The Crescendo

Posted on Sat Sep 23rd, 2023 @ 6:05pm by Commodore Jacob Kane & Commodore S'vRock & Commander Firestorm to Ennien & Lieutenant Commander Finnley Keating VII & Lieutenant Commander P’rel M.D & Commodore Mikhail Babanin

Mission: Wrath of the People
Location: Starfleet Judicial Centre. Courtroom
Timeline: MD 7 - Following "The man in the big chair"
1660 words - 3.3 OF Standard Post Measure

"Not yet" P'rel answered Keating's radiating anxiety. Truthfully, she herself was as anxious as Finnley appeared to be as the three of them - P'rel, Keating and their prisoner, Nerak - slowly walked towards the courtroom door dressed in long traditional Vulcan robes. They had to wait until the right moment, and walk in when the three marines were busy dealing the thankfully minimal security staff.

Quinn, Kol, and Ray made quick work of any guards outside of the courtroom itself and when done, quietly and politely moved them into a private room so as to not draw attention. The opposite would stand true of their intrusion into the courtroom. Quinn busted through the doors first, his face was stern and serious and showed no sign of hesitation. He had a job to do and he would see it to its completion. Kol and Ray filed in quickly behind.

"Please excuse the interruption, but I believe we have some evidence that you'll want to see," Quinn said with what felt like every eye in the room scanning between himself and his companions. "All we're asking is that you listen to what we have to offer." He added, hoping that they'd listen to reason and not send the security guards after them though they were prepared to essentially hold the entire courtroom hostage if it really came down to it.

S'vRock looked toward the newcomers sternly but with interest. "Well if that were truly the case you would submit the evidence through proper protocol whether it be Commander to Ennien or Commodore Babanin. Now, you could either stand down and submit to protocol or you will be thrown in the Brig for contempt of court."

Quinn sighed and kept his eye on the Vulcan judge. "This is big enough that you'll see why we didn't submit it through the proper channels. I have a feeling that evidence of this sort tends to go missing when it's submitted the proper way," he nodded toward his companions. Ray enabled a communications-inhibiting field to block outgoing calls for help as Kol made quick work of the security guards, forcing them to drop their weapons to the ground. A task that he clearly enjoyed a little too much. Quinn then gave the all-clear to Finn and P'rel to bring in Nerak just as the emergency broadcast flickered the life.

S'vRock stood at the bench and for a Vulcan that was probably the largest show of any emotion he would allow. "You will show no evidence, you will do nothing. For as of this moment you are all in contempt of court and the next thirty seconds will decide if you are going on trial or not. So, if I were you I would take the following advice. Stand down and await protocol." The Vulcan waited long enough to see that he had the newcomers attention. "Now Commander to Ennien & Commodore Babanin. Do either of you object to what these people are about to show us?"

"Defense has no objections your honour," Firestorm answered without pause.

Babanin stood in stunned silence, looking between the people in the room. An enormous Klingon had disrobed himself from a seating position and now had two guards at his feet, a third knelt at the feet a human man on the far side of the room rubbing his head, and the fourth simply stood agog seemingly fixed on the Klingon's eyes as if they were a tractor beam. Further down the room, the third man he recognised as Colonel Keating had the attention of the judge and had beckoned three other hooded and robed to enter the room. As they did, a forcefield activated behind them. "I demand an explanation!" Babanin spat, he was winning, he had Kane on the ropes. He had - "YOU!" he roared.

P'rel rolled down the large hood on the Vulcan rain robe as the human prosecutor recognised her, before proceeding to remove the hood of the subdued Nerak, still stunned and compliant from her mind meld with him. "Watch" she replied, indicating towards the holoscreens which lined the courtroom and which were now filled with Commander Cameron's exposition.

and so, that was when I agreed... Cameron's voice said from beneath a heavy head slung down in fear and shame.

"Enough!" bellowed Babanin "I- " A deep rumbling roar from behind him was all the warning he had, as that huge Klingon advanced and grabbed his shoulders, forcing him back into a seat.

"BE QUIET!" Kol barked, as he forced the man down. "I have not yet seen this episode and I do not know what the outcome will be" he calmly concluded, looking back at the screens with Cameron's speech.

Babanin sat in silence, a dead silence which mirrored everyone else in the room. The Vulcan was the first to speak.

P'rel shoved Nerak forward and kicked out his knee as she did so, sending him tumbling to the floor in a heavy heap. "This whole affair was a plot; to withdraw Starfleet rom the Loki sector, establish a commercial empire in the region, and destroy Captain Kane in the process for daring to have uncovered it. The Federation Clowncil was falling over itself to have a Romulan former Admiral sitting as a representative, and blinded itself to everything else..."

Aware the Klingon was still stood directly behind him, Babanin looked around the room. The Vulcan and the Romulan stood in the center, close to Commander Keating. Colonel Keating had moved inward and was now working with the other human man to usher all the guards into a line on their knees in front of the bench. The lack of security was staggering, he mused. "A beaten confession, a Federation candidate abducted, and taking hostage of a court room...hardly conwincing Leftenant..." Babanin called out to the Vulcan.

"Perhaps not entirely. But if the learned judge would grant the use of a tricorder..."? she asked, knowing that it had to be one provided to them, not one they'd brought in which could have been tampered with.

S'vRock sat and allowed this to unfold. He knew that before he could do anything he must see all, it was the only way to decipher the logic of the situation. The female Vulcan held the key and he knew it. However, he was a judge of the Federation Judicial System and he would not allow anyone to hold his courtroom hostage. "If you would like to proceed and you need a tricorder to do so, then I will provide you one. On the condition that you release all guards and return this courtroom to its normal proceedings. Commander to Ennien has already stated they have no objections and I am sure the Commodore would have none as well. Surely we can all see the logic in that."

Kane had been in silence until that moment. He caught P'rel's eye, a moment of clarity and acknowledgement. Then he nodded sharply. "Show them."

The chamber quietened into a hush. Cameron's confession had ended, and most eyes were looking at the slightly roughed-up looking Romulan at the center of things.

"I have...nothing to say," the Admiral spat.

"That's good." A new voice, completely unknown and unheard throughout proceedings, broke into the courtroom, which was rapidly filling up with new bodies. From an entirely different entrance, a balding Starfleet Rear Admiral was striding, with a security detail of his own in tow. Behind him, the gently limping figure of Representative Marcus Blake, cane in hand and a vaguely tired but knowing expression. "Apologies, Commodore S'vrock. I'm afraid this court martial is no longer necessary."

"Who-?" It was Kane who was asking. He didn't recognise the new arrival, nor his authority.

"Admiral Tennyson Broll. Representing Starfleet C&C." Broll's mouth curled slightly. "Admiral Dulac sends his regards, and apologies for his absence. When it came to light that new evidence was being brought to light..." he motioned towards P'rel and Keating. "He felt a direct intervention was necessary."

"Captain Kane is innocent of all charges," Representative Blake added. "The fabricated evidence against him was planted by Admiral Nerak and other rogue elements that are being apprehended as we speak."

"Take Mr Nerak into custody," Broll nodded to his guards, who approached and escorted the sullen Romulan out the way he had come. "All records of these proceedings are to be sealed, by order of Joint Fleet Command. It wouldn't look good for Starfleet if it came to light that we were almost fooled into imprisoning one of our finest, would it?"

Blake approached where Kane was sitting, still in the witness seat. The Representative smiled slightly. "I do believe I warned you about trusting the man next to you, Captain," he said softly. "It seems I was more accurate than we both thought."

"You knew about Nerak?" Kane asked quietly.

"I had some suspicions. These Romulans...tricky characters." Blake winked, leaning into his cane. "They play the game rather well."

"It looks like you've got some explaining to do."

"I expect so," Blake nodded. He winced a little, favouring his leg. "But given my overall condition, it will have to wait. Good luck, Captain. I'm glad we managed to straighten this all out."

"Yeah." Unsatisfied, but not able to object, Kane watched the man leave and the courtroom begin to disperse. He locked eyes first with P'rel, then with Keating - the latter more of a glare than a look of understanding. But before he could approach either, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Captain." Admiral Broll obviously sensed his mixture of emotions. "You and I need to have a conversation. Come with me."

He would have to deal with the two officers later, Kane figured. It wouldn't look good to blow off an Admiral that had just bailed him out of potentially a life sentence. Wordlessly, he rose from his seat and followed Admiral Broll from the chamber.