Third Lieutenant Roy Hunter reads a book as he lays down in his room at the hospital's rehab center. It is one of the things he does, due to the casts on his legs severely restricting his mobility. The room is quiet save for the sound of raindrops hitting the ground outside.
He then looks up and sees a man with close cropped purple hair, wearing service khakis.
"Commander," says the lieutenant.
"Lieutenant Hunter," says Lieutenant Commander Fan Zeppel. "How are you doing?"
"Just trying to pass the time until these casts come off. The doctors say I don't need any more surgeries for now. But then again, I never expected Hyun to get killed in a training accident."
"What are you reading, Lieutenant?"
"A book written by a reporter who was aboard the Macross during the SDF-1 Campaign. I never knew he actually interviewed my dad before my dad joined the military. Well, my dad's retiring pretty soon. Maybe I'll get to actually walk on my own two feet during his retirement supper. It is just so hard to do even the simplest of things."
"I do have some news, Hunter. Commander Hamato was removed from command."
Hunter stays silent for a few seconds, trying to process the news. "So you're in command now, sir. I can't say I'm surprised."
"Well, in addition to that, the commander is going to be court-martialed for Lieutenant Seuk's death."
Roy's eyes widen. "What?" he asks. "No. He didn't cause it."
"it seems that Commission of Inquiry thought differently," says Zeppel. "We've already had to send copies of our reports to trial and defense counsel. They will likely want to talk to you. Now, please excuse me, Lieutenant, I have other business to attend to."
"I guess you'll be very busy, sir." The commander leaves. Lieutenant Hunter simply lays back on his bed, reading the book.
Ooooo
Third Lieutenant Hyun Seuk walked up to the Stonewell Bellcom VFA-6 Alpha veritech fighter. She looked and can see the training cadre. Wearing her CVR-03 armor, she climbed up the ladder and entered the cockpit. A man also wearing CVR-03 armor climbed up and sat in the seat behind you.
"I'm honored to have you with me on my first flight, Commander," said Seuk.
"The best deserves the best instructor," replied Commander Arihiso Hamato. "I have full confidence in your abilities, Lieutenant Seuk."
The lieutenant looked at the instrument panel, which was of course identical to the instrument panel in the sims. She took care to look at every gauge, every screen.
"Everything looks fine, sir," she said.
"All thanks to our team of technicians and mechanics," said Hamato.
Lieutenant Seuk operated the controls to taxi the robotech war machine out to the taxiways of J-FAF Tirol.
"Greenhorn Five ready for takeoff," she said even as Commander Hamato listened.
"Tower to Greenhorn Five, you are cleared to take off, Runway Two-Five Lima," said the air traffic controller.
"Copy that," replied Lieutenant Seuk. Moving the throttle and the stick, she moved the Alpha to the runway. There were wispy cirrus clouds in the sky, along with the gas giant planet Fantoma. "Greenhorn Five taking off."
She pushed the throttle forward. The General Galaxy thrusters emit protoculture exhaust, pushing the aircraft forward. Seuk watched the airspeed indicator rise.
She felt a bit nervous,. She had done this so many times in the sims. And yet, there remained this residue of fear, even with a Distinguished Flying Cross recipient sitting behind her.
And then, the landing gear tires rise up from the concrete surface of Runway 25L. Lieutenant Seuk could clearly see the ground below shrinking, and she knew she and the Alpha were flying.
"Greenhorn Five in the air," she said.
Thirty minutes later, Lieutenant Seuk was looking at the runway lights as the Alpha descended towards the surface of Tirol.
"Gently now," said Commander Hamato.
"Okay," said the student aviator. "Flaps down. Airspeed 210 knots and falling." She pulls down a lever. "Landing gear locked."
The surface appeared to get bigger and bigger. Seuk recognized the control tower and the hangars and the buildings of JFAF-Tirol.
The ground got closer.
"Nose up," said the commander.
Lieutenant Seuk gently pulled the stick up. The Alpha goes noes up, and the main landing gear touched the concrete surface; both pilot and instructor felt it. The lieutenant gently pushed the stick down, and the nose landing gear made contact. "Greenhorn Five has touched down," she said.
"Don;'t celebrate yet, Seuk," said Hamato. "we need to get to our hangar."
The Alpha taxies along the runway. Seuk pressed the brake, and it came to a stop right next to the hangar where the Spacy's training veritechs were stored.
The pilot pressed a button to open the canopy and extend the ladder, and she climbed down. Several people from the cadre, all dressed in gray overalls or service khakis, clapped as soon as Lieutenant Seuk set her left foot on the tarmac.
Ooooooo
Commander Arihiso Hamato arrives at the front door of Admin Building 215. Opening the door, he walks in., before collapsing the umbrella that shielded him from the rain outside. He notices the droplets of water on the glass door and glass windows.
"Commander," says a crewman who looks like she had not finished her sojourn from girlhood to womanhood, "this is for your umbrella." She hands him a piece of plastic.
"Thank you, Crewman," the commander replies as he wraps the plastic around his umbrella. He then speaks to the corporal at the reception desk.
"Down the hallway, sir," she says.
Hamato walks down the hallway, reaching a set of double doors in seconds. Opening them, he enters a large office with desks divided into cubicles. A sergeant stands at attention, upon seeing the superior officer.
"Good morning, Commander," says a woman. "I am Lieutenant Commander Sari Priyatosh, Judge Advocate, your defense attorney- unless you borrowed Commander Hamato's clothes for some reason, which would put you in trouble if you are wearing rank insignia and decorations you should not have."
"I am indeed Commander Arihiso Hamato," he replies. He looks at the attorney. She is about five four, with black hair and brown skin. Eyeglasses frame her face. She has two rows of colored ribbons pinned to her service khaki blouse at chest, and a brass oak leaf insignia on her collar.
"We shall talk in my office, sir." She leads him to a private office adjoining the main office. It is small, with a desk and an apple HyperMac and file cabinets. A recruitment poster for U.N. Spacy Judge Advocates hang on the left wall. Priyatosh stands behind her desk.
"Commander, we should have a seat."
"Yes, sir." The two of them sit down. "Commander Hamato, tell me about the circumstances of the crash that killed Lieutenant Hyun Seuk."
Hamato starts talking.
oooooo
"You're guilty, sir," says Commander Priyatosh. "If I were to judge you, based on the documentation I received and what you said, I would find you guilty of all charges and send you away for twelve years for killing that girl."
Commander Hamato stays silent for a minute, his expression blank. "I thought you were my defense counsel, Lieutenant Commander," he says.
"I am, sir. As defense counsel, I need to defend you with the evidence as it is a now, not as I wish it to be. It'd be legal malpractice for me to proceed as if you were innocent when in fact you're not."
"So what is the game plan, Commander?"
"Me knowing you killed Lieutenant Seuk is one thing, but for the trial counsel to actually prove it if we go to trial is another matter."
"So we go to trial?"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Commander. I will review the transcripts of the hearings by that Commission of Inquiry and the supporting documentation. In addition, I will issue subpoenas for the medical records of Lieutenant Seuk and Lieutenant Roy Hunter- there might be something there that could make it impossible to prove that you're guilty of manslaughter. We'll meet with Commander Sarakian- your trial counsel- in two days. He knows trying to pin manslaughter on you isn't a sure bet. I'll offer a plea deal that'll keep you out of custody. We could put this all behind us in less than two weeks."
"Well, I suppose I can't complain about my career literally crashing and burning," says Commander Hamato. "I learned from friends that I was on the short list for promotion to captain. It's going to be over soon."
"Sir, there is more I will need to know," says Commander Priyatosh. "Tell me about your colleagues and friends."
ooooooo
Two days later, it is not raining at Joint Forces Air Field Tirol, though of course there are still plenty of cumulus clouds in the skies above, obscuring the sight of Fantoma.
Commanders Priyatosh and Hamato go inside a conference room in Admin Building 215. Lieutenant Commander Michael Sarakian, wearing his service khakis, is already inside, standing up at the end of a long wooden table.
"Good morning, Sari," he says. "I understand you want a deal."
"We can be done with this in two days, Michael," she replies. "Here is our offer. Commander Hamato here pleads guilty to falsifying military records and willfully disobeying a regulation. He will accept a reduction in rank to lieutenant commander and sixty days' forfeiture of pay. In return, all other charges, especially the manslaughter charge, is dropped."
Sarakian stays silent for a while. "So, for killing a veritech pilot in training, he gets off light. Is that correct?"
"You'd have to prove that his unlawful actions actually caused Lieutenant Seuk's death. He's not being accused of sticking a knife in her back."
"For all practical purposes, he did. He falsified records and disregarded regulations. He sent these student pilots up there before they were ready. I read the transcripts. His XO said Lieutenant Hunter wasn't ready, and he crashed into Lieutenant Seuk. I believe I can prove manslaughter."
"This sort of case is tricky for prosecutors."
"Someone has to speak for Hyun Seuk. With the evidence I have, I am willing to take this chance. And discovery is still underway. Does your client want to bet on what evidence I might uncover?" Sarakian walks around in a small, two-foot wide circle. "He may be able to minimize his losses. He pleads guilty to manslaughter, gets a sentence of three years' confinement, ninety days' forfeiture of pay, reduction in rank to third lieutenant, and a dishonorable discharge, and tin return, he other charges will be withdrawn."
"Three years?" asks Priyatosh.
"I am aware of your client's service record, counselor. We all know he earned a Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions in that last battle to liberate Earth from alien occupation. His fitreps were all outstanding. He was among the first of his class to reach full commander. It is a longstanding precedent that military achievements are a mitigating circumstance in a court-martial, predating the first founding of the United Earth Government. Three years will sting, but it is much shorter than what he could get if we go to trial and he's convicted on all charges. That is my counter-offer."
Priyatosh faces Hamato. "We shouldn't take this deal."
"I will defer to my defense counsel, Commander Sarakian," says Commander Hamato.
"Very well, sir," replies Sarakian. "If you change your mind, you have until your arraignment."
He and his attorney leave the room. "What know?" asks Hamato.
"I'll have a word with some of your people," replies Priyatosh.
Oooooo
While playing a handheld video game, Lieutenant Hunter looks up and notices he has another visitor.
"I would stand at attention if I could, ma'am," he says.
'Why, thank you, Lieutenant," she says in reply. "I am Lieutenant Commander Sari Priyatosh, defense counsel for Commander Hamato."
"I figured his lawyer would stop by, ma'am."
Priyatosh looks at the lieutenant. He has short, light brown hair and blue eyes. His two legs are encases in a cast. "How are you feeling, Lieutenant?"
"Commander, I have firsthand experience as to how hard the simplest things are when both of your legs are broken. Everything looks like it will heal enough that I can start my physical therapy. I'm told I'll have to be fitted with leg braces."
"I understand you've been asked this before, but what happened?"
"Ma'am, I went out on my first solo training exercise through the debris field, the one left over from the battle between the Invid and the Robotech Masters ten years before I was born. We went out in pairs. Lieutenants Burbich and Vang were first. After that, Hyun- that's Lieutenant Seuk- and I went. I remember hearing her shout something. I felt something hit me harder than anything's hit me. I remember waking up a little. I couldn't think straight . I saw a bright light. I later learned that I had been taken to the Leonard's sick bay, and I didn't fully come out of sedation until I was here in the hospital on Tirol. Commander Hamato visited me and told me Hyun died. Sometimes I lie here and still can't believe these turn of events."
"I understand this is a difficult time for you, Lieutenant Hunter. I do want to ask you. Do you feel you were ready to fly through that debris field solo?"
"Of course," replies the lieutenant. "Commander Hamato said I was ready."
"That's Commander Hamato's opinion."
"His opinion is the final opinion on our team, ma'am. He is..was our commanding officer at the time."
"Okay. Did you have sim practice for debris maneuvers before going up into orbit?"
"Of course, ma'am. We had to sharpen our skills before live practice."
"How did you perform?"
"I performed well, ma'am. Otherwise, the commander wouldn't have sent me up there."
"No, I am asking your opinion, not Commander Hamato's opinion."
"With all due respect, Commander, it would be improper for me to judge my own performance. I mean, I am sure you've heard of the maxim that a man can't judge his own case- or a woman her own case, of course.
"Point taken, Lieutenant. I should ask a question more objective. During your last sim flight before your live exercise, did you hit any objects? I expect a truthful answer."
"Yeah, come to think of it, ma'am, I did. It wasn't bad though."
"A man is not allowed to judge his own case, Lieutenant. Someone had just reminded me."
"I can say, objectively, the system allowed me to continue instead of ending the simulation, which is what would have happened if I destroyed my virtual veritech. And I can say, objectively, that it happened quite a few time when I started practicing in the sims. The others had this experience. Even Hyun lost a virtual Alpha more than once. I will leave it to my superiors to judge whether or not we were or weren't good pilots."
"So you might not have seen your friend Hyun before it was too late to avoid her? You weren't paying close enough attention. Is that possible?"
"What, Commander?" asks Hunter, his voice excited. "Are you saying that I caused the crash?"
"I do have to consider the possibility, Lieutenant. I mean, I am defending the man accused of killing her; that's what a defense counsel does. We have to look for alternate explanation"
"Of course, ma'am. I kind of understand. Did you know I participated in debate? It was interesting, another hobby aside from flying aerospace craft. Once, I actually had to argue that the Invid Regency was justified in invading and occupying Earth."
"I should look for a transcript. It must be interesting reading."
"There's a video in the Academy archives. You can look it up, ma'am."
"i am sure I won't need a subpoena to get a copy of that video and whatever transcripts exist. I must ask one thing. As son of the Supreme Commander, how much pressure did you feel to excel?"
"I did feel lots of pressure, ma'am, being the son of two Robotech War legends," Lieutenant Hunter answers. "I had to be better than the other cadets. If I was falling behind on my studies, the upperclassmen would personally oversee me studying. I suppose it did help me though. I mean, my cadet rank during my first year was first lieutenant; Hyun was a cadet major. Well, anyway, you never know what you could accomplish unless others expect you to succeed. I guess that is why my superiors at the academy wanted to train me so. There was no way they could fail the son of the Supreme Commander of the United Earth Forces, to make him an officer and a leader."
"We are done here for now, Lieutenant," says the judge advocate.
"Yes, ma'am."
Commander Priyatosh leaves the room.
