Good stuff! I am most definitely enjoying the story.
Star Trek: First Duty #1 - "Trial of Transfer" (PUBLISHED)
- Thread starter McCovey Cove
- Start date
Completely loving the attention to detail and the strong sense of verisimilitude. This story completely feels like a courtroom drama - very well done - Thanks!! rbs
Law & Order: Starfleet continues. A lot of procedural jargon happening here, but it lends the story a great deal of authenticity. Although I’m not sure if Kline and company are as familiar with Federation law as they should be considering their occupation.
Unless, of course, Torres is an evil soul-sucking changeling from a mirror universe bent on destroying Starfleet from within. Somehow I don’t think this is that kind of story.
Unless, of course, Torres is an evil soul-sucking changeling from a mirror universe bent on destroying Starfleet from within. Somehow I don’t think this is that kind of story.
LOL @CeJay - I just updated the First Duty description on Ad Astra to mimic Law & Order because of your comment.
https://www.adastrafanfic.com/series/44
Part Six: Modus Operandi
Starbase 8
In orbit of Memory Alpha
VIP Quarters 6A01, assigned to LCDR Leo Verde
January 26, 2318
"So what happened after?" asked Commander Keena Val, her image on the small desktop screen in Leo's quarters. He leaned back in his chair, the ambient light from the screen casting a soft glow in the dimly lit room.
Leo unfastened the shoulder strap of his maroon uniform jacket. He pulled the front flap down with a quick motion. The metallic snaps on the side released with soft clicks, punctuating the silence in his quarters. "The charges against the corporal were dropped, and later, it became apparent that due to the poor judgment exercised by the holding company commander, the charges against me were equally baseless. That left Mr. Reter with no other recourse but to withdraw."
Keena's image nodded, her expression curious yet empathetic. "And what about the corporal?"
A wry grin crossed Leo's face. "Corporal Torres has been transferred to the JAG office. She's starting off as my orderly."
"Starting off?"
"I've got plans for her. She's got a certain quality."
Keena leaned closer to the screen, her features more defined. "You always manage to stir things up, Rally. You've barely been there, what, two weeks?"
He chuckled softly, a hint of exhaustion in his eyes. "A little over eight days."
"Eight days and you've already tangled yourself in the middle of another mess that you couldn't ignore."
Leo shrugged, his fingers idly tapping on the armrest. "It wasn't even my case to begin with. Torres was being railroaded in the worst possible way. I can't fathom how anyone thought they could get away with it."
"Considering their circumstances, I can see the desperation. Understaffed, under-resourced, trying to power through their caseload…" Keena's voice trailed off.
Leo's gaze wandered, drawn to the starlit expanse beyond the viewports of his opulent housing. "True. But it wasn't even my observation that set things in motion. It was Alejandro, my second chair. He had a gut feeling about the case," He mused, his thoughts momentarily distant. "He's got good instincts."
Keena's smile was warm and knowing. "Sounds like you've found some kindred spirits over there."
Leo's lips quirked up. "The whole office seems to be driven by a genuine desire to make things right. The CO, the other lawyers, the paralegals… they're all striving to do their best."
"And that surprises you?" Keena's voice held a mix of curiosity and gentle teasing.
Leo paused, contemplating her question. After a long moment, he let out a slow breath. "Honestly, I don't know. When I arrived here, I was mostly focused on how much I miss serving with you and everyone."
"We miss you, too," she assured him. "They transferred in a replacement the month after you left."
"Oh? How are they getting along?"
"Okay, I guess. Though Grax called him by your name a couple of times during the first wardroom meeting," she said with mirthful eyes.
Leo raised his hand to cover his eyes. "He didn't."
Keena grinned. "It's Grax, it's the only way he knew how to rib a certain someone over what happened. Y'know, without calling too much attention to himself."
"I really hope he didn't get raked over the coals over it."
She shook her head. "Not that he's let me know, but I know the new guy didn't mind. At first."
"What does that mean?"
"He thought it was amusing, but then after about a week… I guess he got the scuttlebutt from someone about you, and then he wasn't too happy about it. But, Grax outranks him, so nothing ever really came of it," she explained. Off his distressed look, Keena offered a soft, "Sorry."
"It's all right," Leo waved it off. "I should get used to it."
She sighed. "No, you shouldn't. I feel like I'm on a ship run by teenagers, sometimes. But enough about that. Are you doing okay?"
He lifted his eyes up to meet hers on the screen. "I'm okay. This is all new, right? I'm trying the whole 'throw yourself into the work' method of distraction. Because if I don't, then I'll just sit here and lament the fact that no starship captain would take a chance on an officer with… well, you know. Suffice to say, my own melancholy was clouding my perspective the first week."
Keena's gaze softened. "You're good at what you do, Rally.. And listen, if anyone ever asks me my opinion about your space service credentials-"
Leo's reaction was swift, a mixture of surprise and caution. "Keena… you can't."
"If it's off the record-"
The potential outcome increased Leo's anxiety and he leaned forward to drive his point home. "You know what will happen."
"You could always ask your mom-"
He shook his head. "She's already done what she could. The only reason I'm still in Starfleet is because she's tight with the CO, here. I just… y'know?" He said that last with a defeated shrug.
Her sigh was a mix of resignation and empathy. "I know. I hate that there's nothing I can really do. It's not fair."
He sighed too, his arms crossing as he leaned back in his chair. "Life rarely is."
Keena's gaze held his, a silent understanding passing between them. "Politics," she stated, a hint of bitterness in her voice.
Leo nodded, his expression a blend of resignation and determination. "Politics."
Returning to his office an hour before his duty shift, Leo found a marine second lieutenant seated in the reception area. Her presence was unexpected, but it was her closely cropped hair that caught his attention—an unconventional choice that stood out against the standard marine appearance. While marines typically emphasized close-order training, the tradition of shaved heads had faded with time.
After a brief exchange with the yeoman at the reception desk, Leo stepped into his office. The interior lights flickered to life, casting a gentle glow across the room. Picking up the PADD he had left the previous night, he skimmed through its contents to refresh his memory, absorbing the information as his eyes scanned the screen. Satisfied, he turned his focus to the pile of administrative tasks that had accumulated over the past couple of days.
As the top of the hour chimed, Leo received a call from the yeoman, notifying him that a Lieutenant Collins was waiting. With a simple tap of a control on his desk, he granted entry to his office. Moments later, the marine officer he had noticed earlier walked in.
Rising from his chair, Leo offered a friendly smile. He gestured to the seat in front of his desk, inviting her to sit. "Please don't mind the clutter. It's been quite a week."
Lieutenant Collins took the offered seat, her demeanor composed and respectful. "No worries, sir."
Leo chuckled softly. "No need for formalities. Call me Leo. How can I assist you this morning?"
Collins hesitated, as if weighing her words carefully. "Well, sir-"
He interjected, a gentle wave of his hand. "Leo, please."
She sighed quietly, her expression a mix of mild exasperation and understanding. "Alright. Leo. The thing is, Corporal Torres used to be part of my platoon."
A flicker of comprehension crossed Leo's features. "I see. Are you looking to have her transferred back to your platoon?"
Collins glanced around the office before voicing her concerns. "I understand you're not my legal counsel, but if I were to share something with you in confidence, would it stay confidential?"
Leo's brow furrowed slightly, his gaze fixed on her. "Is this something that could involve admitting to an illegal act? A violation of the law?"
She shook her head firmly. "No, sir. Quite the opposite."
Leo leaned back in his chair, studying her intently. "I'm not entirely sure I understand. Just a heads up, I'm an officer of the court. If what you're about to say involves any breaches of Federation or Starfleet regulations, I'm obligated to stop this conversation and advise you to seek legal counsel immediately."
Collins took a deep breath, her resolve evident. "I appreciate that, Leo. It's just that I'm aware Corporal Torres—Angela—was arrested by my CO. And I'm the one who informed Lieutenant Martinez about her sitting in the holding, where she seemed to be unattended by anyone from this office."
"Aside from the fact that it's nice to see at least one officer from your company care about due process," Leo cooly noted, "I fail to see how this information would need to stay confidential."
"I was under direct orders from Captain Kline to leave her there until he had figured out what to do with her," she said, though her words came haltingly as she closed the sentence.
Leo leaned forward. "Really?"
She nodded silently.
"Okay," he placed his hands on the desk and clasped his fingers together, letting his eyes stare beyond her and through the clear pane of transparent aluminum out into the office. As the day at JAG had begun, there were several people visibly working or carrying conversations. "Okay," he repeated, coming to a conclusion. "I'm going to ask you a few questions, and these are just off the top of my head."
Again, she nodded without speaking.
"How long ago was Corporal Torres originally arrested?"
"Five days-no, six days ago."
"Was she read her rights when she was taken into custody?"
"Yes. Gunny Drake did that in front of her squad and myself."
"Was she actually AWOL?"
Collins hesitated again. "No, she wasn't. When I brought this up to Captain Kline, he told me that Angela was no longer my concern and to stay out of it."
Leo furrowed his brow in confusion. "Then why did she admit to us that she was AWOL?"
She visibly swallowed. "Angela was covering for another private in her squad, a recruit out of boot camp who has been struggling in adjusting to his duties."
"Is this private still on the base?"
"He got transferred out three days ago, about twelve hours after they threw Angela in the cell. Still waiting for a replacement."
He opened his mouth to ask another question when the door chimed. Tilting his head in puzzlement, Leo touched the controls to open his door. "Yes?"
Corporal Angela Torres entered, carrying a PADD and stylus. She wore her marine duty uniform with the "ring and ridges" insignia of her rank on the shoulders. "Sorry to interrupt-" she caught herself as she made eye contact with Leo's visitor. "Lieutenant!" Her drill training forced her to come to attention immediately.
Collins' eyes glanced back toward Leo, as he was the senior officer on the deck.
"Oh, uh, as you were, Corporal," he said quickly, to remove the restriction from Torres. "Did you need something?"
Torres relaxed and answered. "Yes, sir. I need your authorization on these transfer forms," she said, taking the steps forward to place the PADD face-up on his desk.
"Transfer?" asked Collins.
Leo smiled with pride. "We're sending the corporal to the marine detective school," he used his own stylus to apply a signature and then entered in his authorization. "She'll be studying for two years, learning her new trade." He handed it back to the corporal, who accepted it with a smile.
"Captain Ch'charhat says when I pass, then she'll bring me back to Starbase Eight to work as an investigator for her," Torres added proudly as she checked the screen for anything missing. "And I'll get a promotion out of it, too."
"But that's a four-year program," Collins noted. "Comes with a degree, doesn't it?"
"It does. She has two years of on the job training. The Academy assures me that they'll accept her work experience as credit," Leo gestured with his hand. "And because she's going to be studying hard before she leaves, I'm sure she'll test out of a number of sections to speed things up."
The large, muscular Torres dropped her eyes down as Leo spoke and a light blush settled on her cheeks. "I'll try not to let you down, sir."
"I'm certain you won't," he replied softly. Leo turned his attention back to Collins as he noted, "By the way, we're discussing the standard operating procedure of your former unit when it comes to holding prisoners."
Collins added, "I just wanted the commander to be aware of how widespread an issue this actually is."
"Oh…" Torres let her voice trail off. Unsure of her footing at that moment, she half-turned toward the exit and asked, "Should I leave?"
"I think you might actually provide some additional perspective," Leo replied after sharing a look with Collins. "As long as the lieutenant here agrees."
"Of course," Collins said quickly. "You saw more of what was going on than I did, Angela."
Torres walked in front of the lieutenant and took the seat offered by Leo. She held the PADD across her midsection as though she were shielding herself. "Yeah, I did. But… I thought since the case was dropped and I'm no longer under Kline's command…" she let her voice softly trail off once more.
"The first question I have for you is, was this the only time that anyone in the holding company handled detainees?" Leo began.
"No, sir," Torres replied quickly. "But a majority of the time, he would detain rowdy marines or fleeties who'd had too much to drink. The marines he would just keep in the cells to dry them out and then let them go, but sometimes he would hold the fleeties longer because he doesn't like them too much."
"Not the first time I've heard of inter-service biases," Leo smirked. "How long would he keep them?"
"As long as he could get away with. Three days, sometimes longer. About a year ago, he kept a petty officer long enough to force them to miss a movement," she said as she shot a glance toward Collins. "That was before you came here, sir."
Leo gaped at that information. "That's an incredibly serious charge. What happened to the petty officer?"
"The ship's CO came down to Holding and raised hell with Kline," Torres said haltingly. "Kline ended up dropping the whole thing because the CO was about to go the base admiral. That CO was highly connected, so after that, Kline changed things up."
"So how did he change things up, exactly?"
"Uh, he would hold them under certain codewords that we would say to each other. In the official record, he would hold them as a person of interest or held for questioning," Torres looked away from Leo to consider her words. "He would use a spoken codeword like a P47 detainment; something we could say over channels. Whatever the code was, that meant they weren't to be touched or spoken to until he said so. The log is filled with stuff like that, but it's standard procedure for hanging on to folks for being a danger to the rest of the station, so when the colonel or one of his staff looks through…"
"Nothing looks unusual," Leo finished for her.
Collins breathed. "Holy shit."
Leo wondered, "Lieutenant, you didn't know about any of this?"
Torres responded before Collins could. "Sir, the officers didn't really get involved in prisoner details unless they were being punished. A lot of the stuff we get told comes from Gunny Drake, anyway."
"You don't have any interaction with Captain Kline?"
"Not really. I met him when I reported in, and he would bark at the whole company during briefings, but otherwise all our orders were passed through our platoon leaders or the Gunny. None of the platoon leaders I worked with ever issued orders to hold someone."
"We didn't have that authority," Collins said with a shake of her head. "I didn't realize how fucked up this all was."
Torres placed a hand on Collins' upper arm. "Thanks for not letting me rot down there, sir."
Collins covered Torres' hand with hers. "You're a good NCO, Angela. I wouldn't let that happen on my watch. I don't care what that asshole says."
Leo reclined in his chair, his fingers rhythmically tapping the desk's surface as he voiced his thoughts. "Your case was dismissed due to due process violations," he began, his gaze unfocused as he contemplated the situation. "But Kline, he's clever. He knows how to toe the line without stepping over it. He likely didn't anticipate Lieutenant Collins taking action, thinking he had firm control over the company."
His expression grew more concerned as he delved into the heart of the matter. "What troubles me are these casual violations—indicative of a disregard for proper procedure. This office heavily relies on the Shore Patrol and the holding company downstairs for arrest information. It's becoming clear that either trust in their competence was misplaced, or they're exploiting our understaffed JAG office to act with a sense of impunity."
Pausing for emphasis, Leo leaned forward and fixed his gaze on his visitors. "Let me illustrate it differently: if Captain Kline is abusing his power to arrest and detain, and as long as he avoids forwarding those charges to us while keeping us in the dark about people held without due process..." He allowed his words to hang in the air, his eyes drifting toward the nearby wall, deep in contemplation.
"Leo?" ventured Collins. When he fixed her with a questioning glance, she added, "You were in the middle of a thought, there."
He raised a hand and made a hand motion to indicate that he was considering everything said up to that point. "We need to talk to Becky Lawson." Leo rose up suddenly from his desk and stood at the door to let it open automatically. "Yeoman!" he called out as soon as he crossed the threshold to the office floor.
Torres and Collins shared a look, and the former tilted her head toward the latter. "The Inspector General," the lieutenant answered the unspoken question.
"Come in, Leo," said Captain Ch'charhat with a smile on her face. She gestured to her guest, the Edosian marine officer Reter that came into their collective acquaintance the previous day. "You can help me in convincing Mr. Reter that he might find a home at JAG."
Leo stepped inside, alone. He moved forward enough to let the doors slide shut behind him and offered a smile of his own in greeting. "Oh, really?"
Reter turned his head and admitted, "It's an intriguing, attracting, and luring offer. However, if I do seek a transfer, the honorable choice would be to finish my tour of duty." He glanced back at Janeera and continued, "I had not really given much consideration to my career options, presuming I might remain at Starbase Eight in similar capacity. The notion of joining this office in twelve months is worthy of contemplation."
Before Janeera could say anything further, Leo approached Reter. "By some happy coincidence, Lieutenant, I'm really glad you're here right now."
"Why is that, sir?" Reter asked, his tone holding suspicion.
Rather than answering Reter's question, Leo turned to Janeera. "Captain, I'd like permission to involve the IG on this investigation."
"What investigation?" Janeera leaned forward in surprise. "I don't recall assigning one to you."
Leo took the other open seat in front of her desk and explained the meeting in his office earlier that morning with Lieutenant Collins and Corporal Torres. "The implications that this could be a habitual exploitation is alarming," he opined as his closing sentence.
"'Alarming' is not the word I would use," Reter said with a heavy sigh. He offered several alternatives, "Outrageous. Shocking. Scandalous. Untenable-"
Janeera's expression turned from one of shock to mirth. "Thank you, Mr. Reter." She once again opened her hand to point at Reter. "What role do you see our new friend taking in your now-authorized investigation?"
"Well," Leo replied softly, "seeing as how he's not transferred over, yet-"
"Pardon me, sir, but I haven't agreed to transfer at all," Reter cautioned while raising his center hand.
Leo tutted. "A minor detail, Lieutenant." After Reter's snort, Leo added, "As I said, he's still in the holding company as a supply officer. This gives him a certain amount of access and perspective. Also… dare I say, some learned testimony on the nature of business within the garrison."
Reter and Janeera suddenly shared a look with one another. It was Janeera who spoke first. "I understand where you're going. But, as the lieutenant mentioned, he hasn't made a decision on whether he'll join us."
"That's of no consequence," Leo noted. He turned to Reter and asked, "Regardless of whether you join our office or not, can I count your sense of justice and loyalty as a marine officer to understand what's at stake?"
"Absolutely, Commander," Reter's posture straightened in his seat. "If this is born out as true, then I would have no choice. To do otherwise would be a faithless, perfidious, and disloyal act against my oath of office." He rose and extended his center hand to Leo. "I would be honored to assist you, sir."
Janeera and Leo both stood from their seats. She shot him a smirk before Leo turned his eyes to Reter. Accepting the hand in his, Leo smiled. "Thank you, Lieutenant. I'm honored by your assistance. And please, call me Leo."
"Coordinate with Captain Lawson," Janeera ordered. "You're the lead on this, and given that I might have to preside over the matter, I'll let you have full latitude to move as you see fit, Leo."
"Aye, sir," Leo replied. "By your leave, Captain?"
She waved at him. "Back to work."
"Aye, sir," he intoned once more, then departed the office.
Reter watched Leo leave, then turned his attention back to Janeera. "I'll gladly, happily, and eagerly take that transfer, Captain. In fact, if possible, I would prefer to accept it with immediate effect following the needs of Commander Verde's investigation. However…"
Her curiosity caused her to prompt his response. "However?"
The Edosian used his right hand to chuck a thumb at the door. "I want to work for him."
Janeera's reply came in the form of a silent, satisfied grin.
Starbase 8
In orbit of Memory Alpha
VIP Quarters 6A01, assigned to LCDR Leo Verde
January 26, 2318
"So what happened after?" asked Commander Keena Val, her image on the small desktop screen in Leo's quarters. He leaned back in his chair, the ambient light from the screen casting a soft glow in the dimly lit room.
Leo unfastened the shoulder strap of his maroon uniform jacket. He pulled the front flap down with a quick motion. The metallic snaps on the side released with soft clicks, punctuating the silence in his quarters. "The charges against the corporal were dropped, and later, it became apparent that due to the poor judgment exercised by the holding company commander, the charges against me were equally baseless. That left Mr. Reter with no other recourse but to withdraw."
Keena's image nodded, her expression curious yet empathetic. "And what about the corporal?"
A wry grin crossed Leo's face. "Corporal Torres has been transferred to the JAG office. She's starting off as my orderly."
"Starting off?"
"I've got plans for her. She's got a certain quality."
Keena leaned closer to the screen, her features more defined. "You always manage to stir things up, Rally. You've barely been there, what, two weeks?"
He chuckled softly, a hint of exhaustion in his eyes. "A little over eight days."
"Eight days and you've already tangled yourself in the middle of another mess that you couldn't ignore."
Leo shrugged, his fingers idly tapping on the armrest. "It wasn't even my case to begin with. Torres was being railroaded in the worst possible way. I can't fathom how anyone thought they could get away with it."
"Considering their circumstances, I can see the desperation. Understaffed, under-resourced, trying to power through their caseload…" Keena's voice trailed off.
Leo's gaze wandered, drawn to the starlit expanse beyond the viewports of his opulent housing. "True. But it wasn't even my observation that set things in motion. It was Alejandro, my second chair. He had a gut feeling about the case," He mused, his thoughts momentarily distant. "He's got good instincts."
Keena's smile was warm and knowing. "Sounds like you've found some kindred spirits over there."
Leo's lips quirked up. "The whole office seems to be driven by a genuine desire to make things right. The CO, the other lawyers, the paralegals… they're all striving to do their best."
"And that surprises you?" Keena's voice held a mix of curiosity and gentle teasing.
Leo paused, contemplating her question. After a long moment, he let out a slow breath. "Honestly, I don't know. When I arrived here, I was mostly focused on how much I miss serving with you and everyone."
"We miss you, too," she assured him. "They transferred in a replacement the month after you left."
"Oh? How are they getting along?"
"Okay, I guess. Though Grax called him by your name a couple of times during the first wardroom meeting," she said with mirthful eyes.
Leo raised his hand to cover his eyes. "He didn't."
Keena grinned. "It's Grax, it's the only way he knew how to rib a certain someone over what happened. Y'know, without calling too much attention to himself."
"I really hope he didn't get raked over the coals over it."
She shook her head. "Not that he's let me know, but I know the new guy didn't mind. At first."
"What does that mean?"
"He thought it was amusing, but then after about a week… I guess he got the scuttlebutt from someone about you, and then he wasn't too happy about it. But, Grax outranks him, so nothing ever really came of it," she explained. Off his distressed look, Keena offered a soft, "Sorry."
"It's all right," Leo waved it off. "I should get used to it."
She sighed. "No, you shouldn't. I feel like I'm on a ship run by teenagers, sometimes. But enough about that. Are you doing okay?"
He lifted his eyes up to meet hers on the screen. "I'm okay. This is all new, right? I'm trying the whole 'throw yourself into the work' method of distraction. Because if I don't, then I'll just sit here and lament the fact that no starship captain would take a chance on an officer with… well, you know. Suffice to say, my own melancholy was clouding my perspective the first week."
Keena's gaze softened. "You're good at what you do, Rally.. And listen, if anyone ever asks me my opinion about your space service credentials-"
Leo's reaction was swift, a mixture of surprise and caution. "Keena… you can't."
"If it's off the record-"
The potential outcome increased Leo's anxiety and he leaned forward to drive his point home. "You know what will happen."
"You could always ask your mom-"
He shook his head. "She's already done what she could. The only reason I'm still in Starfleet is because she's tight with the CO, here. I just… y'know?" He said that last with a defeated shrug.
Her sigh was a mix of resignation and empathy. "I know. I hate that there's nothing I can really do. It's not fair."
He sighed too, his arms crossing as he leaned back in his chair. "Life rarely is."
Keena's gaze held his, a silent understanding passing between them. "Politics," she stated, a hint of bitterness in her voice.
Leo nodded, his expression a blend of resignation and determination. "Politics."
Returning to his office an hour before his duty shift, Leo found a marine second lieutenant seated in the reception area. Her presence was unexpected, but it was her closely cropped hair that caught his attention—an unconventional choice that stood out against the standard marine appearance. While marines typically emphasized close-order training, the tradition of shaved heads had faded with time.
After a brief exchange with the yeoman at the reception desk, Leo stepped into his office. The interior lights flickered to life, casting a gentle glow across the room. Picking up the PADD he had left the previous night, he skimmed through its contents to refresh his memory, absorbing the information as his eyes scanned the screen. Satisfied, he turned his focus to the pile of administrative tasks that had accumulated over the past couple of days.
As the top of the hour chimed, Leo received a call from the yeoman, notifying him that a Lieutenant Collins was waiting. With a simple tap of a control on his desk, he granted entry to his office. Moments later, the marine officer he had noticed earlier walked in.
Rising from his chair, Leo offered a friendly smile. He gestured to the seat in front of his desk, inviting her to sit. "Please don't mind the clutter. It's been quite a week."
Lieutenant Collins took the offered seat, her demeanor composed and respectful. "No worries, sir."
Leo chuckled softly. "No need for formalities. Call me Leo. How can I assist you this morning?"
Collins hesitated, as if weighing her words carefully. "Well, sir-"
He interjected, a gentle wave of his hand. "Leo, please."
She sighed quietly, her expression a mix of mild exasperation and understanding. "Alright. Leo. The thing is, Corporal Torres used to be part of my platoon."
A flicker of comprehension crossed Leo's features. "I see. Are you looking to have her transferred back to your platoon?"
Collins glanced around the office before voicing her concerns. "I understand you're not my legal counsel, but if I were to share something with you in confidence, would it stay confidential?"
Leo's brow furrowed slightly, his gaze fixed on her. "Is this something that could involve admitting to an illegal act? A violation of the law?"
She shook her head firmly. "No, sir. Quite the opposite."
Leo leaned back in his chair, studying her intently. "I'm not entirely sure I understand. Just a heads up, I'm an officer of the court. If what you're about to say involves any breaches of Federation or Starfleet regulations, I'm obligated to stop this conversation and advise you to seek legal counsel immediately."
Collins took a deep breath, her resolve evident. "I appreciate that, Leo. It's just that I'm aware Corporal Torres—Angela—was arrested by my CO. And I'm the one who informed Lieutenant Martinez about her sitting in the holding, where she seemed to be unattended by anyone from this office."
"Aside from the fact that it's nice to see at least one officer from your company care about due process," Leo cooly noted, "I fail to see how this information would need to stay confidential."
"I was under direct orders from Captain Kline to leave her there until he had figured out what to do with her," she said, though her words came haltingly as she closed the sentence.
Leo leaned forward. "Really?"
She nodded silently.
"Okay," he placed his hands on the desk and clasped his fingers together, letting his eyes stare beyond her and through the clear pane of transparent aluminum out into the office. As the day at JAG had begun, there were several people visibly working or carrying conversations. "Okay," he repeated, coming to a conclusion. "I'm going to ask you a few questions, and these are just off the top of my head."
Again, she nodded without speaking.
"How long ago was Corporal Torres originally arrested?"
"Five days-no, six days ago."
"Was she read her rights when she was taken into custody?"
"Yes. Gunny Drake did that in front of her squad and myself."
"Was she actually AWOL?"
Collins hesitated again. "No, she wasn't. When I brought this up to Captain Kline, he told me that Angela was no longer my concern and to stay out of it."
Leo furrowed his brow in confusion. "Then why did she admit to us that she was AWOL?"
She visibly swallowed. "Angela was covering for another private in her squad, a recruit out of boot camp who has been struggling in adjusting to his duties."
"Is this private still on the base?"
"He got transferred out three days ago, about twelve hours after they threw Angela in the cell. Still waiting for a replacement."
He opened his mouth to ask another question when the door chimed. Tilting his head in puzzlement, Leo touched the controls to open his door. "Yes?"
Corporal Angela Torres entered, carrying a PADD and stylus. She wore her marine duty uniform with the "ring and ridges" insignia of her rank on the shoulders. "Sorry to interrupt-" she caught herself as she made eye contact with Leo's visitor. "Lieutenant!" Her drill training forced her to come to attention immediately.
Collins' eyes glanced back toward Leo, as he was the senior officer on the deck.
"Oh, uh, as you were, Corporal," he said quickly, to remove the restriction from Torres. "Did you need something?"
Torres relaxed and answered. "Yes, sir. I need your authorization on these transfer forms," she said, taking the steps forward to place the PADD face-up on his desk.
"Transfer?" asked Collins.
Leo smiled with pride. "We're sending the corporal to the marine detective school," he used his own stylus to apply a signature and then entered in his authorization. "She'll be studying for two years, learning her new trade." He handed it back to the corporal, who accepted it with a smile.
"Captain Ch'charhat says when I pass, then she'll bring me back to Starbase Eight to work as an investigator for her," Torres added proudly as she checked the screen for anything missing. "And I'll get a promotion out of it, too."
"But that's a four-year program," Collins noted. "Comes with a degree, doesn't it?"
"It does. She has two years of on the job training. The Academy assures me that they'll accept her work experience as credit," Leo gestured with his hand. "And because she's going to be studying hard before she leaves, I'm sure she'll test out of a number of sections to speed things up."
The large, muscular Torres dropped her eyes down as Leo spoke and a light blush settled on her cheeks. "I'll try not to let you down, sir."
"I'm certain you won't," he replied softly. Leo turned his attention back to Collins as he noted, "By the way, we're discussing the standard operating procedure of your former unit when it comes to holding prisoners."
Collins added, "I just wanted the commander to be aware of how widespread an issue this actually is."
"Oh…" Torres let her voice trail off. Unsure of her footing at that moment, she half-turned toward the exit and asked, "Should I leave?"
"I think you might actually provide some additional perspective," Leo replied after sharing a look with Collins. "As long as the lieutenant here agrees."
"Of course," Collins said quickly. "You saw more of what was going on than I did, Angela."
Torres walked in front of the lieutenant and took the seat offered by Leo. She held the PADD across her midsection as though she were shielding herself. "Yeah, I did. But… I thought since the case was dropped and I'm no longer under Kline's command…" she let her voice softly trail off once more.
"The first question I have for you is, was this the only time that anyone in the holding company handled detainees?" Leo began.
"No, sir," Torres replied quickly. "But a majority of the time, he would detain rowdy marines or fleeties who'd had too much to drink. The marines he would just keep in the cells to dry them out and then let them go, but sometimes he would hold the fleeties longer because he doesn't like them too much."
"Not the first time I've heard of inter-service biases," Leo smirked. "How long would he keep them?"
"As long as he could get away with. Three days, sometimes longer. About a year ago, he kept a petty officer long enough to force them to miss a movement," she said as she shot a glance toward Collins. "That was before you came here, sir."
Leo gaped at that information. "That's an incredibly serious charge. What happened to the petty officer?"
"The ship's CO came down to Holding and raised hell with Kline," Torres said haltingly. "Kline ended up dropping the whole thing because the CO was about to go the base admiral. That CO was highly connected, so after that, Kline changed things up."
"So how did he change things up, exactly?"
"Uh, he would hold them under certain codewords that we would say to each other. In the official record, he would hold them as a person of interest or held for questioning," Torres looked away from Leo to consider her words. "He would use a spoken codeword like a P47 detainment; something we could say over channels. Whatever the code was, that meant they weren't to be touched or spoken to until he said so. The log is filled with stuff like that, but it's standard procedure for hanging on to folks for being a danger to the rest of the station, so when the colonel or one of his staff looks through…"
"Nothing looks unusual," Leo finished for her.
Collins breathed. "Holy shit."
Leo wondered, "Lieutenant, you didn't know about any of this?"
Torres responded before Collins could. "Sir, the officers didn't really get involved in prisoner details unless they were being punished. A lot of the stuff we get told comes from Gunny Drake, anyway."
"You don't have any interaction with Captain Kline?"
"Not really. I met him when I reported in, and he would bark at the whole company during briefings, but otherwise all our orders were passed through our platoon leaders or the Gunny. None of the platoon leaders I worked with ever issued orders to hold someone."
"We didn't have that authority," Collins said with a shake of her head. "I didn't realize how fucked up this all was."
Torres placed a hand on Collins' upper arm. "Thanks for not letting me rot down there, sir."
Collins covered Torres' hand with hers. "You're a good NCO, Angela. I wouldn't let that happen on my watch. I don't care what that asshole says."
Leo reclined in his chair, his fingers rhythmically tapping the desk's surface as he voiced his thoughts. "Your case was dismissed due to due process violations," he began, his gaze unfocused as he contemplated the situation. "But Kline, he's clever. He knows how to toe the line without stepping over it. He likely didn't anticipate Lieutenant Collins taking action, thinking he had firm control over the company."
His expression grew more concerned as he delved into the heart of the matter. "What troubles me are these casual violations—indicative of a disregard for proper procedure. This office heavily relies on the Shore Patrol and the holding company downstairs for arrest information. It's becoming clear that either trust in their competence was misplaced, or they're exploiting our understaffed JAG office to act with a sense of impunity."
Pausing for emphasis, Leo leaned forward and fixed his gaze on his visitors. "Let me illustrate it differently: if Captain Kline is abusing his power to arrest and detain, and as long as he avoids forwarding those charges to us while keeping us in the dark about people held without due process..." He allowed his words to hang in the air, his eyes drifting toward the nearby wall, deep in contemplation.
"Leo?" ventured Collins. When he fixed her with a questioning glance, she added, "You were in the middle of a thought, there."
He raised a hand and made a hand motion to indicate that he was considering everything said up to that point. "We need to talk to Becky Lawson." Leo rose up suddenly from his desk and stood at the door to let it open automatically. "Yeoman!" he called out as soon as he crossed the threshold to the office floor.
Torres and Collins shared a look, and the former tilted her head toward the latter. "The Inspector General," the lieutenant answered the unspoken question.
"Come in, Leo," said Captain Ch'charhat with a smile on her face. She gestured to her guest, the Edosian marine officer Reter that came into their collective acquaintance the previous day. "You can help me in convincing Mr. Reter that he might find a home at JAG."
Leo stepped inside, alone. He moved forward enough to let the doors slide shut behind him and offered a smile of his own in greeting. "Oh, really?"
Reter turned his head and admitted, "It's an intriguing, attracting, and luring offer. However, if I do seek a transfer, the honorable choice would be to finish my tour of duty." He glanced back at Janeera and continued, "I had not really given much consideration to my career options, presuming I might remain at Starbase Eight in similar capacity. The notion of joining this office in twelve months is worthy of contemplation."
Before Janeera could say anything further, Leo approached Reter. "By some happy coincidence, Lieutenant, I'm really glad you're here right now."
"Why is that, sir?" Reter asked, his tone holding suspicion.
Rather than answering Reter's question, Leo turned to Janeera. "Captain, I'd like permission to involve the IG on this investigation."
"What investigation?" Janeera leaned forward in surprise. "I don't recall assigning one to you."
Leo took the other open seat in front of her desk and explained the meeting in his office earlier that morning with Lieutenant Collins and Corporal Torres. "The implications that this could be a habitual exploitation is alarming," he opined as his closing sentence.
"'Alarming' is not the word I would use," Reter said with a heavy sigh. He offered several alternatives, "Outrageous. Shocking. Scandalous. Untenable-"
Janeera's expression turned from one of shock to mirth. "Thank you, Mr. Reter." She once again opened her hand to point at Reter. "What role do you see our new friend taking in your now-authorized investigation?"
"Well," Leo replied softly, "seeing as how he's not transferred over, yet-"
"Pardon me, sir, but I haven't agreed to transfer at all," Reter cautioned while raising his center hand.
Leo tutted. "A minor detail, Lieutenant." After Reter's snort, Leo added, "As I said, he's still in the holding company as a supply officer. This gives him a certain amount of access and perspective. Also… dare I say, some learned testimony on the nature of business within the garrison."
Reter and Janeera suddenly shared a look with one another. It was Janeera who spoke first. "I understand where you're going. But, as the lieutenant mentioned, he hasn't made a decision on whether he'll join us."
"That's of no consequence," Leo noted. He turned to Reter and asked, "Regardless of whether you join our office or not, can I count your sense of justice and loyalty as a marine officer to understand what's at stake?"
"Absolutely, Commander," Reter's posture straightened in his seat. "If this is born out as true, then I would have no choice. To do otherwise would be a faithless, perfidious, and disloyal act against my oath of office." He rose and extended his center hand to Leo. "I would be honored to assist you, sir."
Janeera and Leo both stood from their seats. She shot him a smirk before Leo turned his eyes to Reter. Accepting the hand in his, Leo smiled. "Thank you, Lieutenant. I'm honored by your assistance. And please, call me Leo."
"Coordinate with Captain Lawson," Janeera ordered. "You're the lead on this, and given that I might have to preside over the matter, I'll let you have full latitude to move as you see fit, Leo."
"Aye, sir," Leo replied. "By your leave, Captain?"
She waved at him. "Back to work."
"Aye, sir," he intoned once more, then departed the office.
Reter watched Leo leave, then turned his attention back to Janeera. "I'll gladly, happily, and eagerly take that transfer, Captain. In fact, if possible, I would prefer to accept it with immediate effect following the needs of Commander Verde's investigation. However…"
Her curiosity caused her to prompt his response. "However?"
The Edosian used his right hand to chuck a thumb at the door. "I want to work for him."
Janeera's reply came in the form of a silent, satisfied grin.
And the plot thickens... Waiting eagerly for each update. High quality stuff! Thanks!! rbs
Loving this!! I was a pretty big JAG and NCIS fan once upon a time, and this is giving me lots of little goosebumps 
More please!
More please!
Thank you both very much! And @Orbing Master the JAG vibe is exactly what I was going for, but with more authenticity. I say with a lot of love for Harm and Mac (btw, who got done wrong in the later NCIS shows IMHO), but the last three seasons of JAG got pretty wild! I'm going to try to keep Leo's story a bit more grounded.
Yeah, Harm and Mac were done dirty, that's for sure. As far as your story, keep it coming!!
Thanks @Cobalt Frost !
Btw: If anyone would like a little insight on the behind-the-scenes for this story, I wrote a WIP progress report on my writing blog over at the Ad Astra Journal Community: http://blog.stfsa.net/2023/09/08/the-trial-of-pantsing-wip-report/
Btw: If anyone would like a little insight on the behind-the-scenes for this story, I wrote a WIP progress report on my writing blog over at the Ad Astra Journal Community: http://blog.stfsa.net/2023/09/08/the-trial-of-pantsing-wip-report/
All we need is a Starbase 8 Shore Patrol version....LOL @CeJay - I just updated the First Duty description on Ad Astra to mimic Law & Order because of your comment.
This is all very intriguing but can we just get to the part where Leo demands to know if Captain Kline ordered the Code Red? Or is it a Code Brown?
Great stuff. Continue to enjoy this look at a very different side of Trek where the villains are wearing the same uniforms.
Great stuff. Continue to enjoy this look at a very different side of Trek where the villains are wearing the same uniforms.
Part Seven: Cui Bono
Starbase 8
In orbit of Memory Alpha
Observation Lounge
January 28, 2318
"Marine to be promoted! Center! March!" Colonel Marina Sullivan's voice boomed through the ranks of the garrison's officers, setting the tone for the ceremony. The marines assembled within the spacious observation lounge; the massive viewports provided an unparalleled vantage of the ships approaching and departing the starbase in all directions, given its location at the topmost level. It shared the deck with a handful of conference rooms and small rooms intended for private communications and office space.
First Lieutenant Reter executed the drill maneuver with precise grace. His three feet pivoted smoothly to the right, positioning him in front of the colonel and the lieutenant colonel, the two officers leading the garrison. Off to the side, the starbase's deputy commanding officer, Commodore Thelk, stood as a silent observer, his hawk-like gaze fixed on the proceedings.
The lieutenant colonel produced a PADD and began reading from it in a solemn voice, each word carrying weight. "To all who shall see these presents, greetings: Know ye that reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity, diligence, patriotism, fidelity, and abilities of First Lieutenant Reter, I do promote him to the rank of Captain in the Starfleet Marine Corps, as of this date." His words hung in the air, marking the significance of the moment.
Reter listened intently, his stance unwavering. The colonel's voice continued to resonate. "This officer will, therefore, carefully and diligently discharge the duties of the office to which appointed by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging."
Commodore Thelk, a figure of authority and respect, stepped forward. He deftly removed the insignia device from Reter's service dress uniform, replacing it with the captain's device. As he performed the task, he offered quiet congratulations, which Reter acknowledged with a subtle nod.
The colonel moved forward to re-administer Reter's Oath of Office. Reter's voice rang out, unwavering and determined, as he recited the oath, emphasizing phrases like "protect" and "defend" and underscoring the gravity of his commitment.
Colonel Sullivan then addressed the assembly, her words speaking of the significance of the promotion. She praised Reter's exemplary performance as the supply officer, highlighting how even seemingly small roles could impact the entire Corps. She hinted at the bright future ahead for Captain Reter, a future filled with greater responsibilities.
With the ceremony concluded, the officers broke from their formation. The air buzzed with congratulations, and talk of a celebration echoed through the lounge. A Wetting Down was suggested, to be held in the Officer's Club below, with Reter as the guest of honor and solitary patron.
Amid the crowd, Commodore Thelk approached Reter, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Captain, a moment of your time, please."
Reter responded promptly, "Of course, sir." He followed the commodore as they left the lounge, moving into the corridor.
Once they were in a private conference room, Thelk spoke. "I understand you had a meeting with Captain Ch'charhat yesterday morning."
"That is correct, sir," Reter answered with a succinct nod of his head.
"Might I ask the topic or topics of discussion held within her office?"
"I'm sure you're aware, sir, that until I appeared in court the other day, she had not been previously aware that I was an attorney, and wished to speak with me about how my talents could be used to augment the sparse, paltry, and meager ranks of the JAG Corps aboard Starbase Eight."
Thelk harrumphed. His snout flared with the sudden exhale. "I see. Are you considering a transfer?"
Reter tilted his head. "My prospects given my new rank have not yet been made known to me. The colonel made mention of continuing as supply officer, although I'm now too senior for that billet. I'm certain the Corps shall have use for me once my tour of duty is complete." Off Thelk's pointed glare, he added quickly, "I'm considering, appraising, and pondering all options available to me, sir."
"It has also been made known to me that Lieutenant Commander Verde took part in that meeting," Thelk noted in a stressed tone. "What, if any, substance did he bring to the discussion?"
"Forgive my impertinence, Commodore, but you are awfully well-informed of my daily itinerary. May I ask why that is?"
The Tellarite growled and closed the distance between them; close enough to feel the exhale of his snout against his orangish skin. "The day that something occurs on this base without my knowledge shall be the day I hand in my resignation, Captain. Answer my question."
Reter blinked with curiosity. He stuck with the agreed-upon cover. "Commander Verde had been called in by Captain Ch'charhat to answer direct, candid, and straightforward questions regarding the duties and responsibilities I would be expected to carry out, as I would theoretically be under his direct leadership."
"What else?"
"They made mention of an early promotion if I should agree to transfer," Reter admitted.
Thelk grinned, showing the root of both of his tusks. "You have your early promotion to Captain, now. There is no need for you to consider a transfer if that was the only benefit they saw fit to offer," he said smugly. "A piece of advice?"
"Sir?"
"Stay away from Verde. If you value your career in the Marine Corps, you will give him a wide berth. Do you hear me?"
Again, Reter fixed a curious gaze upon the commodore. "Yes, sir. I hear you loud and clear."
Thelk stepped back; a toothy grin of satisfaction upon his expression. "Very good. And if Verde ever comes and speaks to you about anything, you are under orders to inform me of that discussion, the substance, and the outcome."
"Is this a direct order, sir?"
Thelk snorted. "You're damned right it is!"
Reter snapped to attention. "Aye, aye, sir."
The commodore, finding no other matter to discuss with him, began to stalk back to the corridor. He paused at the doorway, just before the threshold and gave Reter some parting words. "Congratulations again, Captain Reter. Make us proud." With that, the conversation concluded as quickly as it began.
As Reter recounted Commodore Thelk's warning over coffee in the station's bustling commercial district, Leo arched both his eyebrows, a silent signal that something was amiss. His curiosity piqued, he leaned in, listening intently.
"In the interest of keeping this chat innocuous," Leo began, choosing his words carefully, "let's say it was just a follow-up from yesterday's meeting. I congratulated you on your promotion, and you politely declined our offer."
Reter acknowledged Leo's words with a nod, his bright amber eyes holding a glint of understanding. "Thank you for your congratulations, Commander," he responded with a subtle, knowing smile. "But we both know that's not the whole truth."
Leo sighed, the corners of his mouth tugging slightly downward. He spoke with a hint of unease, mindful of any potential eavesdroppers. "I'd rather deal with the present than speculate about the future. Our platoon leader friend is on board, acting as our intermediary until we're ready to take the next step."
Reter's smug grin persisted, almost as if he relished Leo's discomfort. "Agreed," he stated. "So, I assume the Inspector General passed on launching a formal, official, and sanctioned investigation?"
Leo gazed into his coffee, deep in thought. "Captain Lawson wants more concrete evidence before she moves forward officially," he admitted. "But she's definitely intrigued. This is where you and our friend come into play."
Reter's gaze followed Leo's to a pair of marine second lieutenants who had briefly noticed their conversation before quickly turning away. "Understood," Reter affirmed, finishing his coffee and standing up. He extended his right hand in a conciliatory gesture. "I'll rendezvous, meet, and confer with our friend, and you'll hear from me soon, Leo."
Leo shook Reter's hand and let out a resigned sigh. "Good luck, Captain," he said in a slightly raised voice. "And if you ever have a change of heart…"
Reter maintained eye contact and matched Leo's volume. "You'll be the first to know, Commander," he replied before turning and heading off into the bustling crowd.
Second Lieutenant Marie Collins stared at the desktop terminal with frustration. Regardless of how she chose to access the holding records, it mattered not. Either the records were deleted from the system, or her credentials did not come with high enough authorization to see them. Under normal circumstances, given her position as a platoon leader within the company that held responsibility for the holding facility on the starbase, she should have the ability to see those records. Her reporting required access to be thorough.
"Trouble, Lieutenant?" asked a new voice.
Collins felt the shiver run up and down her spine. She could not help but jump slightly in her seat before looking up at the source. Seeing a familiar face, she let out a relieved sigh. "Oh, damn, you scared me, sir."
Reter frowned. "It was not my intention, aim, or purpose, Lieutenant. My apologies." He took a defensive posture with his left and right arms crossed over his midsection. The center hand he held in an open gesture. "Might I be of some assistance?"
Her eyes drifted around the shared office space and she kept her voice low. "I was working on my weekly reports and tried to call up the holding records for the week. I'm apparently no longer authorized to see them."
Yet another new voice called out. "All holding records are under lockdown," said the company's Gunnery Sergeant, Sam Drake. "CO's Orders." He approached the pair of officers, not bothering to conceal his contempt. "All reports requiring access are postponed until further notice, so access is not required."
Collins rose from her seat. "I wasn't informed about this, Gunny. Reports need to be submitted on time per the colonel's directive."
Drake's eyes glanced at Reter before he responded to Collins' uncharacteristic defiance. "Shouldn't you be down in cargo, counting whatever it is you need to count?"
She took a step forward before Reter raised a hand to deter her movement. "It is no trouble for me to be here, Gunny," Reter replied. "I'm still the platoon's S-4 until they reassign me to a role suitable, appropriate, and befitting my new rank."
The gunny grumbled, seemingly cowed by the mention of Reter's captaincy. "We don't see much of you here in the company office, is all. Kind of weird."
"The lieutenant appeared to be having some trouble before you arrived," Reter continued without addressing Drake's concern. "I thought perhaps it was a malfunction, fault, or glitch within our system. Something that perhaps my new friend Commodore Thelk would want to be aware of."
Drake went ashen at the mention of Thelk. "Oh. Then you kno-" he cut himself off, realizing that Collins remained part of the discussion. "I meant to say, sir, there is no need to involve the Commodore. Captain Kline is working with Colonel Sullivan on a project involving the holding records and to prevent tampering, access has been restricted to the highest levels for the time being."
Reter turned back to Collins. "That sounds like a perfectly reasonable, rational, and sensible explanation. Would you not agree, Lieutenant?"
"Oh, yes, sir," Colline agreed performatively. "Absolutely. Thank you, Gunny, for your diligence."
Drake gave a perfunct nod to Collins. His tone grew an edge as he said, "You're welcome."
"If there's nothing else, you're dismissed, Gunny," Reter commanded.
The gunny started, before he halted and stared at Reter. His eyes hardened, as though he were playing out a scenario in his head. Whatever the outcome, he chose to obey. "Aye, aye, sir."
Once left alone, Collins leaned over and asked, "You know the Commodore, sir?"
Reter nodded. "He's put me on orders to keep him informed of particular conversations."
"Fold," declared Leo emphatically as he pushed his cards away from him as though they were radioactive. After nearly thirty hands of trash cards dumped post-discard, the pile of chips dwindled down to two; barely enough for the ante coming up on the next round. Certainly not enough to stay in the game without a "rebuy," which came with some added disincentives such as favors to the host.
Ensign Tom Maroni grinned. "Just not your night, Leo," he slid the cards into the discard pile in his role as dealer. He addressed the marine to his left. "Jelly, the bet's to you."
Leo pocketed the two chips and then pushed away from the poker table. He approached the servitor against the bulkhead where all of the alcoholic beverages sat at frigid temperatures for the poker players to draw from. A bucket of warmer offerings sat on the sidetable next to it, for those who preferred it. Standing next to both were two of the marine pilots. One of whom he knew from last week's game, and the other was a new face.
"Knocked out again, eh, Leo?" said the tall and lanky one on the right, a first lieutenant who had been introduced by his callsign, Yak. He hailed from Trill and kept his black hair very shaggy, almost covering his dark brown eyes entirely. Leo later learned his name was Tam Pelt, and his human pilots had adorned him relative to his second name.
After leaning in to the servitor and pulling out a bottle of imported ale, Leo offered a shrug and a grin. "You know what they say, right? Unlucky in cards, lucky in the law."
"I'd heard that as 'love,'" said the other pilot, who Leo hadn't met yet.
Leo smirked after opening the bottle and taking the first swig. "I haven't quite found that to be true, so far."
Yak grimaced. "I heard that." He gestured to the other pilot, a short human woman with short black hair and blue eyes. "By the way, meet Jillian Al-Adel, callsign Jake. She just joined the squadron this week."
She wore the uniform of the day for pilots on flight ops, a maroon and black jumpsuit with beige trim and her first lieutenant's rank insignia on the shoulders. "All right, Leo," she said with an outstretched hand.
Leo transferred his drink to the other hand and took hers in his with a moderately firm shake. He recognized the colloquial greeting and replied in kind with a nod, "Yeah, all right. Welcome to the Crazy Eight."
"Thanks," she replied with a smile and a nod. "Yak says you're with JAG?"
He took another quaff from his bottle and answered as soon as his mouth cleared of the ale. "That's right. Been here a mere two weeks and a day, so we're both the FNG of our respective units."
"He's a light commander, Jake," Yak informed her. Leo wore his comfortable civilian attire, as he had the previous week.
Jake stood at attention at that news and her expression turned to one of concern. "Sir, my apologies."
"No, no…" both Leo and Yak said, almost immediately. They continued to speak, almost in unison, "Call (him/me) Leo." That elicited a laugh from everyone except Jake, including from those seated around the poker table.
"Am I that predictable?" Leo said, chagrined.
From the table, Tom raised his voice. "You're already famous, Leo."
Seeing Jake's discomfiture, Leo raised a hand to assuage her demeanor. "I'm not in uniform, and I don't really care for all the pomp and circumstance unless it's absolutely necessary. I mean, this is supposed to be a relaxed gathering, right?"
"Yeah, he's one of the good ones," Yak confirmed, gesturing with his own beverage. "Tom vouches for him."
Jake relaxed noticeably. "Oh…" She thought about it briefly, then ventured a guess, "Were you a direct commission?"
"Academy. Class of '07," Leo replied with a shake of his head. "I did space duty from '12 to about a month and a half ago. I served on Chandleys the whole time on the border with a lot of your fellow marines, so that's why I feel at home with this bunch."
She opened her mouth silently with understanding. "Indeed. Then, you're very much welcome, Leo. Not too many of your Fleet fellows are as lax with the protocol as you are."
"Yeah, well… I took ill the day they surgically implanted the massive stick up all the ensigns bums," Leo smirked and both pilots visibly grinned at his self-deprecation. "In all seriousness, though, I just prefer to treat everyone with a decent amount of respect, and well, I guess now I'm making sure of that in JAG."
Jake smiled. "Cheers," she said with a raised bottle in salute.
"All part of the service," Leo promised. "And if you or anyone else here needs help, you come find me. I'm happy to listen."
She and Yak shared a quick glance, with Yak inclining his head toward Leo as though to tell Jake, "Told you."
The doors from the corridor parted to admit a pair of officers wearing the Starfleet uniform of the day along with the Shore Patrol badge underneath that of the Starfleet officer's badge. One of them wore the rank insignia of a full Commander, and the atmosphere within the compartment changed considerably. The characteristically large dark brown eyes of Betazoid heritage stared out at the gathered assemblage of personnel and the ongoing activities. A frown appeared on the lips below those eyes.
"I must tell you, that I am shocked - SHOCKED! - to find there's gambling going on in this establishment," the commander said, their voice rising and falling with emphasis necessary to make their dramatic (and theatrical) point.
Tom did not miss a beat. He approached the commander carrying a tray in his hands and handed it to him once he was within distance. "Your chips, sir."
"Oh, thank you, Tom, you're a scholar and a gentleman," came the reply as they approached the table and set their chips down at the open seat next to where Leo had been sitting. "I'll ante in on the next hand after I've sought out my customary libation."
"Let's take a quick break," Tom announced. "Everyone can hit the head and then something to refill the tanks."
As Leo cleared the path to the servitor, he greeted the commander as they approached. "Xaraq, good to see you."
"Leo Verde, the yin to my yang, how are you this fine evening?" Xaraq said as they leaned forward to dip their hand in the servitor entrance.
Yak and Jake moved off to give the higher-ranking officers a chance to chat, Leo noticed. He lowered his voice to respond, "Actually, I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time, sir."
Xaraq pulled out an ale identical to Leo's and frowned. "Hey, Tom? Do you have anything harder than this? I think Leo's about to drop a fully-loaded cargo container on my head with somesuch JAG nonsense."
"Yes, sir!" Tom called back. He turned to a fellow ensign, wearing a working jumpsuit and a dastar turban. "Shukla, could you take over for me while I go get the 'good stuff?' It's back at the office."
Shukla nodded wordlessly and slipped into the seat as soon as Tom departed the compartment, entirely.
Xaraq sighed, unable to thank Tom before he left. They replaced the bottle back into the servitor, undid the clasp and pulled the front of the maroon jacket downward and set off a short burst of snaps coming apart. Then, they set their eyes on Leo and asked, "Should we wait until I have something to deaden the pain?"
Leo pursed his lips together as he held back a chortle. "I know you came down here to relax."
"Oh, shit," they said. "This must be serious." Xaraq looked around for a place for semi-privacy and pulled Leo along. "Ensign Shukla, when he returns, please inform Tom to hold my chips as I will be unavoidably delayed."
Starbase 8
In orbit of Memory Alpha
Observation Lounge
January 28, 2318
"Marine to be promoted! Center! March!" Colonel Marina Sullivan's voice boomed through the ranks of the garrison's officers, setting the tone for the ceremony. The marines assembled within the spacious observation lounge; the massive viewports provided an unparalleled vantage of the ships approaching and departing the starbase in all directions, given its location at the topmost level. It shared the deck with a handful of conference rooms and small rooms intended for private communications and office space.
First Lieutenant Reter executed the drill maneuver with precise grace. His three feet pivoted smoothly to the right, positioning him in front of the colonel and the lieutenant colonel, the two officers leading the garrison. Off to the side, the starbase's deputy commanding officer, Commodore Thelk, stood as a silent observer, his hawk-like gaze fixed on the proceedings.
The lieutenant colonel produced a PADD and began reading from it in a solemn voice, each word carrying weight. "To all who shall see these presents, greetings: Know ye that reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity, diligence, patriotism, fidelity, and abilities of First Lieutenant Reter, I do promote him to the rank of Captain in the Starfleet Marine Corps, as of this date." His words hung in the air, marking the significance of the moment.
Reter listened intently, his stance unwavering. The colonel's voice continued to resonate. "This officer will, therefore, carefully and diligently discharge the duties of the office to which appointed by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging."
Commodore Thelk, a figure of authority and respect, stepped forward. He deftly removed the insignia device from Reter's service dress uniform, replacing it with the captain's device. As he performed the task, he offered quiet congratulations, which Reter acknowledged with a subtle nod.
The colonel moved forward to re-administer Reter's Oath of Office. Reter's voice rang out, unwavering and determined, as he recited the oath, emphasizing phrases like "protect" and "defend" and underscoring the gravity of his commitment.
Colonel Sullivan then addressed the assembly, her words speaking of the significance of the promotion. She praised Reter's exemplary performance as the supply officer, highlighting how even seemingly small roles could impact the entire Corps. She hinted at the bright future ahead for Captain Reter, a future filled with greater responsibilities.
With the ceremony concluded, the officers broke from their formation. The air buzzed with congratulations, and talk of a celebration echoed through the lounge. A Wetting Down was suggested, to be held in the Officer's Club below, with Reter as the guest of honor and solitary patron.
Amid the crowd, Commodore Thelk approached Reter, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Captain, a moment of your time, please."
Reter responded promptly, "Of course, sir." He followed the commodore as they left the lounge, moving into the corridor.
Once they were in a private conference room, Thelk spoke. "I understand you had a meeting with Captain Ch'charhat yesterday morning."
"That is correct, sir," Reter answered with a succinct nod of his head.
"Might I ask the topic or topics of discussion held within her office?"
"I'm sure you're aware, sir, that until I appeared in court the other day, she had not been previously aware that I was an attorney, and wished to speak with me about how my talents could be used to augment the sparse, paltry, and meager ranks of the JAG Corps aboard Starbase Eight."
Thelk harrumphed. His snout flared with the sudden exhale. "I see. Are you considering a transfer?"
Reter tilted his head. "My prospects given my new rank have not yet been made known to me. The colonel made mention of continuing as supply officer, although I'm now too senior for that billet. I'm certain the Corps shall have use for me once my tour of duty is complete." Off Thelk's pointed glare, he added quickly, "I'm considering, appraising, and pondering all options available to me, sir."
"It has also been made known to me that Lieutenant Commander Verde took part in that meeting," Thelk noted in a stressed tone. "What, if any, substance did he bring to the discussion?"
"Forgive my impertinence, Commodore, but you are awfully well-informed of my daily itinerary. May I ask why that is?"
The Tellarite growled and closed the distance between them; close enough to feel the exhale of his snout against his orangish skin. "The day that something occurs on this base without my knowledge shall be the day I hand in my resignation, Captain. Answer my question."
Reter blinked with curiosity. He stuck with the agreed-upon cover. "Commander Verde had been called in by Captain Ch'charhat to answer direct, candid, and straightforward questions regarding the duties and responsibilities I would be expected to carry out, as I would theoretically be under his direct leadership."
"What else?"
"They made mention of an early promotion if I should agree to transfer," Reter admitted.
Thelk grinned, showing the root of both of his tusks. "You have your early promotion to Captain, now. There is no need for you to consider a transfer if that was the only benefit they saw fit to offer," he said smugly. "A piece of advice?"
"Sir?"
"Stay away from Verde. If you value your career in the Marine Corps, you will give him a wide berth. Do you hear me?"
Again, Reter fixed a curious gaze upon the commodore. "Yes, sir. I hear you loud and clear."
Thelk stepped back; a toothy grin of satisfaction upon his expression. "Very good. And if Verde ever comes and speaks to you about anything, you are under orders to inform me of that discussion, the substance, and the outcome."
"Is this a direct order, sir?"
Thelk snorted. "You're damned right it is!"
Reter snapped to attention. "Aye, aye, sir."
The commodore, finding no other matter to discuss with him, began to stalk back to the corridor. He paused at the doorway, just before the threshold and gave Reter some parting words. "Congratulations again, Captain Reter. Make us proud." With that, the conversation concluded as quickly as it began.
As Reter recounted Commodore Thelk's warning over coffee in the station's bustling commercial district, Leo arched both his eyebrows, a silent signal that something was amiss. His curiosity piqued, he leaned in, listening intently.
"In the interest of keeping this chat innocuous," Leo began, choosing his words carefully, "let's say it was just a follow-up from yesterday's meeting. I congratulated you on your promotion, and you politely declined our offer."
Reter acknowledged Leo's words with a nod, his bright amber eyes holding a glint of understanding. "Thank you for your congratulations, Commander," he responded with a subtle, knowing smile. "But we both know that's not the whole truth."
Leo sighed, the corners of his mouth tugging slightly downward. He spoke with a hint of unease, mindful of any potential eavesdroppers. "I'd rather deal with the present than speculate about the future. Our platoon leader friend is on board, acting as our intermediary until we're ready to take the next step."
Reter's smug grin persisted, almost as if he relished Leo's discomfort. "Agreed," he stated. "So, I assume the Inspector General passed on launching a formal, official, and sanctioned investigation?"
Leo gazed into his coffee, deep in thought. "Captain Lawson wants more concrete evidence before she moves forward officially," he admitted. "But she's definitely intrigued. This is where you and our friend come into play."
Reter's gaze followed Leo's to a pair of marine second lieutenants who had briefly noticed their conversation before quickly turning away. "Understood," Reter affirmed, finishing his coffee and standing up. He extended his right hand in a conciliatory gesture. "I'll rendezvous, meet, and confer with our friend, and you'll hear from me soon, Leo."
Leo shook Reter's hand and let out a resigned sigh. "Good luck, Captain," he said in a slightly raised voice. "And if you ever have a change of heart…"
Reter maintained eye contact and matched Leo's volume. "You'll be the first to know, Commander," he replied before turning and heading off into the bustling crowd.
Second Lieutenant Marie Collins stared at the desktop terminal with frustration. Regardless of how she chose to access the holding records, it mattered not. Either the records were deleted from the system, or her credentials did not come with high enough authorization to see them. Under normal circumstances, given her position as a platoon leader within the company that held responsibility for the holding facility on the starbase, she should have the ability to see those records. Her reporting required access to be thorough.
"Trouble, Lieutenant?" asked a new voice.
Collins felt the shiver run up and down her spine. She could not help but jump slightly in her seat before looking up at the source. Seeing a familiar face, she let out a relieved sigh. "Oh, damn, you scared me, sir."
Reter frowned. "It was not my intention, aim, or purpose, Lieutenant. My apologies." He took a defensive posture with his left and right arms crossed over his midsection. The center hand he held in an open gesture. "Might I be of some assistance?"
Her eyes drifted around the shared office space and she kept her voice low. "I was working on my weekly reports and tried to call up the holding records for the week. I'm apparently no longer authorized to see them."
Yet another new voice called out. "All holding records are under lockdown," said the company's Gunnery Sergeant, Sam Drake. "CO's Orders." He approached the pair of officers, not bothering to conceal his contempt. "All reports requiring access are postponed until further notice, so access is not required."
Collins rose from her seat. "I wasn't informed about this, Gunny. Reports need to be submitted on time per the colonel's directive."
Drake's eyes glanced at Reter before he responded to Collins' uncharacteristic defiance. "Shouldn't you be down in cargo, counting whatever it is you need to count?"
She took a step forward before Reter raised a hand to deter her movement. "It is no trouble for me to be here, Gunny," Reter replied. "I'm still the platoon's S-4 until they reassign me to a role suitable, appropriate, and befitting my new rank."
The gunny grumbled, seemingly cowed by the mention of Reter's captaincy. "We don't see much of you here in the company office, is all. Kind of weird."
"The lieutenant appeared to be having some trouble before you arrived," Reter continued without addressing Drake's concern. "I thought perhaps it was a malfunction, fault, or glitch within our system. Something that perhaps my new friend Commodore Thelk would want to be aware of."
Drake went ashen at the mention of Thelk. "Oh. Then you kno-" he cut himself off, realizing that Collins remained part of the discussion. "I meant to say, sir, there is no need to involve the Commodore. Captain Kline is working with Colonel Sullivan on a project involving the holding records and to prevent tampering, access has been restricted to the highest levels for the time being."
Reter turned back to Collins. "That sounds like a perfectly reasonable, rational, and sensible explanation. Would you not agree, Lieutenant?"
"Oh, yes, sir," Colline agreed performatively. "Absolutely. Thank you, Gunny, for your diligence."
Drake gave a perfunct nod to Collins. His tone grew an edge as he said, "You're welcome."
"If there's nothing else, you're dismissed, Gunny," Reter commanded.
The gunny started, before he halted and stared at Reter. His eyes hardened, as though he were playing out a scenario in his head. Whatever the outcome, he chose to obey. "Aye, aye, sir."
Once left alone, Collins leaned over and asked, "You know the Commodore, sir?"
Reter nodded. "He's put me on orders to keep him informed of particular conversations."
"Fold," declared Leo emphatically as he pushed his cards away from him as though they were radioactive. After nearly thirty hands of trash cards dumped post-discard, the pile of chips dwindled down to two; barely enough for the ante coming up on the next round. Certainly not enough to stay in the game without a "rebuy," which came with some added disincentives such as favors to the host.
Ensign Tom Maroni grinned. "Just not your night, Leo," he slid the cards into the discard pile in his role as dealer. He addressed the marine to his left. "Jelly, the bet's to you."
Leo pocketed the two chips and then pushed away from the poker table. He approached the servitor against the bulkhead where all of the alcoholic beverages sat at frigid temperatures for the poker players to draw from. A bucket of warmer offerings sat on the sidetable next to it, for those who preferred it. Standing next to both were two of the marine pilots. One of whom he knew from last week's game, and the other was a new face.
"Knocked out again, eh, Leo?" said the tall and lanky one on the right, a first lieutenant who had been introduced by his callsign, Yak. He hailed from Trill and kept his black hair very shaggy, almost covering his dark brown eyes entirely. Leo later learned his name was Tam Pelt, and his human pilots had adorned him relative to his second name.
After leaning in to the servitor and pulling out a bottle of imported ale, Leo offered a shrug and a grin. "You know what they say, right? Unlucky in cards, lucky in the law."
"I'd heard that as 'love,'" said the other pilot, who Leo hadn't met yet.
Leo smirked after opening the bottle and taking the first swig. "I haven't quite found that to be true, so far."
Yak grimaced. "I heard that." He gestured to the other pilot, a short human woman with short black hair and blue eyes. "By the way, meet Jillian Al-Adel, callsign Jake. She just joined the squadron this week."
She wore the uniform of the day for pilots on flight ops, a maroon and black jumpsuit with beige trim and her first lieutenant's rank insignia on the shoulders. "All right, Leo," she said with an outstretched hand.
Leo transferred his drink to the other hand and took hers in his with a moderately firm shake. He recognized the colloquial greeting and replied in kind with a nod, "Yeah, all right. Welcome to the Crazy Eight."
"Thanks," she replied with a smile and a nod. "Yak says you're with JAG?"
He took another quaff from his bottle and answered as soon as his mouth cleared of the ale. "That's right. Been here a mere two weeks and a day, so we're both the FNG of our respective units."
"He's a light commander, Jake," Yak informed her. Leo wore his comfortable civilian attire, as he had the previous week.
Jake stood at attention at that news and her expression turned to one of concern. "Sir, my apologies."
"No, no…" both Leo and Yak said, almost immediately. They continued to speak, almost in unison, "Call (him/me) Leo." That elicited a laugh from everyone except Jake, including from those seated around the poker table.
"Am I that predictable?" Leo said, chagrined.
From the table, Tom raised his voice. "You're already famous, Leo."
Seeing Jake's discomfiture, Leo raised a hand to assuage her demeanor. "I'm not in uniform, and I don't really care for all the pomp and circumstance unless it's absolutely necessary. I mean, this is supposed to be a relaxed gathering, right?"
"Yeah, he's one of the good ones," Yak confirmed, gesturing with his own beverage. "Tom vouches for him."
Jake relaxed noticeably. "Oh…" She thought about it briefly, then ventured a guess, "Were you a direct commission?"
"Academy. Class of '07," Leo replied with a shake of his head. "I did space duty from '12 to about a month and a half ago. I served on Chandleys the whole time on the border with a lot of your fellow marines, so that's why I feel at home with this bunch."
She opened her mouth silently with understanding. "Indeed. Then, you're very much welcome, Leo. Not too many of your Fleet fellows are as lax with the protocol as you are."
"Yeah, well… I took ill the day they surgically implanted the massive stick up all the ensigns bums," Leo smirked and both pilots visibly grinned at his self-deprecation. "In all seriousness, though, I just prefer to treat everyone with a decent amount of respect, and well, I guess now I'm making sure of that in JAG."
Jake smiled. "Cheers," she said with a raised bottle in salute.
"All part of the service," Leo promised. "And if you or anyone else here needs help, you come find me. I'm happy to listen."
She and Yak shared a quick glance, with Yak inclining his head toward Leo as though to tell Jake, "Told you."
The doors from the corridor parted to admit a pair of officers wearing the Starfleet uniform of the day along with the Shore Patrol badge underneath that of the Starfleet officer's badge. One of them wore the rank insignia of a full Commander, and the atmosphere within the compartment changed considerably. The characteristically large dark brown eyes of Betazoid heritage stared out at the gathered assemblage of personnel and the ongoing activities. A frown appeared on the lips below those eyes.
"I must tell you, that I am shocked - SHOCKED! - to find there's gambling going on in this establishment," the commander said, their voice rising and falling with emphasis necessary to make their dramatic (and theatrical) point.
Tom did not miss a beat. He approached the commander carrying a tray in his hands and handed it to him once he was within distance. "Your chips, sir."
"Oh, thank you, Tom, you're a scholar and a gentleman," came the reply as they approached the table and set their chips down at the open seat next to where Leo had been sitting. "I'll ante in on the next hand after I've sought out my customary libation."
"Let's take a quick break," Tom announced. "Everyone can hit the head and then something to refill the tanks."
As Leo cleared the path to the servitor, he greeted the commander as they approached. "Xaraq, good to see you."
"Leo Verde, the yin to my yang, how are you this fine evening?" Xaraq said as they leaned forward to dip their hand in the servitor entrance.
Yak and Jake moved off to give the higher-ranking officers a chance to chat, Leo noticed. He lowered his voice to respond, "Actually, I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time, sir."
Xaraq pulled out an ale identical to Leo's and frowned. "Hey, Tom? Do you have anything harder than this? I think Leo's about to drop a fully-loaded cargo container on my head with somesuch JAG nonsense."
"Yes, sir!" Tom called back. He turned to a fellow ensign, wearing a working jumpsuit and a dastar turban. "Shukla, could you take over for me while I go get the 'good stuff?' It's back at the office."
Shukla nodded wordlessly and slipped into the seat as soon as Tom departed the compartment, entirely.
Xaraq sighed, unable to thank Tom before he left. They replaced the bottle back into the servitor, undid the clasp and pulled the front of the maroon jacket downward and set off a short burst of snaps coming apart. Then, they set their eyes on Leo and asked, "Should we wait until I have something to deaden the pain?"
Leo pursed his lips together as he held back a chortle. "I know you came down here to relax."
"Oh, shit," they said. "This must be serious." Xaraq looked around for a place for semi-privacy and pulled Leo along. "Ensign Shukla, when he returns, please inform Tom to hold my chips as I will be unavoidably delayed."
Im not sure the name of the species for Captain Peter - I think it's one that was introduced in the cartoon? Interesting congruence between his trilateral structure and tendency toward triple synonyms. Commodore Threlk is an interesting enigma - tellarite characters are particularly fun and in his case nicely vague.
Great stuff - looking forward to more - Thanks!! rbs
Great stuff - looking forward to more - Thanks!! rbs
Reter is in fact Edosian, as you surmised, from The Animated Series and made canonical by Lower Decks in Season One. He has a vocal tick when speaking Federation Standard, which is a stall tactic to begin translating his next thoughts. I actually worked with someone who did this all the time and I found it kind of fascinating. He did it to exercise his vocabulary as he had heard this pattern of speech used in several American TV shows in dialogue.
Thanks for continuing to read!
Ensign Shukla..? Any relation or link to Lieutenant Shukla on the Reykjavik?
I'm still working on this story, though Gibraltar and I are working on Conduct Unbecoming a bit more In the meantime, I hope that this beautiful cover will sate your patience. The artwork of Starbase Eight in orbit of Memory Alpha was completed by my friend, Pundus, who also worked on several art designs for Star Trek: Picard (Season 3). He is amazing!
In the meantime, I hope that this beautiful cover will sate your patience. The artwork of Starbase Eight in orbit of Memory Alpha was completed by my friend, Pundus, who also worked on several art designs for Star Trek: Picard (Season 3). He is amazing!
Sweet!
But yeah... still waiting for the next installment... Thanks!! rbs
But yeah... still waiting for the next installment... Thanks!! rbs
Just found this fic and very much enjoying it, I just have one or two questions/observations:
I'm lead to believe IRL in the US armed forces (particularly DoN) that at least some of the traditional duties of the yeoman elsewhere are covered by Legalmen (Navy) or 44xx-series Legal Services Marine who at least in the former case are typically qualified paralegals but you have paralegals being a separate role held by commissioned officers (who are normally lawyers and judges IRL).
Just curious as to the reasons for the variation given that you and the others that write within the connected 'verse that this sits in usually stick pretty close to IRL unless there are obvious reasons for a variation?
I'm lead to believe IRL in the US armed forces (particularly DoN) that at least some of the traditional duties of the yeoman elsewhere are covered by Legalmen (Navy) or 44xx-series Legal Services Marine who at least in the former case are typically qualified paralegals but you have paralegals being a separate role held by commissioned officers (who are normally lawyers and judges IRL).
Just curious as to the reasons for the variation given that you and the others that write within the connected 'verse that this sits in usually stick pretty close to IRL unless there are obvious reasons for a variation?
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