Legal Woes

Posted on 19 Jan 2025 @ 9:44pm by Captain Bane Plase

3,733 words; about a 19 minute read

Mission: Shoreleave and Reassignment
Location: Judge Advocate Generals Office, Starbase 375

ON:
The following morning after 452 Caskets


"Thank you for coming today," the Tellerite Federation JAG officer, with the rank of Commander, stated. She was flanked by a Vulcan and a Human Lieutenant Commander, the panel that made up Captain Bane Plase's panel for his hearing into the near destruction of the U.S.S. Cygnus.

"My pleasure, Commander," Bane stated, taking his seat when the Tellerite extended his hand and gestured to the seat sitting opposite hers and the others table. He smoothed out the front of his dress uniform and pants after he sat.

Behind Bane were seats for forty people, give or take, and every one of them were full. Some he recognized from the Cygnus. He also recognized Captain Larsen and Commander McEntyre from the USS Goddard. Plase had a bit of a soft spot for the two, the former being a former Executive Officer of his, the latter allowing Bane to use his office when they were en route back here on the Goddard. The majority he did not recognize, though that did not surprise him. The combined population of the planet Calisto, Starbase 375 and the starships assigned to this base numbered in the several million. To his left was his own counsel, a lady by the name of Rear Admiral Edisto, a fierce looking woman just a few inches shorter than Bane, with piercing lavender eyes and jet black hair pulled back tight into an extremely tight bun that rested on the back of her head. Her uniform was pressed sharply, with creases that Bane didn't doubt a bit that could cut parasteel like a hot knife to butter, and boots that were shined to a high mirror polish. Her jaw was set, her eyes focused like a phaser beam. She was ready to exact her skills upon the unsuspecting masses. Plase was glad she was on his side.

"Ok," said the Tellerite JAG officer, "I now bring this hearing to order, in the case of The United Federation of Planets versus Bane Plase, with the rank of Captain in Starfleet. Let the record show that his current assignment as of this Stardate is Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Cygnus. This hearing is a preliminary hearing to gather facts, testimony and first hand accounts for the responsibility and culpability of the near-destruction of the U.S.S. Cygnus and the loss of 62% of the officers and crew that manned that vessel. Captain Bane," she said, looking directly at him, "Please know that we are not here to assign guilt or to place blame, but to simply understand what happened. Once all facts, testimony and first-hand accounts are gathered will this panel recommend to Starfleet Command your culpability in the aforementioned charges. Do you understand?"

Bane had been in Starfleet long enough, and had been through a proceeding just like this, when he lost the Akira-class U.S.S. Pegasus-D relatively early in his career, to not answer a thing unless cleared by his counsel. He looked over to her. She, without looking back, gave a small, curt nod, indicating he could answer. "Yes, ma'am," he stated to her. While he outranked the chief panelist, she was in charge here, irrespective of rank. Her title alone commanded that respect and acknowledgement.

"Good," she said, continuing. "Then let us begin. I am Commander Rellush chim Brigm, Chief Judge Advocate General for Starbase 375 and its operational sector. To my right is Lieutenant Commander Setick, Special Envoy from Starfleet Corps of Engineers. To my left is Lieutenant Commander Timothy Money, Special Envoy from Starfleet Research and Development, specializing in Quantum Computing. Together, with your help, and the help of many others to whom we will interview and the data collected from both the U.S.S. Cygnus and the U.S.S. Goddard, we will fully understand what happened to your ship." She smiled. Bane assumed it was a pleasant smile, but with Tellerites, nobody was ever truly sure. "Do you have an opening statement you wish to have go on record, Captain Bane?"

Again, Bane looked to his counsel, and again, without taking her eyes off the panelists, this time shook her head slightly. Bane looked back to the panelists. "Not at this time."

Commander Brigm smiled again, and looked, in turn, to both panelists that flanked her. The Vulcan revealed nothing, but the Human smiled a bit, showing mild surprise. Bane wondered if he had made his first mistake. He was forced to let the matter drop, as almost immediately, Commander Brigm started again. "Very well. In your own words, what events transpired between the time that you left Deep Space Nine and the moment you and your ship, such as it is...." She was interrupted.

"Objection. Argumentative," Admiral Edisto stated. The suddenness and forcefulness of it started everyone in the room, up to and including Commander Brigm and Captain Bane.

Commander Brigm exhaled, as if she were bored of the objection. "Really, Admiral Edisto, must we start with these shenanigans already? I have just mentioned that Captain Bane is not being assigned guilt or blame at this time, but to understand what happened to his ship." Apparently the two officers had sparred at some point prior to this which Bane was not privy to.

Admiral Edisto still didn't move a muscle, other than to speak. Her words were forceful, with a sharp edge on each word. "Be that as it may, Your Honor, but we both know these proceedings will be used when and if Captain Bane is court-martialed for the alleged events that may have taken place, which allegedly led to the current state of his vessel. To that end, only the facts should be stated and recorded, not opinion, and certainly not judgement from the panel."

Lieutenant Commander Setick leaned over and whispered into the Tellerite's ear, low enough that nobody could hear what was being said. Commander Brigm nodded, then continued. "Objection sustained. The court will strike from the records the argumentative comment. Captain Bane, I apologize for that error."

The apology was equally as surprising as the sudden objection had been. "Uh, thank you, Commander," he stated, without looking to his counsel. Realizing the error of his ways, he looked over to the Admiral, whose jaw was clenched tight, the muscles working hard through her skin.

The Tellerite Commander smiled, like she had somehow won a victory. Bane wasn't sure how so. She continued. "Please explain, in your own words, the events which transpired," she reiterated, "once you left port and the time that the U.S.S. Goddard rescued you and your crew."

"Objection," Admiral Edisto stated again. "All this information is in Captain Bane's log, Captain Larsen's log, and in both ships logs."

"Overruled," Commander Brigm stated, this time the smile from her face gone, and a fire in her eyes that matched that of Admiral Edisto. There was some sort of power play going on in this conference room that Bane was missing. He would have to talk to Captain Larsen, Commander Bast and Lieutenant Seitha about this later, when he had the opportunity. That information could easily be used, and useful. "The Captain has given his official report, yes, but I would like to hear about it from his lips, Admiral, as would this panel. We want it unedited, unadulterated and raw. The information he can give will be extremely useful in the investigation into the Cygnus Incident."

There was a murmur from the crowd. Captain Larsen leaned over to his Executive Officer and was whispering animatedly, as were most of the people in the crowd, leaning over to discuss what was just said by The Panel. Even Bane leaned over to his counsel. "Cygnus Incident?"

"Beats me. First I've heard about it too. I will have my people investigate this. Don't you worry," Edisto stated before going back to her near-granite posture and expression.

The two officers flanking Commander Brigm both leaned into her and were whispering animatedly, even the Vulcan, though it was true the human was much more so, by several light years. After several moments, Brigm knocked her round gavel on the desk. "Order. Order, I say," she said, getting the room to quieten down. "I will have order in this hearing. Now, Captain Bane, you will tell us what happened." She sat the gavel back down in its holster.

Bane looked to his counsel, who nodded, then looked back to the panel and began. "Very well. We left Deep Space Nine on Stardate..." he began. He began by discussing the nature of their mission, to map several sectors beyond Cardassian space that had not been surveyed since just after the Dominion War. He explained about the distress call, and told The Panel they had picked up a distress call. Upon intercepting the vessel, they found it heavily damaged, (Commander Brigm interjected and verified the name of the vessel, which Plase provided), how they boarded it after several attempts at hailing and scanning of the vessel, and how they had found a few survivors in critical condition, one of which died shortly after they were all beamed to Sickbay on the Cygnus. He explained how they had found that the vessel was carrying an extremely volatile substance and told them the properties of the substance, and how great care was taken in getting it back to his ship and several independent and redundant safety forcefields were set up around it in one of his cargo bays. He told them of the further investigations they were conducting on the freighter, and how a former officer of his nearly destroyed the ship when he didn't follow proper protocols, and how his former Research and Development Officer was able to come up with a rapid fix. He explained how they took the ship in tow and was heading back to the space station when the same officer as before didn't follow proper protocol again, setting off a booby trap that destroyed the freighter while it was in tow, at warp, with the Cygnus, and the explosion significantly damaging the Cygnus and killing 452 members of the crew, and hurting many more. He talked them through his efforts to save his ship by using the extremely limited resources he had, about how he sent people all over the ship from the Bridge, at one point being the only person on the Bridge, and how his crew was able to get auxiliary power, limited communications and eventually main power back on. He told them about how their limited sensors showed two ships coming in, one a Pakled vessel that Bane still didn't know what they were doing, and the U.S.S. Goddard, under Captain Erik Larsen. Bane even pointed him out. Plase also noted that the Goddard was taking a punishing beating trying to defend the Cygnus, and without using the warp core of the Cygnus as a weapon, both ships likely would have been lost, along with both crews. Plase also talked briefly about all of the crew of the Cygnus beaming over to the Goddard, then to the other rescue vessels, once they arrived, and towing the Cygnus back to Starbase 375. The whole thing took about an hour. Bane stopped only once to take a sip of water.

"Captain," started Lieutenant Commander Setick. "Let us circle back to the point where you stated a crewman aboard your vessel nearly destroyed the Freighter Bilifix. Was this the same crewman that did end up destroying the Freighter, as well as crippling your vessel?"

"Yes, Commander, it was."

The three on the panel began whispering in earnest. The crowd murmured. Bane's counsel sat like a granite statue.

The Tellerite Lead panel officer continued. "Captain, do you believe this crewman intentionally sabotaged your ship and attempted to destroy the evidence you and your crew gathered?"

Bane looked over to his counselor. She nodded acceptance. Bane looked back to the crowd, found Commander Bast, who was looking at Bane. Plase then looked back to the panel. "No. That is not even remotely what I believe."

"Who was this crewman? Do you have a name?"

"I do. It was Lieutenant junior grade Lisald Vaat."

The panel pecked in the name into each of their computers. Lieutenant Commander Money snapped his head up and looked at Bane with...what was it? contempt? anger? disbelief? "It says here, Captain, that you recently removed Lieutenant Vaat from your ship."

Bane blinked. "Lieutenant Lisald, Commander," Bane said back with authority. "He is a Bajoran, and you will respect the customs of his, and my, world. And yes, I did remove him from the Cygnus."

Commander Money ignored the sharp reply about the naming customs of the Bajorans. "And just why did you remove him from your rosters when your compliment is so decimated? Wouldn't you want to keep every officer and crewmember you could? It says here that the Lieutenant was assigned to the Cygnus about a year longer than you yourself. Please, explain this to us."

Plase sighed. Even with Lisald off the ship, he was still causing Bane some serious headache. "Lieutenant Lisald knows I served in the Resistance during the Occupation. Lieutenant Lisald knows I was one of the first wave of Bajorans to join Starfleet, even before Bajor herself joined the Federation. Lieutenant Lisald knows I served during the Dominion War, and Lieutenant Lisald knows I am of the the extremely few Bajorans to achieve the rank of Captain and have his own command. Lieutenant Lisald has a severe case of Hero-Worship towards me." Bane paused, then continued. "Lieutenant Lisald is a fine officer, and served with extreme distinction before I was given command of the Cygnus under then-Captain Stafford and then-Commander Pope. He was fast-tracked from Ensign to Lieutenant junior grade, and elevated rapidly from his original posting as Alien Anthropologist and Archaeologist, of which he hold dual Doctorates in, from one of the most prestigious historical and archaeological institutions on Bajor. Even with a guaranteed career on Bajor that would have given him significant status, he elected to go on for additional, rigorous training at Starfleet Academy on Earth, to which he passed with some of the highest marks, far better than my own when I went through. He served with distinction He is a fine and loyal officer, just not under my command. To ensure he has a bright future with Starfleet, I sent him on his way. You will note I did not put any derogatory remarks in his service jacket, and you will note that I did not recommend him to be put out of Starfleet. To do so would seriously discredit him, and would be a net loss for Starfleet, and the Federation. Lieutenant Lisald has my utmost respect and trust as an officer in this Fleet."

The three on the Panel wrote something down on each of their individual PADDS. The center officer then asked, "Then what do you make of him being responsible for nearly destroying the Cygnus, not once, but twice, in the same day.

Murmurs went through the crowd again. Bane's lawyer looked over at him and nodded. He knew what to say here. "Honestly, shit luck."

Laughter erupted through the crowd behind Bane and his lawyer. A scowl appeared on both the Tellerite and the Human's faces. Bane knew had the third not been Vulcan, there would have been one there as well. "I will have order in here. Order, I say," the Tellerite demanded, her squeaky voice only adding to the comical nature of what just occurred. It took several minutes for the room to get back in order. She leveled her gaze at Bane. "One more quip like that, Captain, and I will be sure to hold you in contempt. Do I make myself clear?"

The corner of Bane's lip twitched a bit northwards before going back to neutral, a twitch that happened faster than the Tellerite could register. He believed the Human and Vulcan saw it, though neither objected. "As you wish, Commander."

"Thank you. Now, your official position on Lieutenant Lisald and his actions are, quote, 'shit luck?'" More laughter, though more subdued than before, rippled through the crowd.

Plase and his counsel both smiled. "That is correct. He may have been a bit lax in what he was doing, but I think any other officer doing the exact same things he was doing probably would have done the same, and resulted in what happened when he was at the controls."

The Panel spoke amongst themselves again for a moment, the redirected their gaze. "Ok, we will table the Lieutenant for now. We are satisfied with your version of the events, and your belief in him. Lets now discuss your decision-making skills."

"Commander," Bane asked, perplexed, after he looked to his counsel. She shrugged her shoulders, not knowing what they were getting on about.

"Your decision-making skills, Captain. Specifically, three things. First, your decision to bring back the isolinium onto your ship, second, taking such a large and critically-damaged ship into tow with your own ship, causing you to both have to travel at lower speeds and to tug it much closer that standard towing, and third, not relieving an officer of duty when he nearly caused an explosion, which resulted in him trying again, and succeeding."

Admiral Edisto stood slowly as she said, "I beg your pardon, Commander?" Fully standing, she came out from behind the desk she and Captain Bane were sitting at and rounded it. She had such a small frame, she was dwarfed by Captain Bane while sitting, but now standing, her full ire unleashed, she easily filled the space between their desk and the desk of the panel. "If any of you three had listened to, or gods forbid read his actual report on the action, and the reports of his executive officer, you would know that the decisions Captain Bane made were of sound judgement and good moral compass. Had Captain Bane decided not to bring the isolinium aboard his ship, that substance would be spread across two sectors now, rendering warp and sub-light travel through that area impossible. That would have jeopardized many ongoing missions for the Federation and her allies forever. If any of you three had any iota of expertise in Starship operations for the Nebula-class, you would know it is an extremely capable and stout ship, much like the Cygnus' crew, and is rated to handle the tonnage that was the Freighter Bilifix, and that they were towing it at the maximum distance away from their own ship for the tonnage being hauled. Finally, Captain Bane and his senior staff have been given the short end of the proverbial stick on sufficiently experienced and sufficiently-ranked officers to fill the billets on that ship. Did you notice in your investigations that the previous executive officer was taken from that ship without any regard or input from Captain Bane? Did you know the current executive officer was not assigned to that ship as such? Bane was forced to pick him from the existing crew, and backfill. Almost all of the department heads are full Lieutenants. Most of those positions are rated for, bare minimum," she emphasized with a pound of her fist on the table behind her, "A rank of Lieutenant Commander. No, Captain Bane should not be held on trial for any of those things, or anything else you are witch-hunting..."

"Admiral, please," Commander Brigm began, but was cut off.

Admiral Edisto, with a booming voice, and movement that was almost vampire-like in speed, rushed the desk of the panel. "Absolutely not, Commander. You will not interrupt me," she boomed. "You are witch-hunting, and I do not know why, but I will find out. The actions and decisions of Captain Bane and crew are a credit to themselves, to each other and to Starfleet. Without his split-second decision-making and doing the best he could with the resources, information and situation at hand, I believe, and can prove, that none of them would be here today to talk about this. Was there a gross loss of life? Absolutely. Space is dangerous. It is hard and suffering and dangerous wrapped up in death without notice. Working in space is dangerous. Our business is, by very definition, dangerous. Without good captains and without good crews that trust their captains, there would be no Starfleet, Commander. There would be no Federation. And there would not be any shams that is this panel. The actions of the crew and the results they came up with were both life-threatening and incredible, and the fact they pulled together with everything that was going wrong, from massive damage and power outage to literally being attacked by a Pakled salvage operation, and still here to talk about it is miraculous. I move to dismiss this until further information is gathered warranting this panel to be reconstituted, or dropped completely from the record." In a huff, she sat down next to Bane. Plase, wide-eyed, smiled at her, surprised at the massive outburst and rapid-fire speaking she had just done.

The three panelist sat in silence for a full fifteen seconds before they started talking amongst themselves. The talking went on so long that the audience began chatting quietly among themselves, first as whispers, then light chatter, then to a low roar.

Commander Brigm clacked the desk with her gavel three times before the roar subsided. "Oder, order please. Thank you. At this time, we will shelf this discussion and this panel. However, Captain Bane, I must inform you that there will be additional investigations. Should we have any further questions, this panel will reconvene. Dismissed."

Captain Bane and Admiral Edisto stood, as did the audience. The three panel members stood, turned and left the room.

"Thank you, Admiral," Bane stated. "I think you saved my butt there."

She smiled at him and patted him on his shoulder. "What they were trying to do was wrong. They know it. I know it. You know it."

Plase nodded. "Yeah. Still, thanks anyways."

"No problem. But Plase, something tells me this isn't over."


OFF

Bane Plase, Captain
USS Cygnus, Commanding

 

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