[Act 3] Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper: A Solar Flare For the Dramatic
Robin Hopper
((Tribunal Room, Military Headquarters, Paak, Barossa Nebula))
Robin stood near the forefront of the assembled Starfleet Officers, off to one side opposite to Wil, with Rivi placed front-and-center between them. Despite the fact that she’d been locked away in isolation from the rest of her crew for the duration of her ‘visit’ to the Paak homeworld, she supposed that, on account of her and Wil being the first off-worlders they met, and on account of their ranks, they were deemed the worst of the instigators and, thus, were to be held accountable for the actions of the others.
The entire thing stunk. It wasn’t just a bad situation – it seemed to her that, despite the Federation’s predisposition towards respecting sovereign powers’ laws and judiciary proceedings, the entire tribunal process had been a fairly transparent sham. Who it was designed to benefit, or who it was designed to oppress, she wasn’t sure – but the whole thing felt orchestrated with an end result in mind. The lack of proper counsel, the lack of due process, the fact that none of them had even been given a cursory briefing on how the Paak legal system worked… it was all a bunch of crap.
Nonetheless… it was also clear that if they didn’t at least attempt to humour the Paak and work within their system to clear their names that the chances for friendly diplomatic relations with these people would be reduced to practically nil. For now, at least, the slim odds that remained seemed worth striving for. Even if it meant subjecting herself to one final round of humiliation.
Ukinix: ::To all Starfleet/FDC:: This is going to be okay. Just speak truthfully, and I’m sure they’ll realise that the Federation is actually not all that bad. And we’re not a threat. ::To Rivi:: Ambassador, given your Betazoid abilities… we will take your lead.
Evidently, Wil was feeling similar – holding out hope that this was a situation that could still be ‘cleared up’ with a bit of straightforward communication. Robin had her doubts, but she reserved them for the time being. Honestly, she was still feeling quite cross with Ukinix, finding it hard to shake the feeling that, from the get-go, Wil had demonstrated a lackluster understanding of the Federation’s First Contact Procedures as well as a fraught interpretation of the Prime Directive, that almost made it seem like he was trying to get them in trouble.
Sighing to calm her frayed and irritated nerves, she glanced towards Nathan and found him off in his own world – his thoughts a thousand light years away. Next she looked at the faces of the others, trying to read their emotions as well as she could, possessing none of the empathic ability which Rivi and Wil had. Their expressions were varied, to say the least.
Vataix: Response
Robin hoped that some of the others, especially the more junior officers, felt reassured by Rivi’s presence. Turning back towards the panel ahead of her – one she was becoming uncomfortably familiar with by this point – she simply crossed her arms and frowned.
Richards: Uh…Yeah. Uh-huh. oOSmooth.Oo
Hopper: Let’s just try to get through this without digging ourselves any deeper, hmm? ::To the others:: And whatever you don’t say… that word. ::Rubbing her arm, absent-mindedly:: Unless you want to get pelted with shoes…
Iovianus/Iko: Response
Veers/Nadeshiko: Response
Gray: Ideally, avoid threatening behavior.
Moore: Response
That last exchange – between Gray and Ensign Moore – was not encouraging. Robin closed her eyes and shook her head, hoping that it was also obvious that continuing to impersonate religious figures was not a viable strategy either.
Pai’Lak: Commander Ukinix is right. Simply speak the truth. Your truth. The Paak should see and understand that your Paak mean the Paak no harm.
Robin glanced towards the Delegate – that’s that Pa’akia had called him. At least they had one “friend” in the room. Or at least… one non-enemy.
The doors swung open dramatically, a stream of new Paak folk entering – mostly more scientists and soldiers, as before, joining their peers. The curved benches that surrounded the central tribunal chamber were now paaked. At the end of the train of people strode the Magistrate with his signature red flowing robes. As he walked up the steps to his dais, he spoke abruptly, commanding the attention of the room, the hushed whispers of the surrounding Paak quickly fading to silence.
Magistrate: Commander Wil Ukinix, and Lieutenant Commander Robin Hopper. It seems you have been joined by some of your colleagues - ::eyes shifting to each of them slowly:: some in uniform, some not. When you hear your name, step forward. You must answer “Yes” or “No”. Answering No indicates you wish to argue the accusation, which is your right. I warn you – any deviation from this instruction of “Yes” or “No” will result in further charges.
oO Please don’t #$%& this up… Oo Her inner thought was not necessarily directed at anyone, but it wouldn’t be honest to suggest that she wasn’t glancing across the group at Wil as it popped into her head.
Magistrate: Vataix, Iovianus, Nadeshiko, Gray, Moore. You are accused of interference with Paak military operations, which holds a maximum penalty of sixty cycles internment in a military confinement facility. Do you concede this accusation is fit and accurate.
Vataix/Iovianus/Nadeshiko: Response
Gray: No.
Moore: Response
Sixty days for mere “interference”? Robin chewed her lip, nervously, wondering what punishment would be ascribed to those deemed ‘more culpable’. Fortunately, that group, to Robin’s knowledge, had done nothing wrong. Accusing them of anything by association was a weak case – one which she was sure any decent legal representative would be able to overturn. She hoped that Delegate Pai’Lak was up to the task (then again, how could anyone be worse than their last counsel?)
Magistrate: Richards, Veers. You are accused of interference with Paak military operations, and unauthorized access of a Paak military facility. The combined penalty is a maximum of three hundred cycles internment in a military confinement facility. Do you concede this accusation is fit and accurate?
Richards: No.
Veers: Response
Magistrate: Next. Iko. ::Flicking to next piece of paper:: You are accused of interference with Paak military operations, unauthorized access of a Pakk military facility, and violent assault of a military soldier. The combined penalty is a maximum of eight-hundred and eighty cycles of internment in a military confinement facility. Do you concede this accusation is fit and accurate?
Iko: Response
While the thought furrowed her brow with worry, it was difficult for Robin to admit that this second round of accusations – those directed at Nathan, Cara, and Bec – would be considerably harder to argue. While there was certainly room to add context and nuance into the conversation, the objective facts did, unfortunately, support the Paak’s case.
The Magistrate’s gaze fell on her next, and she gulped as she stepped forward.
Magistrate: Hopper. We have already met, you are already familiar with this room, are you not?
She looked to one side of the room, then the other. Nobody else had gotten a question like that. Just accusations. Was she supposed to answer “Yes” or “No” to this as well? Was she going to be held in contempt of court for answering this wrong? The blank expressions of the Paak around her offered no help.
Hopper: ::Uncertainly:: Mmm… Yep.
Magistrate: Hmm.
Well, he hadn’t thrown her out of the courtroom. That was something.
Magistrate: ::Flicking to next piece of paper:: You are accused of interference with Paak military operations, *invasion* of a Paak military facility for the purposes of rebellion and/or replacement of the instruments of continuous government, and development and possession of advanced technology without government or military oversight. The combined penalty is a maximum of fourteen thousand, five hundred and ninety cycles internment in a military confinement facility. Do you concede this accusation is fit and accurate?
There was a brief pause as Robin ran through the math in her head. While they’d had precious little time to study the solar system and planet during their initial scans, focusing instead on the mysterious “pulsar” and the faint warp signature they’d discovered, they had in fact noticed that the system was not so different from that of Earth. It was conceivable then, that their years were of a similar length – between 350 and 400 days (or “cycles”). If that were the case, then that 14,590 days would be the equivalent of roughly…
oO FORTY YEARS? Oo
Her mouth dropped open in indignant shock, a small scoff of disbelief escaping her lips, before she quickly closed it – her cheeks turning red with anger.
Hopper: ::Terse:: No.
Magistrate: As for you, *Ukinix*. I hope you now understand that subverting the procedures in this tribunal will *not* bet tolerated. Do I make myself clear?
Ukinix: Oh yes, of course, Magistrate Pa- Um, Magistrate.
Robin looked at Wil, eyes wide as her fury at the Paak legal system blended with her present frustrations with Wil. She suppressed her urge to grab him by the shoulders and shake him.
Magistrate: ::Reading paper:: I should sincerely hope so, for your sake. You are accused of interference with Paak military operations, invasion of a Paak military facility for the purposes of rebellion and/or replacement of the instruments of continuous government, development and possession of advanced technology without government or military oversight, contempt of this very military tribula, *and* insulting and defying a public official – none other than Paak, the rightful leader of Paak, and Paak of the Paak people. The combined penalty is a maximum of thirty-four thousand, nine hundred and two cycles internment in a military confinement facility. Do you concede this accusation is fit and accurate?
Ukinix: No, magistrate.
The magistrate nodded, looking down at his papers and taking a couple more notes before looking back up at the group. Robin wondered if steam were rising from her ears.
Magistrate: Very well. You may all step back. ::Turning to seat at side of the room:: Accuser Paakmi, you may now stand and question the accused.
One of the gathered military-like Paak stood and moved to the front of the room – his well pressed robes giving him a stern and unforgiving appearance compared to the relaxed and casual fit of their designated defender, the (presumably?) elderly Pai’Lak.
Paakmi: I am Paakmi, lead accuser of the Paak accusations department. I am a military officer, but I am also a qualified Paak. You will answer questions asked of you truthfully. Your counsel, Pai’Lak, may interject if my line of questioning is considered unsatisfactory – on which the magistrate will rule. Magistrate, with your permission, I will question each of the accused individually.
Magistrate: Granted.
((Examination of Robin Hopper, Later))
When her time came, Robin stood, once again, in the center of the circular hall. In one hand, she still clasped the combadge that she had snatched during the kerfuffle of Nathan and Cara’s unceremonious arrival in her cell. She kept both hands behind her back, fist closed tightly around the metallic delta, while the other cradled it.
Fortunately, the Paak hadn’t bothered looking for it, as they were beginning to become accustomed to the combadges as a necessary allowance in order for fruitful communication to be possible. The Magistrate even had one of the confiscated devices sitting on the desk in front of him, allowing for the exchanges that had been occurring between the Paak and the rest of the Starfleet crew.
In spite of her frustration, she did her best to appear calm and collected, as the Paak prosecutor (no, accuser) stepped forward and began walking the perimeter of the circular room in front of her.
Paakmi: State your full name, title and function.
Hopper: ::Sigh:: oO For the hundredth time… Oo I’m Lieutenant Commander Robin Hopper – Chief Science Officer of Amity Outpost.
Paakmi: You claim that your vessel, that originated from space well beyond Paak, was “pushed” onto Paak. What caused that?
She tilted her head.
Hopper: Well, I don’t think those were the words that I used, but I’d agree with the basic premise that we didn’t intend to land our shuttle here. We had a malfunction and had to make an emergency landing. So, sure, we were “pushed” here by circumstance.
Paakmi: I see. Your advanced vessel, capable of traveling vast distances, from stars many Paak away, with weapons that our military would struggle to withstand to defend Paak, was simply “pushed”.
She squinted, and leaned forward, almost as if she was having trouble hearing him – though the reality was, she was just having trouble understanding what it was the accuser was getting at. After a moment, she shook her head and held up her free hand.
Hopper: Okay, just to be clear, when we’re saying “pushed”, we all understand that gravity exists right? ::Looking around at blank and unfriendly faces:: The gravitational pull of your planet was too much for our damaged vessel to escape, so I think saying that we “fell” onto Paak would be more accurate.
Paakmi: Do you understand how ridiculous that sounds?
Hopper: ::Mildly offended:: I think if that sounds ridiculous to you, then you lack a basic understanding of physical science. ::Turning to the Magistrate, returning to a more neutral posture:: Also, I’d like to protest that loaded question. It’s clearly biased and immaterial. ::Back to Paakmi:: Just because something “sounds ridiculous” doesn’t mean it isn’t true.
Pai’Lak: Response?
Magistrate: Tread carefully, Paakmi.
Thankfully, the Magistrate was at least able to see enough reason in what Robin was saying to course-correct the overzealous accuser. She tilted her head back-and-forth trying to ease the tension in her neck as Paakmi resumed his questioning.
Paakmi: I will rephrase, magistrate. Lieutenant Hopper, if you come from such an advanced group of space faring, I guess, “species” is the correct term – how could one’s advanced vessel not withstand the forces necessary to “push” you into the atmosphere of our planet – coincidentally having you land right in the restricted grounds of the military complex. Can you see how many people, Paak or not, would consider that coincidence somewhat convenient?
Robin scowled at his repeated use of the word “push”. oO If he thinks that’s going to undermine my statements, he’s got another thing coming to– Oo It dawned on her, then, mid-thought, that Paakmi may simply be trying to goad her into irritation, make her lose focus. oO Oh. Oh, I see how it is. Fine then. Oo She glared at him. oO You’ll see. I’m going to stay cool. As cool as a cucumber. Hah! Oo
She turned slightly, and began walking in her own little half-circle around the center of the room. Two could play at the ‘dramatic statement’ game – and while Robin may not be a diplomat, she did have a flare for the dramatic.
Hopper: Alright… Paakmi… That was technically two questions – one good one and another biased and insubstantial one. ::A slight nod to the Magistrate:: In case you’re keeping count, Magistrate. So I’ll answer the good question first… ::Re-stating the question:: How could our shuttlecraft not withstand the forces which pulled us towards your planet?
She paused, then turned her attention towards a gaggle of scientists in the crowd of Paak, whom she was now able to discern from the military folk by their distinct robes. She noticed Pa’akia among them, and focused her attention on the other ‘friendly’ face.
Hopper: We were investigating what our long-range sensors had determined was a pulsar – a highly-magnetized and rapidly-rotating neutron star characterized by regular emissions of electromagnetic radiation. In this case, however, the emissions were not regular. In fact they were highly irregular, which our sensors interpreted as the star appearing and then disappearing. In order to get a closer look, we brought along one of our smaller exploratory craft. Unfortunately, we were… distracted… by the warp trail we found in your system and decided to take a closer look at your planet, which put us directly in the way of one of these radiation bursts. ::Turning back to Paakmi and the Magistrate:: Our shuttles aren’t as strongly-shielded as some of our other vessels, and our propulsion systems were damaged by the sudden influx. With only maneuvering thrusters available to us, we weren’t able to overcome the planet’s gravitational pull. So, we were left with no choice but to make an emergency landing – we just aimed for the largest flattest area we could find which happened to be your airfield.
Then, she smiled.
Hopper: As for the other question as to whether or not that seems convenient, I would say “yes”. In fact, I’d even say it’s highly suspicious.
Pai’Lak: Response?
There was a titter of uncertain excitement amongst the assembled crowd. She glanced at Pa’akia once more, the scientist's face giving away her intrigue. oO What was it she said before? That these people needed our help? Oo She recalled, also, what had been said before of PAAK, as they called it. The pulsar had ‘stopped wars’, ‘destroyed bombs’, and generally kept the progression of the Paak people on a singular and slow track…
Hopper: However, I don’t think it’s us you should be suspicious of. I think you should be suspicious of that so-called “pulsar” up there. I’d suggest that it disabled our ship deliberately, and therefore somebody is wielding it in order to do the same to you – ::she looked up for a moment:: keeping you trapped down here.
TBC
