Posted by Civilian Jessa Novar (Child) in Court Martial of Gravel Mardusk

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Gravel Mardusk (Chief of Security) in Court Martial of Gravel Mardusk

Posted by Captain Kelly Bordeaux (Commanding Officer) in Court Martial of Gravel Mardusk
Posted by… suppressed (12) by the Post Ghost! 👻
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 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.

Mardusk sat next to a Klingon dressed in the formal attire of the Klingon High Council. It had caused no small stir when the imposing and venerable Klingon had presented himself as the attorney for the accused. Regent Drekn Noggra was not only a direct descendant of the founder of the Klingon Nobel House Noggra, but was the former Klingon Ambassador to the Federation and Romulan Empire (not simultaneously). When asked to enter the plea, he entered the plea of ‘Not Guilty’ to all charges and then, on Mardusk’s behalf, challenged all the assembled Star Fleet JAG officers and Admirals to Trial by Combat. That particular motion had to actually be considered by an Appellant Court as Mardusk was a bonafide member of a Klingon Nobel House and that was his right under Klingon law. And official decision stated that since the charges concerned actions taken by the accused were done during performance of his duties as a Star Fleet officer, the Klingon Code of Resolution was not applicable. To say that the prosecutors sighed in relief at the decision would be a massive understatement.

So it was that Mardusk and Regent Noggra sat at the accused’s table in a room that Mardusk had personally secured numerous times for events that were far more festive… and far less infuriating… than the current one.

“Lieutenant Commander Gravel Mardusk, stand and verify your identity.” said one of the Admirals. Gravel stood up and walked to the center of the room and set his hand on the scanner. “Verify Lieutenant Commander Gravel Mardusk. Current Assignment: USS Atlantis Chief of Security. Currently Under Suspension. Star Fleet Command Decorations: Distinguished Service Medal. Star Fleet Award of Valor. Karagite Order of Heroism - Member of Karagite Order. Star Fleet Citation for Conspicuous Gallantry. Klingon Empire Decorations: Order of the Bat’leth - one of seven non-Klingons ever awarded the honor.” Noggra stood and said through gritted teeth “And the only non-Klingon ever elected to the order by unanimous vote of the High Council.” The Admirals nodded in acknowledgement and one even inclined their head slightly at Mardusk.

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

JAG lawyers

Mardusk looked him and said “Four years, ten months, two weeks, two days. And never once in that time have I been charged with such a pile of targ-shit as this.” and he crossed his arms on his chest. The Lead Admiral banged a gavel and said “The accused will refrain from making spurious comments about the nature of these proceedings.” Mardusk looked at them, but before he could speak the Regent stood and said “Respectfully, your honors, my client was speaking as a duly recognized expert in the field of law enforcement and judicial matters. The comment was not directed at the illustrious assembly presiding over the current proceedings.” Mardusk looked at him and, with the hand that was hidden from the view of the Board, rocked his hand back and forth in a Mmm… kind-of-sort-of fashion. The Regent bit his tongue to keep the smile from his face and he took his seat.

Mardusk, CoS (Suspended)

“Tell your client to be mindful of his words and I will be mindful of the contempt charge for use of foul language in my courtroom,” Judge Marshall commented. This case was going to be contentious. The officers on trials were highly decorated officers. It seemed odd that they would just go off the pasture as his grandpappy would say however that did not mean it would not happen. Marshall’s job was to listen to the facts being presented and make a judgment on the man’s guilt or innocence.

Hudson looked at Marshall when he was speaking and already had a plan. Mardusk was angry and seemed to be easily pushed to angry replies. That would be his wedge. If he could get the Orion upset enough, the man could create reasonable doubt on half the charges against him. “So on the day in question did you use language like this when addressing the individual Rogan on the promenade during what essentially was a first contact situation? Unless I am wrong in that this Elder had experience with the Federation?” At times context was better left out when stating a fact. Was it a fact that the Elder claimed he had never heard of the Federation? Yes. Was it a friendly first contact situation? No but that was not Hudson’s question. He was interested in seeing how the Orion answered it.

Hudson

Gravel’s gaze fell on Hudson and didn’t flinch. “I’m sorry, Counselor… language like what, exactly?” he asked with an obviously overly dramatic look of confusion on his face. “I didn’t see the vid of the interaction you are referring to. Would you please play it for the court, as that is within my rights to request at any time?” Gravel was a big guy. Muscular. And yeah… really pissed. But Hudson made the mistake of thinking he was stupid… and Captain Kelly Bordeaux didn’t have stupid people on her Command Staff.

Mardusk, CoS (Suspended)

Hudson felt a flash of anger not having the video to back up his next statement. The security chief had access to all the security footage of the event. It was a redundant system where copies could be erased but there was always a master file. Hudson’s problem was that there was no master file. The video footage showed people milling about the promenade five minutes before the attack and the damage afterward. It did not show the forty-nine minutes between these two events. Those forty-nine minutes should have shown the Elders attacking and the crews response; and yet any reference to this time had evaporated without a trace.

Hudson’s first instinct was to blame the security chief for tampering with evidence. Forensics had poured over the discrepancy and could not find any reason as to why it was gone or the how. That left the legal team to corroborate their claims with living people and there were a lot of living people that day on the promenade. According to eye witness accounts, you stated and I quote ‘And we’re goddamn family. And nobody f^<ks with our family’ in the presence of no less than fifteen minors during the incident on the promenade. Do you deny you stated this?”

Hudson JAG

Mardusk’s Razzy-level look of innocent confusion didn’t falter. “Oh… that? Yes, I said that.” and his look changed from play-acting innocent confusion to serious amusement; like he knew something that Hudson should know about that statement… but he apparently didn’t. Mardusk smiled at him… the cat had found the canary. Regent Noggra leaned back in his chair, an aura of relaxation surrounding him and a smile on his face. He looked at Hudson and shook his head. He looked like a friendly but terribly disappointed teacher listening to a favorite student give a report they had obviously put together as they were walking into class.

Mardusk

“So you agree and admit to this charge?” The term win was loose. Even if he was found guilty on the charge, the judges could negate any punishment related to it. The maximum penalty was a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of allowances and pay, and 2 years of confinement. Even as the prosecutor, Hudson knew this punishment would not be utilized. It was not as if Mardsk walked into the Kindergarten class and instructed them using only colorful metaphors.

Hudson

Mardusk smiled at him. “I agree that I said it, yes. I do not agree with the charge in any way. And for good reason. But I am sure we’ll get to that under cross examination, now won’t we?”

Mardusk, CoS (Suspended)

Hudson looked at the security chief with a neutral expression. Gravel was correct in that the charge was flimsy. It was on record that Mardusk was guilty of the charge yet it was unreasonable to think men went into combat situations armed with church-appropriate verbiage. “No further questions,” Hudson stated. His only job was to prove a charge. The jury would determine what punishment would be allocated to the offense. Taking a seat, he waited for Mardusk’s lawyer to cross-examine his client. With any luck, there would be an objection to be voiced.

Hudson.

The Regeant stood, but did not leave the table. “Commander Mardusk. Please tell the court where and in what condition the children the charge is based on were in when you spoke your… colorful… words?” Mardusk grinned. “Oh sure. They were all encased in some kind of stasis pods that the subject I was engaged with kept threatening to shut down and kill the kids inside.” The Regeant then said “Could they hear what you said?” “Nope.” “Were you aware of that at the time?” “Yessir.” The Regeant looked at the judges and said “No further questions.”

Mardusk

Hudson glared at Mardusk. He did want that fact coming to light but was not unsurprised it did. At least it would allow him to transition into the next charge. “Since you brought up the children. We will get to your association with one of the Elders later but lets talk about your association with Jessa Novar. You spent a long time showing her around the ship. Taking her into secure areas. Heck maybe even showing her the quickest way to the Promenade.” Hudson let his voice trail slightly without going farther. The charge was about disloyalty statements. The security chief had spent a large amount of time with Miss Novar. It was time to prove he had drunk the kool-aid and in a roundabout way gave the enemy the knowledge of the ship she needed to try and overthrow it. Hudson would just do it slowly. “What did the two of you talk about?”

Hudson

Mardusk chuckled. “Yeah… ‘cause I just became a Security Chief this morning.” and he shook his head. He took a breath and then looked at the judges, not Hudson. “Per First Contact Security Protocols and Star Fleet Regulations concerning Dissemination of Technological Information To Non-Federation Parties Section Three parts twelve-dot-six through twelve-dot-twenty nine: “As a shared technological basis aids in communication and social interactions, Non-Federation entities may be taken on a guided and escorted tour through Star Fleet vessels provided such tours do not divulge Secret, Confidential, or Experimental matters or knowledge. Recording is not permitted, nor are any non-authorized personnel allowed to interact with any designated critical or protection system controls.” He looked at Hudson and said “Save for two places, which we did not go, no space on the Atlantis is Secret, Confidential, or Experimental. As for what we talked about? We talked about her. I was conducting an investigation and the minor at the time held what I believed, and was proven to be correct in doing so, pertinent information to the case. And before you ask, the results of my investigation and my After-Action Report have already been requested and submitted into evidence… by you.”

Mardusk, CoS (Suspended)

“So you spoke to her about her. You learned about her culture.” Hudson repeated back Mardusk’s words in the most simplistic way possible.”

“Commander you consider yourself an open-minded individual do you not,” Hudson asked.

“So what is positive about the culture of Miss Novar? I mean there has to be a single positive thing you learned about them?” Hudson left the question wide open. Depending on Mardusk’s response, he had an avenue to pursue.

Hudson JAG

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