"The United Earth Forces calls Dean Walters to the stand," Lieutenant Commander Keith Ogilvie says as 0904 inside the room serving as the courtroom for the general court-martial of Commodore Kamini Nijjar of the United Nations Ocean Patrol.
A man with close cropped light brown hair approaches the witness stand. He appears to be in his late thirties. He wears an olive-drab collared short-sleeve shirt and olive-green trousers. His ribbon rack tells the story of his service, including his participation in the Battle of Reflex Point.
"Sir, do you swear to to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" asks the petty officer serving as the bailiff.
"Yes, Petty Officer, I do," says the witness.
"State your name for the record, sir," says the trial counsel.
"Dean Walters."
"Your rank and post."
"I am a colonel in the United Nations Space Marines and presently am assigned as a special advisor to Defense Fleet Space Marine Force Headquarters in Camp McMurdock on Planet Glorie. Special advisor meaning that I write suggestions and generals delete them. My real purpose is to remain subject to the Articles of Discipline until this honorable court-martial concludes its proceedings."
"Colonel, were you ever a cadet in the United Earth Forces Academy?"
"Yes, Commander. I graduated nineteen years ago, at the provisional campus on Tirol. I played varsity lacrosse."
"Please summarize your career as a commissioned officer, sir," says Ogilvie.
"I was among the Space Marines who landed on Earth just before the Battle of Reflex Point," replies the colonel. "I am glad I am still alive. There are occasions when I wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night. After the Robotech Wars ended, I was assigned to staff and command positions. I had been a battalion commander for two years about three years ago, before I was promoted to full colonel and took a post as Dean of Athletics for the United Earth Forces Academy."
"Colonel Walters, when did you first meet the defendant, Commodore Nijjar?"
"It was actually on this base, Commander, about twelve years ago. She was a commander at the time. Both of us had a tour of duty on the staff of Military Assistance Command, Earth. It was the reason for one of my joint service commendation medals."
"And did you meet the commodore at the Academy when you were assigned there, sir?"
"Yes. She was already promoted to commodore and was Commandant of the Corps of Cadets. I reported to her."
"Please describe what your duties were as Dean of Athletics, sir."
"Commander, as a fellow graduate of the Academy, I am sure you know that sports is important, allowing cadets to work together as a team to overcome obstacles as well as train their bodies. I had overall oversight of the sports programs, intramural, club, and varsity."
"Colonel, do varsity teams play against other colleges?"
"Yes, Commander, I do. My staff and I are responsible for the travel arrangements. I make it a point to attends home games."
"And you attended the game where the women's basketball team won the championship three years ago, sir?"
"Yes, Commander, I did."
"And it is fair to say that varsity sports has a public relations component?'
"That's right. I knew that even before taking the cadet oath. It was drilled into my head that I was performing a public relations task when I played varsity lacrosse against other colleges. As I recall, one of my old teammates even transferred to the Reserves so he could play professional lacrosse."
"And it is fair to say, Colonel, that varsity team athletes are required to continue to demonstrate proficiency in their sport, is that correct?"
"Yes, Commander, it is."
"Is it fair to say, sir, that varsity cadet athletes have to do more than demonstrate athletic proficiency to stay on the team?"
"Yes, Commander. They are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and are held to high standards of conduct. Failing to have a cumulative 2.5 GPA two semesters in a row results in dismissal from varsity sports."
"This is more than what is required by cadets in general, correct?"
"That is what Supreme Command has ordered, yes."
"And it is fair to say, Colonel, that a violation of the Honor Code disqualifies cadets from particip;ation in varsity sports?"
"That is policy, Commander. Cadets suspected of an Honor Code violation are suspended if there's credible evidence. An actual finding of guilt by an Honor Board results in dismissal from the team. Disqualification can only be revoked by the Commandant of Cadets and the superior chain of command."
"I will ask you this question, sir," says Commander Ogilvie. "Did you help cadets cheat?"
"Yes, Commander, I did. I spoke with the coaches and as well as other deans and professors to give extra assistance to cadet varsity athletes, and to discourage cadets from reporting Honor code violations, which itself is a violation of the Honor Code."
"Why did you do it, Colonel?"
"Varsity athletes do more than play sports at the Academy, Commander. As I testified, they are also public relations ambassadors to humanity and our friends in the Milky Way Galaxy. It may even lay the groundwork of friendship with our former enemies in a generation or two, especially as the current crop of cadets have yet to experience the horrors of interstellar war. I had allowed cadet athletes to get away with Honor Code violations so they could continue to play."
"Did Commodore Nijjar know about this?"
Colonel Walters looks at Commodore Nijjar right in the eye. "Yes, Commander, she knew about it, and said to me we needed to continue, that we couldn't let the Academy's reputation be ruined, for all the good that did. She also promised an outstanding performance evaluation. I need not remind you, Commander, that an outstanding performance evaluation from the Commandant of Cadets would be a convincing argument to promote me to brigadier general."
"Colonel, you admitted to aiding and abetting cadets in violating a lawful regulation, which was a violation of the Articles of Discipline. Were you punished, sir?"
"Yes, I was, Commander. I was reprimanded. That ended my career. I expect an honorable discharge as soon as this court-martial concludes these proceedings."
"Were you granted immunity from any greater punishment?"
"Yes, I was. I was granted immunity from court-martial. I need not remind this court of what punishment they may impose on defendants."
"In exchange for this immunity?"
"I was to, first of all, submit to whatever non-judicial punishment my superiors saw fit. Second of all, I was to fully cooperate, tell my superiors everything I knew, and testify truthfully at any court-martial convened against the offenders. I had outstanding service evaluations. And now, I have a reprimand and my career as a commissioned officer in the Space Marines is over."
"No further questions, your Honor," says the trial counsel.
Ooooooo
"Defense may begin cross examination," says Commander Hyun Hee Seong of the United Nations Ocean Patrol.
Commander Ogilvie looks at the witness. She is a woman with black hair tied in a bun. Her skin has an amber complection. She wears Spacy service charlies, with two shoulderboards that each have four one-inch stripes.
She is Captain Kumiko Futamata, a graduate of the United Earth Forces Academy. She served in the Battle of Reflex Point, commanded a space vessel, and was most recently the Dean of the School of Engineering. She had testified that she helped cadets cheat, that Commodore Nijjar knew of it and covered it up, and that she was granted immunity from court-martial in exchange for her cooperation and submission to non-judicial punishment, which became a reprimand.
The trial counsel looks as the cross-examination began.
"Captain, you testified that if you refused to cooperate, you could be subject to court-martial, is that correct?' asks Lieutenant Roy Hunter.
"Yes, Lieutenant, that's what I just said," replies the captain. "I don't need to repeat myself."
"And you wanted to avoid court-martial, is that right, ma'am?"
"Lieutenant, I am sure you can tell that courts-martial are not pleasant experiences for the accused. When I was captain of the Breetai, I had to convene two summary courts-martial for crewmen who kept breaking the rules. They certainly didn't like it, nor the punishments they received."
"So you testified that my client was the mastermind of this cheating conspiracy, to avoid a court-martial for helping other cadets, is that right?"
"I had to cut my losses, Lieutenant."
Ogilvie can tell the cross of the captain on the stand will turn out like the cross of Colonel Walters.
"Is it fair to say, ma'am, that you could have avoided court-martial if you refused to help cadets cheat?"
"Objection," says Commander Ogilvie.
"Overruled," says the judge. "Witness must answer."
"For that particular offense, yes," replies Futamata.
"And yet, as you testified, you helped cadets cheat- a violation of the Articles of Discipline, so that my client would help you earn your first star."
"I know what I testified to, Lieutenant. It was only a few minutes ago."
"So it is fair to say, ma'am, that you would violate the Articles of Discipline- a law enacted by the General Assembly- when it was to your personal advantage."
The trial counsel does not bother to object.
"That's not fair."
"You testified under direct examination by the United Earth Forces that your helped cadets cheat to do just that, ma'am."
"Yes, I did."
"is it fair to say, ma'am, that being immune from court-martial is a personal advantage to you?" asks the defense counsel.
"Yes," answers Captain Futamata.
"The defense has no further questions, your Honor," says Hunter.
"The United Earth Forces rest, your Honor," says Ogilvie.
"Court-martial is in recess, and shall reconvene Monday at 0900," says Seong.
She bangs the wooden gavel.
Commander Ogilvie approaches Lieutenant Hunter and Commodore Nijjar.
"We can conclude this before Monday," says the trial counsel.
"What do you offer?" asks the defense counsel as the commodore listens.
"The commodore pleads guilty to dereliction of duty, accepts a punishment of sixty days' forfeiture of pay and seven days' confinement. All other charges are dropped, and no further punishment."
"Confinement?" asks Nijjar, her eyes behind her eyeglasses widening. "you expect me to be confined in a brig or a stockade?"
"We presented our case, ma'am," answers Ogilvie. "Our offer got worse. The court-martial can do much worse."
"Your entire case relies on the word of admitted criminals, Commander," says Commodore Nijjar. "We will see you in court on Monday."
ooooooooo
Roy Hunter can feel the burn in his arm muscles as he slowly lowers the lever, which had held great weights. He can feel the sweat on his skin.
"Lieutenant Hunter," he hears.
He looks up and sees Keith Ogilvie. Instead of wearing Ocean Patrol service charlies, the lieutenant commander wears a T-shirt and shorts, similar to what Roy is wearing.
"Sir," says the Spacy judge advocate.
"This is a gym. Call me Keith."
The two men are inside the officers' gymnasium in Joint Forces Air Field Samsun. It has all sorts of exercise equipment such as weights, weight machines, exercise bikes, and treadmills. Other officers from the five services are here, all wearing exercise clothes. The whole place is permeated with a very faint smell of human sweat.
"So, what are you doing here, Keith?"
"Working on the treadmill, Roy. This is the UEF's most important base on Earth's surface, so it has the best amenities the Earth military has to offer. I might as well use them."
"Yeah, I'm working on my upper body strength. You may have read that I'm not able to exercise my legs as much."
Keith sees the braces on Roy's legs, which give them support. "Yes, you wanted to follow your father's career path."
"i'll admit, I did have childhood dreams of being Skull Leader like my dad was."
"He's a legend. I actually heard a speech of his, when I was a cadet at the provisional campus."
"I do want to talk to you about a deal, a deal that would be more acceptable to my client."
"You want to talk a deal in the gym?"
"The disposition of courts-martial are often decided in informal meetings, Keith. I mean, laws passed by the General Assembly are usually written in informal meetings."
"Can't disagree."
"No confinement. Thirty days' forfeiture of pay, reduction in rank to captain, the commodore pleads guilty to dereliction of duty," says Roy. "Other charges are dropped, no other punishment. I remind you, Keith, a commodore's basic pay for a month is a lot of money."
"I could afford a house for my family three times as big," says Keith.
"I'll talk to the commodore. If she agrees, we can arrange a meeting. The whole thing could be over Monday morning, the flag officers can go home, the defense witnesses can move on with their lives, and the commodore can move on with her life."
The two men look and see a woman in a T-shirt and shorts walk in. It takes a second for them to realize that is Commander Seong.
"Ma'am," says Keith. "What are you doing here?"
"A judge has a life outside the bench," says the Ocean Patrol commander. "I will remind you that this is not the place to speak to me about the court-martial."
"Ma'am, aye aye, ma'am," snaps Roy.
ooooooo
Mirage Sterling had been lost in thought, ever since she had learned earlier today that the prosecution rested in the court-martial of Commodore Nijjar. She had assimilated little of what the advanced aeronatics professor had said during her lecture.
Class is over, and Mirage steps out into the exterior grounds of Ohio State University. She notices, once again, how the students are dressed in a wide variety of clothing, as compared to the gray uniforms UEF Academy cadets wear. She herself wears a sleeveless blouse and a skirt.
She does see some uniforms. Some students wear collared light green shirts or blouses and dark green trousers or skirts. She figures they are in the United States Army ROTC, and today is a uniform day.
She looks around, remembering the brick buildings. She knows she has varsity basketball practice.
Twenty minutes later, she is standing on a varnished wooden floor inside a gymnasium with other ladies, wearing a T-shirt and shorts.