Blue Drop: Angel's Home: Chapter 5
Trial
Mari'il put on her Arume uniform and once more waited for Loriel's aide to come pick her up. She knew their destination in Admiralty House would not be Loriel's office this time, even though Loriel had recently returned from the Fleet Exercise. Today was the day she was to meet the board of inquiry convened concerning her actions on Forime. The aide was silent as the skimmer took them both there. On the way, Ekaril worried about the outcome of the board: if she were found guilty, she was prepared to accept whatever penalty the board decreed—for such was the duty of a commander—but she didn't want Mari to also have to suffer for this, as Mari had done nothing wrong. At the same time, Mari was worried for Ekaril as well: she felt that Ekaril had done nothing wrong on Earth and so deserved no punishment, yet Ekaril was still worried about it, and her very being worried concerned Mari.
They arrived at the appointed hearing room. Ekaril was ushered in and found Loriel along with two other Arume, all in full uniform, sitting behind a table on a slightly raised dais. This was the typical arrangement for a formal hearing, Ekaril explained to Mari. As a concession to this not being a full judicial trial, Mari'il was permitted to sit down opposite them, as opposed to having to remain standing for the duration.
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Grand Admiral Loriel opened the proceedings by introducing the other to members sitting on this board of inquiry: Master Commander Phanuel and Master Commander Tadael. Neither of them were known to Ekaril from before, but she hoped that they would be fair. She didn't know whether to be frightened or reassured that only Phanuel wore the insignia of the judicial branch.
``Commander Ekaril, Mari'il,'' began Loriel, ``this board is convened to decide on certain of your actions as commander of Blue during the expedition to Forime, and what further, if any, action should be taken concerning them. The actions in question include: your non-communication with your flagship for five years, your destruction of a flagship probe, potentially revealing our presence on Forime, your attacking the other ships in the expedition, your declaration of independence from your own flagship and commander, and finally the attack and destruction of that flagship.'' She paused and looked at her fellow board-members. ``The question before this board is whether these actions amount to mutiny and rebellion, possibly in the face of an enemy force, or whether they were taken to uphold your original mission orders in the face of illegal orders and actions by the rest of the expeditionary squadron.''
Phanuel and Tadael nodded, agreeing with this statement of purpose for this board of inquiry.
``The matter before this board also poses a unique complication,'' continued Loriel. ``Mari'il, you have come to us as Commander Ekaril, and though not possessing her body, pass all authentications with her full private code sequences. For the purposes of this board and its decisions will you agree that you are Commander Ekaril, and will you accept any judgment it renders on her as binding on yourself?''
``I will,'' answered Mari'il. And the feeling of unity, acceptance and love that Mari gave Ekaril assured her that she had answered correctly for both of them.
[[ After all, ]] Mari added silently to her. [[ You did so much of this to defend me and `my people.' I feel I should share what comes to you because of it. ]]
``Thank you, that makes our job easier. Now, the main evidence presented to this board is the full log of Blue along with sundry other recordings made by Ekaril, Tsubael and Azanael, all members of the expedition to Forime. In addition to these documents, there are also the interviews I conducted with Mari'il upon her arrival here. Commander Ekaril, will you declare that these are true to the best of your knowledge? Do you wish to contest anything in them or add anything to them?''
``They are true to the best of my knowledge. I do not wish to contest them, nor do I have anything to add.'' Again, a calm acceptance suffused Mari'il's voice.
``Thank you, Ekaril.'' She turned to her fellow board-members. ``Master Commander Phanuel, Master Commander Tadael, you have reviewed the evidence. Do you have anything further you would wish to ask Commander Ekaril?''
They each did, asking a few penetrating questions dealing with Ekaril's understanding of the mission's orders and the specifics of her interactions with Master Commander Shivariel. Loriel also asked a couple of her own, following up on these.
This questioning completed, Loriel turned back to Ekaril. ``Thank you for your cooperation, Commander Ekaril. Do you have anything you'd like to say in conclusion?''
``I would like to say again that I deeply regret all of the deaths that happened in the course of these events, and also that we were unable to fulfill many of our mission objectives due to the initial explosion of Blue's drive.'' She took a deep breath and looked directly at the three. ``If I may be so bold as to make a request of this board: that all of Tsubael's actions on Forime be considered as having been under my direct orders, that she not be punished for trying her best to follow those orders, fulfill our mission, and protect her ship and her commander.'' She bowed her head in supplication.
[[ Thank you, ]] said Mari, silently. [[ Thank you for trying to protect Tsubael. I know she would appreciate that, though she would say you didn't need to. Let me thank you in her place. ]]
[[ It is all I can do, ]] answered Ekaril. [[ I hope it is enough. She deserves so much more. ]]
``Thank you for your testimony Commander Ekaril,'' Loriel answered. ``This board will now deliberate over the evidence and testimony presented.'' She pressed the keypad in front of her, and the door opened to reveal an aide waiting outside. ``You are dismissed until these deliberations are completed.''
Ekaril rose and saluted the three board-members, then turned to leave with the aide. She almost missed the barest flash of a grin on Loriel's face and her quiet comment, ``Hopefully we won't take too long.''
ooo OOO ooo
The aide took Mari'il to a nearby room to await a summons from the board. She offered her something to drink, so Mari'il took a cup of tea both to moisten her now-dry mouth and calm her nerves.
Mari found it amusing that tea seemed to take the same cultural position on both Arume and Earth—or at least Japan. This observation helped distract Ekaril from worrying, and she thanked Mari for that as they sipped the tea and vainly tried to relax.
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Sooner than Mari'il would have expected the aide returned for her and escorted her back to the hearing room.
The three officers were seated as before. Loriel greeted Mari'il and announced that the board had finished their deliberations. This time Mari'il remained standing before the board to formally hear their decision.
Loriel laid out the board's findings: they could not condemn her lack of communication nor her abandoning some of the mission objectives given the damage to Blue from the drive explosion. ``We find that you did quite well under those circumstances.'' All of Blue's attacks were judged to be in self-defense, as Shivariel seemed to have specially ordered the destruction of Blue. Even the final battle was so judged, the weaker case for self-defense being balanced by Shivariel's exceedingly questionable actions in the first place. Finally, Ekaril would not be censured for revealing Arume to the Forime. They should not have been able to see Tsubael's image-shift, and none except Mari could. Any further revelations to Mari had only come after Shivariel had already revealed the existence Arume to her by attacking her with the probe. Also, while they did not make it an official ruling, the board felt that Shivariel exceeded her original mission limitations and her orders and actions were, if not down right illegal, at least highly questionable.
``So, in conclusion,'' Loriel stated, ``this board finds that Commander Ekaril did her best to uphold both her mission and the honor of the Fleet under exceedingly difficult circumstances. While it is unquestionable that much regrettable has happened, we find nothing worthy of censure or prosecution. Furthermore, we have decided to grant Commander Ekaril's request that all of Tsubael's actions be considered to be under her direct orders, though the other findings render any need to protect her moot.''
Mari'il saluted the board, who stood to return her salute. ``Thank you for your deliberation and your judgment,'' she concluded with the formal words of completion.
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Loriel finally allowed herself to to smile and sat back down. ``relax and have a seat, Mari'il,'' she invited. ``Now that this board is finished, we can drop the formality.'' When Mari'il complied, she continued, ``I hope we've answered your biggest concern, but we would like to continue talking to you. Phanuel,'' she gestured to her right, ``is continuing to look into Shivariel's conduct on Forime, and would appreciate your insight on that matter. And it is because of this ongoing investigation that this board has not ruled on the legality of her actions and orders, merely that Ekaril has done nothing blameworthy. All that we have heard makes us suspicious of her personal goals during the mission. Could she have been part of a larger conspiracy or even aiming to set up an independent dominion under her personal rule?''
``Of course,'' replied Mari'il with a small bow to her. ``At your convenience.'' She was worried about being involved in something like this, but you simply did not turn down the judicial branch when they asked to talk to you.
``And Tadael here,'' Loriel gestured to her left. ``is from the Bureau of Ships and would like to discuss the performance of the various experimental ship types sent on this mission. You will have more insights here than anyone else we could talk to.''
``I would be happy to,'' answered Mari'il with another small bow. ``I'm afraid I can't tell you as much about the other ships compared with Blue. On the other hand, I will unhesitatingly recommend Blue. She did more, and endured more than I would ever have expected.'' She hung her head and continued softly, ``She was a better ship than I was a commander.''
[[ Don't say that, ]] Mari chided her. [[ Blue was a good ship, but you were an exceptional commander. I've talked to both Tsubael and Onomil, and they agree. ]]
Before Ekaril could respond to Mari's silent rebuke, Tadael said, ``Thank you, Mari'il. I'm sure you still have a lot of useful insights which can help us at 'Ships. I'll arrange a meeting with you sometime later when it's convenient.''
``As will I,'' added Phanuel, the smile now on her face making her no longer seem as much an unfeeling judicial enforcer.
``Well then,'' concluded Loriel. ``Since we seem to be done here, let's adjourn. We can meet again later for these other matters.'' She rose and led the others out of the hearing room, and her aide took Mari'il back to her own room.
Back in her own room, Mari'il pondered the events of the day. [[ See, I told you that you hadn't done anything wrong, ]] said Mari.
Ekaril didn't fully agree, but concluded that it was still good to have the threat of prosecution removed from over their head.
[[ And they've also explicitly asked for your help and judgment, so don't say that you have nothing to offer. ...I wish there was something I could do to help too. ]] Mari trailed off.
Ekaril tried her best to reassure her, even though nothing immediately came to mind.