JP: Nilsen, Lahl, Dieter, T'Reth, Caras, Astrolabe, Arlill: Star Trek: SCI (4 of 5)
Avander Promontory
Part IV
(( Private rooms adjoining Magistrate’s Council Chambers, Port Coray ))
Ordana: We have some good news.
Lhandon almost seemed to perk up at that news, like a little bit of life had been restored to the one who believed he was framed.
Nilsen: Really
Lhal: Thank goodness, this guy is an absolute downer.
Ordana was able to expand upon the team's overall thoughts and feelings.Yet it came as a poisoned chalice by virtue of the port's unique method of justice.
Ordana: We don’t suspect that you did it.
Nilsen: That’s great, does that mean you found who did it?
Lhal: They’d say so if they had.
Ordana: Unfortunately, no, we also can’t prove that someone else did it.
That news made Lhandon’s heart sink. He protested with a tired temperament. He wanted to speak further but the short burst of energy Ordana’s previous news brought him had dissipated.
Nilsen: But that…I mean…I didn’t do it.
Lhal: ::Kimonzi stood up on a stool and gave him a gentle smack to the back of the head:: Yes, yes, we know that you didn’t do it. I’m going to need you to buck up when we’re in public. I can’t be having you moping about in public where you can be seen by the magistrate. It looks bad.
Ordana: It would be, but I fear this part of the galaxy is a little more lawless and uncivilized.
Lhandon just put his head in his hands and sighed.
Lhal: Indeed, thank you sir.
Ordana: Well, that’s all I have. The finer details have been sent to your PADD, Ensign.
Lhal: Thank you.
The ME stood up and went to leave but turned back just before reaching the threshold of the door.
Ordana: For what it’s worth, Lieutenant, I don’t think you did it. ::Beat:: You’re too much of a wimp.
Lhal: ::giving her a patented “Audriy Lahl” look:: What’s that supposed to mean?
The door closed, and Lhandon and Lhal were left to discuss this new information.
Nilsen: Erm…so that’s good, right?
Lhal: It’s better than we had before.
Nilsen: But, like, how do we do it? How do we prove someone else did it? That, what she said, that should be enough to show it wasn’t me.
Lhal: Unfortunately, it’s not going to be enough. This place needs someone’s blood. And yes, before you ask, that is barbaric.
Lhandon leaned back in his seat and sighed. He tilted his head back and looked up at the ceiling. They would let him die, would they? he thought to himself.
He tried to steel himself with the thought that even if this trial doesn’t go his way, like it’s shaping up to be, and he is sentenced to death, someone will rescue him. Ro will order him to be beamed out or something, or Maxwell will come charging in with every marine.
Or, another thought, Starfleet would choose the Port’s justice and continued relations over his life… they wouldn’t do that, would they?
( (Meanwhile, on the Octavia E Butler ))
The news was still fresh, Toxin was in shock, his old friend Lhandon was on trial, a trial that could cost him his life. They’d not been close lately, but that was no reason to see his life come to an abrupt end, especially when he was innocent.
To the esteemed Port Conroy courts, I, Lieutenant Toxin Arlill, respectfully request a moment to testify on behalf of Lhandon. Despite our recent distance, I've known him for years as a man of unwavering integrity and compassion. Lhandon has consistently demonstrated a deep respect for life and a willingness to help others, often at personal cost.
I firmly believe that a person of Lhandon's character is incapable of the crime he's accused of. His life has been one of service and kindness, not violence. I urge the court to consider his past actions and positive impact on our community. In the face of adversity and chaos, Lhandon has shown true courage and dedication to his crew and principles. It is with this unwavering belief in his character that I’m asking you to advocate for justice and exonerate this innocent man.
As Toxin sent the message he couldn’t help but reflect on what losing Lhandon might mean to everyone on board.
(( Magistrate’s Council Chambers, Port Coray ))
Lahl had finished reading the letter from Toxin to the open court, but it appeared to land on deaf ears. Most of the gallery had their personal devices out, browsing TidBitter or playing the latest strategy game that had hit shelves, a first person RPG of the Dominion War.
Lexiudex: I hope you have something more impressive than a letter where the individual couldn’t even be bothered to show up… his boss nonetheless.
Today she’d chosen to wear tinted glasses, making her irises appear blood red.
Lexiudex: (sneering) I hope you have something else to offer us?
Lahl: Yes, the Defense calls Ensign Morro Caras, Starfleet.
The gold-cladded green ensign rose from the gallery, and took his place in a chair directly in front of the magistrate.
Lhal: Ensign Caras, could you please state your full name and rank for the record?
Caras: I’m Ensign Morro Caras, I work with the accused.
Lexiudex: (interrupting) Work how… specifics please young man.
Caras: We serve on the USS Octavia E Butler together as operations officers that wear gold uniforms. I am in engineering and he is in ship operations. I have served with him on a mission.
Morro felt it best to be fully honest and not exaggerate anything that didn’t need to be exaggerated or anything that would be easily fact checked. Z’Mat, His sister had coached him on what to do when they were caught. This wasn’t his first trial, but it was his first trial where she wasn’t going to burst in and save him.
Lhal: And how would you describe Lieutenant Nilsen?
Caras: Lhandon might be a big strong guy but deep down he’s more possessive than one might attribute to him. He is jovial, headstrong, and intuitive.
Caras had picked his words carefully, Port Coray did have a reputation for thinking it was a friendly place. He was trying to endear him to those here that were not Starfleet
Lhal: What do you and Lieutenant Nilsen usually do together?
Caras: My activities with Lhandon usually include athletics. We consistently workout together and exchange chat while fulfilling our daily regimens.
The ensign didn’t want to play this up too much. That they were becoming very close. The large amount of bias seemed like it would not play well with the magistrate. Caras knew he would have to play it down to not get instantly dismissed, even if it maybe hurt Lhandon. He’d rather have Lhandon be mad at him than dead.
Lhal: And how would you characterize Mr. Nilsen in a stressful situation?
Caras: I have worked with Mr. Nilsen in stressful near death situations. In neither of those scenarios did he hold animosity for myself or any other crew member to the best of my knowledge. He is usually the last to draw his sidearm.
Morro hoped that didn’t make Lhandon seem weak, or like a bad officer, but it was the truth.
Lhal: Thank you Ensign Caras.
Lexiudex: (flatly) Sooooo, you work out together?
Caras: Yes I would say that Lhandon can regularly lift weights using only his arms weighing around 50kg.
Lexiudex took out her personal tablet and punched some numbers into it, her eyebrows raising.
Lexiudex: Would you say that he’s more fit than the average being of his species?
Caras did not like where this line of questioning was going.
Caras: Yes, I would say that Mr. Nilsen is… reasonably strong for a human. However I don’t know species very well, I hadn’t seen a human until I was an adult.
Lexiudex: And what type of recreational athletic activities does he take part in? ::a wicked smile appearing:: Remember, you Starfleeties said you’d answer honestly in this court.
Caras: He does tend to enjoy more aggressive athletics. One of the first excursions he invited me to was a club on board our ship that involves large amounts of contact, known as Rugby.
Caras didn’t really see this as a negative for selling Lhandon to the crowd. In port Coray he knew a popular betting sport was very rough wrestling matches similar to twilight combat in the Vale, and brought in a similar type of crowd that might like a rough game of Rugby.
Lexiudex: So, it’s not improbable that this man ::pointing to Nilsen:: would have the physical ability and aptitude to subdue or kill another individual.
Caras: Physical aptitude, sure. Ability, I don’t think I would say that menta..(interrupted)
Lexiudex: No need to continue; I don’t need you to excuse your previous answers nor justify them. ::looking towards Nilsen, then Lahl:: Off to a stellar start. Anyone else you want to put in front of me? I’ll give you a bit of free advice, so far you're only hindering your case.
Lexiudex was brutal and this was her court. No one else mattered but her. Morro was convinced that she had already decided the verdict. She cared nothing for truth or justice, this was just an inconvenience to her. Morro should have come in more prepared. Opposition research, called in some favors. No he couldn’t do that, he was Starfleet now. He had to play by the rules. He had to.
Lexiudex lifted her shades up and the sterile room lighting caught them enough that they sparkled. It was clear she was enjoying where this was heading.
(( a short time later… ))
A large alien that could only be described as ‘fluffy’ took the stand. From the information on the PADD that the Starfleet investigators had sent the being had some sort of strong feelings towards the deceased and some related business dealings. It wasn’t much to go on, but the alternative was to submit to summary judgment.
Lexiudex: ::eyebrow raised:: And you are?
Ng: Ng Go’rin.
Lexiudex: And what is it you do?
Ng: I run transport shuttles between Port Coray and Port Loray.
Lexiudex: ::glancing to Caras and then back to Ng:: Thank you for being specific. He’s yours little one. ::winking at Kimonzi::
Lhal: How did you feel about the victim? Did you hate him?
Ng: No, I didn’t hate ‘im! I… (mumble mumble)
Lhal: I’m going to need you to speak up sir.
Ng: (angrily) I said I loved him!
There were gasps in the audience, even Lexiudex covered her mouth. Now folks were paying attention.
Lhal: You loved him? Would you ever want to harm him?
Ng: No, of course not.
Lhal: Hurt him in any way?
Kimonzi could feel Audriy’s frustration. The problem was that she had to violate the first rule of questioning a witness. “Never ask a question you didn’t already know the answer to.”
Ng: I would never.
Lexiudex: (chiming in) I doubt he’s going to just outright confess to a murder…
She gave Lahl a warning glance and the counsel pressed forward with her questioning.
Lhal: Where were you at the time of the incident?
Ng: I was drowning’ my feelings at the canteen on the other side of the station.
Lhal: Are you at that canteen often?
Ng: Oh yeah. I’m a regular. Ask anyone.
Lhal: Can you name any of them? Would any of them actually vouch for you?
Ng: Get stuffed!
The angry ball of fluff stomped off the stand. Lexiudex cleared her throat, it was obvious that her interrupting was going to be the theme of the day.
Lexiudex: (loudly) Are there any other canteen dwellers here today, maybe that are supporting your fellow bar mate. Is he being truthful, was he getting drunk that night?
Several folk raised their hands and nodded. At which point a sharp cackle erupted from the magistrate and a tear rolled down her face.
Lexiudex: I was going to move to summary judgment, but these testimonies are just too good. It’s so rare to see someone’s defense make their guilt so concrete. I’ll give you another cycle, just so that me and the gallery can be inspired by your infamous skills.
She cackled again, and the rest of the gallery along with her.
TBC
–
Starring:
Sahiana Ordana
Medical Examiner
Starfleet Criminal Investigative Team
&&
Lieutenant JG Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
Assistant Chief of Operations.
USS Octavia E Butler
O240007LN1
He/Him/His (Both player and character)
Ensign Kimonzi Lahl
Engineering Officer
U.S.S. Octavia E. Butler
O240107KL4
Lieutenant Ty B Dieter
Lead Investigator
Starfleet Criminal Investigative Team
O240005JH3 / O239910AP4
&&
Lexiudex
The Right Honorable Prime Magistrate
Autonomous Authority of Port Coray
O240005JH3
he/him/his (player)
Special Agent T’reth
Starfleet Criminal Investigative Team
O239910AP4
Caras
Ensign Morro Caras
Engineering Officer
USS Octavia E. Butler
O240106MC1
Astrolabe
Forensic Scientist
&
Gigranal
Undular Witness
M239008AD0
Special Guest Star
Lieutenant Toxin Arlill
Chief of Operations
USS Octavia E Buttler NCC-82850
Writer ID.: O239910TA4LT