"Accountability," says Lieutenant Courtney Hart, looking at the special court-martial panel. "The Space Marines and our cousin services rely on accountability. We are accountable to our superiors. We are accountable to our teammates. We are accountable to our subordinates. And those among us who violate the Articles of Discipline must be held accountable.
"The security footage from the Space Marine enlisted mess hall clearly shows these three men starting a brawl. They claim that something controlled them. Their only evidence is another fight happened somewhere. The Milky Way Galaxy has perhaps quadrillions of people, of various sizes, shapes, and species. There must have been tens of thousands of brawls across the galaxy at the same time. The defense is desperate, trying, as they must, to excuse their clients from accountability. To be perfectly honest, I would do the same thing if I were their defense attorney. It would be my ethical obligation to do so, to deflect blame. So I ask you three, do your ethical obligation. Hold Private Fred Fuller, Private Peter Zavic, and Sergeant Ken Yama accountable for their misconduct, and find them guilty on all charges and specifications."
The trial counsel sits down.
"I agree with much of what the United Earth Forces said," says Lieutenant Roy Hunter. "All of us in the five services are accountable for our actions. In order for you to hold these three men accountable for their alleged actions in the mess hall, you need to determine if those actions seen on that video were in fact, their actions.
"The trial counsel has pointed out there were tens of thousands of brawls across the Milky Way Galaxy happening at the same time as the brawl in the mess hall aboard this robotech space fortress. We concede it is true. But the riot that did matter happened on Planet Alfheim, right below, us, at the County Gradion heard Lieutenant Oilfield testify that he had heard a song in his hand and then blacked out. So did Corporal Natalya Katic, who was in the mess hall. You have seen the reports taken by the sheriff's department, with witnesses saying they heard a song in their head before they blacked out, witnesses who could not have not about the brawl up here."
"Kaname Buccaneer saw the crowd before her suddenly freeze in place for a few seconds before the riot started. Security footage at the fair showed crowds freezing in place for a few seconds before the riot started. At that same time, Private Fred Fuller, Private Peter Zavic, Sergeant Ken Yama, and Corporal Natalya Katic all froze in place for a few seconds before the brawl started, which you have all seen in the mess hall security footage.
"His Honor will remind you that mere speculation does not rise to the level of reasonable doubt. That is settled jurisprudence in United Earth Forces law. We offer more than mere speculation. A riot happening at the same time, with witnesses all saying they blacked out, just like Corporal Katic said she blacked out. And every rioter in that crowd freezing in place at the same time, just like these three Space Marines on trial just froze in place for a few seconds? And people at the fair reporting to the sheriff that they heard a song in their head, people who had no idea there was a brawl aboard this vessel, just like how Corporal Katic testified that she heard a song in her head. We offered more than mere speculation; we offered evidence that it is probable that our clients had no control over their actions. As such, you are duty bound, as Space Marines and members of this special court-martial, to find Private Fred Fuller, Private Peter Zavic, and Sergeant Ken Yama, not guilty on all charges and specifications."
The defense counsel sits down.
Ooooooo
That smile of yours I just saw... may be the last I ever see;
Even watching you talk with someone else would be a cherished second.
In this world where our lives hold less weight than a feather,
We managed to meet... because you were the meaning of my life!
Corporal David Banion lies down on his provisional bunk, listening to "AXIA, Love, Hate" by Kaname Buccaneer, the song broadcast from a bracelet.
It had been two days since closing arguments, and the panel had not reached a verdict yet. He and Lieutenant Hunter had been working on the appeal. The paralegal knows that the defense is a longshot.
And yet, he does believe the story of the three defendants.
This pain is the AXIA of my heart!
You soar through a one-way sky, with a slight fever,
Becoming a merciless rainbow that fades instantly;
Seeing you so far off, I love... and hate you.
Private Fred Fuller lies down in a cell in the SDF-4 Liberator's brig, also listening to Kaname's song.
It had been two days already.
The future is so uncertain. The panel still deliberating after two days, instead of just rendering a guilty verdict a few hours after closing arguments, is of no comfort to him at all.
He can still remember hearing that song, that strange song. And then he was being treated in sick bay, guarded by Spacy Police.
And he moved to strike the punishment from the books, which predictably resulted in court-martial.
Ever since the court-martial was convened, he wondered if he should have just taken the non-judicial punishment and moved on. It was not liker he intended to make a career out of the Space Marines. He could have kept his nose clean afterward, gotten an honorable discharge, and gotten a job in the civilian sector.
Speculating on what could have been is not a productive use of time; people confined in the brig have plenty of time.
Born into this world alone... we'll all end up dying alone...
But nonetheless, we can't live alone - our frequencies yearn for one another!
Our feeling of love permeate our throbbing wounds,
Filling them with that one phrase we can never manage to say.
Even amid tears, this AXIA will illuminate tomorrow!
Our heartbeats are connected by ephemeral particles...
Like a dream suspended in a haze of heat,
We came to know of eternal days: a cold-hearted passion.
Lieutenant Messer Oilfield listens to this song too, lying down in his cell in the stockade in Robbins Air Base on Planet Alfheim. So much had already gone on his life. He had hoped to rebuild things, save those he loves.
And now he faces his own court-martial, with preliminary depositions scheduled in two weeks.
He wonders what happened to him.
He will never forget that song.
He will never forget her song.
Even if my day of rest comes as I ride along in this vessel of time,
That ray of light, holding feelings for one and only... will never die out!
I'll never remember you again-
Because I've never forgotten you, even once!
This pain is the AXIA of my heart!
You soar through a one-way sky, with a slight fever,
Stealing my love away - it's enough to leave me in despair;
Even if this love remains unfulfilled (even if we're far apart), I love... and hate you.
I love... and hate you...
Inside Zippee's Family Friendly Diner, Kaname Buccaneer walks with a tray holding plates stacked with pancakes, hash browns, eggs, and toast, bringing it to a hungry family.
Even as she keeps busy with all of her server duties, she keeps thinking about that riot, and about that Air Force officer who goes by the name Messer.
There are so many questions.
And she wonders how her singing calmed the crowd in front of her.
Ooooooo
Sergeant Ken Yama, Private Fred Fuller, and Private Peter Zavic are taken into the courtroom, accompanied by Lieutenant Hunter and Corporal Banion. At the other table, they notice Lieutenant hart and Sergeant Saltz.
"All rise," says the bailiff. "Special court-martial is in session. The Honorable Max Frankel, Major, United Nations Space Marines, presiding.
Major Max Frankel sits down. "Has the panel reached the verdict?" he asks.
"Yes, your Honor," replies the senior ranking member. "We find the defendant, Private Fred Fuller, not guilty on all charges and specifications. We find the defendant, Private Peter Zavic, not guilty on all charges and specifications. We find the defendant, Sergeant Ken Yama, not guilty on all charges and specifications."
The three men feel relieved, as if a crushing weight of millions of solar masses had just been removed from their shoulders. They had not anticipated this. Even without legal training, they knew their defense had been an outside longshot.
"The defendants shall be released and returned to active duty without delay," says the judge. "The court thanks the panel for their time and service. Panel is dismissed."
"Aye aye, sir!" snap the three Space Marines on the panel.
Hart approaches the defense table. "Congratulations, Lieutenant Hunter," she says. "It worked."
"You never know what you are capable of defending when you have to defend the indefensible," replies Hunter.
Oooooooo
Later that afternoon, Lieutenant Hart walks to the cargo bay. Another interstellar transport is docked, awaiting to transport cargo, as well as a Spacy judge advocate and a Spacy paralegal.
She looks on as Lieutenant Hunter and Corporal Banion are right by the open docking port connecting to the transport, as the latter two start their journey back to Space Station Harmony.
"I just want to say goodbye," she says. She smiles. "Maybe we will meet again in a courtroom. Maybe I will be the one who will have to defend the indefensible."
"Thanks," replies Hunter.
"Go now. Your boys are waiting."
"Your girls wait for you."
oooooo
Inside Space Station Harmony is a unit in a condominium complex, whose living room floor is presently littered with toys.
Roy Hunter looks at his wife Sandi and then at his two boys.
Right here, right now, this only matters.