The big day arrived. All parties were in their dress uniforms, and Simon looked at the spectator section and noticed all of his family there. His parents sat with his little sister in between them, and Nivel sat next to Victor, looking stoic. Simon's paternal grandmother, and both of his maternal grandparents were deceased, but Simon was sure they were there in spirit.

The bailiff spoke, "All rise, court is now in session. The honorable Chief Justice Shirall presiding."

The justices filed in, and Shirall rang the chime. "You may be seated. The court will come to order for the case of The United Federation of Planets vs. Simon Tarses. Does the prosecution wish to make an opening statement?"

Captain Johnson rose and said, "May it please the court, Captain David Johnson, Starfleet Judge Advocate General Corps, representing the United Federation of Planets."

Shirall nodded for him to continue. Captain Johnson said, "Your Honors, do not be fooled. The title of this case makes it sound like a routine criminal case. Make no mistake about it. This is not just a standard case of perjury like the thousands that can be heard daily in any trial court. This is a court-martial. This is a case of a member of Starfleet betraying the sacred trust to always be honest. This is a case of a Romulan lying to get into Starfleet, and serving on the flag ship of the Federation. The prosecution will prove that Crewman Tarses did knowingly and willfully lie about his ancestry so that he could join Starfleet, and that he perpetuated that lie throughout the two years he has spent in Starfleet. When I am through, you will see him for what he really is. Thank you."

Shirall turned to T'Lara and said, "Does the defense wish to make an opening statement at this time?"

T'Lara stood up and said, "Your Honors, may it please the court. Commander T'Lara, Starfleet Judge Advocate General Corps, appearing on behalf of Crewman Simon Tarses. The defense wishes to postpone the making of an opening statement until the conclusion of the prosecution's case in chief."

Shirall addressed Captain Johnson and said, "You may call your first witness."

"The prosecution calls Lieutenant B'Euro Kratt to the stand."

A Bolian man in a red Starfleet uniform stood up and walked toward the witness stand. The bailiff swore him in, and then he sat down.

Captain Johnson began, "Please state your name and occupation for the record."

Lt. Kratt said, "B'Euro Kratt, Lieutenant. I am currently assigned to Starfleet's vital records division."

Captain Johnson held up a PADD and said, "Lieutenant Kratt, do you recognize this?"

Lt. Kratt looked at the PADD and said, "Yes. It's Simon Tarses' application to join Starfleet. I received it personally and forwarded it to the admissions committee."

"Would you please read to the court the last sentence printed on the application?"

B'Euro said, "The last sentence on the form is just above the signature line. It says, 'I certify under penalty of perjury that the information contained within this application is true and correct.'"

"Is the application signed?"

"Yes, the signature reads 'Simon Tarses'."

"What species does this application state that Mr. Tarses is?"

"It says that he is 3/4 human and 1/4 Vulcan."

Captain Johnson said, "The prosecution requests that this PADD be entered into evidence as Exhibit A."

Shriall turned to T'Lara and said, "Does the defense have any objections?"

T'Lara had no good legal reason why the PADD shouldn't be admitted, so she said, "No, Your Honor."

Captain Johnson said, "I have no further questions for this witness."

T'Lara stood to begin her cross-examination. She said, "Lieutenant Kratt, how long have you been working in the vital records office?"

"Forty-seven years," he said proudly. "I know more about what goes on in there than anyone else in Starfleet."

"Have you received any commendations for your service?"

B'Euro decided he was starting to like T'Lara. It wasn't every day that someone gave him an opportunity to boast about his thankless job. "Yes, Ma'am. I have received the Silver Stylus award for twenty-five years on the job without making a single filing error. I was even given a replica of a 20th Century Earth object called a pencil. It's on wheels, so I can push it around my desk when I want to. If I last three more years on the job, I'll earn the Golden Lentil award, which comes with a jelly bean dispenser that has a counter on it to keep track of the number of jelly beans eaten."

Simon bit his lip to stop himself from letting out the laugh that was threatening to escape. Captain Johnson looked amused, too. Even Shriall was gently waving his antennae in mirth. T'Lara raised her eyebrow and said, "I move that Lieutenant Kratt be certified an expert in Starfleet statistical record keeping."

"Does the prosecution object?" asked Shriall.

Captain Johnson had no idea where T'Lara was going with this, but figured that it didn't hurt his case, so he said, "No, Your Honor."

"The witness is so certified," said Shriall.

"What kind of information is asked for on the application for someone wishing to enlist in Starfleet?" asked T'Lara.

"Well, there's the standard, name, gender, date of birth, place of birth, and marital status. There is also a section for previous education and employment. The application also asks whether or not the person is a Federation citizen, and whether or not he or she has been convicted of any criminal offense. The final question inquires as to the species of the applicant."

T'Lara said, "Thank you. Have these questions always been the same?"

"No, Ma'am. Approximately thirty years ago, the question of the religion of the applicant was eliminated."

"Why?"

"The Federation Senate determined that an individual's religious beliefs were a personal matter, and did not affect an applicant's qualifications to serve in Starfleet."

"Please describe for the court the process involved in reviewing an application to enlist in Starfleet."

"Once the application is received, a preliminary committee checks the citizenship and criminal record questions. If the person is a citizen and has no criminal record, the application is forwarded to the educational review committee. If the person is a non-citizen, or has a criminal record, the application is forwarded to a special screening committee before the educational review committee. Once an application clears educational review, he or she is called in for an interview and a medical examination. If everything checks out, he or she is accepted into Starfleet and goes on to basic training," Lt. Kratt said.

"Assuming that the applicant is a Federation citizen, what is done with the information on species?"

B'Euro smiled and said, "I file it. I have very large files with information on the species of everyone who has ever applied to join Starfleet."

"Aside from storing it in large files, is any use made of that information?"

B'Euro thought about it for a moment and then said, "No. It just sits in my files."

T'Lara said, "Thank you Lieutenant Kratt." Then she addressed Shriall and said, "I have no further questions, Your Honor."

Shriall dismissed Lt. Kratt and invited Captain Johnson to call his next witness.

"The prosecution calls Dr. Katherine Pulaski to the stand."

The bailiff walked over to Dr. Pulaski and said, "Please raise your right hand." Dr. Pulaski complied, and then the bailiff said, "Do you solemnly affirm that the testimony you will give before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"

Dr. Pulaski said, "I do."

Captain Johnson said, "Would you please state your name and occupation for the record?"

"Katherine Pulaski, Commander, Starfleet Medical Corps. I am currently assigned as the project director for Starfleet's xenobiological research department."

"And what was your occupation before that?" asked Captain Johnson.

"I was chief medical officer aboard the USS Enterprise."

"In your career, how many different species have you come into contact with?"

"I've lost track. Hundreds of them."

Captain Johnson held up a PADD and said, "For the record, Dr. Pulaski's logs indicate that she has encountered at least three hundred and forty-seven distinct species in the course of her service in Starfleet."

Captain Johnson then addressed Shirall and said, "I move that Dr. Pulaski be certified as an expert in the field of medicine generally, and interspecies medicine specifically."

Shirall said, "Are there any objections?"

T'Lara said, "No, Your Honor."

Shriall said, "Let the record reflect that Dr. Katherine Pulaski is certified as an expert in interspecies medicine."

"Does a standard medical examination include scanning to determine the species of the patient?"

"Yes, it does. Since different species react differently to medical treatments, it would be irresponsible not to."

Captain Johnson continued, "While serving aboard the Enterprise, were you acquainted with the defendant?"

"Crewman Tarses was transferred aboard about a month before I left the Enterprise. I didn't get to know him very well."

"During that month, did you ever have occasion to perform a standard medical scan on him?"

"Yes, I did."

"Did you determine his species?"

Dr. Pulaski swallowed hard, and T'Lara stood up and said, "Objection! The results of medical scans are protected under doctor-patient confidentiality."

Shriall said, "Objection overruled. The species of Crewman Tarses is a central question in this case. The witness will answer the question."

Dr. Pulaski looked at Simon for a moment, apologizing with her eyes. "Yes. I determined his species."

Captain Johnson was a bit frustrated that Dr. Pulaski wasn't making this easy for him. "What species is Crewman Tarses?"

"Simon Tarses is 3/4 human and 1/4 Romulan."

The spectators gasped at this revelation, and suddenly, the courtroom was abuzz with conversation. Shriall rang the bell and said "Order in the court."

Captain Johnson looked quite pleased with himself as he said, "Thank you. I have no further questions at this time."

Shriall turned to T'Lara and said, "Would you like to cross-examine the witness?"

T'Lara rose and said, "Yes, Your Honor."

T'Lara addressed Dr. Pulaski by saying, "Doctor, in your expert opinion, how long would it take for two groups of the same species, when isolated from one another, to evolve into different species?"

"It depends on the complexity of the organism. A single-celled entity would evolve over a short time. The more complex, the longer it takes."

"How long would it take for humanoids?"

"Barring widespread mutations, millions of years."

Captain Johnson was scribbling furiously on his legal pad. He did not like where this was going at all. T'Lara continued, "Do Romulans share a genetic similarity to any Federation member races?"

"All life as we know it shares a degree of genetic similarity. However, some races are more closely related than others. Romulans are quite genetically similar to Rigelians, but they share the greatest similarity with Vulcans."

"Do you know the reason for this similarity between Romulans and Vulcans?"

"Yes. The Romulans are descendants of a group of Vulcans who decided to leave and start their own society."

"Doctor, how long ago did they leave Vulcan?"

"About 2,000 years ago."

If a Vulcan could look smug, that would be the best description for the look on T'Lara's face. She said, "I have no further questions for this witness."

Shriall addressed Dr. Pulaski and said, "Thank you. You are excused."

Captain Johnson stood up and said, "The prosecution requests a recess."

Shriall rang the bell and said, "Since it is almost time for midday meal, this court will recess for two hours."