Operation Homecoming
Chapter Eleven: The Trial
Based upon Star Trek: Voyager, set after Endgame
Author's Note: This was one of the big ideas I had which prompted this story, I think it fits as a final installment. Thanks for reading.
- - Tribunal Hall, Starfleet Command - -
At first, they had all been entirely suspicious.
"You want my crew to stand trial?" Kathryn had asked, her tone betraying how idiotic, how asinine, the concept sounded.
Chakotay had been speechless, seated frozen in his chair in the briefing room. He gazed around the room at the bewildered and angry faces. Even Tuvok's expression hinted at . . . An expression.
"I know how it sounds," Admiral Paris agreed. "The Federation President wants to pardon all of your former Maquis. And, as the lawyers reminded us, none of your crew was ever tried, convicted or sentenced. Therefore there can be no Pardon until that occurs."
"The mere suggestion is highly inefficient. Why undergo the formalities?" Seven had asked.
Admiral Paris pointed at her, emphasizing her point. "For the ceremony. They want to make everything official: part of the Homecoming Festivities."
"Starfleet wants to put their prodigal children on trial for a party?" The Doctor asked.
Admiral Paris had gone on to explain the plan and eventually convince them. Chakotay suspected that had they resisted enough, the whole thing would've been swept under the rug, however he and Kathryn agreed. They had an idea.
After everyone's Homecoming Leave (during the 2 week period, the Maquis had been officially in the custody of Captain Janeway, though free to leave the ship), they practiced. The entire crew mustered in the shuttle bay, and they marked out the floor with the locations where everyone would stand. They had practiced marching in, in their most official manner.
If they wanted a show, he and Kathryn had concluded, they would get a show.
Chakotay moved through the crew on his way to the front, they were all checking each other's dress uniforms. Everyone looked sharp. When he reached Kathryn and Tuvok, she turned to him and checked his uniform as well. He turned and looked at the senior staff directly behind them.
The Doctor's holomatrix had been adjusted to display a dress uniform. Seven also wore a uniform; science department, sans rank. Icheb proudly wore his Cadet uniform for the first time. B'Elanna ran her fingers through Tom's hair, settling it, as he held Miral. He hadn't seen her, but Naomi Wildman was around somewhere, as well.
The door to the Tribunal Hall opened. "The accused may enter," said the Bailiff.
Chakotay took a deep breath and looked at Kathryn. She smirked at him.
"Commander Tuvok," she directed.
The Vulcan took his place in front of the crew and raised his voice. "Fall in!"
The crew shuffled around, standing in their positions; aligned by Department, alphabetically. Starfleet and Maquis interspersed, as they had been for seven years.
Following Kathryn's silent cue, he and she marched in together.
A few steps behind them, he heard Tuvok command the crew: "Forward, March!"
The Tribunal Hall was silent but for the sound of their footsteps. He and Kathryn halted at table for the Accused, waiting for the crew to file in behind them.
"All rise for the members of this tribunal," the Bailiff announced.
The entire hall stood and silence again reigned as three admirals walked in and took their seats.
The Chairman banged his gavel. "Be seated." He looked at his PADD for a moment before looking up, and making eye contact with Chakotay. "Are the Accused all present?"
Chakotay performed an about-face (which he had practiced nearly a hundred times that morning, ensuring he wouldn't trip). "Commander Tuvok, Report."
"All present and accounted for, Sir," he reported.
Chakotay performed a right-face, to face Kathryn. "The crew is all present and accounted for, Captain." He performed another right-face to face the judge.
"My crew is present, Sir," she told him.
The Chairman's eyebrow jumped. "You are not among the accused, Captain Janeway, nor are most of those present."
"My crew stands together, Sir. And I represent them as their Captain."
"Very well." He looked at the Bailiff. "Mister Bailiff, read the charges."
The Bailiff then proceeded to read the charges. The majority of the Maquis' names were recited together followed by a list of charges including terrorism and treason. A few names were individually called out for particular crimes, his own, B'Elanna's, and Ayala's among them.
Once the charges were complete, the Chairman spoke again. "How do you plead?"
The entire crew answered in a single voice. "Guilty."
"Be it shown in the record that the Accused have entered a plea of 'guilty.' Mister Prosecutor, call your first witness."
Kathryn was called to the stand and sworn in.
The Judge Advocate General was the lead prosecutor. "Kathryn Janeway, you granted field commissions and field enlistments to the aforementioned accused, knowing full-well their crimes."
"I did," she responded.
"After being their commanding officer for seven years, what do you make of their character?"
"Each of them served impeccably on my ship. I owe my life to each one of them; some of them several times over. I have trusted them with my life, and would continue to do so. They have become my family."
"Thank you, Captain, no further questions."
"The Defense has no questions," Tuvok said when it was his turn to do so.
The Chairman nodded to Captain Janeway. "Thank you, Captain, you may step down."
The Judge Advocate General turned to the Chairman. "Mister Chairman, I would like to submit Article 1A, the official crew logs of the Starship Voyager from stardate (Caretaker) to stardate (Endgame) as the first piece of evidence on behalf of the prosecution."
The Chairman nodded. "You may do so."
"Mister Chairman, members of the Tribunal, in light of Article 1A and the testimony heard today, I move to drop all charges against the Accused."
Chakotay tried to school his features. He hadn't expected that. He thought they would be immediately convicted then Pardoned. He hadn't expected Starfleet to simply drop the charges.
"The charges are hereby dropped." He banged his gavel.
Kathryn's hand grasped his momentarily.
"Additionally," the Judge Advocate General continued, "I submit Article 2B, authorization from Starfleet Command to enter into official record the field commissions and field enlistments granted by Captain Kathryn Janeway, Starship Voyager." She handed the PADD to the Chairman.
The Chairman read it in silence. "Captain Janeway, Starfleet Command is making your field commissions for the aforementioned persons official. Do you concur with the recommendation?"
Chakotay glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, she was as taken back as he was. "I concur, Sir," her voice betraying her emotion of confusion and relief.
"Very well." He pushed his shoulders back. "It shall be entered that the field commissions and field terms of enlistments for the aforementioned persons be placed in their official records, and said commissions and enlistments be activated." He banged his gavel. "You are all free to go."
Chakotay felt relief flood through his body.
"Mister Bailiff," the Chairman said, "Next piece of business."
"Field Lieutenant Thomas Paris, front and center," the Bailiff announced.
Chakotay turned around to look at Tom. Both Tom and B'Elanna looked shocked. No one had expected this, either.
Tom handed Miral to B'Elanna and tugged down his uniform, before stepping forward. He stood in the center of the Tribunal Hall.
Chakotay and Kathryn moved in concert to stand behind him.
"Captain Janeway, Commander Chakotay, stand down," the Chairman said.
"Sir, we will stand with our crewmate, as his Commanding and First Officers," Chakotay said.
The Chairman smirked, but tried to hide it. "Very well." He looked down at his PADD. "This is the parole hearing for a one Thomas E. Paris, having served 3 years of a fifteen year sentence in Auckland Penitentiary, and 7 years of a fifteen year sentence in the custody of Captain Kathryn Janeway." He paused.
Chakotay thought the pause may have been for dramatic affect.
"Captain Janeway, state your recommendation for the parole of the gentleman in question."
Kathryn didn't answer immediately, Chakotay knew her mind was racing. They hadn't been prepared for this. "Sir, I chose Lieutenant Paris to serve on my senior staff as my Helmsman. When I made this decision, I knew I was taking a gamble. My gamble paid off, many times over. Lieutenant Paris proved himself to be a superb pilot, an excellent teacher, a mentor for the crew, a superior tactician and shuttlecraft designer. I often relied on him when the entire ship was in danger, and trusted him implicitly with my ship and the lives of my crew."
The Chairman turned to the Judge Advocate General. "Judge Advocate, have you reviewed the appended service record of Field Lieutenant Thomas Paris?"
"I have, Sir," she said.
"Report your findings."
"As Captain Janeway stated, the service record details exceptional service as a senior officer, as a Helmsman, and acting Executive Officer during an encounter with the Borg. It also details two imprisonments, including a murder charge, two separate acts of terrorism, a reduction and restoration of rank, and numerous other accounts of dereliction of duty or disobeying direct orders."
"Thank you, Judge Advocate. Field Lieutenant Thomas E. Paris, your parole is hereby denied."
"DENIED?!" roared B'Elanna.
He and Kathryn instantly grabbed each of Tom's arms, providing him some stabilization as his knees buckled. Chakotay felt light-headed as well, Tom had five years remaining on his sentence.
Chakotay quickly turned to see Harry fumbling with Miral, whom had just been thrust into his arms, and Tuvok placing both hands on B'Elanna's shoulders, holding her. Miral started shrieking, no doubt due to the abrupt exchange.
"Order! Order!" the Chairman banged his gavel several times in succession.
Chakotay turned forward as B'Elanna took back Miral and started to settle her.
After a few moments, Miral's shrieks had quieted and B'Elanna stood fuming silently.
"Field Lieutenant Thomas E. Paris, in light of your appended service record, the remainder of your sentence is hereby commuted. It shall be entered that your field commission on stardate (Caretaker) be entered into your official record. You are free to go, Lieutenant."
The Chairman looked at the Judge Advocate General. "Captain, report if there is any further business for this Tribunal."
"There is not, Sir."
He turned to the Bailiff. "Mister Bailiff, report if there is any further business for this Tribunal."
"There is not, Sir."
"Very well. This Tribunal is adjourned." A grin broke out on his face. "Welcome home, Voyager." He banged his gavel three times.
"All rise for the members of the tribunal."
Everyone stood, the whispering growing.
The Admirals left, the Bailiff following them.
Kathryn turned to him with an enormous smile. She extended her hand. "Congratulations, Commander."
He shook her hand. "Congratulations, Captain."
Chakotay turned to the Crew, all of whom were shaking hands, exchanging hugs and congratulations. He saw Tom kiss B'Elanna before she handed Miral to him, and he slung his free arm around her back, turning to the others.
Chakotay surveyed his Crew. He didn't know how many of them would stay in Starfleet, but that didn't matter at the moment. What mattered was that they were all together, all home, and all free.
- - END Story - -