A/N: I am not a lawyer. Some of this is probably wrong.
Andrea Garnett sat at the middle of the table as people filed in to the makeshift courtroom. As the senior officer who had had the least contact with Niels Sorensen, she'd been put in charge of overseeing the trial. It was hardly a proper affair, but they were trying to get as close as they could to 'by the book' while still at sea. Jeter had offered to serve as defense counsel out of a sense of fairness and duty, and she believed he would have done his honest best, but Sorenson had refused counsel. He had argued for himself, insisting that the whole thing was an accident. That it had simply had gotten out of his control, and once released, he feared for his life if he came forward. Slattery, acting as the prosecution, had rebutted those arguments by calling Lt. Green up to recount the events in Florida, demonstrating the teddy bears that were used to spread the Red Flu. Then Dr. Scott came up to explain all the scientific and medical ethics that Sorenson had ignored from the very beginning, and how they translated into criminal acts – and how this was all taught in the first year of medical school, so there was no feasible claim of 'ignorance'.
But what had stuck in Andrea Garnett's mind the most was not what Dr. Scott had said, but the dynamics in the room at the time. Sorensen had held an unbroken focus on the doctor the entire time she was in the room; it was obvious he was fixated on her, and not simply in a way that a man pleading for his life would be. While Slattery was asking his questions, Dr. Scott did her best to ignore the defendant, choosing to look at Slattery or the Captain. Once Sorensen began asking his questions, she avoided his eyes for a while…but once she made eye contact, the intense hatred and disgust in her eyes was obvious and unwavering. Garnett was surprised it didn't turn Sorensen to a pile of ash where he stood. As it was, he looked shocked and betrayed. His questions to her became increasingly personal, making the entire room uncomfortable. Garnett had overruled multiple irrelevant questions, and when it was clear he wouldn't stop, she excused Dr. Scott from the room, calling Milowski in for any remaining legitimate medical questions Niels might have.
A tapping noise brought her back to the present; she noticed the room was mostly full now. Michener, Milowski, the captain, and Dr. Scott all sat in the first row. The tapping noise was coming from the right foot of Dr. Scott, and was suddenly stilled by the captain's hand on her knee.
"Rachel, it'll be fine." He said with a comforting smile, offering his hand to her. She took it, clutching it tightly, visibly embarrassed at revealing her anxiety so blatantly.
"I hope so." She replied quietly, waiting impatiently for the proceedings to start.
Garnett was happy to oblige, gesturing to bring in Sorensen. Miller and O'Connor brought him in, and she noticed that Miller stood directly between Sorenson and his view of Dr. Scott, not that it stopped him from trying.
"Niels Sorensen." She said loudly, briefly getting her to look his way. She could see his attention waning quickly in favor of Dr. Scott, and she opted for the short version. "We have finished our deliberations. You have been found guilty of all charges and are sentenced to death."
"What!? Rachel, I helped you! Tell them how I helped you!"
"Get him out of here." Garnett said. She watched as they physically dragged him away – Tex gladly assisting – as he continued to beg, then curse Dr. Scott on his way out of the door. Turning back to the doctor, Garnett saw her sag in relief against the captain's shoulder. Rachel's had a rough week, Garnett mused. But from the looks of it, I think she'll be okay. She allowed herself a small smile as she gathered her papers and left the room.