The Hammer Falls

Posted on Fri Jul 24th, 2009 @ 12:49am by Lieutenant JG Drew O'Connell & Lieutenant Commander Kaylis Kirana

1,137 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Behind the Mask of Familiarity
Location: Starfleet Command
Timeline: Ten Days Ago

Lieutenant Andrew O'Connell, formerly Chief Intelligence Officer of the USS Rook stood before a hall of spectators at his court marshal. He'd already had his defense and prosecution interrogations. Both seemed well thought out and well argued. Now, at the lone podium, he listened intently as the prosecution's lead took center stage in the final deliberations with her closing argument.

"Lieutenant Andrew O'Connell ejected from the USS Rook aboard the shuttle Bishop shortly after Captain Reesh Sharaj called abandon ship. Aboard the shuttle, he discovered he was ranking officer. Seemingly Captain Sharaj and Commander Steele were lost aboard the Rook. Lieutenant O'Connell, rightfully, took the position of ranking officer and began directing the survival operation. Ensign Cullen Gray has admitted it was he who discovered the distress signal from Targus Minor, however, it was Lieutenant Andrew O'Connell who decided to shuffle all of the Bishop's passengers onto one of the surviving runabouts and send them off to the nearest starbase while he and Ensign Cullen Gray initiated the rescue operation resulting in the rescue of Lieutenant JG Shalie Montgomery, Ensign Devanani Ral, and Crewman Sarah Roberts.
Though this rescue operation was successful, I feel it should be noted as a foolhardy attempt by an officer with a history of insubordination and breaking or bending rules as he sees fit. I must argue that the ends do not justify the means. I submit that Lieutenant O'Connell should be held accountable for his actions and inaction. By abandoning the lifepod convoy, the lieutenant began with dereliction of duty. He furthered that by infiltrating a hostile alien planet, a charge of bad conduct. He used one of the aliens to further infiltrate one of their prison complexes thereby sentencing him to death by stoning, a charge of murder, further compounded by the deaths, at his hands, of several Targan prison guards in his escape attempt. Surely, we can not let this behavior go unpunished if we are to make peace with the Targans. We must, in good faith, find him guilty on all charges. The Prosecution rests."

Drew could feel the fire in his eyes as he stared down the severely austere woman prosecuting him. Humanity still held an idiom...If looks could kill. Surely, if it were true then Captain Corella Lange would already be dead. He wasn't sure how Lange had discovered him or why he had become her vendetta, but here he was.

Admiral Hokai Shuki stroked his gray beard for several minutes before speaking. When he did, it was with deliberate slowness. "You are correct, Captain Lange, that all the charges Lieutenant Andrew O'Connell has been charged with can not be overlooked. By the book, every charge he is accused of should stick, however there are other extenuating circumstances which stick as well. The safe return of Ensign Devanani Ral, Lieutenant Junior Grade Shalie Montgomery, and the broken Crewman Sarah Roberts would not have been accomplished without this young man you so vehemently argue against. In Starfleet's book, he is chargeable with dereliction of duty, bad conduct, perhaps though maybe pushing it, he is also chargeable with murder. However, in my book, the one that counts in this court of law, he is a hero. To that end, all charges, save one, will be dismissed. The charge of bad conduct in relation to the stoning death of a Targan national can not be dismissed and should not be forgotten. However, I can tell by the haunted look in his eye that Lieutenant O'Connell will never forget this tragedy. To that end, I am reducing you in rank to Lieutenant Junior Grade to be assigned to another starship when such a position as Chief Intelligence Officer becomes available."

Perplexed looks abounded in the court, but none more perplexed than that of the sputtering Corella Lange. Clearly perturbed, Lange threw her papers down on her desk before storming out of the hall. Drew looked to his right to see Devan and Ian sitting together, he smiled ever so slightly at them. In turn, they smiled back, beaming. He'd nearly gotten off and with a reduction in rank and a mark on his record, he could continue to live his life in Starfleet. It was a victory for him. He sighed visibly.

"This court stands adjourned," Admiral Shuki ordered with a bang of his gavel.

Drew moved from his place at the stand, receiving congratulatory handshakes from people gathered in his defense while others just moved away and out of the hall. He wasn't sure if they approved of the court's decision or if they wanted to see him hanged, but he recalled all their faces. Devan and Ian were the first to push through the crowd, Ian wrapping his arms around his older brother while Devan stood with her hands on her hips. "You knew you'd get out of this."

Drew smiled. "It was a safe bet."

Devan laughed as she threw her arms around him too. "Damn, you sure know how to put on a show."

Surprised and yet not, Drew turned to see the green skinned Orion, Shalie Montgomery, approaching him. "Lieutenant," was alll he could think to say by way of greeting.

Shalie couldn't help but feel relieved when the verdict came down. She nodded towards Devan as she approached them slowly. "Devan, its good to see you." She nodded to Ian before finally looking up at Drew. " Drew, I just wanted to say thanks...for finding me...I mean us..." She paused and felt a little anxious as she stood there. Her relationship with Drew wasn't exactly a friendly one. "Well, I just wanted to say thanks...I shouldn't have interrupted..." She said before she turned on her heels and steadily walked back the way she came.

"You're welcome," Drew responded to her retreating form. Within seconds, the Orion hybrid disappeared among the crowd, not an easy task even in this crowd of aliens. Interrupting his search for Shalie, Devan wrapped her arm around his in that quaint way she had, and escorted his out of the hall.

On the way, she asked, "You know about the after-party, right?"

"Devan, I'm Intel...of course I know about the after-party. Now, shall we just go right there, or should I change first?"
"Well," Devan started, "I hardly think your dress uniform will blend in on the beach. Besides, all those girls are going to want to see a hero in a tight swimsuit. Hell, I'm practically married and I want to see it...."

Drew laughed as Devan pulled him out of that stuffy room and into the dusky night air of California. It would be their one of their last nights on Earth and it was likely going to be one hell of a party.

 

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