Day 1: Deposition

Samuel T. Cogley was once described as an "Obsessive crackpot who's escaped from his keeper." While that might be true to one extent or another, Sam Cogley was also the man who singlehandedly modernized criminal defence law in the Federation. His most famous client, James T. Kirk, was accused of committing culpable negligence causing the death of a fellow officer, hitting a button that ejected Ben Finney's ion pod into a force-6 ion storm. The computer evidence against Kirk was overwhelming, but Cogley, in a somewhat obsessively crackpot way, convinced the court that the Human Being that was Kirk was innocent. The gamble worked. Kirk was exonerated, and the Federation was left with a founding philosophy in matters of law. No technology, no computer, can ever replace the human element.

The streets around the courthouse were packed. Crowds of civilian protestors were on either side of the barricades. Supporting Blackjack was Starfleet, holding signs and chanting right alongside the protestors calling the Marines thugs, calling them murders, liars, anything under the sun. The Officers were in uniform, but they'd all left their phasers at home.

But on the other side – the scarier side, The Marines were armed. Phaser rifles, launchers, sniper rifles. None of them were aiming their weapons at that exact moment, but that could have changed in a heartbeat. In the middle, facing in two lines with their backs to either side, was Fed-Sec, doing their best to maintain some semblance of order.

One nervous patrol agent, clutching his stun rifle for dear life, motioned to me nervously. "I really don't know what I'm gonna do if something happens. We don't have the firepower to stop Marines. And for all I know, Starfleet's ready to drop phaser beams on the whole street. This whole case is insane."

I asked the agent what he, personally, thought should happen. "I should go home and play with my dog, let all this bullshit figure itself out. Better than standing here and getting killed for nothing."

About an hour later, Blackjack was brought down from Sovereign via shuttle and escorted him to the courthouse. They couldn't have beamed him straight into the witness stand. Fed-Sec had set up a magnetic shield for security, and to prevent Blackjack from beaming himself away. Two Security officers took him up the stairs in irons. The jeering, the boos, the trash thrown at him, it was overwhelming.

"You're a dead man Blackjack!" One Marine shouted at him.

"If that son of a bitch leaves this courthouse alive, I'll drop the building on him!" Another shouted.

"Come on boys! Its just one shot! One det-pack! I'll be a hero! Who's with me?!" yet another Marine shouted, almost daring his brothers to stop him.

Starfleet knew better than to lash out verbally, but I could tell from the stares of the officers that they were waiting for any excuse. To take the sharks down, once and for all. They watched Blackjack walk up the stairs, in almost deafening silence. Half of them were ready to defend a hero to the death. The other half must have wondered how it all came to this.

Once we got inside the actual courthouse, things quieted down. Spectators weren't allowed in the room just yet, and I was the only reporter invited in that day.

"All rise for the President of the Court!" The Starfleet Bailiff shouted.

The Right Honourable Bellatrix Giordano has presided over hundreds of high profile cases. She's a curt woman, but I wouldn't describe her as cold, except for her execution of justice. "Good Morning Citizens, please resume your seats. The court is now in session, case number 88214, Federation versus Ashcroft. Ladies, gentlemen and non-binary members of the jury, under Federation law you must all have clear and unobstructed views of the witness stand and be able to clearly hear the proceedings. Does any member of the jury require accommodations at this time?"

Twelve members of the jury. Seven men, five women, from eight different worlds. And no one said a word.

"Very well. If circumstances change during the course of the trial, please inform myself or a bailiff as soon as possible. Will the defendant rise and identify himself for the record?" Giordano continued.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm down here Bella. Say, you look good in those robes. Wanna go for a drink after at the Intercontinental?" Blackjack said, disgustingly defiant of the proceedings.

Giordano didn't betray any offense on her face. Rude defendants were the norm in her courts. "The Defendant will address the bench by name or with 'your honour.' The law requires that you state your formal name and rank for the record."

"Ashcroft, Thomas, Admiral. Service number SF-87892-001. Happy? I'm bored already your honourable mistressship."

"That will suffice for now Admiral. I understand you have chosen to represent yourself pro-se during these proceedings?"

Ashcroft chuckled in his seat. "Hell yeah I have. I ain't wasting good money on some shifty-ass private lawyer, and there isn't a JAG-off in the whole fleet who would represent me. What other choice do I have here, Honourable Mistresssip?"

Giordano banged her gavel, hard. "Admiral Ashcroft, this will be your first and only warning. This is a court of law, not a bar. You will conduct yourself appropriately. As to your question, the Public Defender is available at your request. Do you wish to avail yourself of a Public Defender at this time?"

"I'm good."

"Very well. Court Reporter, please note for the record that Admiral Ashcroft has identified himself as the defendant and has chosen to represent himself pro-se. I would now ask consul for the prosecution to rise and identify themselves for the record."

Two people got up from the state's table. The first, the man who'd filed the affidavit, was T'Vok, Special Consul for the Federation Crown Prosecutor, widely known as the singular best prosecutor in the entire Federation. "T'Vok, representing the office of the Crown Prosecutor of the United Federation of Planets."

The second was a human, and the only Marine in the courtroom that day. "Jackson, Robert, Colonel. Service number FMC-4761A. Officer Commanding, Legal Affairs, Federation Marine Corps. I will be speaking as Joint Prosecutor, your honour."

The FMC hadn't been able to file their own charges against Blackjack due to jurisdictional issues. So, in compensation, T'Vok yielded his seat to Colonel Jackson, who descends from a long, distinguished line of lawyers and litigators in every major decision ever made in Federation law. He looked prepared, determined, and like every other Marine, pissed off.

"Court Reporter, please note for the record that the prosecution has been identified," Giordano pressed on, "Admiral Ashcroft. By now, the court reporter should have provided you a list of the names and occupations of the jury members. I draw your attention to the fact that you have the right under Federation law to strike any of those named if you feel they hold prejudiced opinions towards your case. Do you wish to strike any jurors at this time?"

The smugness. The arrogance. It reeked on Blackjack like his cheap cologne in the courtroom. "Naw, they all seem like fine upstanding citizens. I've got enough cash on me if that's not the case either."

"Noted. Do you also consent to the services of Colonel Jackson as lead prosecutor, and to myself as President of the court?"

"What's the going rate on judges nowadays?" Blackjack laughed, "200 strips of GPL enough for you to call it a day, your Honourable Mistressship?"

I swore that Beatrix nearly broke her gavel with hard she brought it down. "Order! There shall be order in this court! I've warned about this already Admiral! Conduct yourself appropriately or I will find you in contempt!"

"Contempt!" Blackjack laughed, "Hell, I'll pay you double for a pizza and a beer! Go right ahead!"

Beatrix simply shook her head and tried to carry forward. "Court Reporter, please record that Admiral Ashcroft has consented to the prosecutor and the president. Reporter, please read the charge sheet for the defendant."

The Reporter, a little Bolian girl, stood up and read the sheet as loudly as she could. "The Defendant is charged with high treason, aiding and abetting enemies of the Federation, espionage, bribery of public officials, extortion, terrorism, evading arrest, conduct unbecoming, obstruction of justice, dereliction of duty and unlawful use of Starfleet resources. Specifications are available on the formal affidavit."

Beatrix looked over at Blackjack again. "Do you understand these charges as they have been read to you, Admiral?"

"I'm not stupid, and nothing sounds out of place to me," Blackjack smugly replied.

"And your plea?"

"Not guilty, obviously."

Beatrix banged her gavel. "Court Reporter, record the defendant's plea. With the jury seated and the plea entered, the court will recess one hour for lunch."

Jackson walked me over to Felix's Deli a block down from the courthouse. It was a popular sport for lawyers and court officials, serving what was claimed to be the best sandwiches between Earth and Orias. Jackson had a BLT (which seems to be the sandwich of choice for the corps) while I had roast beef on rye. I asked Robert to give me a rundown on his life before the law.

"I was always destined to be a lawyer," He says with a smile and a hint of mustard on his lip, "Every generation of Jackson men is involved in some aspect of the law. My ancestor from Detroit in the ancient days of 2024 was a drug dealer who reformed and became a prison warden. His sons and grandsons were state attorneys, divorce lawyers, one was even on the American Supreme Court. My Father was a judge as well, though his father was a public defender. It wasn't until my two boys were born that the Jackson men finally bucked the line of the law."

What did his two sons do instead of reading law? Robert smiles again, with immense pride, and just a hint of sadness. "Evander and Timothy were Marines. Scout Snipers for Force Recon, the first two men from Detroit to ever pass Squirrel Weeks, what we call Force Recon's Selection course at Camp Nath."

So why did he say "were?" Did they resign? Robert lowers his eyes and his voice. "No. Killed in action during Operation Horizon on Archanis IV."

But wait?! That means—

Robert cut me off, with a smile somehow returning to his face. "That's right, Pigeon. Blackjack got my boys killed on that rock. So, I have something of a personal score in this case. But I hope you understand that I'm not like that man. I want revenge like any other Marine. But I've got a greater responsibility, to the law. I'll satisfy vengeance with justice. Justice for my boys, justice for Colonel Bagsley, justice for the Federation."

Like every other Marine, I can say that Robert Jackson's drive and dedication are beyond measure, beyond doubt. He believes in the Corps, and he believes in the Federation. It's inspiring, and I was feeling better about things than I had in weeks just listening to his dedication. But then he surprised me when I asked what led Robert into the Marines.

"I was a private attorney for quite a few years, actually, a full partner in one of the largest firms on Earth. Thomas, Jackson and Reuters, Attorneys at Law LLC. We had a pretty lucrative relationship with the Crown, the Supreme Court, private companies, all the big movers and shakers. But Evander and Timothy, my boys, they inspired me. And I felt like I owed them something."

Robert finishes his root beer as he finished his story. "I'm 42 years old, Pigeon. Just over the cut-off for FMC intake. But I went to General Castle personally and all but got on my knees for a chance to follow my boys into the service. So, he made me a deal. If I could pass OTS at Sandhurst, he'd sign my commission personally. Damn hard six months, but I did it. And I took my talents and got FMC Legal Affairs off the ground all by lonesome. I'm fairly proud of that."

Pride might come before the fall, but Robert Jackson was not about to fall. Not with the memory of his boys driving him back into the courtroom after lunch.

Once everyone was back in the courtroom, Beatrix wasted little time in trying to keep her authority in check.

"Admiral Ashcroft," She said, looking directly at Blackjack, "Thus far, your behaviour in this courtroom has been beneath contempt. Out of respect to your service, I will give you one, and only one, final opportunity. Conduct yourself appropriately, or you will be found guilty of contempt of court. I realize that fines are of little threat to you, so instead, I will strip you of your right to pro-se and assign a public defender to your case. You will not be allowed in the courtroom. Am I clear on this?"

Blackjack just smirked, but for once, he kept his mouth shut. Beatrix sighed and pressed on. "The Court will now entertain pre-trial motions prior to opening statements. Prosecution?"

Robert stood and shook his head. "No motions at this time, your honour."

"Motions for the Defence?" Beatrix asked.

Blackjack cleared his throat and rose up. "Yes your Honourable Mistressship. First motion. Under UFPC Title 21 Section 25, based on their deplorable behaviour outside, I move to have all members of the FMC barred from the courtroom. If we allow the Muh-Reens in here, I'm actually kind of worried about my safety, and they'll be disruptive to my ability to plan my own defence, etc etc."

I could tell it was taking everything in Robert – still carrying his phaser, by FMC regulations – not to turn around and blast Blackjack right then and there. "Objection! Your Honour, Objection! That motion has no basis in fact or morality. It's a direct insult to myself, the Corps, and is yet another example of the Defendant's demonstrable pattern of disrespect to this courtroom and to my service!"

"Oh please Rob. I'd bar you if I could," Blackjack shot back.

Beatrix once again smashed her gavel. "Order! Both consuls will wait for the bench to render judgement before making remarks! Regrettably Colonel, Admiral Ashcroft's motion does have merit. The behaviour of the Marines is unacceptable in this courtroom, and Admiral Ashcroft does raise a valid point about being able to concentrate on his case. The Defence's motion is adopted. Anything else?"

"Just one more thing," Blackjack continued with a smirk, "The sandwich that the screws replicated for me was shit. I'm hungry, and I'm having a tough time focusing on my case here. Under the Federation Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Section 22, I have a right to adequate nutrition. And I'm craving a pizza. Further, since my legal assets were seized during the investigation into this stupid case, I'm broke, so under Section 23, the Marines should foot the pizza bill."

Robert's head was in his hands as Beatrix reluctantly asked him the necessary question. "Rebuttal for the consul, Colonel?"

"None, your honour," Robert sighed back.

Beatrix sighed in turn. "The Defence has correctly cited the appropriate statues, and I cannot see any legal rule against his request. With the absolute greatest of reluctance, the motion is adopted. Just keep in mind that this is a courtroom and not a sports bar, Admiral."

"No problem sweetheart. Double pep and bacon from Tony's on Fremont Street, extra cheese."

I could feel Robert's anger. Blackjack's sheer arrogance was something to witness. Barring the Marines from the courtroom. And making them foot the bill for a pizza? He seemed all but assured that he'd be walking out of this. I had to wonder just where that self-assured nature was coming from.


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