Trial: Ryan's Reply

Posted on Sun Apr 30th, 2023 @ 10:30am by Commodore Mikhail Babanin & Commodore S'vRock & Commander Firestorm to Ennien & Lieutenant Alexis Ryan

Mission: Wrath of the People
Location: Starfleet Judicial Centre
Timeline: MD6
1234 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Babanin groaned internally. This wasn't working. "No further questions sir" he replied, offering again a long nod to the Commodore before resuming his seat.

"Commander Firestorm the witness and the floor is yours." S'vRock directed as he leaned back in his chair and tented his fingers. He was curious to see how the Sivoan would fair.


Nodding, Firestorm stood. "Lieutenant, how and when did you first meet Captain Kane, and what was your first impression of him?" he asked quietly.

Somewhere in the back of Alex's mind, a much younger version of herself was already expressing its opinion of this complete and utter waste of her time. She was no stranger to Starfleet protocol by now but there had already been a tenuous benefit to her input in the first place, as far as she could tell. The attempt to not only besmirch her name but implicate her in the crimes Kane was accused of was already formulating itself into a succinctly worded official complaint. The Science Chief sat rigidly, lost her patience entirely with the bleating nonsense of the voice inside her head that wanted to vouch for the man as if she'd known him all her life, and replied curtly.

"I have recently transferred to Captain Kane's command and have found his behaviour in that time to be entirely consistent with what I'd expect of a man in his position." Images of cheesecake and being chastised over her lack of career pathing presented themselves as viable embellishments before Alex continued. "We've undertaken one mission since my transfer, which I believe delivered on Starfleet's expectations."

"What do you expect from a man in his position?" Firestorm asked, "given your experience and your own observation, at any given time did he show conduct unbecoming of a man in his position? Any excessive or violent behaviour, that you observed while you served on the Bridge?"

Ryan shook her head once. "No. If anything, the Captain has shown considerable control and restraint. At least in my presence he has yet to display any inclination towards emotional outburst." Alex stared rigidly ahead at the defense counsel, determined to avoid the temptation to check Kane's reaction. "As for my expectations, he is a thorough and meticulous tactician. He consults where warranted by otherwise expects his crew to do their jobs."

Babanin leaned to his right side to whisper in Commander Cameron's ear; "Damn right he is...murdering bastard..." he conveyed to the more senior of his two aides. The Commander, for her part, discreetly nodded.

"By your own experience, do you feel he trusts your judgement, when you provide him with needed information? Equally on the same account, do you trust him?"

Again, a twinge of something beyond her available evidence forced a flicker of a frown before Alex caught herself and measured her response accordingly. "Our last mission dealt with highly sensitive information, we would not have been successful had the Captain not trusted my department to do what was required. Beyond that, despite assertions to the contrary, he has never approached me regarding any activity that would lead me to question his integrity."

The Science Chief made a point of eyeballing Babanin as she lifted her chin to continue.

"Captain Kane is an experienced veteran. Thus far, my experience under his command leads me to believe he is far more capable than a veritable breadcrumb trail of incriminating evidence would permit and I certainly have no reason to believe he would intentionally seek to be arrested. Yes, I trust him."

Ryan stopped herself before voicing the obvious contradiction between Kane's skillset and the sloppy handling of crucial documentation that so neatly and conveniently painted arrows in his direction. She'd already deigned to refuse to analyse the crime scene without further information, Alex knew it wouldn't go down too well to recant the veto now that the prosecution had lost the opportunity to use it against her.

"Given your experience with him so far, do you, from your professional point of view, consider him capable of planning such an elaborate event to kill a single specific target?" The feline's tail lashed softly against the floor as he watched the witness.

It was a dangerously-worded question, perhaps not as meticulously crafted as the near-interrogation that had preceded this line of inquiry. Capable was a subjective term. "I am unaware of any motive that would have prompted premeditated murder," Alex rephrased with careful precision. "He has demonstrated no particular bias in my presence nor have I witnessed any suggestion that he views violence as a means to an end."

Feeling Commander Cameron kick his heel under the desk, Babanin rose to offer his first objection of the trial so far. "...this is all considerable speculation, I demand it be stricken" Babanin said on an almost autonomic response. Truth being told, his thoughts had wandered to Kane's insistence about conspiracies, and the ominous visit from Captain Bennett. He was still sure of Kane's guilt...though he had to admit...his thoughts were waning somewhat.

S'vRock sat in thought for a moment and after the minute or so of silence he offered his ruling on the objection. "Objection overruled. The Commander has asked the Lieutenant to draw on their personal experience. This is no difference than an expert witness giving testimony. As a member of the Athena's Senior Staff I would view the Lieutenant as an expert on the methods of Captain Kane's leadership."

Babanin sat back down and leaned to Cameron's ear; "I do not like this one..." he muttered, hopefully beyond the audible range of the presiding Vulcan.

"But from your limited experience," Firestorm pressed, "have you witnessed him being driven to the point of actively wanting to murder someone?"

Quietly, Alex breathed a sigh of relief. Phrased in this way, the response was far easier to keep succinct. "No."

"And has he, in your presence, expressed any desire to plot a terrorist attack?"

Once again, Ryan's gaze sought Babanin's across the void of subspace. "No."

"Are you aware of him harbouring the desire for someone's death?"

"No, sir, I am not."

"And this impression has been gathered over a matter of several weeks prior to the attack, you have no prior familiarity with Captain Kane nor has there been any reasonable amount of time for you to form any bias regarding his behaviour?"

It was the tiniest of hesitations, a traitorous lurch of illogical conscience that prodded at a need for honesty that should not have been a consideration. Alex wrangled the first reaction as best she could, aware of what was at stake if she appeared in any way compromised by an irrational desire to protect a man she'd only just met.

"The only basis I have to judge him has been my impression of his leadership since my reassignment to the Athena," she confirmed.

"Thank you lieutenant," the Feline said then nodded towards the Vulcan judge."nothing further your honor."

"Very well Commander. Lieutenant Ryan thank you for your testimony. You are excused and may step down." S'vRock began with direction toward Alexis. He then turned toward the courtroom at large. "The court stands in recess. We will reconvene in one hour." He tapped a bell that sat on the bench with a small mallet and rose from his seat. Without any further words he left the courtroom.