The Trial: Keating - A fall from grace

Posted on Thu Jun 29th, 2023 @ 10:32am by Commodore Mikhail Babanin & Commodore S'vRock & Commodore Jacob Kane & Commander Firestorm to Ennien & Lieutenant Commander Finnley Keating VII

Mission: Wrath of the People
Location: Starfleet Judicial Centre.
Timeline: MD6, mid-afternoon.
3315 words - 6.6 OF Standard Post Measure

"It will be ok da?" Babanin whispered into Commander Keating's ear, as he rose when she walked past to take the stand. He permitted himself a brief glance at Captain Kane; he didn't know the man well, by any stretch, but to Babanin he seemed nervous. He should be. The Engineer had turned into a prosecution witness, and though what she had to say was relatively benign, it certainly helped to paint a picture of a trigger happy, gruff Captain with a chip on his shoulder and an ego which permitted him to act as he pleased.

Finn nodded and straightened her uniform, wiping her sweaty palms along the sides. As she walked to the stand, she whispered a silent prayer to any deity that would lend its ear, for assistance in keeping her from falling apart during the testimony. The chair at the stand felt cold and hard, or was it that she felt that way with the knowledge of what she was about to do? Was it the same feeling she'd get if she chanced a look at Kane? She wondered but hadn't yet built up the courage to do so. Instead, she took a deep breath and waited for the questioning to begin.

A Chief Petty Officer who has thus far served as Bailiff for this trial continued her duties. She held a hand scanner up for Finn to place her right hand on. "Lieutenant Commander. On your honor as a Starfeet Officer. Do you swear to tell the truth, and that it is the whole truth as you know it?"

I swear to twist the truth in an unfriendly light against a man I admire and against my better judgment in an attempt to gain some sort of insight into this conspiracy as a whole, Finn internally replied, but "I do," were the only words she actually uttered out loud.

The device chimed and computer voice spoke. "Identity confirmed. Lieutenant Commander Finnley Keating the seventh." The dark skinned woman turned to the judge. "Your honor the witness is sworn in and identity confirmed." "Thank you Chief. Commodore Babanin the witness is yours." S'vRock spoke in clear and even tones. The facts of this case were just beginning to be laid bare.

Babanin moved around the speaking area a little, as if gathering his thoughts. Commander Keating was actually the first witness who'd been physically present, with the rest of the Athena officers on assignment - which itself was odd; he'd have thought Starfleet Command would have wanted the Athena to remain at Earth for ease of access. Strange, he'd thought a few times, but not unheard of with senior leadership being so far removed from operational matters it was like they were in a different subspace plane altogether at times.

"Comrade Commander..." he began. "You have wolunteered testimony, and were not on the prescribed witness list. Can you tell us why you have wolunteered your time to the court?". He made a point of side-eying a distinctly uncomfortable looking Captain Kane; could it be panic, or just confused frustration about one his senior officers testifying for the prosecution...he couldn't be sure, but either way he enjoyed watching the Captain's agitated demeanour.

Finn did her best to sit straight and avoid squirming. She needed this to look convincing, which she knew almost meant she couldn't avoid eye contact with Kane forever. "It's imperative that all relevant information be placed on the table so that justice can accurately be served. I have no idea whether the Captain is guilty or not, I can only provide insight into his character from my time with him. I just felt that my perspective might be of interest to the court."

Nodding, Babanin paced for a moment. "And yet you wolunteered yourself as a witness for prosecution, not as neutral character witness da. Spasibo Comrade-Commander, you are doing a great serwice for the Federation...". He coughed slightly, turning around from his pacing to face Keating, who looked utterly harrowed, if he were to be honest with himself. "Perhips you can enlighten us, what insights into the Keptin's character do you feel are relewant to this Court today uh?".

"He's a good Captain, but I have, on occasion, seen a darker side of him. One more prone to violence. In this case, I think that's relevant." Finn chanced a look at Kane. She did her best to hold her outward appearance in a cold and emotionless state while internally she hoped that Kane could somehow hear her silent pleas for forgiveness.

"Wiolence?" Babanin exclaimed, feigning shock. "Wiolence, in a decorated Starfleet Keptin...? This hardly seems possible Commander uh? Can you perhips prowide us with some examples of this..?".

Finn nodded and broke her gaze from Kane's. She couldn't tell if he'd somehow received her silent message or if he just assumed that she was here to betray him, she just hoped it wasn't the latter. "In my earlier days on the Athena, we were assigned to escort a team of scientists that were looking into these space cows, uh, I mean, pilgrims. Beautiful creatures. Anyway, there were traders in the area as well, and some suspicion that they could be interfering with the species. In our briefing, Captain Kane said that he intended to proactively locate these so-called traders and explain to them exactly who they are dealing with. He did just that too, he hunted them down and wasn't shy about it when we found their base and started digging through their things, even though that wasn't our primary mission." She felt sick. The story was made up of half-truths combined with some coloring effects to make Kane look bad and she hated every word that left her lips. They were like a poison that seemed to eat at her own soul as much as they damned Kane.

Continuing his thinly feigned shock and concern, Babanin pressed Keating further; "Commander...it sounds like you are describing something of a wendetta...would you agree with that assessment...?".

"Objection!" Firestorm called out, "the lieutenant can't possibly know if the captain has any kind of vendetta against anyone."

"The Commander can reasonably define her own descriptions any way she sees fit, the question of a wendetta is for the clarity of such definition for the benefit of the Court" Babanin rapidly spat back.

"Pursuing a possible target does not constitute a vendetta," the feline argued.

Finn thought for a moment about blurting out the answer anyway, but then thought it best not to. It would do no good if she was labeled as irrational or irate. Instead, she calmly looked toward the judge to await an answer.

"I am asking in the Commander would define her own statement as such purely on the basis of clarifying her own words" Babanin snapped in retort, hoping to get the final word in before Commodore Sv'rock ruled in.

"While I agree with the Commander, I believe the Commodore was not asking if the Captain had or if Lieutenant Commander Keating knew of a vendetta that the Captain had. It seems that Commodore Babanin wants to know if Lieutenant Commander Keating thinks the Captain had a vendetta. So, objection over ruled. Commander Keating please answer the question." S'vRock ruled without hesitation. At the moment he believed that both sides grasped at proverbial straws. However, he would have to see if things changed as the trial proceeded.

"It certainly seemed like a vendetta, yes," Finn replied without much emotion behind the words. "I didn't like what they were doing to the pilgrims either, but proactively taking them out wasn't our primary mission. We didn't even know for sure if the station we boarded was part of the problem." She half lied and crossed her fingers for some miracle to end the questioning quickly.

"So..." Babanin began; "...to clarify; you are saying that Keptin Kane took it upon himself to personally embark on a wendetta to likely kill those whom he deemed responsible for a terrible crime da?".

"It was a terrible crime to harm those beautiful creatures, but yes, you're correct," Finn said. She chanced another look toward Captain Kane but still had no idea if he knew that she didn't actually mean what she had said. Even if they did uncover the conspiracy, would this testimony tarnish his reputation? She wondered.

Babanin nodded thoughtfully, resuming a slow pacing. "So the Keptin, an honourable and principled man to be sure, decided to bring his own justice to those whom he thought deserwing of it...da Comrade..." he said softly, as if he were reaching the conclusion for the first time. "Leftenant-Commander...as I'm sure Comrade-Commander..." he trailed off and motioned vaguely in the direction of to Ennien, "En...yan..." he said, disrespectfully yet purposely belittling the defende, "...will argue, this could be an isolated example...".

He turned now, to face Captain Kane as he spoke to Commander Keating; "...and whilst wrong, each of us is allowed mistakes da..? Perhips you can offer any other examples, so that we might establish whether this is indeed one example of poor decision making...or if it forms part of a pattern of a wiscious man who thematically disregards the rule of law in fawour of his own sense of moral justice". His eyes burned into Kane like phaser beams; he wouldn't have asked if he wasn't sure something else was going to be offered by Keating, though he wasn't entirely sure what it would be. One thing was for sure though, he was enjoying drawing out one of Kane's most loyal officers in a protracted character assassination.

Finn nodded. "Captain Kane rallied other Starfleet Captains to assist with destroying the facilities at Rondac. I don't believe destroying it was entirely necessary," the words almost pained her as they left her mouth. She had been glad that place was destroyed, but she quickly moved on. "There's one more thing which I think the court may find of interest," Finn paused. This would be a truly damning moment, possibly for them both, but it was her best chance to do what she and P'rel had discussed. "Days before the bombing, Captain Kane came to me and requested several chemicals. I had no idea what for at the time and it was an order so I did as I was told and delivered them. It wasn't until I read the court report that I realized many of those chemicals were detected at the site of the explosion. I believe I may be guilty of supplying the materials needed for the weapon."

"I..." Babanin barely managed to eek out, as the courtroom dell deathly silent. There wasn't a sound, nothing, not even breathing - until Captain Kane broke the desperate tension -

Although having remained entirely stoic throughout the entirety of proceedings to that point, Kane's fists curled and a flush of anger rippled through him as he almost launched himself out of his chair.

"That's a damn lie!" he snarled, fixing Keating with a glare that would cause a Vulcan to wince. "She's lying."

Firestorm reached out to keep his client down in his seat. "Easy captain, your time to clear the air will come with your own testimony," he hissed. "Outbursts will only affirm their cause."

Having snapped around to look at the defense desk, the prosecutor slowly turned back to Keating. He'd had no clue this was coming. He tried to compose himself, and pick up his sentence; "I... I beg your pardon...Leftenant Commander..." his voice trailed off, sitting somewhere in a mix of questioning, confusion, disbelief and utter bewilderment. As he spoke, he was aware from his peripheral vision that Commander Cameron had stood bolt upright and, seemingly catching himself, had slowly returned to his seat; the revelation from Keating had been a surprise to be sure, but Cameron's reaction was somewhat exaggerated given that the engineer had effectively just sentenced Kane to life in prison single-handedly, having done their own job for them.

Finn felt sick as Kane glared at her. It was as if his gaze shot daggers of ice that ripped through her soul. If only there had been a way to tell him about the plan. That she was trying to do the right thing. No time to dwell on that now, she thought. Repeat the statement and get the questioning over with so she could get out of there. "I think I supplied the chemicals needed for the weapon to Captain Kane, just days before the bombing," Finn paused and surveyed the crowd once more, looking for anyone that might have let on that knew more. There was the added bonus of avoiding the Captain's eyes too. "It's entirely possible that he used those supplies for something else, but I felt it was necessary to confess it here and let you all judge for yourselves."

Mikhail shared in the stunned silence of the courtroom, perhaps it was his imagination but only Captain Kane's throbbing angry pulse could be heard. This was more than unexpected, it was...there was no word for what it was, but still an opportunity. "Uhhh C could..." he took a moment to gather himself, "...you list those chemicals for us, Comrade-Commander...?". Administrative and operational reporting wouldn't come until tomorrow evening, though advance sight had obviously been had by the Lieutenant-Commander, somehow. He hadn't granted access, so perhaps Commander to Ennien had under her own authority. Babanin looked over to the prosecution desk, Cameron was bright red and shifting in his seat nervously. Clearly this revelation had wound him up tight.

Finn had barely any time to look at the report so had hoped this question wouldn't come, but it did. "Rossium-K, Hutzelite-27 and Bishop," she said, leaving off the full designation for the final chemical and completely ignoring the fourth since she wasn't sure she could remember them and she didn't want to be wrong. Finn looked around as she listed them, noting at least one person that seemed more caught off guard than the others that the new revelation. Perhaps it was a clue.

S'vRock observed the outburst and revelations with due interest. He appreciated Commander to Ennien's control of their client. Getting the Captain to calm down before he had to say anything. However, it was the words of Keating that brought the most interest. The Vulcan knew that something was afoot in his courtroom. However, exactly what it was remained hidden. He could tell that the revelations caught the prosecution off guard as well. It seemed that the Commodore attempted to roll with the proverbial punches. But his assistant seemed to be in some distress. The Vulcan decided to keep one eye on this Cameron and intercede only if needed.

'Jesus...' Babanin rued to himself inwardly. She'd done it. He'd done it. They were in it together. "Uhhh Co Com...Leftenant Commander...I must in all due ethics adwise you that this testimony should cease...you have admitted potentially aiding murder and terrorism..." he looked to Commodore Sv'Rock "...with your permission sir..." he looked back at Keating, knowing permission was a formality. "I must order you be placed under arrest, under suspicion of conspiracy to aid or commit an act of terrorism...". He motioned for the court guards to step forward and bring her into custody. "The Sergeant at Arms will confirm your rights..." he barely muttered at her, unable to believe what he had heard, nor plant himself back in reality. "Take her down, guards, if you will...".

"I must protest," Firestorm called out, "defense deserves the chance to cross examine!"

"Leftenant Commander Keating has the right to counsel before she incriminates herself further!" Babanin spat back, all his frustration, confusion, and anger came billowing out in one blown fuse right at the Commander. Shock or not, she was his witness, and she had likely just won the entire case for him. By arresting and detaining her, he could at least protect both her and the integrity of the case.

"And my client deserves a fair trial, which includes questioning the very witness who possibly damned him for lord knows whatever reasons.."

"ONCE" - Babanin bellowed, his voice on his opening word far higher than decorum allowed, but his stress levels had just about all the pressure they could take -"SHe has had right of counsel Comrade-Commander!" he finished by barking at the defender.

"Not while she is sworn in as a witness," Firestorm shot back, fully expecting the judge to step in any second now.

S'vRock leaned forward and looked toward Firestorm, as he decided to address the defense counsel first. "Actually Commander to Ennien the Commodore is quite correct. Lieutenant Commander Keating has the right to no longer incriminate herself, and so questioning must cease until she has been accorded her rights..." The tone of his voice changed as he switched his gaze to the Commodore. "That is unless she waves her right to counsel in which case the trial can proceed without delay." The Commodore raised his hand at the bench as a signal that the court guards should cease their advance and he turned toward Keating who remained on the witness stand. "Lieutenant Commander Finnley Keating you are being placed into custody under the charge aiding and abetting an act of terrorism. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions. You have the right to have a lawyer with you during questioning. Do you understand these rights as I have explained them? Would you like to waive any and or all of these rights?" Commodore S'vRock decided that he would issue a bench warrant for the arrest and thereby place Keating into his custody. He did not trust Babanin at least not anymore. The Vulcan would get to the bottom of all of this.

Finally, a way out of this questioning, Finn thought, feeling oddly happy about getting arrested. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than continuing to spout lies about Captain Kane. Besides, this was what she expected and there was no need to stay any longer. Now what they needed was time. She looked at Commodore S'vRock. "Yes, I understand my rights and no I do not wish to waive them."

"Very well. This testimony is over. Bailiffs take Commander Keating into custody and escort her to the Brig." S'vrock issued his orders and waited as the guards escorted Keating from the stand. "Counselors approach the bench." He waived a hand at Firestorm and Mikhail indicating they should come tow his desk. This also indicated that an off the record side bar was about to transpire. Once the two officers were before him S'vRock continued. "Now Commodore Babanin I do not know if you knew what Commander Keating has just revealed, logic would dictate by your reaction you did not. I can not strike her answer from the testimony. So, she will be investigated and tried in due course. However, we must finish this trial. So, we can take a recess so those that need to can get their emotions back in order or we can proceed with the next witness. The answer here is up to you both."

Mikhail side-eyed to Eninien - it was still uncomfortable seeing a full sized bi-pedal cat - and shrugged slightly. "Perhips...small recess before we continue da...?" He asked the Commander. Off the top of his head, it was Kane's former XO Commander Taeler - or Santu - or whichever bloody way round it was with silly Bajoran names. Certainly, he could do with a few minutes to confer with Commander Cameron before continuing...