"The United Earth Forces call Ayanna Harden to the stand," says Lieutenant Commander Keith Ogilvie.
A woman with tightly-curled black hair walks to the witness stand. She wears an olive-drab collared blouse and an olive-drab skirt. Two chevrons are on her left sleeve. A ribbon rack pinned to her blouse tells the story of her service. She takes a seat.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" asks the Ocean Patrol petty officer who is serving as the bailiff.
"I do, Petty Officer," replies the witness.
"State your name for the record," says the trial counsel.
"Ayanna Harden," she answers.
"And what is your present rank and post?"
"I am a corporal in the United Nations Space Marines and a Bioroid operator for the 127th Mobile Armor Unit, presently stationed in Space Marine Barracks Harmony in Space Station Harmony, sir."
"Explain what a bioroid is."
"Commander, it is a giant suit of armor, six and a half meters tall, controlled by a neural link. They were originally developed by the Robotech Masters. As I recall, our Supreme Commander used to destroy bioroids for a living. After the Robotech Masters fell, we started utilizing those robotech war machines. They are presently manufactured by Viggers and Centinental.
"I step in and operate the bioroid. I practice air and ground assaults."
"When did you enlist in the Space Marines?"
"About seven years ago, sir. I went through boot camp and then Bioroid School at Camp McMurdock on Planet Glorie."
"Corporal Harden, were you ever a cadet in the United Earth Forces Academy?" asks Ogilvie.
"Yes, sir, I was," replies the corporal.
"Explain the circumstances as how you came to attend the United Earth Forces Academy."
"I wanted to do more than just work for money; I wanted to make a difference. Initially, I was rejected when I first applied, so I enlisted in the Space Marines. Five years ago, I applied again, getting a letter of recommendation from my commanding officer. I was later told that I received an appointment reserved for active duty enlisted."
"and you also applied for the varsity basketball team, correct?"
"Yes, sir. That was when I met the coach, Melissa Karn. I was accepted and I played games."
"And you met the defendant here, Commodore Nijjar, is that correct?"
"Yes, sir. I first met her when she attended one of our games, during my plebe year. She said she was impressed with me."
"Now, Corporal Harden, during your tenure at the United Earth Forces Academy, did you cheat?" asks Commander Ogilvie.
"Yes, sir," Ayanna says softly.
"When was the first time you cheated?"
"In my second year, another cadet, a Cadet Ho, gave me a data stick. It had test answers and essays. I used the information in the data stick to cheat."
"Did you report this cadet's cheating to anyone?"
"Yes, sir. I went to the coach."
"And that was Melissa Karn, correct?"
"Yes, sir. She told me it was okay. I needed to get my grades up and that the team and the Academy woulds suffer if she had to cut me loose because of my poor grades at the time."
"Did Commodore Nijjar confront you about the cheating?"
Ayanna looks at the commodore, who is sitting with her attorney and a paralegal. "Yes, she did. After a home game, which we won, she and the coach took me aside for a car ride."
"A car ride?"
"We rode in the commandant's official car towards the back, near the athletic fields. The commodore told me she knew about the cheating. I was scared."
"Did she threaten to convene an Honor Board to punish you for your cheating?"
"No, sir. In fact, she told me to continue, and she told me not to report any cheating that I knew of. She said she'd cover for me, as Commandant of Cadets. She said they needed me, especially as I was a role model due to serving as an enlisted Marine."
"Did you assist other cadets in cheating?"
"Yes, sir, I did, starting in my third year. I would have these informal meetings with others, the coach, Commodore Nijjar, as well as the deans of some of the departments."
"Was a Colonel Walters among those you met with?"
"Yes, sir. Colonel Dean Walters was the dean of the athletic department."
"And in those meetings, you discussed with the commodore and others whom you would assist in cheating?"
"Yes, sir."
"Earlier, Mirage Sterling had testified that you gave her a data stick with test answers and essays. Is this true, Corporal?" asks the trial counsel.
"Yes, sir, it is," answers Ayanna I have the data stick to Mirage after breakfast a few months ago, sometime in February, I think."
"UEF Exhibit A, a copy of the data that was on the data stick," says Ogilvie, holding up a data stick. "and you assisted other cadets, right?"
"Yes, at least one other on my team' replies the corporal.
"Corporal, you were questioned by Lieutenant Commander Tracey Pullman about cheating, is that correct?"
"Yes, sir. The first time, she told me she was conducting an audit. She asked me about enforcement of the Honor Code. I told her of an incident last year where a cadet was expelled because he framed another cadet for cheating."
"Did Commander Pullman ask you about any Honor Code violations reported to the Corps of Cadets?"
"Yes, sir, she did."
"did you tell her that Cadet Carli Padgett reported Cadet Sterling for an Honor Code violation."
"No, sir, I did not."
"And she later confronted you with your omission is that, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"And she made a deal with you, correct?'
"Yes, sir."
"Tell this court what deal Commander Pullman made with you."
"She told me if I fully cooperated, and accepted whatever punishment the Honor Board issued for my own violations of the Honor Code, I would be immune from a prosecution in a court-martial."
"And you took the deal, Corporal?"
"Yes, I did, sir. Two weeks later, I was brought before the Honor Board. I was found guilty, and they recommended expulsion. The morning after, the new Super ratified my expulsion. After two weeks of leave, I resumed active enlisted duty in the Space Marines."
"Did you and Commodore Nijjar meet with Mirage Sterling about her own violation of the Honor Code."
"Yes, sir. The commodore offered to let her finish the semester and separate with no further obligation if she never told anyone else."
"did Miss Sterling accuse you of an honor code violation?"
"Yes, sir, she did, in front of Commodore Nijjar."
"And did the commodore seek any disciplinary actions against you?"
"No, sir. She actually told Cadet Sterling to shut up, not say anything further, or the deal would be off."
"Did she say anything to you after Miss Sterling left the office?"
"She told me not to speak about this to anyone else."
"I have no further questions, your Honor," says Ogilvie.
"Defense may begin their cross," says Commander Hyun Hee Seong.
"Corporal Harden, you were considered a star at the Academy, is that correct?' asks Lieutenant Roy Hunter.
"Yes, sir, I suppose," replies the corporal.
"And not just for your abilities on the basketball court, but also your leadership skills and your three years of honorable enlisted service in the Space Marines."
"Maybe, sir."
"You gave speeches to other cadets about your experiences both as a player and as a Space Marine."
"That I did, sir."
"And you actually received an award in your third year from General Vukovich, correct?"
"I was one of several cadets, sir, as I recall."
"And yet, by your own testimony, you cheated."
"Objection, your Honor," says Commander Ogilvie. "witness already testified that she cheated."
"We don't need a redux of what the corporal said just a few minutes ago," says the judge, looking at the defense counsel. "Sustained."
Hunter stands up with assistance from his walking cane and walks closer to the witness stand. "Tell these flag officers appointed to this general court-martial why we should believe an admitted cheater," he says.
"I am telling the truth now, sir," replies Ayanna. "If I am caught lying, I can be court-martialed for perjury."
"Corporal, any witness in uniform can say that."
"Objection, your Honor," says the trial counsel. "Argumentative."
"Sustained," says Seong.
Lieutenant Hunter stays silent for a few seconds. Commander Seong stares at him, and she reaches for the gavel.
"Corporal Harden, could you have been court-martialed for helping cadets cheat?" asks the defense counsel.
"Yes, sir, I could have," answers Ayanna. "The Honor Code was a lawful regulation issued by the Secretary General when the Academy was opened."
"And that is because the Articles of Discipline prohibits cadets from failing to obey a lawful order or regulation by negligence or design, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"And the data stick you gave to Miss Sterling to help her cheat. That was by design, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"I have no further questions for this witness."
"Witness may step down," says the judge. "We recess until 0900 tomorrow."
"Aye aye, ma'am," the corporal says to Seong before leaving the room.
Oooooo
The enlisted club in Joint Forces Air Field Tirol is large facility, with a full bar and several tables. Only enlisted people can patronize, not even the Supreme Commander herself may patronize the establishment. Not too many people are here at the moment.
Ayanna Harden is one of the people here. A beer sits on her varnished wooden table, half-finished, and she has a basket full of fried cheddar cheese curds.
The first of her flights that would take her back to her duty station in Space Marine Barracks Harmony is scheduled to leave in two hours, plenty of time for her to hang out at the enlisted club. Still, she has no desire to miss the movement of her vessel, for that would be a violation of the Articles of Discipline.
The Space Marine corporal remains lost in thought.