Chapter 11
Sunday, November 15, 2111
Medical Services – Level M4
Space Station ARK
Vice Admiral Dr. Horatio Quack had come a long way from the Royal Acornian Army Medical Service. In fact, transferring to the KRSN and acting as its inaugural surgeon general was his swan song in a way. The avian grunted as he leaned forward over the railing of the fox's bed in the Med-Surg ICU, putting his penlight back into the pocket of his labjacket.
"Well for a young man of nineteen that got cracked upside the head with a bottle of bourbon, everything seems to be in order." Quack gestured towards the foot of the bed with both hands. "I think we can finally cut the lieutenant loose, Dr. Robotnik."
"Thank you, Admiral." Maria said, reaching out to massage Miles' right foot. "We can finally get you out of here entirely."
"Good." Prower's voice betrayed the drowsiness he still felt. Each day since surgery seemed to be the same, staring up at the ceiling, falling asleep and being woken up periodically to be checked on. With the precision used to repair the injury to his skull, he barely had a bald patch in his fur or a scar. The fox started to lean forward and blinked. "May I ask the admiral a question?"
"Of course, son." Quack nodded. Miles raised his eyes up and swallowed.
"Why exactly is the surgeon general of the Navy doing a workup on me?" he asked. "Not that I don't appreciate it, but it just seems strange. Did my father request it?"
"No, nothing like that." Quack raised his left hand up, then crossed his arms, flexing the fingers. "It was a request of the Judge Advocate." The avian blinked. "No one told you there would be a trial?"
"Someone might have mentioned it." Miles yawned and stretched. "Captain Tower's being tried, then?"
"It will be a combined panel consisting of random officers from both planets. I think the Royal Netherlands Navy got tapped for the judge." Quack explained. "My report is meant to assess your fitness to return to duty but also for the prosecution. Your father had no hand in this."
"So, I will likely be called in then." Miles concluded. Maria sighed and removed a folded sheet of paper and walked up to his right side, holding it out.
The fox stared at the document, sure enough a subpoena to come before the panel to speak as a witness for the prosecution. What he and others saw and did to be weighed and considered before either sparing or destroying another person's career in their service.
"Two days then. I'll be there of course, it will be nice to sleep somewhere that isn't a hospital bed at least. Maybe I'll get to talk to Rotarl as well." Miles said, but Maria shook her head.
"You won't be able to talk to Cadet Rotarl until it's finished, it's to maintain the integrity of the case." Maria explained, pointing at the paperwork. "The only reason I'm not restricted in the same way is because I didn't take...defensive action as well as our relationship."
The fox lowered his head for a moment. He still smoldered within with the knowledge that Tower had been pursuing her while he was away on the Campbeltown. Worse, to have him condemn them as something unnatural. They had gone for some time longing for one another unknowingly until that confession in June. Ovi obviously had no qualms and even honored his request that they tell Geralt and the others on their own terms. The Robotniks were fine with it and in his father's characteristic fashion there was silence, even then he would stare the one-eyed field marshal down on that if there was a so-called problem.
"Could I get unhooked, now?" Miles asked, raising his ears. Quack nodded and picked up the small remote attached to the bed railing and hit the call button. He stepped away towards the opening in the partition and waited for a nurse to appear. A Keplerian rabbit appeared and looked around in confusion to Maria first.
"Dr. Horatio Quack, surgeon general." The avian pointed to his visitor's badge. "You'll see me in the records as the lead attending physician for Lieutenant Prower. Please prepare him for discharge."
"Of course, Doctor." The rabbit bowed her head and walked up to the side where Quack had stood earlier, shutting the monitor down before removing the leads that were attached to the fox. Then she carefully removed the IV lines and tied the tubing up above the needle contacts, snipping them off into a biohazard container with a pair of scissors. The rabbit moved around to his right side now, lowering the railing. Maria opened a cabinet that was built into the wall and removed a white plastic bag. Quack stepped out with the nurse, closing the partition behind him to allow them privacy.
Miles sighed quietly and swung his feet out over the right side of the bed, reaching up to pull the gown up over his head, setting it down at the foot. Maria walked up and started to remove his clothing from the bag, setting his shoes on the floor.
"Uniform or regular clothes?" she asked.
"Uniform." Miles looked over to his left while she laid out what he recognized as his Blue No.3 dress. He took the white shirt and pulled it on, closing the cuffs before buttoning it up, straightening out his epaulets. Then he took the necktie and clipped it on at the collar before taking his pants, shaking them and putting them around his feet, leaning down into them before buttoning them up. Next came the belt and then his shoes. He stood up and took a careful step forward, finding his wallet and keys being pressed into his hands. Nodding, Miles put the wallet into a back pocket and his keys into his left pocket.
"Where now?" Miles asked.
"I have an apartment here." Maria said, reaching up to run her fingers against the back of his head. "There's a chair, a couch and a bed and you'd best stay in at least one of them at all times. I'm taking compassionate leave for the week."
"What about your residency work?" The fox gave a small growl of protest.
"It's covered. Now go on and let me fret over you for a few days." Maria placed her hands on her hips and gave him a piercing stare.
"Doctor's orders then." Miles reached down and took her hands, pulling her close, pressing his nose to the top of her head. Maria shuddered and ran her hands against his back.
Tuesday, November 17, 2111
Today Maria had let him prepare breakfast and didn't admonish him for the cholesterol. The two had polished off their fried eggs, bacon, toast and sausages with a kettle of tea downed between them. The reverie was broken by a warbling from his tablet, indicating an incoming call. Miles lifted it up and accepted the call.
"Good morning, Lieutenant." Zincks blinked, the Campbeltown's bridge crew assembled behind her, leaning in and waving. The fox waved back and nodded.
"Good morning, Captain." Miles replied. "And to all of you, it's good to see you. I must apologize for missing the return from liberty."
"Apology noted." Zincks tilted her head. "Dress uniform, I take it the hearing is today."
"That's correct. The first JAG hearing I've ever been too, hopefully the last." Miles said.
"We've had a relief IWO who's doing well. For the time being until we return, you're being put on special duty." Zincks advised. "You'll be loaned to the Yard."
"The Yard? Here?" Miles raised his ears in confusion.
"Indeed, your presence here works well for the Navy. The Warspite, once her hull is completed, pressurized and launched, will need an available IWO to oversee the design and installation of the communications systems." The tanuki smiled. "Until the launch, I'm sure the Yard could use your expertise with repairs and it will give you some other opportunities."
The fox wrinkled his nose for a moment. Sure, the Campbeltown had a capable relief IWO aboard and it would be away for months but surely there was an open billet somewhere aside from the Yard. Was this an odd punishment detail? He shook the notion out of his head. Prower hadn't even done anything that was inappropriate according to regulations except for allowing military property (i.e. his head) to be damaged.
"I suppose it would." Miles raised his eyes. "I must apologize if I sounded displeased by the prospect. This was my first operational assignment aboard ship. But I am here, and you are all out there. If this is where the Service needs me, this will be where I am."
"You'll work under Commander Amelia Rose, Yard Marine Engineering Officer." Zincks advised. "Until midnight local station time though, you will remain under my command nominally. I will have the duty schedule updated accordingly."
"Thank you, Captain." The fox raised his hand up to salute, which the tanuki returned before closing the connection.
Conference Room 1
Central Security Level, Space Station ARK
Regularly used for conferences with the station's security force, due to the circumstances involved with Captain Tower's attack, it was decided to show no favor to a service by way of venue, the conference room would be repurposed for the general court martial. Miles could see both Keplerians and humans of differing branches of service sitting together in a panel behind the two tables where prosecution and defense sat.
Tower was sitting behind the table that he saw at the left side, clad in his full Class A uniform with another Army officer, which he believed to be his defense. Another Army officer slowly sidled up to him and offered his hand. Miles looked down at the shorter officer who had greying short hair.
"Hello Lieutenant, Lieutenant Colonel Sardis Cogley, for the prosecution." The man introduced himself.
"Good afternoon." The fox raised his hand up to salute, which Cogley returned.
"We'll have you stay in the back here for now. Just stick to the MP and your master-at-arms and wait to be called." Cogley advised, gesturing to a seat nearby. Miles looked and saw an enlisted MP standing at one side of the chair, Knuckles at the other.
"Is he part of Tower's unit?" Miles asked.
"No, different company altogether." Cogley shook his head. The fox nodded and walked over to the chair, both the human and the echidna going through the motions of salute with him before he sat.
Of course, he didn't sit for very long as the bailiff turned to a connecting door which opened, admitting a tall, grey haired man with a trimmed beard in the uniform of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
"All rise!" The bailiff called out, causing the fox to come to his feet almost in unison. "The honorable Rear Admiral Albert Rakhorst presiding."
"Be seated." Rakhorst said, settling down in his chair and picking up the gavel at his right hand, bringing it down on the block. "Declare the case."
"Admiral, this is the case of United Nations Combined Allied Forces and the United States Army against Captain Abraham Tower of the United States Army."
"Name the charges to the accused." Rakhorst ordered, holding the gavel in hand.
"Captain Abraham Tower, United States Army is being charged with the following: Conduct unbecoming an officer under Article 133, conspiracy of multiple counts under Article 81, conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline under Article 134, contempt towards officials under Article 88, breach of the peace under Article 116, provoking speech under Article 117, assault under Article 128, assault with intent under Article 134-4 and drunkenness under Article 134-16."
"Captain Tower are you to enter a plea for all of the charges or individually?" Rakhorst asked.
"Captain Tower is pleading not guilty to all charges except the charge of drunkenness under 134-16." Tower's defense explained.
"Very well, proceed with opening statements." Rakhorst said, leaning back in his seat. Cogley stepped up and then turned to face the panel.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the panel, thank you for coming here today. The prosecution will prove without a reasonable doubt that Captain Abraham Tower had willfully and maliciously exchanged words with as well as attacked Lieutenant Miles Prower of the Keplerian Republic Space Navy on the date of Saturday, October 31, 2111 at the Blue Marble Lounge on this station. We have sufficient proof to convict and will provide the evidence to do so." Cogley proclaimed. "That's all that I have, Admiral."
"Very well, defense?" Rakhorst turned in his seat to look towards Tower.
"Admiral and assembled panel members." The defense attorney rose up. "Captain Abraham Tower has served in the United States Army since his late youth. He has served with no prior issues in his record and received excellent feedback from his command. This attack as you call it, is nothing more than a one-time lapse in judgement brought about by having too much to drink."
The fox tilted his head noticing that Cogley looked confused for a moment, then gave a look suggesting that he was about to shoot fish in a barrel.
"Prosecution may begin by calling witnesses." Rakhorst declared, centering his seat.
"The prosecution calls Lieutenant Miles Prower of the Keplerian Republic Space Navy." Cogley made a gesture behind his back as Knuckles and the MP started to step forward with the fox following between them. Knuckles gave Tower a look as the two escorted the fox to a seat beside Rakhorst.
"Raise your right hand." The bailiff said, stepping up before the fox, who did as he was asked.
"Under threat of perjury, do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?" The bailiff asked.
"I do." The fox answered, lowering his hand.
"State your name, rank and service number." Cogley requested.
"Miles Annorax Prower, Lieutenant of the Keplerian Republic Space Navy, service number 921016-080701, sir." Miles supplied.
"And what is your current duty station?" Cogley asked.
"Information Warfare Officer for the destroyer KRSS Campbeltown, sir." Miles answered, looking the human in the eye.
"Did you or did you not enter the Blue Marble Lounge aboard the ARK on the date of October 31, 2111?" Cogley asked, with arms crossed.
"I did, sir."
"Were you on duty at that time?" Cogley stepped closer to the table.
"No, sir. Captain Zincks had released us from duty until November 4th." Miles replied.
"Was there anyone accompanying you?" Cogley asked.
"Yes, sir. Two women, Dr. Maria Robotnik and Cadet Janus Rotarl." Prower said.
"Were these two women known to you?" Cogley lowered his arms to adopt a more neutral stance.
"Yes, sir."
"How do you know them?"
"I've lived with Dr. Robotnik's family before going into the service and well-" Miles trailed off.
"Well? Speak up, Lieutenant." Cogley pressed.
"Dr. Robotnik and I are in a relationship and have been for a few months, sir." The words came out quietly but were audible. His face flushed as he looked at the panel.
"Quite all right, Lieutenant. Now you also mentioned Cadet Janus Rotarl? How do you know her?" Cogley asked.
"Cadet Rotarl was actually rescued in a boarding action that the Campbeltown participated in. She later joined the KRSN as a result and was visiting the ARK, sir." Miles answered.
"Which is what Cadet Rotarl also said in a written statement. I'd like the court to note this item as a testament to the lieutenant's character." Cogley said, looking to Rakhorst.
"Make it so." The rear admiral said, setting his gavel down.
"You were in uniform as well, correct?" Cogley asked the fox.
"That's correct, sir." The fox answered.
"Did you drink?" The human asked.
"Yes, sir. There's no prohibition in General Orders as long as we kept ourselves in control and of good character in uniform." Miles said.
"How much did you drink?" Cogley asked.
"No more than four glasses of Scotch, sir. And that might be an overstatement."
"And your mood at the time?" Cogley looked towards the panel.
"I was in good spirits, sir. Generous liberty time, Maria – Dr. Robotnik, had gotten into a surgical residency and of course reuniting with a friend, all for dinner. No reason not to be in a good mood."
"So, the three of you were having dinner and drinks when Captain Tower came in?" Cogley turned back to him.
"Two, sir. I stepped into the smoking area to have a pipe. I did not see Captain Tower and Lieutenant Penders enter but I heard them." Miles advised.
"What did you hear?" Cogley asked.
"Well, the bartender greeted them, sir. It sounded routine, two fellow blokes coming in for an Oktoberfest ale or something I thought at first. I had no preconceived notions of them, but then Captain Tower was coming onto Maria." Miles explained.
"How did she react?" Cogley crossed his arms again.
"She told him in no ambiguous terms that she was seeing someone, sir." The fox raised his ears.
"And that's when you finally appeared back in the bar?" Cogley asked.
"That's correct, sir."
"How did they react?"
"Lieutenant Penders didn't seem to react but Captain Tower didn't seem to take that very well, sir. He demanded another drink and I thought I'd try to make peace by offering to buy him a drink." Miles explained.
"How did Captain Tower react to this?" Cogley asked.
"He said he didn't want my money and then he made several statements regarding my...alien nature that I took offense to, sir." The fox said.
"Did you attempt to correct him?"
"I did, sir. Captain Tower continued to escalate and refused to answer to required identification. Lieutenant Penders did however identify himself and the captain. Ultimately it seemed he decided to leave us alone after I warned him and Lieutenant Penders suggested that he listen." The fox said.
"Then what did you do?" Cogley asked.
"I went back to my meal and decided to pay for the bottle they took to their table to make peace, sir. Captain Tower returned and tried to appeal to me to drop the issue. I thought about it but decided I would at the very least see to a reprimand. That's when he struck me from behind and I blacked out." Miles said.
"That will do," Cogley said. "Your witness, defense."
The defense attorney looked at Tower for a moment, speaking quietly with the captain, whose face reddened. "I have nothing, sir."
"Very well." Cogley looked up at Rakhorst. "Sir, I was considering calling another witness but actually I would like to present Exhibit A, the audio/video feed from the bar's security system."
Tower's eyes bulged as he looked to his attorney. The fox's ears twitched as he picked up on a few words.
"What tape?" Tower rumbled.
"It was in the discovery." The attorney said.
"Well did you watch it?" Tower growled. "You idiot!" Those words came out loudly.
"Captain Tower." Rakhorst rapped his gavel against the block. "Control yourself. If I hear another outburst like that, I will have you removed. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir." Tower lowered his head, his tone feigning apology.
"You may play Exhibit A." Rakhorst said to Cogley, who snapped his fingers. The lights in the room dimmed as a large projection screen came online. Speakers in the wall provided the audio. All seemed to watch as the two humans and the fox walked in, sat down and talked. Then exactly as Miles said, he stepped out as Tower and Penders came in. Second by second, Cogley could see his case be reinforced and Tower was glaring at Miles as he heard his own ravings. A small satisfied smirk was on his face as he heard the glass break against the back of the vulpine's head. It quickly disappeared as the feed ended.
"So, with that, Captain Tower viciously assaulted Lieutenant Prower, forcing him to be hospitalized with an acute subdural hematoma that had to be surgically evacuated and as a result, the lieutenant had to spend some time in recovery. This deprived his ship of his services and had the potential to damage not only his career in the KRSN but also his livelihood." Cogley proclaimed. "And this wasn't some spur of the moment hit out of passion. This was calculated. You've heard the pickups near Penders and Tower. The only thing that may have prevented worse injury was Cadet Rotarl holding Tower at gunpoint with her superior's gun. It is the prosecution's recommendation that Captain Tower be found guilty, dishonorably decommissioned and imprisoned."
"Any closing statements from the defense?" Rakhorst asked.
"None, sir." The defense attorney sighed as Tower glowered.
"You may rise, Lieutenant." Rakhorst said. "Panel, you may retire to your chambers. Call for the bailiff when you have reached a verdict."
The panel members started to rise as Miles did as well, deciding to return to his seat. Knuckles kept his eyes on Tower as the fox passed between the two tables. Prower quietly sighed as he settled down, hands on his knees.
Roughly five minutes passed but it seemed more like five seconds as the bailiff returned with a sheet of paper, the panel starting to take their seats in front of the fox. The bailiff stepped up and set the paper down before the admiral, who studied it, then looked up.
"Foreman of the panel, have you reached a verdict?" Rakhorst asked.
"We have." A French infantry captain said with near perfect English, standing.
"Captain Tower, please rise." Rakhorst commanded. The defense attorney rose with his client, turning to face the panel.
"We find Captain Abraham Tower guilty of the listed charges under Articles 81, 88, 117,133, 134, 134-4 and 134-16." The foreman said, lowering the paper that he had in his hand. "Unanimously."
"As you say." Rakhorst banged his gavel against the block twice. "Captain Tower," he prompted, causing all to look towards him. "Given the serious nature of these charges which consist of several felonies, and your unanimous conviction, along with the barbaric, intolerant and wantonly reckless nature of your actions, I have no choice but to agree with the prosecution's recommendations for sentencing. I hereby order your decommissioning from the United States Army, reduction to the rank of Private and the revocation of all awards and privileges earned. You will also serve 2 years of imprisonment at Fort Leavenworth and 1 year of hard labor at the service of the Army Corps of Engineers with a bad conduct discharge afterwards." Rakhorst banged the gavel again.
