Pleading The Case
Posted on Wed Feb 1st, 2023 @ 2:56am by Captain Marc Kidd & Lieutenant Jonathan Corwin
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
The Hunt Begins
Location: Courtroom Complex - Deck 6 - USS Artemis
Timeline: MD003 1000 hrs
Marc had healed, well mostly healed from the wounds he took from the Breen. His ship had mostly healed as well, but the battle set back the launch by a few weeks while the Artemis was repaired. This turned out to be a blessing as it gave Marc the chance to get to know the crew. So, he strolled the ship. It has been said that after a long fight it is good for a Captain to be seen strolling the ship. It brings hope and a return to normal for the crew. This was something that seemed to have the desired effect on the Artemis crew. However, there were two people he felt needed to be singled out and to this end he found himself on deck six in the Courtroom Complex. As he entered what would become the seat of law aboard the ship he found the two people he wanted to speak with. "Morning Lieutenant, Commander mind if I have a word."
Kelly glanced up from her files, and set the mug of coffee down. With a tight smile, she just nodded. She was known around the Fleet as the ice woman, and that even extended to her CO, though it was more or less out of sheer habit by now than actual insubordination. So far, she actually didn't mind Kidd-he left her alone and she was fine with that.
"Of course." She looked to her partner, Corwin, with a cocked eyebrow. HE was far more chatty than she. But at least he could hold his own in the courtroom, and that's all she really cared about.
Jonathan looked up from some of the files of the suspects that they were tasked to bring to justice. " Good morning Captain, What brings you around here so bright and early this morning? Or have you dropped by for a chat and a cup of real coffee? Either way it's good to see you up and about again. "
"Coffee would be great thanks!" Marc began with a smile. "I actually have come to say thanks for all you did during the battle with the Breen. I do appreciate you jumping in and lending a hand. I know that fighting the Breen was not what you signed up for." He sipped the coffee that he was given and it felt good.
Kelly's less-than-impressed face tightened into an even more annoyed look, her brown eyes narrowed just a little bit more. "No, it wasn't." She let that hang in the air before she tapped at her files with her pen, pointedly. "How many did you get?" Hopefully at least one or two would be taken out so it wasn't for nothing.
"Well if it means anything the Breen attack was repelled and Poseidon Station remains. All save one of the attacking ships were destroyed. The one remaining ship retreated. I know that sort of thing is not our specialty however, sometimes we have to lend a hand where the fleet needs us..." Marc began, he was a little upset by the JAG Officer's response. He would have thought that any Starfleet Officer would have been glad to help in that situation. "Commander I am told that I have you to thank for getting me to Sick Bay."
Jonathan smiled. " We got all the Breen ships with the exception of one? I'd say that it was worth taking those couple pieces of shrapnel to my back for. The Starbase is safe and I hope we didn't lose to many people during the fight? " He asked. " It was a rather chaotic set of events that occurred, But I hope we don't make that to much of a habit, It would be difficult to conduct a court case while being bounced around. "
"No, I believe that was a once in a rare occasion occurrence. I do not think that Starfleet plans for us to do much large fighting. In this case we happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time." Marc smiled he truly hoped that his words were true. He would hate to take this crew back into a large fight. Hell, he would hate to take himself into a large fight.
Kelly shrugged noncommittally. "It was orders," she tossed out. She'd had her way? Sickbay would've come to THEM. Her face never changed from her bored expression. "Good that the Station is protected; at least now we can get to work. Speaking of, what's our next course of action? Clearly, the Breen need to be held to account."
" Well if the Breen are to held accountable for their actions, then what are they to be charged with? Piracy or war crimes? They did make demands of surrendering our station and the attack was unprovoked. One could even argue that terrorism could be added to the charges. A number of Breen were captured when they boarded the station. " Stated Jonathan. " If I may suggest that we record our trails and send them to the diplomatic corps so that they can negotiate with the Breen to take responsibility and make sure this doesn't occur again. We don't need to lose more lives then we already have. "
Jonathan lowered his head and thought a moment. " This will be a difficult caser for me to defend, I don't believe that our Breen friends will be forthcoming in aiding me with their defense. I will still do my duty and give them due diligence to they're defense. "
"Well then it is good that this case will not be ours to work on. Once the crew has completely boarded. It seems a number was delayed due to the battle. We are to head to Earth for our first case. Being the only unit of this kind will have us all over the galaxy. So why not get it started on Earth." Marc started by giving the official answer, or more accurately the answer he was expected to give. Then proceeded... "Off the record... I will do everything that I can to make sure that whoever initiated this attack goes to court in our courtroom." There was a conviction in his voice that was rarely there. Marc was not sure if he could make good on his promise, but he was going to try every avenue he could.
Kelly's brown eyes darted to the Captain's. Was he SERIOUS?
"Back on Earth?? At HQ, I presume. Well, that's...fantastic." Her tone had shifted, and the Commander sounded almost...excited?? She went on. "You'll be fine, Corwin, you've taken me on before. Just pretend they're ME in that chair." They both knew that Kelly was basically an unhelpful subject in mock trials. She was huge bitch, and the role of unwilling defendant suited that part of her personality well.
"How do you intend to do that, sir? You know a judge?" Actually, he just MIGHT.
"No but I know an Admiral who knows a judge. Speaking of... What do the two of you know about a Commodore S'Vrock of the Fourth District Court. He is the aforementioned judge that Admiral Ford knows. He is also the judge that will preside over our cases." Marc wondered what the Vulcan would be like. He imagined a stern by the book kind of customer.
Jonathan looked to Commander and smiled. " Pretend it's you in the chair? There's some good advice from the opposing council. But the main difference is Commander Miller, unlike whoever is on the stand and the case is over, I'd still be willing to buy you a drink at least. " He said with a grin. " we might be facing each other across the table from each other, but at the end of the day we're both trying to see that justice has been served. "
Jonathan stopped in mid sentence. " Wait!, Did you say Commodore S'Vrock? " Asked Jonathan. " He's going to presiding over our trials? The Vulcan who would sentence his own mother to a years hard labor for being five minutes late to court? That judge S'Vrock? The nicest thing I've ever heard said about him is that he's a real bastard. "
"I believe the powers that be want the cold logic to keep everything in line. And as I said Admiral Ford and the Commodore apparently go way back. I hope he is not as bad as you say." After hearing the brief information that Corwin had to offer Marc now had second thoughts about agreeing to this assignment.
Kelly shook her head, and made a face at Corwin. "Of *course* it's good advice." She'd been a JAG longer than Corwin had been alive, almost, and while she might rude and cold, she DID share pieces of helpful advice sometimes. She'd gotten it from mentors and it wasn't hers to keep. "And...thank you. Coming from you, that means a lot." They weren't close like some teams were, most of that was her fault, but still. It was nice to know that at least he wasn't intimidated by her bullshit.
"I've had a case under him. You'll be fine. Just don't do anything stupid, keep calm, and don't waste his time. He'll treat you fine." She'd been a junior officer, assisting on a case, and the older Vulcan had scared her. She hadn't been in the Fleet as an officer that long, and had yet to have met any Vulcans in an official capacity. The JAG she was assisting, her mentor, had given her that same advice. *Pretend it's me, don't piss off the judge, and you'll be OK.* And they had been. They hadn't won, but it was still an excellent learning case.
"The good news, I guess is that the Commodore will not be aboard this ship. The scope of this program will take us all over the known galaxy. As such the powers that be do not want the judge galivanting the galaxy, they prefer him to be centralized. As such he will have a virtual presence in our courtroom when court is in session. The courtroom is state of the art you really should get a look at it." Marc thought what they did for the court aboard his ship was rather cool and interesting.
Jonathan let out a sigh of relief. " Ok, So Judge S'Vrock will be on Earth and we'll be hundreds of lightyears away. I think I can handle that. " He turned to Kelly. " And Commander Miller, Thanks for the advice. I will do everything I can to stay calm, do everything by the book, not waste his time and above all else, don't do anything stupid. " He said with a grin. " Thanks for giving me a background read on him and the advice on him, I really appreciate it. " He said humbly. " It will make things that much easier when he does show up in our courtroom. Speaking of Courtrooms, I think I'll wander down and take a look at our work venue. "
Kelly nodded. "You're welcome. If we're done here, Captain, I have things to DO." She returned to her cold tone and flat stare. Let Corwin get a feel first; she had been at it longer, but it was still better being on "home turf."
Marc had hoped that the two attorneys would become friends outside of the courtroom. He rather hoped that the crew of this vessel would bond like other crews. However, as he had just learned the nature of their work was different than all others. So, the bonding would take longer or may never happen. "Yes the two of you should finish settling in. As you were, and welcome to the Artemis." Marc smiled and limped away. There were a lot of new crew to get to know.
A Joint Post By
Captain Marc Kidd
Commanding Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Lieutenant Commander Kelly Miller
JAG Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Lieutenant Jonathan Corwin
Defense Council, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
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