Chapter 816

GNN NEWS

"Explosive testimony and exchanges in the hearing today. The hearing is going on, it is currently in a short recess. Stan, what do you think about the testimony so far?"

Stan looked thoughtful and said, "Well, George, it seemed like Senator Jameson is trying to show corruption in Starfleet, mainly Starbase 5. He was trying to allude that there is a back-door deal between Starbase 5 and some companies on the planet. In my assessment, he failed. The financial statements produced by the corporations show that those companies not only came to the rescue of Starbase 5 by producing what they needed, but they did it at a big loss. Our experts are going over the statements now, but right now to me it's obvious that those corporations lost money in the deal."

"Why would they do that Stan? I do see Senator Jameson's issue that running a business into the ground doesn't make sense."

Stan looked concerned, "I got the message loud and clear that it was a matter of survival. Whover the owners are, presumably they are on the planet and were in fear of their lives along with the rest of the population there. Fear will motivate you to do things that normally you would never consider. If Senator Jameson was trying to make the point of corruption on Starbase 5, he only made the point that the corporations that were dealing with Starbase 5 were the crooked ones. Sam Cogley's group caught them and help stop the corruption. No telling how much money that has saved the Federation."

George, the anchor, looked at the monitor and said, "In the brief time we have left, I'd like to talk to retired Starfleet Diamotto. You had the chance to serve on the Enterprise, didn't you?"

The Italian had greying hair and said, "Yes, I served two years."

"What do you make of the testimony?"

Diamotto said, "Senator Jameson was chaotic concerning the different engagements that the Wisconsin was in. There is a lot of this story that is not being told."

"For instance?"

Diamotto sternly said, "The rescue of Captain Jacobs. I've talked with some in Starfleet Security about that and it's remarkable. That is where most of the rescues came from. It was also lightly touched on how Commander Leonaidas was successful in blockading an entire system singlehandedly."

"How did he do it?"

Diamotto said, "I'd prefer him to tell it, and it may come out in the testimony today. I know Commander Leonaidas, we were Marines together before they were disbanded. Incidentally, Axelson was right. I lived through that time. The Committee forced the Commander-in-Chief of Starfleet at that time to disband the Marines after the Klingon war. We were offered to transfer into Starfleet Security, but we were disbanded. Axelson got flushed out of Starfleet, Leonaidas and myself were able to transfer."

"As I was saying, I'd prefer Leo to tell the story, and if anyone could do it, he could. He is one of the toughest that I know of. That toughness came across language and species differences. Add to that, look at all the exchanges the Wisconsin has been in this past year. There is so much of the story that is not being told for time and also for agenda."

George put a look of concern on his face. "What do you mean agenda?"

"It's clear that Senator Jameson is trying to ruin the Captain. I think that he and the other Starfleet officers are doing well in proving whatever Jameson's beef-of-the-minute is. Jameson is also trying to paint Starfleet in a bad light because he has made that his central issue in his Presidential run. He needs to show that Starfleet is bad."

"Bad? How?"

Diamotto said, "I'm former Starfleet Security, a Red Shirt. I'm not eloquent, so I put things bluntly. Jameson is trying to paint Starfleet as Bad and he will be the one to reshape Starfleet into being Good. That's what is going on here. Everything Jameson is doing is for his agenda, and personal animosity toward Captain Jacobs."

George said, "Thank you Commander. I'm getting word that the committee is reconvening. We go back to the committee room."

SENATE HEARING ROOM

FEDERATION CAPITAL

PARIS, EARTH

Jameson gaveled the hearing to order. "Admiral Adama, how did you develop such great intel on that the Klingons were coming?"

Adama dryly said, "Before I get into the main explanation, I want it on the record that not only did the Klingons attack Starbase 5, but that had we been where I wanted to be, we could have intercepted them before they got to the Starbase."

Before Jameson could reply, Senator April said, "Noted, and agreed."

Jameson snapped, "That is not in order. We don't know…"

April said, "We do know. We know when the Starbase was attacked, and we also have the tracking for the Klingon Fleet. Those are already matters of record."

Jameson fuming said, "Admiral, how did you develop the intelligence on the attack?"

Adama said, "When Captain Jacobs…"

"This has nothing to do with the outlandish and unbelievable statements he made!" Jameson said.

"It has everything to do with the outlandish and unbelievable experience he had." Adama said. "Without that, we probably would have lost the planet." There was a stir in the room.

Jameson said, "Don't tell me you believe what he said."

Adama sternly looked at Jameson, "Senator, you keep diverting and interrupting my response. Are you going to let me tell the story or not?" Adama waited patiently.

The room was still. Jameson looked around, trying to keep from looking frantically. He still could not read anyone in the room. What he imagined he saw was people that wanted him to shut up because they wanted to hear the Admiral. Jameson was trying to think of a way he could keep Adama off balance. The length of silence was so long as Jameson tried to think of something to say. Adama just sat there looking at Jameson without saying anything. How can Jameson interrupt Adama if he does not say anything! The man was infuriating. Gold leaned forward and said, "I suggest you let him talk. Senator April's time is coming soon."

Jameson said finally, "Go ahead, Adama."

Adama ignored Jameson breaking his own rules. "It starts on Stardate 7554. The Wisconsin was tasked to recover covertly a deep plant operative on Ghut's station located in the Triangle. The important thing to note is that the Triangle is not claimed by anyone. Not the Federation, Klingons, or Romulans. It is a lawless location where the rule of open space applies."

"In the process of trying to get in contact with the operative, Captain Jacobs was captured by Kor. In order to prevent Captain Jacobs from being taken out of the system, Commander Leonaidas blockaded the system singlehandedly and started searching ships one by one along with sending rescue teams to the station to recover Captain Jacobs."

"During this time, Captain Jacobs was placed in the mind sifter by Kor and subjected to extreme interrogation. Captain Jacobs was able to survive and, in the process, gained the useful intel that the Klingons were coming."

April asked, "Thank you Admiral. To what level did you place this intel from Jacobs?"

Adama said, "Because of the nature of how it was received, and what the Kor gave us, I placed the highest level of confidence in it."

April nodded. "I think we need to hear from Captain Jacobs. I'm going to want to get the whole story of what you experienced. Senator Jameson did not place much confidence in what happened to you."

Jacobs nodded. April asked, "Captain. What happened when you were captured?"

Jacobs said. "First, Kor set a highly devious and intelligent trap to capture me." Jacobs looked at Kor and nodded.

Kor smiled and said, "Thank you."

Jacobs nodded, "Absolutely." It came off lighthearted in a very weird way.

April said, "Captain, what was going through your head?"

Jacobs sat quietly. "I was initially scared. Anyone would be. I was in lawless space, captured by a Dahar Master and being held on his ship, hidden in a labyrinth. My situation was hopeless." Jacobs tried to think of more.

Kor said suddenly, jolting people in the room. "Jacobs, this is the time. 'For such a time as this'. Do not hold back. Do not hold back anything." Jacobs nodded. Kor looked at the committee, "I told Jacobs he was a prisoner on my ship. I told him the name of my ship, and he responded so unexpectedly." Kor looked at Jacobs again, "The name of my ship is 'Shadow of Death'." And he laughed. It shocked me. Now I know why he did, but I did not understand then."

April was confused, this was not on the official reports. "I don't understand."

Jacobs looked at Kor. Kor was clearly urging him. He looked over at Octavian, who gave a nod. Cogley scribbled on his pad. 'Don't hold back now.'

Jacobs said, "I read in my Bible that morning Psalm 23." The room fell quiet. Jacobs quoted, "It says, 'The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies: thou anoitest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.'"

The room was silent. "God showed me that he was in control. I was literally in the valley of the 'Shadow of Death', Kor's ship. God was telling me to not fear any evil. There is another verse in the Bible that occurred to me. 'If God is for us, who can be against us?' God was giving me the faith to endure what was coming, all I had to do was surrender to him."

Jameson sarcastically said, "Kor?"

Kor said powerfully, "No, God. I'll add to this. I have never seen a prisoner with such strength. Jacobs' strength comes from God! I did not understand it at the time, but what is about to happen wasn't me contending with Jacobs, but me contending with the God of Jacobs."

Gold blanched, that phrase again. Gold was listening intently. More than that he was watching intently. It was like he was the only person behind the committee bench, these people were talking to him, personally.

"And yet you are here now." Jameson said.

Kor responded, "Senator Jameson, members of the committee, all witnessing this hearing. I implore you to hear the words about to be spoken. Let it be known, as Jacobs was in the 'Shadow of Death' in my ship, the way that Senator Jameson has treated him is of an enemy. And Jacobs is sitting at the table prepared in the presence of his enemies. You have heard the Word of God spoken, and have been warned. God will protect Jacobs here as he protected Jacobs in my presence!" Kor realized he was standing. So, he sat down and said, "I have spoken truth."

Jacobs and Kor exchanged a look. How strange. A former enemy. Captain Jackson also had warned the committee. There was nothing to fear. Jacobs said, "I chose to follow God. There was a part of me that was worried, more worried of failure than of my welfare. I was worried I was going to give up what Kor wanted. In short, I'd rather die than give up information. If I give up information, people were probably going to die."

"So you were put in this magical machine. I've never believed all what has been told of this machine." Jameson said.

Kor said, "Believe it! I'm an expert on this machine. I will give no secrets, but what the Federation already knows. The Mind Sifter at first will massage the brain to help it give up its secrets. If that doesn't work, I will up the force and it will eventually rip the information from the brain. What is left is a mental vegetable."

The room was quiet. Jacobs said, "God's sense of humor is ironic. I saw the irony of being in the deepest part of Kor's ship. I just now see the irony of what Kor pointed out now."

Jameson said benignly, "Captain, surely you don't consider me your enemy."

It was so quiet as to hear a pin drop. Jacobs thought hard then said firmly after a short time, "Yes, I do." He declined to expand. If people did not see that by now, they are blind. There were gasps in the room.

Jameson said melodramatically, "I'm taken aback. I never thought you would think that of me."

Jacobs sat undeterred and quiet. Jameson said, "I'm hurt but please continue."

Jacobs did. "At first, through the lower levels, I struggled against it the best I could. I was quoting whatever Bible scripture came to mind. Then Kor started pushing the power level where it was going to cause brain damage. At the same time, the room had some sort of holographic generator to where he could see what I was seeing in my head. If I imagined a box, the room would show a box. If I imagined a person, it would show that person."

"It finally got so powerful; I couldn't resist anymore."

Jameson said, "I thought you said in your report that you were successful in resisting."

Jacobs shook his head. "I went as far as I could. When Kor pushed me past the breaking point, I failed."

April asked confusingly. "I thought you resisted."

Jacobs said. "It was this point that an Angel appeared in the dream state of the Mind Sifter. The authority was not Kor, God has been first in my life. God showed up in that room. He sent an Angel to help me."

Jameson sarcastically asked, "Why didn't God just 'Miracle' you out of there?"

Jacobs said, "Because God had a bigger plan. To take the matter further from what Kor just said, God is working right now." Gold felt the blood leave his fingers.

Jacobs said, "The angel fed me the scripture to say. He reminded me about the Apostle Peter and to learn the lesson from him."

April asked, "Lesson?"

Jacobs said, "Peter was fine as long as he kept his eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ. The moment his eyes left Christ, he sank in the water. But Christ was there to save him. The angel told me to listen only to him, not to Kor."

Gold's heart was pounding. He wanted Jacobs to continue. What was said? Something was said that changed Kor from trying to kill Jacobs to rescuing him. Jacobs continued, "The Mind Sifter would create a fantasy that I was living. Kor started off by having me 'wake up' in my quarters on the Wisconsin. He would then try clever ways to make me reveal the information he wanted. In the room he would observe what was going on in my head."

Kor added, "One such time, Jacobs quoted from the Bible 'Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth. It is Christ that died, yeah rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also made intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"

Senator April asked, "Kor, what are you trying to say?"

"That in the Bible verse that Jacobs just quoted, who are you to lay a charge against Jacobs? He clearly is one of God's children. I tried the best I could to get the information I wanted without regard to his life. During the interrogation, I accused him of many things. What could I do against the power of the God of Jacobs? I tried to separate him from everything, but I could not. Senator Jameson! You are a man without honor! You try not-so-cunning tactics in engaging Jacobs! You just accused him of making an enemy when everyone here can see what you are really made of! How many others have you dishonorably accused?"

Gold thought of the phrase said a different way. He looked down at his communicator, went into 'classified' and then a different folder that he marked 'Starfleet officers'. There were folders of folders of people that Jameson had ruined in Starfleet. These were all accused of being dishonorable, but Kor's phrase adequately described what was done. Gold had participated in dishonorable accusations.

Kang leaned to Ambassador Gorkon, "Shall I stop Kor?"

Gorkon replied quietly, "No. How many times have we wished someone spoke truth in the High Council recently. If there ever is to be as the Organians predicted a 'fast friendship' it will only come with one telling the other the truth. Better now that the Federation realize that when we tell the truth, we hold nothing back."

Admiral Adama leaned over to Admiral Nogura and whispered, "I never thought I would be silently cheering on a Klingon."

Nogura said quietly back with a straight face, "It makes you glad we invited them here. He is saying things we wish we could say."

Jameson snapped at Kor, "You are here as guests of the committee! If you were human, I'd have you removed for accusing me of things like that! I'd then start sanctions against you!"

Kor stood forcefully. Jacobs thought, 'Here it comes'. Kor pointed a finger at Jameson. "And if you were Klingon, you would challenge me to a fight for me saying such things!"

Jameson was so angry he almost blurted out, 'I would!'. Instead, he turned to Jacobs, "I hold you accountable for Kor's actions!"

The room was silent. Jacobs stood up and said, "Senator, just what do you accuse me of now?"

There were gasps in the room. Jacobs was standing still. It was quite a picture, Kor and Jacobs standing. April interjected, "Gentlemen, let's lower the tension down a bit." Kor and Jacobs looked at each other and nodded. They sat down while Jameson was practically frothing at the mouth. Jameson said, "I'm going to throw you in a hole so deep even your God can't find you!"

Kor looked at Jacobs, "The Excalibur."

Jacobs nodded understanding. He said, "Kor tried many ways of tricking me to reveal a particular location. In one instance, I was on the bridge of the Wisconsin. Just as I was going to order to set course for this location, an angel appeared."

Jameson said, "I've heard this before."

"No, you haven't, Senator. Kor said he tried to separate me from everything. You just accused me of trying to separate me from my God. With the committee's permission…" Jacobs stood and motioned to Kor.

April started by saying, "Yes. I'm intrigued." The rest of the committee voiced agreement.

Jacobs said, "In this instance I'll be where Kor was. Senator Jameson, you will be sitting where I was. And Kor…"

"Will be the Angel." Kor smiled delightfully. He walked to the wall.

April asked, "Have you rehearsed this?"

Kor and Jacobs said, "No."

"How do you recreate this?"

Kor said, "You will experience what I experienced. Remember, I tried cutting Jacobs off from all hope. That is a very good interrogation technique in general, and in the Mind Sifter its very effective. At this point I do not believe in any diety much less the God of Jacobs. As I was pressing Jacobs for the location,"

"I witnessed an Angel appear where Kor is standing. From my perspective, I could not see Kor, I thought I was on the Bridge. The Angel told me to keep my eyes on him, and I did. The angel started quoting from Romans chapter 8…" Jacobs started.

Kor picked up. He said powerfully, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things to come," He was slowly walking toward Jacobs. "Nor Height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus." At this moment, he stepped behind Jacobs. All the committee could see was Jacobs. Jacobs was looking right into Jameson's eye. Jameson started sweating. Gold felt very uncomfortable and gave a slight cough. At that moment, Jacobs' eyes went to the noise and locked in on Gold's eyes.

Gold felt paralyzed. He felt so helpless and insignificant. Kor spoke from behind Jacobs. "It was at this time that I said, "Who is this Jesus Christ."

Jacobs continued, "John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 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."

Gold felt like he was going to die. The room was quiet for a while. Then Jacobs broke the silence. "Thank you for allowing me to share that."

Jameson said, "Clearly, you have been brainwashed by Kor to perform theater for us."

Kor started to say something but Jacobs put a hand on his shoulder and nodded. Kor walked back and sat down. Jacobs sat down at his seat. "How so?"

"Kor has been ordering you around. You are still under his power." Jameson stated.

Jacobs shook his head, "You do not understand the relationship I have with Kor. The angel through repeated occurrences helped me to witness to Kor in ways he could understand."

April asked respectfully, "I don't understand."

Kor said, "To understand Klingons, you need to understand that we fought off our alien oppressors a thousand years ago by sheer strength. Klingons respect strength and strength through suffering. Jacobs was suffering tremendously in the Mind Sifter. That started to reach me on a basic level. As was said earlier, I could not understand why he was not dead, I pumped in so much power through his head the room temperature should be much higher than it was. Our calculations indicate that the room should have been ten degrees Celcius warmer than what it was."

"Your air conditioning must be great." Jameson said dryly.

Kor smiled, "Thank you. It is. We factored that into the calculations. Jacobs should have been burned to a crisp. Instead, he defied that, also earning our respect. And he suffered, reaching us on a basic level."

"That seems like a cruel God." Jameson said.

Jacobs shook his head, "God's love for Kor was to find someone to reach him. God chose me and allowed me to suffer to reach a Klingon. God's love for us was to have Jesus Christ to suffer for our sin." Jacobs waited for a short time, then continued. "This carried on, the Angel kept giving me scripture…"

"Alleged Angel." Jameson said.

Jacobs said confidently, "I'll let each person make their own choice on that. We all have free choice." Gold felt hope. He can make a choice.

"Finally, Kor was so frustrated that he touched me by accident." Jacobs stated.

Silence, April asked after an uncomfortable pause. "Then?"

Kor said, "We are not to touch a person that is in the Mind Sifter. The energy will be shared between the two. I should have been killed instantly, but instead, we think that Jacobs' mind and mine were transported to a place."

April asked, "What place?"

"Think of it as a room all white. You can't see a surface anywhere. No corners, no seams. Jacobs theorized it was an interface point between the two of us and we were still in the mind sifter. I didn't believe him. He proved it by asking me where the Klingon fleet was going to cross the border. The information was ripped from my head and I said 'Capella'. I have never felt pain as that before, and the information was coming out and I could not stop it."

"Another strange thing I noticed was parts of Jacobs' uniform started turning white. It started with his belt, then an armored breastplate. It continued with different parts until he had a uniform of pure white. I was puzzled until he mentioned it was in accordance with the 'Armor of God', Ephesians chapter 6. I was witnessing this miracle. It enraged me so that I attacked Jacobs with the best that I had, but he easily defeated me. It fed the thing Klingons hate the most."

Jameson impatiently said, "What?"

Kor smiled, "Fear." Gold felt like his heart was going to explode. Kor continued. "The thing that enraged me to the point of carelessness of touching Jacobs in the 'real' world was that I mentioned to my healer that I had never been afraid. Jacobs immediately started remembering a particular battle that he had been in. A battle during the war. A battle that was with me."

"There was no way that Jacobs could have known that I was in that battle. Or that he had me in his gunsights for most of it. God had told Jacobs to relive that battle. I saw it through Jacobs' eyes. He had me dead to rights, and God had his Raptor damaged just enough so that it would not fire. The battle allowed his squadron to defeat mine, and for them to escape, as well as me."

"He could have known that through spies." Jameson said.

"Perhaps, but he did not know I was scared of death in that battle. I have faced death numerous times. But in that battle, I was afraid of dying. In the battle with Jacobs, I was terrified of dying and what comes after it. Jacobs had many chances to kill me yet he did not. Instead, he told me of the Love of God. I was going to hell for the sin I committed. That sin separated me from God. Christ is the payment for my sin, all I had to do was to receive it."

It was silent. April then asked, "Did you?"

Kor stood and said, "I did. God saved Kor the Merciless. He forgave me of my great sin debt. I did nothing to earn it, just received Christ. You say it I am controlling Jacobs somehow; I am not. I am indebted to Jacobs. He has taught me much. That is why I have adopted him into my family as a brother. The God of Jacobs not only protected him, he saved me and changed my life."

"SO that was the mission God tortured you for?" Jameson aske Jacobs.

Adama stood up. "No, He used Jacobs. During this mission, I accepted Christ as my Savior too. Jacobs is an excellent officer and he encouraged me to read the Bible." Adama did not want to explain that he and Jacobs developed a code using the Bible to restore secure communications. "I did and over time God dealt with my guilt from the past and showed me that nobody deserves salvation, it is a gift. I surrendered to God and learned about prayer. Prayer for others."

Jackson stood up, "This past year Jacobs had simply witnessed to me by his life. Senator, you had orchestrated with Admiral Clayborne to discredit Jacobs in an unfair fight. He not only survived; he knocked some sense into me. I saw his true character when he came to rescue my ship. Jacobs was humble and proved himself a servant. He showed that God could love even me, an arrogant, overbearing ship's captain. What a change in my life."

Kang stood up. "I encountered him shortly after his rescue of Captain Jackson. He acted honorably there, along with my research, I saw him as humble as well. Humility is not known as a Klingon trait, but we can appreciate it. I saw the faith of Jacobs when he jumped out of a 3000-foot building to rescue my wife. His faith was not in Chief Kaylee, although she is capable, it is noteworthy that Starfleet has not reproduced the act of transport. Jacobs had faith in God. He saved my wife and unborn child. We made him a friend of our family for that. Later, God used a blood rival of mine in Kor to speak to me. Kor showed great humility in coming to me to show me God's love. Klingons pride themselves in strength. God showed my many weaknesses and the great need I have of him."

Gorkon stood up. "The blood feud between Kang and Kor is legendary in the Klingon Empire. It speaks to all of us that somehow these two not only settled their feud, but became powerful allies in challenging the High Council's deceit and dishonor. You don't realize the miracle of them surviving that challenge, but I do. You all know from director Briggs," Gorkon motioned to Briggs, who nodded back, "That my background in intelligence. I'm trained not to see coincidences, but to see patterns. I saw a pattern that went from Jacobs, to Kor, to Kang. I realized that this power is all-powerful and also saw the many sins in my life. I prided myself as honorable but God showed me, I was not and needed Christ's blood for forgiveness. On faith, I accepted his gift. Jacobs' suffering went from him to Kor to Kang to me."

Jameson leaned forward and yelled, "This is what I'm concerned about! The Wisconsin under Jacobs is doing a mission different than of Starfleet! Jacobs is going out on the Wisconsin preaching to everybody! He's even saving babies and spreading the 'gospel' to the Tangians, or Planters, or whoever they are. He is completely out of control!"

Jacobs shook his head, "No, I have not. These hearings show that I'm just trying to accomplish my duty to Starfleet."

"But people get religion when they get near you! You are on a crusade wherever you go! You warmonger with the Klingons, how do we know that you didn't stir them up to attack us? You could have made them so scared of the Federation that they had to attack us! You have had a Prime Directive charge in Tangia, kidnapping those babies, then you double down by fixing them and transplanting them with a colony! Where will the seeds you have sown go from here? Will that be another planet we have to defend? Just because you could not let a few babies die! And think, in fifty years we'd have a planet easy to colonize! You tried to start a war by charging into Organia, probably killing the Organians, how the Klingons did not start a war over that, but I forget, they did! They had to take matters into their own hands because you violated the treaty by rescuing Nucatola! You should have stayed where you were, played it safe. Instead, you antagonize the Klingons and what are they supposed to think? Starfleet is a bunch of irrational, warmongering pirates and they have to defend themselves from you! You then collude with your old buddy Kang into a worthless mining treaty, Kang kills off half the High Council, and I expect the two of you will be rich beyond your dreams in the future!"

"You, Captain Jacobs, are completely out of control! I'm going to throw you in the darkest prison we can find until the end of eternity! And you, Admiral Adama, you are enamored with him for some reason! No discipline, but he's your favorite! He should have been slapped back after that war game for violating the rules! Instead, you give him an atta-boy and send him out to do whatever he by gosh wants to do! You let Captain Jackson, a Captain through his own incompetence, allowed half his crew to get killed to remain in position! And let's not forget Nogura! You ancient old man! Why are you still even here! I've fought against you for so long I can't even start!"

Nogura leaned forward, "I opposed you on the dismantling of the Marines. Before I was C-IN-C."

"Yes! Another Warmonger! And here you have your prize! A ship of blood thirsty, warmonging, pirates! They shoot first and ask questions later! They use phasers as flashlights! When you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail so it's no wonder that the Wisconsin has been in so many engagements! This is why I'm running for President! I must save the Federation from Warmongering Starfleet Outlaws! As President I'm going to dismantle Starfleet and rebuild it like it was intended! A peaceful, exploratory service! If it was up to me, we would not have any weapons in space!"

"But first, I'm going to ruin you, Jacobs! Your name won't be worth the ink used to print it! What do you have to say for that? I'm going to bury you so deep that people in Hell will have to look down on you! Forget Heaven, I'm going to lock you in a hole so dark it will take a month for sunlight to be piped there! My party controls the hearing and we will be able to do it! You have no hope of success!"

"Just what is your hope? Captain?" Jameson stood up and yelled loudly, "What is the hope you cling on? I want to hear it! I want to really hear it! What is reason for the hope that you have?"

The room was dead silent. No one dared breathe. Gold was holding his breath so long he was about to pass out. Jameson's tirade was so full of lies and mischaracterizations and…. Evil that Gold wanted to get away from Jameson. No telling what God was going to do. Gold knew he was Jameson's right-hand man, but this is over-the-top. Jameson is completely deranged with hate. Gold looked at Jacobs, he had to hear the answer that Jacobs was going to give. Gold needed the answer that Jacobs was going to give. He could not wait. He was holding his breath so as not to miss when Jacobs started talking. Gold's heart felt like it had exploded.

That was when Jacobs stood up slowly and pulled his jacket straight….