ACT III
Station Log, Stardate 60211.7.
It's been one week since our investigation into the murder of Governor Giavani. So far, we've been going around in circles, hitting one dead end after another. There are just too many holes. Unfortunately, there IS enough evidence to warrant a trial against the Captain...
"Congratulations, Madam Governor," Nakajima said, greeting Jennifer in the security office at the Starfleet Building in New Hope City.
"I know you're doing everything you can to spring Bruce," Jennifer said. "Unfortunately, after the council voted me in as Governor, I'm stick in a bad position against Bruce. I don't want it."
"You must do your job to the best of your ability," Nakajima said. "And we must do ours. It is the only logical thing to do." Surprisingly, she was keeping totally Vulcan-esq about the whole thing. It seemed easier to do, and made working that much more easier to focus on.
"I don't know, Commander," Jennifer said. "My job is to bring my Daddy's killer to justice. I know, with all my heart, Bruce didn't do it."
"Even if the evidence supports otherwise?" Nakajima was very cool and unfeeling about it. Quietly, Nakajima brought Jennifer to a quiet nook, on the other side of some consoles, and sat down with her. "I know how you feel, Madam Governor. Believe me, I do. However, the evidence is strong against the Captain. Logically, you must proceide with inquiries and preliminary hearings against him."
"I CAN'T!" Jennifer said. "I LOVE him. I love Bruce. Over the last week, all we did was talk and talk and talk, even if through a force field. I REALLY got to know him. And I fell in love with him. I can't just turn my back against him like that! I just CAN'T!"
"Governor, you MUST," Nakajima said. She surprised herself, amazed at how unfeeling she was at this point. "It is logical that we both must do our jobs to the best of our abilities."
"How can you say that so easily?" Jennifer wondered. "You're half HUMAN, for God's sake! How can you be so cold?"
"Because, I am also part Vulcan," Nakajima said. "And I do not find it logical, at this time, to assume that the Captain is innocent. So far, the evidence supports his guilt."
"I'm counting on the medical examination," Jennifer said. "In the meantime, I'm required to preside over the preliminary hearings, including making a decision if I try the Captain here, or extradite him to Starfleet. And I have to make that decision TOMORROW. I'm not ready."
"You must be," Nakajima said. She sighed. With that sigh, Nakajima relaxed. And suddenly, her emotions began to flood. Her eyes lightened up. She seemed more somber, and Jennifer realized it. Finally, Nakajima finally said: "I am counting on the Captain's innocence, too. And, Jennifer, I DO feel for you. I really do. When this is over, I will tell you my story. But for now, let's just see what happens."
Somehow, hearing that made Jennifer feel a little bit better. She doesn't know WHY, she just did feel better. "I haven't even had time to mourn Daddy. I guess the strain is just too much to bare."
Wing, reluctantly, interupted, handing Nakajima a padd. "Final sensor readings, coming from the Governor's office, show an adeon discharge from inside. The sensor logs are a little bit jumbled up, as we have found evidence of tampering."
"By whom?" Nakajima wondered.
"We don't know," Wing said. "After what we learned last week, after we broke the Pattern C dispersal hack, everything seems to be fitting into place. I also picked up a recorded transporter reading going into the Governor's office from the same source."
"Lieutenant Wing?" Jennifer wondered. "Bruce hasn't picked a defense council yet."
"Don't worry, Madam Governor," Wing said. "I have already volunteered."
Jennifer smiled. "I have a feeling that Bruce will be fine."
Wing lifted an eyebrow. "We'll see about that, Madam Governor. If you'll excuse me, me and Commander Kim are working on analyzing the tampering."
The next day, bright and early, McGawan found himself sitting next to Wing. All Starfleet personell were in their dress uniforms.
The court room resembled and old 20th and 21st century court room, complete with judge's podeum, witness stand, recorders, jury box, tables for defense and prosecution, and a court audience section. Two flags were posted on either side of the bench. One was a flag for the colony. The other was a Federation flag.
As a bailf, a Starfleet Security on-duty officer, not in dress uniform, emerged from the chambers. "All rise!" he called. As all rose, he announced: "This hearing is now in session. The Honorable Jennifer Giavani, Governor, presiding."
With all her grace and beauty hidden underneath a black judge's robe, Jennifer Giavani emerged, with a padd. She set the padd on the podium, and sat, activating the padd. "Please be seated." After all sat, Jennifer accessed her padd. "Let the record show that these proceidings began at 0905 hours, on this date, 2383 February 10. On Starfleet Calendar, these proceidings took place on Stardate 60211 by the Standard Federation Interstellar Calendar of Stardates."
The bailf noted it on a padd of his own.
Jennifer continued. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Morning. This is the preliminary hearing, involving Case number 011 dash 4188, in the matter of the United Federation of Planets verses Captain Bruce McGawan, under violation of Interstellar Law Code 184. Let the record show that the defendant has been informed of the charge against him, and does understand these charges."
The bailf noted it.
Wing and McGawan rose. They have both been to enough of these hearings to know when to stand. Jennifer addressed the council. "This court recognizes Lieutenant Tao Xan Nu Wing, currently posted to Starbase 248, as legal council for the Defendant."
Wing nodded. "Yes, Your Honor."
"At this time, does the defense wish to state a plea?"
"Yes, Your Honor," Wing said. After nodded to McGawan, he turned to Jennifer. "Your Honor, Captain Bruce McGawan, having understood the charges against him, requests that the plea of 'not guilty' be placed into the official record."
"Noted," Jennifer said. "Let the record show that the defense enters a plea of 'not guilty' on behalf of the defendant." After it was so, Jennifer moved to the prosecution. The prosecutor had not arrived. However, Nakajima, being escorted by Starfleet security guards, and in dress uniform, enters into the court room. Jennifer notes this in the record by saying, "The court recognizes Commander Kaori Nakajima, currently assigned to Starbase 248, appointed by Starfleet Command, as prosecution attourney representing the United Federation of Planets."
That stunned everyone in the court room. However, Jennifer knew about it. Though, seeing it in action, really did surprise her a little. Nakajima set her padd down on the table, and addressed the court. "Your Honor, I have just come from the security departement, collecting my final evidence for this case."
Kim scratched his head as he ran the analysis on his console. He put the security log through one more final loop. The result, was well... promising, in the Captain's favor, to say the least...
"The evidence against Captain McGawan is incredible," Nakajima claimed. "First, I submit into evidence, exibit A, the findings from Starbase 248's primary analysis of the initial hack of the government computers. It shows that the hack originated from the Runabout Ohio, just before the runabout entered into the Morias Four atmosphere."
Jennifer received the evidence. "Please continue."
"Next," Nakajima said, in her very Vulcan way, "I submit exibit B, the requested medical examination done on Captain McGawan. The results show an increased level of neural activity in the medula ablengatta, which regulates primative urgings. The exam found that this section of the defendant's brain is known to over react during unpredictable periods."
"Objection," Wing said, daring to object to his CO. "The Prosecutor is not a medical expert, nor did she perform the examination on my client."
"Sustained," Jennifer said. "Commander, please refrain from going into such detail about the evidence you are presenting." Man, that felt good to Jennifer. Perhaps it was a ray of hope...?
Nakajima nodded. "Sorry, Your Honor."
Kim found his way onto the streets, from the security building. City Hall was a ways walk. He would rather take a hovertaxi, but this couldn't wait for him to hail one. By the time one could come down the busy main street, which was already crowded with heavy hovercar traffic, he would be half way to the city hall by then.
He turned a corner – a short cut – into an alley way. That was when he felt something on the back of his head. Kim blacked out for a moment...
Nakajima graced the court room, offering every bit piece of evidence she could against McGawan. McGawan's heart began to sink further and further, as even Jennifer may be convinced of his crime.
McGawan was a fool for falling in love with this girl.
"Your honor," Nakajima said, "as you have collected, I move for a trial hearing to commence against Captain McGawan."
Jennifer felt a lump in her throat, and gulped. She placed her hand gently on the padd, which had the data that was downloaded from Nakajima's padd within it, and prepared herself. "This court is in recess for one hour's time. May I please see the council and the defense in my chambers?"
Kim openned his eyes slowly. He found himself looking up at three masked men, staring down at him. One of them had a knife to Kim's neck. Another had a red mask, with gold trim, on it. "Lieutenant Commander Harold Kim," the red man said.
Kim couldn't gulp. He'd be beheaded if he moved. He said nothing.
"You are about to interfere in something that is beyond your scope of preception," the red man continued. "We cannot allow you to intervene. Long live the Negarani!"
The others chanted the same...
END OF ACT III