While he slept he started to remember what happened.
He was standing near the wall monitor and everyone else is in the same positions as seen in Act Two, including Captain and mom. The strain is starting to show on him, tired and worn.
"Are you ready, Mister Crusher?" Brand asked.
"Yes, sir."
Brand touched a button on her table and the lights in the room dim.
The wall monitor shows a caption reading "SHIP'S LOG:
CADET FOURTH CLASS WESLEY CRUSHER" and bearing the appropriate star date. After a beat, the monitor comes to life and shows an interior view of the cockpit of his ship.
The perspective is from over the head of the pilot, giving a look out the front of his canopy. The top of his flight helmet is visible in the bottom of the frame, but most of the cockpit is hidden from view. Superimposed over the picture are various computer readouts showing speed, course, g-forces, sensor information, etc.
The footage is quite distorted; as he talks, the image jumps and fuzzes periodically and sometimes breaks up altogether. At the moment, no other ships can be seen out of the canopy.
"This is the beginning of our run toward Titan. I'm on the right wing."
"Where was Mister Albert at this point?" Brand asked.
"He was on my port quarter, about fifty meters away."
The view out the front of the canopy changes, a ship comes into view on the right of his canopy. The computer information on the screen indicates a change in course and speed.
"We just received the signal to begin the diamond slot formation. That's Cadet Locarno coming into view."
The view from his ship changes, the stars move to indicate a turn and then a moon suddenly moves into view as the ship swoops down near its surface.
"We're in a twenty degree turn, coming around Titan."
The view from the canopy is almost completely taken up by the moon, the interference is getting worse and worse.
He was having trouble making out what he's seeing on the screen.
"We should be coming out of Titan's gravity well about now."
The moon was just leaving the canopy on the screen when the picture finally breaks up.
Including Brand and Satelk.
"That is the extent of the data we were able to recover from the flight recorder. Mister Crusher, will you describe what happened after you left orbit of Titan?" Brand asked.
"Once we'd cleared the moon Mister Locarno led us into a Yeager loop, about nine seconds later, everything seemed to happen at once: the proximity alarm went off, I tried to veer away, but it was too late, I was hit, I lost control of the ship and a power coupling exploded in the cockpit. I don't know how, but I managed to activate my escape transporter the next thing I remember was finding myself in the emergency evac station on Mimas with the rest of the squadron, except Josh."
"Do you have anything to add to your testimony?"
"No, sir."
Brand and Satelk exchange a look. Satelk folds his hands in front of him and regards him severely.
"Mister Crusher, will you describe a Yeager loop?" Satelk asked.
"The ships begin in a diamond slot formation. They climb and loop backwards at a steep angle at the peak of the loop, all five ships flip over and accelerate in a new direction." he said demonstrating with his hands.
Satelk gave him a very direct look.
"Mister Crusher, did your team remain in formation throughout the loop?" Satelk asked.
He took a long beat before he answered.
"Yes, sir."
"I want you to be absolutely clear on this point, Mister Crusher. Before the collision, was Nova Squadron in a diamond slot formation?" Brand asked.
"Yes, sir."
Brand and Satelk exchange a look again. Brand looks at all four cadets in turn before she nods to Satelk.
"Computer, display Saturn NavCon file six dash three seven nine." Satelk said to the computer.
The monitor comes alive again and shows a view of space as seen from Saturn. The rings can be seen stretching away from the camera and one or two moons are visible.
"These images were obtained by a navigational control satellite in orbit around Saturn during a standard sensor sweep." Satelk continued.
On the monitor, a cluster of tiny dots suddenly appear near the right edge of the frame.
"Computer, freeze image." Satelk said and the picture froze with the dots still visible. "Magnify sector gamma three and enhance."
The picture zooms to the dots, revealing them as five ships. The ships are heading towards each other in a formation clearly different from the diamond slot seen earlier.
The tension level in the room rises a notch. Nick and the other two cadets glance at each other in shock, they can't believe this.
In the audience, he sees Captain immediately understanding what's going on and Captain's shocked by the implications.
He stiffened slightly and braces himself for what he knows is coming.
"This image was recorded when your ships moved briefly into the satellite's sensor range. According to the time index, what you see on the monitor took place seven seconds after Nova Squadron completed the Yeager loop." Satelk said.
"Mister Crusher, are these ships in a diamond slot formation?"
"No, sir."
"What is your explanation, Mister Crusher?"
He was forced to stonewall, and yet he maintained an outward appearance of confusion.
"I have none."
"Come." Captain said.
The door opened and he entered a little nervous about this meeting but was ready for it.
"Captain." he said hiding his nervousness.
Captain studied him for a moment and didn't offer him a chair then he turned around the terminal on his desk so that he can see it. Captain activated the terminal.
"Can you tell me what maneuver this is?"
He saw a simulation of the five Nova ships as they headed around Titan. The ships slingshot around the moon as seen before then went into a loop and shot off in opposing directions then performed an intricate maneuver which resulted in all five ships coming together at one point and then bursting outward a trail of burning plasma left in their wake. The image froze on the five ships in the sunburst pattern.
He looks up at Captain who had never taken his eyes off him.
"It's the Kolvoord Starburst." he said.
"Five ships crossing within ten meters of each other and then igniting their plasma trails. One of the most difficult and spectacular demonstrations of precision flying. It hasn't been performed by an Academy team in over a century. Do you know why?" Captain said.
"It was banned by the Academy following a training accident."
"An accident in which all five cadets lost their lives." Captain said. "Nicholas Locarno wanted to end his Academy career in a blaze of glory so he convinced the four of you to learn the Kolvoord Starburst for the commencement demonstration. If it worked, you'd thrill the assembled guests... and Locarno would graduate as a living legend. Except it didn't work... and Joshua Albert paid the price."
He said nothing with his heart pounding.
"Am I correct?"
He looked away and Captain's voice turned harder.
"I asked you a question, Cadet."
His head snapped up at the tone of command, but he didn't yield.
"I... choose not to answer, sir." he said stiffly.
Captain regarded him seriously and got up from his desk and moved closer to. His attitude firm and unbending.
"You choose not to answer and yet you've already given an answer to the inquiry and that answer was a lie."
"I said the accident occurred after the loop, and it did."
"But you neglected to mention the fact that following the loop your team executed a dangerous maneuver which was the direct cause of the crash." Captain said hard. "Yes, you told the truth, but only to a point. And a lie of omission is still a lie."
He said nothing and Captain took a couple of steps away from him.
"Do you remember the day you first came aboard this ship? Your mother brought you to the bridge..."
"Yes." he said seeing that day.
"You even sat in my chair. It annoyed me at first... a presumptuous child playing on my ship. But I never forgot the way you knew every control and display before you ever set foot on the bridge. You acted like you belonged there."
"I remember." he said quietly.
"Later... when I decided to make you an acting ensign, I was convinced you would be an outstanding officer. I've never questioned that conviction... until now."
Captain turned and moved in on him finally standing only a couple inches away from even as his voice dropped down to nearly a whisper.
"The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth... be it scientific truth, historical truth, or personal truth. It is the guiding principle upon which Starfleet is based. If you cannot find it within yourself to stand up and tell the truth about what happened... you do not deserve to wear that uniform."
That hurt him but at the same time knew he was right.
Captain's gaze was withering but he managed to stand there and take it without flinching. Captain finally broke the look and moved back to sit at his desk.
"Mister Crusher... I'll make this simple for you. Either you come forward and tell Admiral Brand what really took place... or I will."
"Captain..."
"Dismissed."
It's the next day. The room was once again filled with spectators, the flight team, mom, Captain, and Albert. Everyone was waiting and finally Brand and Satelk came and took their seats. Brand strikes the bell and brought the room to order. She regards the flight team with a grim expression and her tone was somewhat challenging. She knew something's wrong and that the cadets hold the answer, but she can't do anything about it.
"Captain Satelk and I have gone over your testimony and the physical evidence from the crash." Brand said. "Your statements cannot be reconciled with the data collected from the NavCon satellite. Your unwillingness to offer any explanation for this contradiction is disappointing, and it raises suspicion. We cannot escape the conclusion that either the data is faulty in some way or you have lied to us." he continued. "However, suspicion is not proof and I have no proof that you have lied to this inquiry." He stopped again and took a breath. "Therefore unless further evidence is presented, I have no choice but to close this investigation. For filing an inaccurate flight plan, and for allowing Cadet Albert to fly despite the fact that you knew he had been having difficulties, I am ordering a formal reprimand placed on each of your permanent records. I am also revoking your flight privileges. This inquiry is closed."
"Sir, I would like to add something to my testimony." he said to Brand when he stood up.
He also saw the Captain was concerned not knowing what he's going to do, but hopes he'll do the right thing.
He know Nick wasn't sure what he's going to do either.
Brand glanced at Satelk for a second.
"Proceed, Mister Crusher." he said.
"Yesterday, I testified that the crash occurred following a Yeager loop. That's not entirely true." he said. "We did perform the loop. But after that, we broke formation and attempted a Kolvoord Starburst."
There were reactions from Satelk and Brand they recognized the maneuver and all that it implies.
"We knew it was prohibited and that it would be dangerous, but we wanted to do something spectacular for the commencement demonstration. So we pushed Josh and he wasn't ready. We thought we could do it, we thought we could do anything. We were wrong and Josh died." he continued then turned to face Albert's father sitting in the audience. "Josh didn't let us down, sir. It wasn't his fault."
Albert nodded in silent understanding and he sat down. After a beat, Brand turned to the rest of the flight team.
"Cadet Sito, is this true?" he asked.
It went silent as Sito made the decision.
"Yes, sir." he said quietly.
"Cadet Hajar?"
Jean sat there in silence for a second.
"Yes, sir." she said.
"Mister Locarno, you're the leader of Nova Squadron... do you have anything to say?"
Nick didn't move. A long time passes.
"Mister Locarno?"
Then Nick stood at attention.
"No, sir." he said quietly.
At the Startleet academy he was standing near the elm tree, waiting. After a beat, Captain came over to him grim. He doesn't have to ask the question.
"Mister Locarno has been expelled." Captain said.
He was shocked and disbelief but knew he wasn't done.
'They expelled me to.'
"They also expelled you even though Mister Locarno made an impassioned plea for the rest of you. He said he used his influence as squadron leader to convince you all to try the Kolvoord maneuver and then to cover up the truth. He asked to take full responsibility. But since you're the one that they all weren't expecting to do this they said you deserve this punishment."
Hearing about his friend's final gesture and why they expelled the two of them and not the others made this even harder on him.
"He did exactly what he said he would, he protected the team." he said in a sad laugh. "I feel awful, I've let everybody down. my friends, Mom, you."
"You should feel bad, and you will pay for what you did."
He was a little taken back by this punishment but he didn't complain knowing he deserved this.
"I understand."
"It wouldn't be easy, staying here on campus with everyone knowing what you did. I think you would have some rough times ahead." Captain said.
"Yes, sir." he said heartflet. "Captain... thank you."
"You knew what you had to do. I just made sure you listened to yourself." Captain said. "Good-bye, Mr. Crusher, I'll see you next week."
Then they shake hands.
"Good-bye, Captain."
Then he woke up sweating and panting and looked around then sighed.
"Back on the Enterprise still." he said and laid back down and fell asleep.
The next day he was having breakfast and was going to see if Geordi needed help with anything like he used to.
When he was done he headed to the engineering as planned.
"Hey Geordi." he said a little uncomfortable but knew the engineering was one of the places that calm him down.
"Hey Wes, what's up?" Geordi asked smiling.
"I was just wondering if you wanted me to do anything."
"Sure, come on and help me set this up."
Wesley smiled and did as told.
"So, how's it feel being back here?"
He shrugged not up for talking about it and Geordi could tell so he changed the subject and told him what he had missed.
A few hours later Wesley was in the Cafe' having some lunch thinking.
He could tell they weren't mad at him or ashamed of him either and got him to calm down a little.
For the rest of the week he would usually go to the engineering and help Geordi.
Everyone was wondering why he was only in normal clothes like when he was fifteen until he was promoted to Acting Ensign. Or at least a combadge.
He was in his quarters having breakfast now when he heard an alarm he recognized go off so he got up and ran.
After being there for six years he knew what it was for.
When he got to the Main Bridge he looked around and saw everyone trying to figure out what to do.
"What's going on?" he asked. "After being here for six years I know when something's wrong."
"We don't even know what's going on exactly. Someone is trying to attack us." Picard said.
Then it started to get aimed at by something.
They had the shield on but Wesley could tell it wasn't going to last long because it hit them so hard. So he looked at everyone strong like he used to.
Picard could tell their true Wesley was coming back and tried not to smile.
"Do you want me to get changed into my gray clothes and combadge like after my first promotion or nothing like when I first got here?"
That shocked everyone.
"Why would we want you to not have at least your combadge on?" Riker asked. "And where is your combadge?"
"Because I don't deserve to be a part of this. What I did was unacceptable. Even though I can tell you need my help."
"Mr. Crusher," Picard started.
"Yes sir?"
"You are to get changed not into your grey uniform, your true uniform and then get to work as Ensign Crusher again. What you did was unacceptable but this is family." he said sternly.
Wesley was surprised about that but tried to hide it like he did with everything else back then.
"I didn't think you would want me to go back to that."
"Just because you were expelled doesn't mean you're not still part of the family." he said smiling.
Wesley smiled back and nodded.
"Yes sir."
Then he headed to his quarters, found them in his closet and got changed.
When he looked at himself in the mirror he rubbed on his combadge to clean it up and smiled.
"I should've known he would let me get back to work."
Then he headed to the main bridge.
Everyone looked at him and he still wasn't comfortable with looking at them yet so he went to his old seat and got ready.
"What do you need done sir?"
Then there was another shot thrown at them causing them all to fall if standing and almost falling off their seat.
When it stopped the screen went off.
"Unlock." Picard said.
So Data did as told and then they saw the Tamalak.
"Hello Captain Picard." one of them said.
"What do you want?" he asked.
One of them opened their mouth when they saw Wesley.
"So, Wesley Crusher has come to visit huh?"
Picard looked at Wesley and he looked at him back.
"He is not here to visit this time. He was expelled from the Academy because something happened."
That got the Tamalak to stand there shocked.
"Wesley Crusher, expelled?" one of them said.
"Yes I was expelled but Captain let me be Ensign Crusher again." Wesley said standing up.
"No surprise there with both your parents working with him."
"What do you want?" Picard asked again.
"To get revenge on what you did to us."
Wesley was confused.
'What have I missed?' he wondered.
Suddenly they were hit again hard.
"We've lost sixty percent of the shield Captain." Wesley said.
Then they were hit again and it was broken. Data got away in time while Wesley was hit hard by the screen and many parts of the Enterprise and was on his back with parts of it all over him causing him to bleed hard and covered by parts of it.
"Wesley!" everyone said.
He winced hard and tried to get up.
"I'm fine." he said a little dizzy from losing so much blood.
Picard was about to say something but was interrupted by another shot but Wesley moved them quickly getting missed.
"Ensign Crusher, go to the Sickbay." Picard said seeing him dizzy and pale from losing so much blood.
"I will when it's done sir." he said putting something in.
None of them were happy about that but knew his history of helping them so much.
He was having a lot of trouble keeping his balance and consciousness from losing so much blood.
Then Tamalak people went inside through the open.
"We will get control of the Enterprise now." one of them said.
'Not if I can help it.' Wesley thought.
"Wesley Crusher, who would've thought that son of Jack Crusher and Beverly Crusher would be expelled from the school they went to?"
"I don't care right now! All that matters is that they accept me and allow me to be Ensign Crusher again!" he said and aimed a shot at one of them.
That got it to go flying and everyone to look at him.
"You all know I worked hard at school." he said.
Then another Tamalak aimed a shot at Picard.
While they shot at each other Wesley tried as hard as he could at what he had learned at school and on the Enterprise.
Finally the Tamalak gave in.
"Alright! You win this battle but we'll be back."
Then they were gone and everyone ran over to look at Wesley who had lost conciseness a few seconds ago after losing so much blood.
"Wesley?" Deanna said and got no answer.
So she felt his wrist and sighed.
"He has a pulse, a weak one but still has it."
Everyone sighed in relief.
Then Picard picked him up.
"Number One you're in charge while I take him to Sickbay."
Riker nodded and took it from there.
'This kid's gonna get himself killed one of these days.' he thought.