Putting Enterprise under arrest had to be one of the hardest things Missouri had to do in her 60 year career. But she was under international pressure to comply. She knew her deputy was innocent. Enterprise couldn't so much as nudge a civilian let alone kill 32 and injure 18 more of them. It was a well played trap by Iraq and one that might have enough momentum to succeed. Missouri wasn't about to let it.
"Care to tell me what this is about?" Enterprise asked as Cole approached. The destroyer still bore the scar of the attack on her two years earlier and she moved with a slight limp but she was a valuable member of the carriers' task force. "Remember that group of marines being attacked outside Tirask?" She asked. Enterprise growled despite herself. "That's what this is about?" She asked. "We attack a hospital that's been turned into a military HQ and we're the ones being charged with war crimes? That's fucking bullshit!" "I know." Cole agreed. "And Missouri knows it too. That's why she's sending you the best of NATOs best lawyers to defend you. DMS Brandenburg will represent Germany. HMS Conqueror will represent Great Britain. FS Charles de Gaulle for France. And USS Los Angeles will be your American representative at the trial, Ticonderoga will be second chair." "A frigate, a cruiser, two submarines, and a fat lazy carrier. Oh yeah that's gonna be a huge help." Enterprise grumbled. "They may not seem like much on the battlefield but the courtroom is a whole different environment and they've proven they're the best." Cole said. "Well I sure hope you're right." Enterprise sighed but she still wasn't happy about the arrangement. She didn't like submarines and two of her lawyers happened to be just that.
The initial trials didn't go so well. Prosecution hampered the defense at every turn and Enterprise was just waiting for the opportunity to give them a taste of their own medicine. If she hadn't been disarmed before she went into that court berthing, she would've finished the case then and there. But the more she heard them strike her defense team down, the more she felt that maybe they were right. Yes, she had ordered that airstrike. And yes, it was on a hospital. Maybe she was guilty. She certainly felt like it.
For the first time since this business began, she was allowed to see one visitor and she called on the only ship who's voice she wanted to hear right now. The guard ship who was Cole stood at attention as her flagship came forward. "You are relieved Cole, I can take it from here." Missouri ordered. Cole gave her leader a questioning glance before saluting and heading off to her berth for some chow.
"How's it going over there?" Missouri's optimistic tone once would've lifted the carriers' drowning spirit in a hurry, now it just made her feel queasy and the slightest bit angry. What right did Missouri have to feel happy when she was having her stern kicked all over the courtroom?! Keeping her voice and stance carefully neutral, so as not to alarm the battleship, Enterprise replied "You've watched the news I'm sure. You tell me." "Don't let the prosecution tear you up too much, Enterprise. Remember, they don't have the facts to support their claims." Missouri said sternly. Enterprise winced. Missouri was just too good at reading her to be fooled by her false front. "Missouri, they're using the facts to support their claims and they're doing it well." She said. "What are you saying?" Missouri asked. "That you believe you committed a war crime." "I don't know what I believe anymore." Enterprise replied honestly. "That night-I did fire on a hospital. I did order that strike and it not only destroyed that building but others around it. And I knew it would do that. I deliberately caused harm to civilians. Don't tell me that's not a war crime, Missouri." "Civilians are bound to die in war, Enterprise. It's inevitable you know that." Missouri sighed. "Doesn't make it right to kill them." Enterprise muttered. Missouri suddenly became angry. "Damn it Enterprise, you'd just roll over and allow them to put you in chains for this wouldn't you? Wouldn't you?!" She hissed. She struck Enterprise hard across the head. Enterprise cowered from the blow. Missouri continued. "You've always been too soft-hearted for your own good. You have no self advocate skills and you could care less about your own well being in this. Shit, Enterprise you're facing life in a drydock at minimum and that's if you get lucky! The needle would be the most likely outcome and that's a merciful death. You'd just as soon be sentenced to sink as a target! And you'd let that happen?!" Missouri struck her again. "Even if you come out of this on top, which at the rate you're going is unlikely, I'd just as soon keep Tico as my deputy. She at least acts like a real officer." Enterprise snarled at the second blow. "Tico knows how to fight for herself, Enterprise. A skill you lack, it's one you've always lacked. You've always been a coward Enterprise. That's what you are, a coward!"
Missouri's last comment was the final straw and the carrier lunged at the battleship with a furious roar. A brief scuffle and she had Missouri pinned, teeth a centimeter from her throat. Both ships breathed heavily. Missouri gazed up at the much larger ship currently pinning her against the harbor bottom with some uncertainty and fear. Had she pushed too far? She was only trying to get Enterprise to do what she should've done all along which was stand up for herself. Enterprise was the first to speak. "You set me up, didn't you?" She asked. Missouri neither confirmed nor denied it and the carrier backed off. Missouri righted herself and came alongside. "You knew I would snap, you just didn't know when. That's why you ordered the guard away when you came in. You had this planned." "Yes." Missouri's quiet voice made Enterprise pay all that more attention. "You've been so submissive as of late Enterprise. You needed a good kick to boost that sadly lacking ego of yours." "Missouri what you did was dangerous and foolhardy." Enterprise scolded, glaring down at her. "I could've seriously injured you." "Oh aye you could have. But you didn't eh." Missouri winked. "We've worked together for almost 40 years now Enterprise. I know what you can take and what you can't take. I walked a fine line, I'll admit it. But I knew where I was stepping the whole time." "Yes, I'm sure you did." Enterprise grumbled. Missouri sighed and prepared to take her leave. "Missouri?" The battleship paused as Enterprise called her back. "Yes, Enterprise?" "Thank you." Missouri smiled, returning to Enterprise's side to hug her. The carrier purred, resting her head against Missouri's shoulder. "I pray to the Ancients' you'll make it through this Enterprise." She whispered. "If I am innocent, I shall." Enterprise replied.