Chapter 813

OUTSIDE SENATE HEARING ROOM

FEDERATION CAPITAL

Clayborne had been sitting patiently. The time was coming soon. The doors opened and out came that punk kid Mitchell being escorted. Just behind them was a Starfleet Commander. Clayborne suddenly realized that the Commander was Octavian. Jacobs' personal clergy or something. An aide came walking out of the doors and said, "Admiral Clayborne?"

Clayborne somberly nodded. He stood up and walked into the room. There was further talk going on, but all quieted down as Clayborne walked up to an assigned seat in the room. He was in civilian clothes. Jameson was already irritated and noted his arrival.

Jameson pointed his finger at Jacobs, "Your lack of disciplining Mitchell led to Valerie's death!"

Jacobs said evenly, "No so, my actions have been reviewed by Starfleet Command and…"

"All the more reason for oversight. Starfleet has been way too relaxed in how it disciplines its officers. I'm thinking we need a full review on how Starfleet determines problems within its ranks."

Jameson started shuffling his pads clearly giving Jacobs time to respond. Captain Jacobs could see the bait in front of him, but wasn't going to take it. After a quiet delay, Jameson grabbed a pad and said, "Aren't you going to say anything, Captain?"

Jacobs said flatly, "I didn't hear a question with which to respond." There were minor chuckles in the room.

Jameson flushed. Gold was looking over Jameson's shoulder and saw the title 'Clayborne' and a bunch of notes. Gold sighed at that. Jameson looked at Clayborne. "Admiral Clayborne…"

"I am no longer an Admiral." Clayborne said.

"Of course. After this mission to Maghreb, you left Starfleet. And have been very hard to get a hold of." Jameson said with a smile.

It was not the smile; it was the way he smiled. Cogley saw that Jameson was up to something. Jacobs picked up Cogley's change in posture as a warning. Jameson continued. "Tell me why you have been so hard to contact."

Clayborne said, "I was arrested by Starfleet for alleged illegal trafficking in weapons and other controlled Federation Technology. Basically, I have had to turn state's evidence as to what happened at Maghreb."

Jameson's brow furrowed in concern. Jacobs thought it came across a bit too thick. "That's serious. What happened at Maghreb?"

Clayborne sat quietly for a second. "President Bennet was having Ambassador Mamet run guns to Maghreb illegally to try to get the treaty for mining."

The room erupted in an uproar. Jacobs could not believe what he was hearing. Jacobs looked at Jackson, who was shaking his head. The two's eyes met and shared the disbelief in the outright lie. People in the room were calling out 'liar', 'impeach Bennet', 'get rid of Starfleet gunrunners', and various other phrases. Jackson leaned over to Jacobs and said loud enough for Jacobs to hear, "That scumbag is going to get away with the lie!"

Jacobs didn't know what to do. He saw Nogura, who was quietly processing what had been said.

Jameson got the room to settle down enough to be heard asking, "And you've been giving this evidence to who?"

"Admiral Nogura, FID Director Briggs, and the Intelligence committee." More uproar.

Jameson hit the gavel bringing the meeting back to order, somewhat. "Admiral Nogura, how long have you declined to inform us of these problems with Starfleet?"

Nogura could see the trap that was being revealed. He needed to choose his next words carefully and quickly. This was no court of law but a mob in front of the mass media. "Mr. Clayborne lies." He said simply. More uproar.

Jameson was gaveling the room back to order again. "Clearly, we need to delve into this. Mr. Clayborne, how did Starfleet assist this illegal transfer of weapons?"

"I was ordered by the President to assist Ambassador Mamet in any way possible. The President even made the order into a video presentation that I could show whatever Captain needed persuading the order was legitimate."

"Really? And, if I remember correctly, it was Captain Jackson who actually transported the containers in question." Jameson asked.

"Yes, Senator he was. He cooperated completely in transporting the containers."

"You didn't have to open the containers for him?" Jameson asked.

"He wanted to inspect them, however President Bennet had orders along with a video to persuade any Starfleet Captain that would be hesitant to comply." Clayborne said. "President Bennet clearly articulated to me that the secrecy of those containers were to be maintained."

"Did you know what was inside the containers?"

"No, I did not. I was following orders from my President."

Jameson asked somberly. "Can you show us the video?"

Clayborne shook his head, "No I cannot. The video has been wiped from Federation computer systems. I do not know how, but there is no trace of it anywhere."

"Then how do we know that the video existed?"

Clayborne indicated the Starfleet contingent. "Admiral Adama and Captain Jackson have seen it."

Jameson asked, "Admiral Adama, can you confirm this video?"

Adama said dryly, "Yes."

Jameson shook his head melodramatically. "I don't know what to say. Starfleet is running guns with the President. It would be nice to get Ambassador Mamet to confirm, but as we all know he lost his life during the riot at our embassy. And I imagine President Bennet will be almost as difficult to get testimony."

Admiral Nogura stood up, "Senator, If I may…"

"YOU MAY NOT! I'VE HAD IT UP TO MY EYEBROWS IN STARFLEET!" Jameson said.

Senator April said, "It's my time period, now Admiral Nogu…"

Jameson yelled, "APRIL, I STILL AM IN CONTROL OF THE COMMITTEE!"

April turned to Jameson, "It is my time, as per previous agreement. I want…"

"No, it is not!"

April's eyes narrowed. "All were in here when the committee came up with these rules. All know it is my time."

"No, it's not!"

Senator Bim Freshligm offered, "Let's recess for a little bit, allow us to cool off and start up with clear heads."

Jameson angrily called for a vote. The committee was dismissed and Jameson stormed out the room. Clayborne and Nogura looked at each other. Clayborne was impassive. Nogura was stern, almost angry.

Jacobs asked Cogley. "Good thing we got a break. At least we can figure out what is going on."

Cogley said, "I know what is going on."

Jacobs asked, "What?"

"We are playing Senator Jameson's game. He had this planned. Now we cannot get the truth out for a while. The news cycle will be the last ten minutes of the hearing. The press is going to be chewing up that President Bennet and Ambassador Mamet ran illegal technology to include guns to get a treaty. Starfleet was complicit. And poor Clayborne was stuck in the middle. Then Jameson paused the hearing purposely to keep us from setting the story right."

"But we will be able to set the story right."

Cogley mused, "Perhaps. But we will be going against the narrative that is out there right now. If I could guess. He has warned key people of this already."

GNN NEWS

"In an explosive event today at the Wisconsin Hearings, former Admiral Clayborne has just alleged that President Bennet was illegally running guns to a newfound planet. We don't have much more than that, but stay tuned to hear more. Clayborne has also implied Ambassador Mamet, who died on that planet, in gunrunning. This doesn't make Starfleet look too well as they were complicit in transporting the guns."

"Yes Henry, it doesn't look too well. There are orders from the President, evidently on video, to carry this out, but the video doesn't exist."

"Who would have the ability to wipe that video away?"

"Well, Henry, I'm sure Starfleet could do it from their own systems. The problem is that there most certainly a copy of this in Federation Government systems as well. Starfleet probably couldn't hack that."

"Who could?"

"The Federation Intelligence Directorate. They would have the talent pool, know-how, and experience in doing that. Also, Clayborne implicated FID Director Briggs in that. I believe we not only have a problem with Starfleet, but also with the FID as well too."

"Stay tuned for further developments."

PRESIDENT BENNET'S OFFICE

FEDERATION CAPITAL

PARIS, EARTH

"Senator Douglas how are you going to fix this? I'm left holding the bag! And I was not originally in on the take from Jameson!"

Douglas' voice came from the speaker. "Now Mr. President, you don't need to worry."

"I do! Jameson has just taken a very good stab, and the news is feeding on this! They will be asking for my resignation today! I got to tell them!"

"Be careful, you can't compromise the investigation."

Bennet said exasperatingly. "I have got to do something! I've cooperated and I'm going to go to jail for this!"

Douglas said, "Just relax George. Let me tell Nogura to talk."

Bennet shook his head, "It won't be enough!"

"It will, remember we have several months' worth of testimony from him."

Bennet said, "Yes, and by saying what he said, it ruins his credibility."

"We still have the evidence that was gathered, based on his testimony."

Bennet was frustrated. "Sure, you do. And Jameson will spin it and it will not stick. You know as well as I there will not be enough and what there is can be painted in a different light. We need all the evidence, not some. He can't wriggle from this!"

SENATE HEARING ROOM

FEDERATION CAPITAL

PARIS, EARTH

Jameson walked in and saw Gold. "That's how you prep a witness, Eli."

"You prepped him?"

"Of course I did. I found out through a source where he was, and arranged to meet him clandestinely. We went over what he had already given to the Intelligence committee, which no one here outside of Starfleet knows about. We went over that and the evidence that they have, and I merely pointed out that if he said what he said, that would separate him from his testimony. He has contradicted himself. Now what are we supposed to believe?"

Gold saw now what was going on. "You mean to tell me that Clayborne…"

"Is back in. He wanted a larger share. And he will get it too. Now that the waters have been muddied…"

Gold shuddered to think what was happening in the Federation. "So, by contradicting himself, he's a bad witness? And all that testimony…."

"Is junk." Jameson said gleefully. "Clayborne set the news cycle in a certain direction. And the news will not be as effective on the follow up. I've won!"

Jameson turned around and gaveled the hearing to order. "I was in error. Senator April, please continue."

April was about to start when Briggs walked in wearing his traditional all white suite. Archangel, flying to the rescue? Briggs went confidently forward and whispered to Nogura, who nodded. Briggs sat down behind Nogura.

April asked, "Admiral Nogura, what do you have to say?"

Nogura thought a bit before answering. "Thank you, Senator. To put it simply, Mr. Clayborne has been testifying to the Intelligence Committee concerning what happened on Maghreb and elsewhere as well. The Intel committee has been aware of corruption in our government arising from the events at Maghreb and the focus of the Intelligence Committee has been to find out the extent and the root of the corruption."

"How has Mr. Clayborne been a part of the investigation?"

Nogura said, "Up until this morning, I'd say he's been a good witness. Now what he has testified here has contradicted what he gave earlier. To put it simply, he testified that He was working with Ambassador Mamet for Senator Jameson to get under-the-table agreements for mining rights. Senator Jameson used President Bennet to push Federation Captains to do Jameson's bidding. President Bennet has been cooperating on finding out how much Senator Jameson has affected corruption in our Government."

Nogura was expecting Jameson to object, but Jameson sat quietly with a concerned look on his face. Nogura continued, "The evidence he turned over or helped us find I would think would be overwhelming, but now I'm forced to take a look that it is insufficient."

April asked, "Did Captains not fulfill their duty in safeguarding their ship?"

"Starfleet Captains performed excellently. They followed their duty. It was the downfall of elected officials that put Starfleet personnel at risk of an 'honor violation'."

Jameson interrupted, "Starfleet Captains were buffaloed by a video? I find that hard to believe. And why would the video erase itself?"

Nogura motioned to a computer being rolled in on a cart. "To protect the President. If there were any questions, which now there are, it would be the word of a Starfleet Captain against the President. Here is a copy of the original video."

Jameson looked boringly at the computer until the video of the President was played:

"Good afternoon. To whom it may concern, the two containers being escorted by Admiral Clayborne are not to be scanned or opened. They are mission-critical diplomatic material and I am ordering them not to be opened. Ambassador Mamet has full authority for the mission. Presidential one-time authorization code Alpha 47 Quebec 10 Yankee. Thank you."

Jameson said, "That just proves the President was complicit."

Nogura nodded, "And more. If we take this video and go to a Federation computer. Watch."

All saw how Nogura keyed in to copy to a datacard. He even checked the contents to the card. Then he inserted the card into the witness table slot and showed the contents, the card was wiped clean. "The fault lies in the computer system, not in the video. There is an active worm in our systems with orders to wipe out this video. It's still in our systems, and we don't know where the worm is."

"You're distracting us from the real point. The President is guilty."

Nogura said, "No sir, you are. Clayborne has testified to it."

Jameson sternly said, "Then show us your evidence. If you can't, then this is simple mudslinging and I have more questions for Clayborne."

Nogura answered, "It will be improper for me to do that, it is an active investigation."

Jameson said, "If you had anything, you would have taken matters already. I tire at your mudslinging. You are trying to distract the attention from Starfleet. Such as the ability to follow orders." Turning to Clayborne. "Mr. Clayborne, when you were on the Wisconsin, did Captain Jacobs refuse direct commands from you?"

"Yes, on multiple occasions."

"Please give me one instance." Jameson asked.

"I was given complete command of the ground situation, for diplomatic reasons. I repeatedly had to ask the away teams to disarm before going down to the planet. It is inflammatory to have weapons during diplomatic functions. His crew.." Clayborne pointing at Jacobs, "Routinely concealed weapons. It was impossible for me to get them to accompany me unarmed. Bringing in weapons sets a bad tone for negotiations; it makes us look like Klingons."

The Klingon delegation looked sternly at Clayborne. Clayborne ignored the look and said, "And furthermore, when a situation developed in orbit, Captain Jacobs refused my orders several times and refused to be relieved of command when I tried. His band of pirates followed him and would not relieve him."

Jameson nodded concerningly. "It sounds like you got out of Starfleet at the right time. This is unacceptable."

Jacobs blurted out, "Clayborne tried to take command when we were under attack."

Jameson snapped back, "I have not asked a question yet, Captain. Admiral Clayborne…"

"Is a fool." Kang stated flatly, standing up. All was quiet. Kang continued. "I was the authorized Klingon representative to Maghreb. My ship was to be the only Klingon in the sky, but there was a Black Fleet operation to kill me and probably kill the Wisconsin as well."

Jameson blinked. Kang said, "Aren't you going to ask me? Is your tongue in slumber? I requested help from Jacobs, and he was giving it. I witnessed the exchange between Jacobs and this fool…"

"NOW WAIT KANG, I'M NO…." Clayborne started.

Kang gave a look at Clayborne that made Clayborne's blood chill so quickly that Clayborne stopped. "You are, and everyone already knows it. You have gone back on your word which makes you a liar as well. A liar and a fool. To save your own skin. That would be how you would be remembered as a Klingon, as a cowardly liar and fool. We would not even bother to execute you with a weapon. We would drop you in the great desert and let the animals pick your bones clean."

Turning to the committee, Kang continued, "We were attacked virtually at the same time as our two embassies were attacked on the ground. The ground attack happened first, and no doubt the D7-M took advantage of the chaos to attack us. I asked for assistance for the Wisconsin to shoot at the rioters outside our embassy."

April asked, "Why couldn't you shoot?"

Kang said, "Disruptors are dispersed in atmosphere. We cannot precisely target, but you can. Admiral Clayborne prevented Jacobs from using weapons to stop the rioters."

Bim Freshligm asked, "What did you do?"

"We fired on the city surrounding our embassy. We leveled it."

There was a hush in the room. Bim Freshligh said, "You killed hundreds…"

Kang said, "No, thousands. Let it be known to all that chooses Klingons as an enemy. We fight to win. If you pick a fight with us, we will win." Looking at Clayborne, "It is the foolish that fight not to win, but for some other purpose." Kang sat back down indicating he was done.

April asked, "Kang, one thing I have never figured out. I have watched you and Captain Jacobs interact. It is almost brotherly the way the two of you interact. Very strange. The way you and he came up with the treaty, which was overwhelmingly approved in our Senate. How is that?"

Kang stood back up. "I have studied Jacobs. He is cunning, he is brave, and he is fair-minded. He does not go for the best deal he can, he goes for what is fair. He is a good leader, and Klingons respect that. He is also my Jup-qorDu."

Bim Freshligm asked, "I have seen that term. What is it?"

Kang said, "It translates out roughly as Friend of the family. It is a formality for Klingons on this level, you do not have an equivalent in your society. I have declared him formally a friend of my family, and he is to be treated as such in Klingon society."

Bim Freshligm asked, "How did he become your friend?"

Jameson interjected, "Because Jacobs sold out the Federation to the Klingons! That treaty is a sham, and Jacobs caved in the negotiations with them! As a payback, he gets this 'friend of the family' thing that is worthless!"

Kang looked at Jameson, "You have made it clear that you and he are enemies. Since your society does not demand accountability of words, I would expect you to make a baseless statement such as that."

Jameson fired back at Kang, "We demand accountability! That is what this whole hearing is for!"

Kang stated sternly, "Everyone watching can see there is no accountability at this 'hearing'. It is a forum for you to prosecute somebody, unjustly I would add. If Jacobs were serving the Klingon Empire and did these deeds, he would be properly honored."

"Such as with your 'friend of the family'? You gave that to him for the favorable negotiations."

"Is your opinion of Klingons so soft that you think I would sacrifice my honor for a negotiation tactic? We Klingons choose our friends very carefully. Senator, I did not realize your opinion of Klingons included us as having something you would call 'humor'."

There was a slight chuckle throughout the room. Jacobs looked at Leonaidas. Kang just cracked a joke, in a Federation hearing. And people thought it was funny. "No. The negotiations were later after Jacobs did an incredibly brave act. He earned my friendship by this." Kang pulled out a datacard from his belt and handed it to Jacobs. Jacobs looked at the Klingon datacard and handed it to JJ, who started scanning it with her tricorder. She then slid out a datacard from the bottom of the tricorder and slid it into the slot in the table.

A video started playing. It was from a video recorder unit on what appeared to be Kang's shoulder. Jacobs thought back that there did not appear to be a device there, but could not be sure. Kang started narrating. "My wife was being held hostage in this tower. Jacobs invited me and some of my warriors to come along on the rescue, it was my wife after all. We had an eventful approach, disembarked, and made our way to the place where she was." The video showed all that happened. One of the members was getting sick at the maneuvers prior to hovering near the top of the building.

"This is the final door. Because I want to make emotional impact, we will play this at normal speed." Kang stated.

Charges were placed on the door and all backed away. Two Badgers readied flash-bangs. The door blew and the Badgers tossed in the flash-bangs. Soon, a bright flash and boom was heard. You could see Jacobs go through the doorway with his phaser ready. Kang followed beside him. Guards in the room started firing at them and there were many phasers and disrupter beams dancing all over and the sound of gunfire and ricochets nearby. In the distance near the window a Maghreb and Kang's wife, who was unconscious, could be seen. Kang uttered a grunt and you could see the display lower as Kang fell to his knee. Kang fired at the Maghreb holding his wife and hit. Simultaneous with that Kang's disruptor fragmented from a hit.

The Maghreb man was stumbling backwards toward the open window dragging Mara along, Mara was coming conscious and starting to struggle. Not quick enough, the Maghreb man fell out the window dragging Mara. Jacobs yelled, "Kang!" and tossed a phaser to him as Jacobs ran through the fire towards the window. He did not get to the window in time, the pair fell out the window. Jacobs never stopped running, but rather dove out the window.

The firefight continued for a short time, then all the Maghreb were either killed or stunned. Kang struggled to his feet and a few Badgers and Klingons were running to the window to see what happened. One of the Badgers opened a medical kit and said, "Kang, sit down. Let me stop that bleeding."

"I'll be fine."

"You'll be unconscious in a minute, and no good to the mission, sir."

Kang nodded and sat down. What happened to his wife?

The total time from door opening to Jacobs going out the window was maybe twelve seconds. A hush was over the room. Kang was silent for a portion, letting it sink in just how fast it happened. Jacobs thought that for a Klingon, Kang did have good theatric timing. Kang said, "I want you to see something amazing. In replay slow motion with a chronometer." The screen backed up to the point where Kang got hit. "I just received two bullets to my leg, that is why I fell. You can see that I have an opportunity to shoot the Maghreb man holding my wife, which I do, but coincidentally his bullet damaged my phaser." The exchange played out. "That man never let go of my wife, but started stumbling back to the window. We will mark the time. Now Jacobs starts moving to rescue my wife. Note the time. Total time is 300 milliseconds. I understand human physiology it takes approximately 500 milliseconds to make a decision. Jacobs' reaction was instinctive." There were murmurs in the room. "This shows the character of Jacobs. He made an instinctive decision to risk his life to rescue someone. He did it at great personal risk. His chance of getting to the window to jump was miniscule. Watch. Bullet tracks will be highlighted in purple."

In horrifying slow motion, you could see Jacobs run through a hail of gunfire. The guards were clearly trying to hit him, but none did. Then you could see the incredible, epic leap out the window.

Again silence. Kang said finally. "And that is why he is a 'friend of the family' to me."

Jameson snarkily said, "What would I have to do to become your friend?"

Kang replied quickly. "You could start by jumping out a 3000-foot window." The crowd chuckled.

Senator April interjected. "That is most fascinating from your perspective. I love that video. But I feel like we are only getting half the story." Others looked quizzically. April continued, "Does Starfleet have any video that can add to that."

Jacobs was self-conscious. He was not going to toot his own horn. Admiral Adama said, "We certainly do. And it will chill your bones. Please note, this is graphic video not for the faint of heart." Adama had been prepping this and typed it to bring it to the screen.

The firefight was incredible and loud. Off the left side, you saw Kang drop to his knee and shoot his disruptor. The disruptor shattered and you could see Mara getting dragged out the window. "Kang!" and a phaser pistol started to get tossed through the air.

You could hear Jacobs' heavy breathing as he ran for the window, Mara and the Maghreb man fall out, and Jacobs dive out the window. You could see Mara and the Maghreb man struggling and the scene tumble as Jacobs fought to establish a stable skydive. Soon he was able to do that and closed in on Mara and the Maghreb. You could see the struggle ahead as well as the closure rate with the ground, which was considerable. Jacobs got close and grabbed the duo. Now there were three people struggling. You could see the Maghreb man's head in the foreground and then Jacobs bring up an old-fashioned firearm pistol and shoot it point-blank in the head. The body went limp and they separated from the Maghreb man. Jacobs said, "Hold still!". Now you could see the ground rushing up. A few people in the room actually looked away, as the screens in tremendous hi-definition made you see every kernel on the ground. You could actually hear somebody giggling then the transporter effect and then they were on the transporter pad on the Wisconsin.

Kang had not seen this. It was more terrifying that what Mara had described. Interesting, he did not know about the giggling. He wondered why Mara had done that. There was a hush in the room. Someone in the back started clapping, soon everyone in the room was clapping. Jacobs did not know what to do other than to nod his head. Soon, there was a standing ovation in the room, except for Jameson and a couple of senators on his side. Jacobs stood up and nodded once again. You could see him say 'thank you' but could not hear it.

Soon, the applause quieted down. People sat down except for Kang, who walked over to Jacobs. Kang extended his hand and the two shook hands, then a bear hug. Kang said loudly, "This is my Jup-qorDu. I call him by the honorific Dahar master tradition 'Jacobs' for this deed. Let it be known, an attack on him is an attack on the house of Kang."

Clayborne said, "So what."

Kang looked at Clayborne. "You can test that anytime you choose, disgraced Admiral Clayborne."

Senator April asked, "I do have a question concerning that video. What was the giggling?"

Kang said, "I assumed it was Mara. She never mentioned it."

Jacobs sheepishly said, "It was me."

He had the full attention of everyone. "As I was running, I knew that a freefall from that height would be approximately thirty seconds. I was keeping time during the fall to see how long Chief Kaylee had to rescue us. After 'rendezvousing' with Mara I realized that I had streamlined myself to catch up and my 30 second assumption was invalid, I had much less time than that. For some reason I thought that was funny, I miscalculated the time because the terminal speed was invalid."

A loud guffawing erupted from Kang that spread throughout the room. Soon, even Jacobs was chuckling. Kang said loudly, "Jacobs, to laugh in the face of death, that is a mark of a warrior! Just wait until we tell the Klingon Empire!"

"Kang, I really wish you wouldn't do that." Jacobs said.

Kang sat back down smiling. "As you wish, but I see now the Dahar Master Honorific is well earned. We Klingons need more warriors to laugh in the face of death!"

Jameson interjected, "He wasn't laughing, he was giggling like a girl!"

Kang smiled and shot back, "Senator Jameson, what would you have done in that moment? Giggle like a girl or poop your pants? I think the latter." The crowd laughed. "Enough of this matter, I imagine you want to extract more valuable character information from the lying cowardly fool Ex-Admiral Clayborne."

There was laughing all around the chamber. Senators were laughing. Jameson and Clayborne were red in the face. Jacobs leaned to Cogley, "I'm glad Kang is on our side."

Cogley said, "Yes, he can say things we could only dream up. He has a good sense of humor and is using it well."

Jameson didn't know where to go next. He pulled up one pad and saw some notes. "Captain Jacobs, your own reports indicate that you tortured a Maghreb citizen?"

Jacobs said, "No sir."

"I'm a Senator!"

"Yes, you are, and you demand to be addressed as such, you demand respect yet give none. I demand you call Kang by his Dahar Master Honorific. His name is sufficient for his Honor."

Jameson was not expecting this. "Why this focus on Kang all of a sudden?"

"Because Kang helped the Federation tremendously, and that needs to be acknowledged."

"Ok, I'll call Kang Kang. Now did you…"

"No Senator."

"But your own reports indicate.."

"You are characterizing the situation wrong to spin my answer into an indictment. Committee, I request that Senator Jameson be silenced so I can give a complete answer." The committee sat silent. "Very well. After we rescued Mara, Kang's wife, we still had a major objective to fulfill. We still had four hundred illegal Federation Phaser rifles in the city, untraceable, and ones we could not remotely turn off. We also had the man who knew where they were at that time, and we needed the location very fast to get control of the phaser rifles once again."

Jameson interrupted, "We know that…"

"All of this is in my report. Add to that one of our phasers was used to stun Mara."

Kang added, "Which is an act of war against the Klingon Empire."

Jameson said, "But it was done by a Maghreb citizen."

Ambassador Gorkon saw immediately what Jacobs was working toward and added, "Using Federation supplied weaponry."

Jameson said, "But…"

Captain Jacobs said sternly. "Committee, Senator Jameson repeatedly demonstrates he fundamentally does not understand Klingons. I do. It's part of the training you require Starfleet to invest in Command level officers. This situation has already digressed to the point of it could create war with the Klingons. If the rest of the 400 phasers were ever misused toward Klingons, that could provoke interstellar war. I had to get those phasers and equipment back and this was my best chance to stop war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. So I had to get the information from Soklos now. Not five minutes from now, but now. Kang and I reached an agreement on how to do this, but Soklos had to be issued into his new reality."

Jameson sneered, "So you shot him."

"I shot Soklos in the foot with magnetic frangible ammunition."

"You tortured him."

Jacobs was silent.

The room was quiet. Bim Freshligm shifted indicating he was going to say something. It was going to hang on these next words. "Captain, I'm beginning to understand your position. Why was shooting him the best way?"

"It was the only way, Senator. I had to put him in a position where it would not be lethal at all if he cooperated. With our medicine, his foot would be restored, in fact it was, completely. Not even a scar."

"And if he didn't?"

"He would be given to the Klingons for disposition in their legal system."

Jameson yelled, "You would give him to the Klingons?"

Jacobs said sternly, "I would without hesitation, and Soklos needed to see that. He also needed to see that life with the Klingons would be most unpleasant. And probably short."

Bim Freshligm nodded. "And you succeeded, we didn't go to war with the Klingons over that matter."

Jacobs said, "Yes. We will get to that conflict later, but the point to note is that if I did not recover those phasers, we would be at war now. And it WOULD be our fault."

Again, the room was quiet. Bim Freshligm said, "Thank you, Captain. This is remarkable. Mr. Clayborne. Your testimony is that you unknowingly shipped the contraband?"

Clayborne was quiet, he wanted to melt away. "Yes Senator."

"And you would not have shot Solkos to get them back?"

Clayborne saw a chance. "No sir, I would not have done that."

"What would you have done?"

"I would have arrested him, thrown him in the brig, and interrogated him until he told us where the contraband was." Clayborne said arrogantly.

Bim Freshligm nodded. "Then Captain Jacobs, I am in your debt. You prevented the war that I always feared. Thank you for your service."

Jameson was looking at a disaster. Best he could hope for is to capitalize on aspects of this hearing in a few months for his campaign. Disgracing the current President will help, even if it is his own party. The VP would never run for office. This could help him overall. "Very well, I move that we adjourn for the day…"

April said, "Not yet. I have another question." The room grew quiet. "Admiral Nogura, can you tell me about the transporter event that saved Captain Jacobs and Kang's wife?"

Nogura was pleased. This was an easy question. "Yes, Senator I can."

"Good, what can you tell us?"

"We've been experimenting with catching falling objects. We can see the need for that someday in the future. The biggest problem is that their motion is governed by a complex differential equation regarding gravity, velocity, air drag, and drag configuration. All of which was complicated by Captain Jacobs maneuvering to intercept, struggle, and free Mara during the fall. A transporter needs to be accurate down at the atomic level for a few seconds. That is why we need to be stable, such as standing still on the surface of a planet or on a vessel. We can use local surroundings to refine beam targeting such as beaming from inside a moving object, but we need something."

"Chief Kaylee had nothing to lock onto. Yet she was able to achieve a successful transport. We have taken her notes and tried to accomplish even a simplified transport."

"What rate of success have you had?"

Nogura said, "None. No successful transport of an object in an atmosphere has been done yet."

"And yet Captain Jacobs saw that it could happen. How?"

Before Jacobs could answer, Nogura said, "Captain Jacobs had faith. He had faith not only in his crew, but in something far more important."

Jameson asked sarcastically, "What would that be?"

Nogura answered plainly. "This is a miracle, we at Starfleet appreciate it because we know the operations. Captain Jacobs had faith in God."

ITV NEWS

"The views of Captain Jacobs' jump is all over the net. This has gone viral. In a short amount of time, there are even talks about making a drama video concerning the jump."

"I agree Stan. Today's hearing was incredible. Starfleet has also released other documents concerning information on this mission. There is a lot more to this story. We heard briefly about an angry mob; it turns out it was more than that. Add to it the illegal technology, and possible war with the Klingons."

"Yes, it seems like this is another time that the Wisconsin averted war with the Klingons. Add to that more miracles surround this crew and the Captain."

"Stan it's interesting you mention that. We had testimony from one of the crew of Wisconsin yesterday, a Lt Maya, who mentioned that others in the crew let her to follow a God."

"I'm looking at that, it's not that they are religious, but the testimony so far indicates they are all Christians. Well, we've seen some amazing things during the last few days. Today was absolutely incredible. In more news, Former Starfleet Admiral Clayborne testified today. He claimed that President Bennet was the source of the illegal technology to the Maghreb, this has been contradicted by the Intelligence committee. They came out with a statement along with President Bennet that there is an investigation into Senator Jameson. Everyone is pointing fingers at everyone."

"There is someone to blame, but no evidence that we can examine is being presented. We literally don't know who to believe. It shows that there is corruption going on at the Capital, but who? There definitely is a disgraced Admiral involved, but how involved is Starfleet? Or the Presidency? We just don't know. Please stay tuned for more hearings."

CAPITAL STEPS

PARIS, EARTH

Gold trotted up to Clayborne, "Mr. Clayborne!"

Clayborne turned around and saw Gold, he didn't know whether to be relieved or disgusted. "What do you want Gold?"

Gold handed a datacard over. "This is what the Senator Promised. I didn't know about you."

Clayborne took the card, "What's on here?"

"One month's pay, at Admiral wages to start. Tickets to the resort on Tahiti. The Senator is following through with his promise to take care of you, given you work for him. He needs a fixer, and thinks you can be it."

Clayborne looked skeptical and tired. "I had a future. I was going to be C-in-C. This was supposed to be easy. We've done it before Eli. What went wrong?"

Gold wanted to say Jacobs, but that wasn't right, was it? "I don't know, point is, what you provided for Jameson is a negation on your testimony."

"How do I get out of a perjury charge? That's coming."

"It will take time. The intelligence committee is going to have to watch their step, and wait and see how the hearings finish up." Gold offered.

Clayborne looked at the chip. "I could walk away from here right now. But then I have nothing. I've lost my integrity; nobody will want me without that. I'm trapped, how can I break free from Jameson?" Gold stood silent. "He's got us both, Eli. We've both compromised ourselves, done tremendous harm." Clayborne looked up at Gold, "I was just about to say 'If I were you' but I am you, or in the same position. Life was going good until I ran across that starship captain. Jacobs absolutely ruined my life."

Clayborne pocketed the chip. "Tell our boss I'll be tanning in Tahiti. This is the best deal I can work." And he walked off

Gold turned around and started walking. Yes, another life ruined by this power around Jacobs. It wasn't even him; Gold could see that clearly. Well, not exactly. Clayborne ruined his own life; he was compromised years ago. It started with a little favor and grew and grew until… Just like Gold. Still, Clayborne had a choice, he could have said no, and struggled with whatever he had. He would have gone to jail over perjury, still might.

Gold thought about the day, there was literally nothing that they could do to discredit Jacobs. That whole deal with Kang was a disaster. He should have seen that coming. But it was Jameson that wanted Kang until he did not, then the rest of the committee invited, invited Kang to stay. That paid off tremendously. They came close on the torture charge, but that was well explained. It was wrong to push something that had war with the Klingons as the ramifications. Especially after Starbase 5 was so recently attacked, and Capella too.

The God of Jacobs. It is on official testimony now. C-in-C Nogura officially said it was a miracle that Jacobs survived. And he has the data to back it up. Not a single success. And Nogura attributes it to Jacobs' God. Was he a follower too?

Gold started thinking about the sides and choices. If he turned on Jameson he would have the same fate as Clayborne. No doubt. Prison would be a when/for how long instead of if. And nothing would ever take Jameson down. Popular politicians never get taken down; they never go to jail. No, if Gold left Jameson, his life would end as he knew it. It would be like dying. The God of Jacobs. He heard something like that before. The God of Cogley, Jackson, and Jacobs. True but not quite. It was the God of somebody, somebody, and Jacobs. No, not right. The God of somebody, somebody, and Jacobs. That's close.

Gold got back to his apartment and got a dinner from the food replicator. He was thinking about that phrase a lot, could not let it go. When he went into his bedroom, he glanced on the dresser the Bible that Cogley gave him just before leaving Starbase 5. Out of curiosity, Gold opened it up and it was near the back half of the book. In red words it said, "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."

Gold could not believe it. It was just the phrase he was looking for. There was a question mark, so it was part of a larger context. He was in a book called Mathew, and started reading more. The red letters were from the Lord Jesus Christ. He heard that name before. A lot. People used it as a swear word, he had no idea why, but they did. Gold read the entire chapter 22, and it had to do with resurrection.

Gold thought about what Clayborne said, without Jameson they were as good as dead already. He then thought about Jacobs. The decision to jump out a building to save someone. Jacobs knew that he was going to be saved, even when it was impossible. He knew. What was it that Nogura said? Jacobs had faith? Faith that he would live? What was it that he was reading about resurrection?

Gold flipped back a few pages landed somewhere called John 11. This whole chapter had to do with resurrection. And finally, toward the end Jesus said, "I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

Gold tried to make sense out of all of this. So, it is not just God, but Jesus Christ that Jacobs believes in. How does this factor in? Cogley and McGonagle at Starbase 5 during the attack. Cogley said that God was trying to show him love. Why? So that Gold would do stuff for God? Why would God need Eli Gold?

Yet here it is just simple, believe in Jesus Christ. Gold paged a few pages looking for more. There were a lot of words written in red. He settled on John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

WOW. This was something Gold needed. But how? And could it be this simple? Gold had a lot of regrets. He had done too much in his past. Surely God would not want him. Gold kept reading the passage.

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

Gold thought that is exactly what is going on right now. That is why this whole hearing is a sham. Jameson will never hang Jacobs over this because Jacobs has not done anything wrong. The gallery and half the committee were actually giving him a standing ovation! And Gold was tied to Jameson, who is part of a sinking ship. Jameson going down? Jameson's deeds were definitely evil, and Gold actually accomplished a lot of them, he scrolled through his folders and it was countless, even the unclassified information was astonishing in the amount.

Gold could feel a strong tugging at his heart. He wanted to be forgiven and to be free from all this crap, but it was too strong for him. If he turned on Jameson, his life would end, in more ways than one. He just wants this all to be over. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was the same as the God of Jacobs. The God of the Bible is who was behind Captain Jacobs.