Posted by Captain Kelly Bordeaux (Commanding Officer) in Court Martial of River Styxx

Posted by Lieutenant River Styxx (OIC Marine) in Court Martial of River Styxx

Posted by Captain Kelly Bordeaux (Commanding Officer) in Court Martial of River Styxx
The courtroom felt pristine and clinical but also familiar and safe. The cases were being tried in one of the small diplomatic rooms on the ship. This made it feel familiar to those from the USS Atlantis with its familiar furniture and decor. What made it feel antiseptic was the arrangement of the room. A large table sat along the left wall with five chairs filled with five Admirals occupying the spot a jury normally sat. The accused sat in a chair perpendicular to the Admirals and facing McDevitt and Ty’lin along with the opposing counsel James Hudson. There were no other seats in the makeshift courtroom which was by design. This was not going to be a spectacle. Starfleet wanted the trials over and done with minimal disruptions.

River sat in the dock her cold eyes scanning the room and noting each person in it. She was clearly unaffected by the situation, she seemed relaxed and showed no signs of stress. She wore her dress uniform her chest adorned with all her medals, two full rows of them. River hated medals she hated formality and above all she hated the medals star fleet gave her to appease her after the first cluster truck of a trial she went through. None the less Ty’lin had told her i was regulation and it was also a visual statement. Here is what any would call a war hero being put on trial for the second time, for almost the exact same thing, doing her duty.

The four medals Ty’lin had told River to emphasize on were her Acheron medal, it consisted of a federation standard A in front of a crossed bath’let and a Romulan rifle. It was awarded to all who served at Acheron, the only deference being that River’s was gold, because she as the commander of the Acheron forces. The next was her Pike medal of Valour a medal that as the stuff of legend , this was followed by her order of Khaless from the Klingon empire and finally her Sontaric citation form the Romulan star empire. These medals served two purposes one to highlight Rivers achievements and second to show that the Klingon Empire and the Romulan star empire supported River the whole way.

Again River’s trial could mean another political nightmare, if things where seen as unfair or mishandled. Just like the last time. This was certainly not lost on some of the admiralty present. After all they would be aware that despite their best efforts they had been contacted by the Klingons and Romulans to express their anger and annoyance that a hero of both their empire was once again on trial for what looked like nothing charges. With requests for political asylum already being submitted for River.

It was part of Ty’lin’s non legal plan. Not only had her recent victories effected star fleet reputation and image, but now the same officer was being put on trial by the same organisation not two years later. And with River connection to the other lead factions in the area, it put star fleet more and more on edge and in the corner. Public perception was shifting and not for the better. After all Ty’lin was A Romulan and Political subterfuge was in her DNA.

“So Lt. Styxx, how long have you been a part of the crew of the USS Atlantis,” Hudson asked the woman.

JAG lawyers

“Marine Lieutenant. I’m not Star fleet” River corrected, normally she didn’t care about the official title and she had been going by Lieutenant the whole time on the Atlantis. However in times like this River liked to be technical. It often embarrassed her opponent and River meant it when she said she would destroy her opponent. “six hundred and three days, eight hours, twenty one minutes and thirty six seconds” she added flatly.

“I stand corrected,” Hudson stated in a formal tone. “Marine Lieutenant Styxx can you tell me,” he started before Ty’lin interrupted his course of questioning.

Just as River finished talking Ty’lin stood up “Consular Hudson. I’m afraid I cannot allow this trial to continue” she said tapping her padd as she did a highlighted text appeared on a nearby screen in full view of everyone =^= Computer please read the highlighted text=^= she said

=^= Star fleet Marine corps regulation 3.816. Any trail or court marshal of a star feet marine corps officer or servicemen must, where possible be conducted by a star fleet marine corps jury. If not possible then at least one marine officer of equal or greater rank must be on the jury. Failure to follow this protocol will result in a mistrial. =^= The computer’s monotone voice said .

“As a result of the breach of this protocol and the well known fact that the Star fleet Marine corps is a separate entity to Star fleet. This trial is illegal” Ty’lin said as she looked at Hudson and then the assembled admirals “I see five Star fleet Admirals but no Marine officer aside from my client. This means that all five venerable admirals and consular Hudson are in breach of regulation. A marine officer must be assigned as soon as possible or this trial will be dismissed and classed as a mistrial.” she said coldly but with a well rehearsed undertone of fake respect.

Lieut Styxx (Marine OIC) and Ty’lin (Lawyer)

Hudson might be a lawyer for the prosecution but he was a lawyer. He had no issues trying anyone who had presumably broken the law. He had an issue when laws were twisted to make that case in such a blatant fashion as it was here.

“Early in my career, I pursued a commission in the Marines. After my victory at Tualant V, Starfleet they felt my expertise would be of more use in the general ranks.” Longfellow sent a side glance at Perkins with a sly smile. “I am your Marine representative. My Marine rank ended equal to yours so I am your representative.” Longfellow straightened some in his seat with an arrogant smile.

Judge Marshall internally grimaced. He knew this request would be coming from Ty’lin. The lawyer was brilliant and efficient. He had half expected to receive the request before proceedings started. Either way, the determination had been deliberated at length on the trip over here. Ty’lin’s request was logical. That did not mean the law was always logical. He had been chosen as the head Judge because he had no affiliation with the McLaren side or the Perkins side which made him the only unbiased one on the jury. McLaren had furiously argued that River’s case be thrown out due to Ty’lin’s claim which was fact based. Perkin’s demanded the charges hold and found the one court case that allowed the trial to proceed on a technicality of the law.

“Due to the high profile nature of the case, it was determined that Admiral Longfellow’s previous duty as a Marine Lieutenant in the Starfleet Marines would be ample representation,” Marshall stated. The words felt like metal in his mouth but there had been a lot of cases and rulings he did not enjoy over the years. His fairness was what most people respected in the trials. Ty’lin was more than a capable attorney. If this Marine was innocent, Marshall had no doubt the Romulan lawyer would prove River’s innocence.

With the judges ruling, Hudson proceeded. “So in this time of six hundred or so hours under the command of Captain Kelly Bordeaux, have you ever had a time that you disagreed with her commands or orders such as the order to board the alien vessel the Beacon of Hope?”

Hudson JAG

Ty’lin’s mouth twisted for a second into what could only be described as a smile, but a smile on a Romulan weas never a good thing. “Before my client speaks I must state that this trial is still illegal” She said pulling up another file onto the Screen. This time it was Longfellow’s service record. How Ty’lin manged to get such an officers file was unknowable but it was of no consequence, what was of consequent was the part of his file that was highlighted.

“Your file states that you where awarded the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the Marines. This rank is still too low as you can see by the rank structure of the Marine corps” Ty’lin said splitting the screen and showing the rank structure of the marine corps “A second Lieutenant is one rank below my client. Thus it is not sufficient for the purposes. I can understand the confusion the marine corps structure is a lot different to that of Star fleet or many other organisations. However the issue is still undeniable” she said as she used the images to highlight her point to a level that even a child could understand it and leave no room for doubt.

“Luckily my client and I. Being firm believers in justice and a fair trial. Have come up with a solution. If the Admirals would like to hear it” Ty’lin said after a long enough pause for the information to sink in. River was barely managing to hide her amusement at how incompetent the Admiral looked so far and they had only been in session for a few minutes.

Ty’lin (Lawyer)