Aubrey was not an engineer or data scientist, but she was following along with Commander Traenor's description easily enough to understand. 

Traenor: Despite having a skilled decrypter in Ensign Foley giving me assistance, the terminal point metadata had been expertly obscured. We were able to ascertain that the alteration had occurred from someplace within Starfleet Headquarters, but no further. The instigator of the comm log alterations had sufficiently covered their tracks. That is, except for one small overlooked packet regarding travel distances to Zeltion IV. Once we were able to parse that metadata, it gave us the key to unlock the altered metadata on the rest of the communication logs at question. We were able to not only unlock the original orders as they were received, but were able to pinpoint the terminal responsible for the alterations, and narrow it all down to one individual, thanks to that one overlooked message.

Skepus: Your Honor, I–  … This is highly irregular!

Aubrey looked at Skepus. There was no legal footing to stand on for an objection. 

Aubrey: Defence' prerogative to enter new evidence, Mister Skepus, as you well know. I agree that the scope of this new entry is significant, but it is irrefutably verified in its integrity. Carry on, Commander Maddox. 

Any: response

Maddox: And with whom did this document originate? How high up the chain of command are they?

Traenor: The key document, which allowed us to verify the alterations of all other listed comm documents, originated from the terminal of Lieutenant Dolen, personal adjunct of Admiral Fraser. You will find their dossiers and their personal and professional links to the Zeltion IV mission in Appendix III.

Maddox: Please keep in mind the three independent teams reviewed this prior to my submission into evidence.

Aubrey didn't know Fraser, but that a flag officer would do something like this... Aubrey would not be permitted to preside over his trial, so she allowed herself a moment to feel some disdain for the man. 

Aubrey: Indeed. The verifications are authentic and the evidence has been entered as an exhibit. 

Maddox: ::bowing her head::Thank you Commander Traenor. I have no further questions.

Skepus: Your Honor, in light of recent evidence, I withdraw my case. :: To Aria, cooly :: Perhaps we will resume this at a later date.

Aubrey imagined that took all of Commander Skepus' willpower to get out. As a former prosecutor herself, she knew when a case was over. Admitting it to the court was a whole other thing. 

Aubrey: Commander Skepus, your motion to withdraw your case is accepted. Fleet Captain Rajel, please rise. 

Rajel: response

Aubrey: Fleet Captain Rajel, today we have heard testimony and seen evidence regarding your actions on Zeltion IV. By your crew's own admission it was not a textbook mission, but that is why Starfleet empowers its captains to act as extensions of the Federation wherever they go. This authority and responsibility is a heavy burden, and one that can be subjected to intense scrutiny at times. It is also one that allows each captain to show their true character. 

Aubrey allowed a rare smile. It was thin, but genuine. 

Aubrey: In light of the prosecution's withdrawal of their case, this court finds you not guilty on all charges. Fleet Captain Rajel, you are hereby reinstated to your command of the USS Constitution effective immediately and your service record will not contain any mention of these proceedings. I hope you will continue to represent Starfleet as you have done. ::She rose:: This court-martial is adjourned. 

Voices erupted all around the courtroom, but Admiral Aubrey's job was done. She swept down from the bench and out of her private exit at the back of the chambers. She linked up with Vyntas, who also made a hasty exit from the courtroom, and the pair walked the short distance to the connected transporter pad. A few moments later, and they had beamed back aboard Aubrey's runabout. Making a quick getaway at the end of a trial, especially one as emotionally charged as this was important in keeping the directorate of military justices separate and aloof from the rest of Starfleet. It would not do to interact with the participants of the court, and Elizabeth had been warned that Captain Rajel was a hugger. 

No, that simply would not do at all. The admiral had a letter of findings to produce, and performance reports to submit to the JAG about the two attorneys involved.

End.

RAdm Elizabeth Aubrey

Acting Deputy Chief Justice

Judge Advocate General's Corps

simmed by

LCmd Edward Spears, MD
Chief Medical Officer / Second Officer
USS Constitution-B

C239502ES0