Above Board

[Captain Halloway 0]

In the twenty-four hours after the tribunal recess, before Joy One's deposition, which can itself be read here. A joint log with Commander Jami Farrington, Lieutenant John Angelis, and myself. A long read, but revealing...

 

While the cadenza of Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto hardly "fell easily" under his fingers, Thomas Halloway felt a calming effect from hammering out the notes strung together by the Russian composer.

 

The door chimed.

 

Tom stopped abruptly, pushing the piano bench away from the Steinway. Smoothing the tunic of his uniform, he answered, "Enter."

 

The door parted, revealing Commander Jami Farrington and her assistant Lieutenant John Angelis, both laden with materials from their legal preparations. He admired the woman briefly, both for her obvious dedication to the case and her attractive blonde hair, blue-eyed features. Has to be Scandanavian in there somewhere, he mused.

 

"Please come in," he offered, remembering he was a host. "Welcome to the my little corner of the Yorktown." He gestured toward the table he'd arranged, complete with wine bottle and glasses. "I selected something suitable to drink, but the replicator's the limit if you're hungry."

 

Both officers entered the spacious cabin. Angelis slung a satchel onto one of the open seats and lowered his 6' 2" frame into it. Halloway seemed to recall the lieutenant often went by his call name - Angel - for short. Farrington seemed to examine the décor appreciatively before setting her pile of PADDs and materials down. She noticed the grand piano and the wine glasses. "'Something suitable' is...quite more than expected. Thank you." She glanced at the bottle, which was turned away from her. "Louis Jadot '03?" she guessed, hopefully.

 

"Similar label, but no," Halloway admitted, hefting the bottle. "Chateau Picard, 2363."

 

"Well, no doubt, you are one of the most elegant hosts in the fleet," Jami complimented.

 

"I so seldom get the opportunity to entertain in an intimate setting," he lied. "As for elegant, blame the captain of the Enterprise. He insists I have a presentable vintage on hand. The year's a bit of a gag." Never drink it alone, Jean-Luc had cautioned. He poured some of the clear, light amber-colored wine into the Commander's glass.

 

Angel nodded approvingly. "An excellent choice, Captain, I may say. I understood the Picard vineyards were not producing any longer."

 

A tragedy, he thought. "So I've heard. This one's from a bit earlier. The year he beat me out for the Enterprise." He poured some into Angel's glass. "Or so he says. I doubt I was really that much in the running," he added, attempting some modesty. Picard had sought to meet him only after Q had shown him an alternate timeline where Halloway was master of his ship. (ST:TNG, "Tapestry")

 

Angel nodded, perhaps with a touch of skepticism. "I see, sir. So a bit of friendly rivalry exists between you two, then."

 

Halloway laughed. "Only on my end. I can only hope to fare well in comparison with the old man." Always the silver medal, he mused.

 

* * * * *

 

Jami really wanted to take her shoes off, then realized she was still in the jumpsuit she threw on when she was summoned. She was somewhat disconcerted, but since Halloway didn't seem to mind, she stood. "What should I ask of the chef tonight?" she grinned.

 

Angel sat down, looking back. "I shall leave that to your most excellent taste, Commander."

 

Halloway eased into his chair, as well. "Whatever you feel. I was planning to stick with liquid refreshment."

 

Jami walked towards the replicator, changing the subject. "I spent some weeks at Chateau Picard with my father. He's an archaeologist, and the Picards have an avid interest in the subject." She replicated some canapes, finger sandwiches, and assorted other things that would not interfere with their taking of notes and such.

 

Halloway nodded as Angel began pulling materials from the satchel he'd borne.

 

Jami pulled two trays from the replicator, placing them on end tables near the main table where both men were sitting. She remained standing, picked up the wine glass, and offered a toast. "To . . . truth, justice, and the Federation?"

 

"Here here," captain and lieutenant said in unified response.

 

"Here here," she mimicked as she sipped. "Oh...excellent." She sat, making room on the table and placing some of her material on the floor. She made a mental note to herself to find or replicate a dress uniform for the trial.

 

* * * * *

 

Halloway finished a sip, then slid his own PADD closer to provide easier access to the finger food. "So, Lieutenant," he broached, "how was your conversation with the android?"

 

Angel didn't seem surprised by the question. "It was interesting to say the very least," he chuckled. "Let it suffice she is willing to perform a deposition, with full disclosure."

 

Halloway nodded. "I can make myself available for that."

 

Angel continued. "That was only one of her requests." He looked toward his senior. "She asked for full immunity from prosecution in this matter. I agreed, Commander, as long as the data is relevant and not an exercise to evade prosecution."

 

"I can agree to that, Lieutenant," Farrington nodded.

 

Halloway slid his PADD back and forth absent-mindedly. "I should let you know I'm going to speak with Lieutenant Commander Hawke. I'd like to find out just what was so important she had to interrupt court proceedings."

 

The commander looked up, her demeanor suddenly becoming very serious.

 

Halloway wondered about her look of concern. "I can arrange a similar deposition, if you prefer."

 

Jami looked to the captain. "And you believe she will give a deposition like that?"

 

He leaned back, sipping. "Honestly, I don't know. Hawke... has a mind of her own. It sounded like her comments were meant to avoid a trial, or maybe open exposure."

 

"And. . . you know Lieutenant Commander Hawke well?" Her eyes were fixed on Halloway.

 

He set down the glass. "More by reputation," he admitted, wondering briefly if she were probing his own reputation. "We've had a passing acquaintence, more official contact by subspace than anything else."

 

Jami picked up a stylus, turning it over in her hands. "Have you any reason to believe that her loyalties lie elsewhere than with the Federation?"

 

The captain shook his head. "I have no reason to suspect such a thing. She's intense, but seems very dedicated to Aegis."

 

Jami nodded.

 

Angel looked between the two. "I've made certain inquires to some of our old contacts as well, Commander." He watched Halloway to observe the captain's reactions.

 

Halloway wrinkled his brow. "If you learn anything... are you going to be able to share your sources?" He looked as if he was choosing his words deftly.

 

From beside him, Jami interrupted. "Share with whom?"

 

The captain looked toward Farrington. "I simply mean… if you learn anything... could it be used as evidence in court? Or would it require more delicacy than a tribunal would allow?"

 

Poker-faced, Angel spoke deliberately. "Captain, I can assure you I will certainly pass any information by Commander Farrington and I'm sure she will pass any that is deemed necessary in this matter." He smiled.

 

Halloway realized he'd been misunderstood. Should he come right out and say it? He knew the room was secure. "I'm not questioning your adherance to the rules of discovery," he began, then went for direct. "I'm no stranger to Starfleet Intelligence." He paused, then added, "I'm no operative, but I'm no stranger."

 

Jami considered. "Could it be used as evidence in court? Much would probably not be used as specific evidence, due to the nature of the sources. However, it would add to our understanding."

 

The captain leaned back, nodding. "Back-channel confirmation. So we know how to proceed. I get it."

 

Jami picked up her glass and stood. "Please, forgive me, Captain. I've been hijacked. Blind-sided. I'm sure it's happened to you more than once." She took a sip and paced to loosen up.

 

Halloway huffed in agreement. He'd lost command of Victory that way.

 

"So," she continued, "let's go to what we do know. Which, in my case, is not much."

 

Lieutenant Angelis began refilling the glasses. He raised his own, looking off toward the piano.

 

Jami approached the table, waving a hand at the pile beside it. "I know that a list of charges have been brought, but specifics have yet to be given to me. Hardly the way to proceed with a court martial." She looked to the captain. "Can you enlighten me?"

 

Halloway folded his arms. "Before the trial, I had a chance to talk with the Joy unit assigned to Aegis. Nine, I think."

 

Angel glanced over. "That would be Joy One, sir."

 

Halloway smirked. "No, that's the commander you spoke with from the Endeavor. Joy Nine is one of the Aegis crew. I know, it's maddening keeping track of them."

 

Angel followed, nodding. "I stand corrected, Captain. It is difficult at times."

 

Jami chuckled, taking up her glass to nurse it a bit. She kept standing, leaning against her chair and listening intensely.

 

"She gave me a somewhat official run-down, based on Aegis logs," he began, recounting his conversation in the Control Tower. "Here's the play-by-play, as I understand it: This illness that's been sweeping across Cardassia Prime, Aegis uncovered evidence that it might have resulted from an intentional time-travel jaunt by the starship Endeavor."

 

Jami sat, taking a more relaxed posture.

 

Halloway continued. "I'm not sure how they figured that out, but Muon logged it and advised Admiral Forrester that she intended to put a stop to it and obtain a cure. Her intention - as I understand it, not from my client's admission - was to perform a similar time transit, obtain the original infecting material from some unknown pod, and effect a cure in our present."

 

Jami leaned forward, elbows on the table. Her hands supported her chin as she kept her eyes on Halloway.

 

"It seems Admiral Forrester instructed her not to interfere with Endeavor and not to render aid to the Cardassians. That's on record in the logs, too," the captain noted.

 

Angel swirled the contents of his glass, sipping.

 

"It could be argued she refused to follow what she perceived was an illegal order - again, my interpretation. In any case, Aegis personnel did make their own transit and confirmed that Endeavor had obtained the bioagent from this pod." He took a drink, signaling his conclusion.

 

Jami glanced at the list of charges, on a PADD on the table. "That would be willful disobedience and conduct unbecoming… provided it was a legal order, which I will stipulate it probably was not."

 

Angel nodded. "So, in essence, the captain was attempting to make right a grave wrong."

 

The commander leaned back.

 

"As for conspiracy," Halloway pressed, "where are her co-conspirators? It takes two to tango."

 

Jami nodded. "Agreed. Unless he is arguing that the crew of Aegis or the crew of Pandora's Box were conspiring?"

 

Halloway stretched out his hands. "Sounds to me like they were just following orders." He flashed his trademark grin.

 

Jami took a deep breath. "So… assuming the charges are false, contrived, easily -- perhaps too easily -- dismissed. How do we proceed?"

 

Halloway downed his glass, setting it aside. "I intend to motion for a dismissal of the conspiracy charges. After that, our defense is clear. One cannot disobey an illegal order."

 

"And are we to leave it at that? Or are we going after bigger fish?" Jami challenged.

 

Angel shifted his gaze between the two. "It may well leave a way to pursue this from another way, post-dismissal, sirs."

 

"Out with it," Jami prompted.

 

"Accepting the dismissal, we might just reveal enough doubt in the tribunal's mind to suggest there are others involved in this. It might leave a door open to follow-up."

 

Halloway nodded. "There's more at stake here than one officer's conduct." He got up from his seat, walking past the piano toward the viewports. "Hell, if the Cardassians learn we had someone order a disease get released on them..." He trailed off.

 

"Exactly my point, captain," Angel agreed. "We cannot reveal that to the general populace..the fire storm would be too great. However, we can pursue this with the knowledge there are ranking members of this court. They could keep a certain weevil under control, sirs."

 

Halloway spun slightly. He did not want to be misunderstood. "On the other hand, if they find out and think we're trying to cover it up - it could go much worse."

 

Jami had been quiet, her mind reeling with options. "Gods," she breathed. "I'm sorry. My mind is spinning, wondering what the hell Forrester is up to.

 

The captain continued his line of thought. "If Forrester's to blame, it's not just our duty to out him, it's probably the best way to salvage our relationship with Cardassia." He was not interested in saving the Admiral from the consequences of his actions.

 

"So," Jami concluded, pulling on her lip, "We proceed. We submit the evidence. We allow the court to decide. We keep an eye on Forrester and alert our contacts in Cardassia to start troubleshooting."

 

Halloway smiled, liking what he heard from the commander. "All above board."

 

"And Joy One's deposition?" Jami asked.

 

The captain leaned against the piano. "Let's hear what she has to say."

 

Angel had been quiet in thought. "You know about the Commissioner onboard," he noted. "Are you aware of his mission, sir?"

 

Halloway nodded. "He's an old friend. Here on behalf of the Security Council to assess Aegis' mission. We brought him on the Yorktown." Thusfar, Sorehl had been using the Commissioner title to conceal his identity; the Vulcan did not want his known role in station history to interfere with his investigation. Tom wondered what Angel was getting at. "That assignment was before any of this happened."

 

"My sources indicate the scale of his findings to be more grave than a simple evaluation," he warned. "Simply put, should the 'word' get out and Admiral Forrester is found connected, the blame could fall to the Federation. I suspect the future of Aegis' presence may be short lived."

 

Halloway smirked. "Angel, I don't think we have to worry about the Commissioner in that regard."

 

Jami held up her hand. "Let's keep this simple, Lieutenant. I agree we are on unstable ground with the whole situation. However, I will trust Captain Halloway on this. Until we find otherwise, until there is solid evidence one way or the other, let's keep the Commissioner out of it."

 

Angel nodded his assent. He still had concerns about the Joy units sharing information, but held his peace, nibbling on a sandwich.

 

Jami stood, feeling exhausted. "Captain, I thank you for your time, your expertise, and your hospitality. Unless you can think of anything else I believe our job is done for the moment."

 

"Thank you for coming," Halloway bowed slightly. "And I even behaved myself."

 

Jami grinned broadly. "Indeed, you did."

 

"A chaperone helps," he observed, gesturing to Angel. "And having a husband who could crush every bone in my body with a thought isn't a bad deterrent, either."

 

Jami gave a hearty laugh, "My husband would be proud." She finished off her wine. "My compliments to the chef...and the Picards."

 

Angelis got up as well. "Thank you, captain. It was a rather enjoyable break." He gathered up his satchel and the contents.

 

Halloway helped them gather their things. "I'll advise you if I'm able to schedule with Hawke. And I'll be ready for Joy's deposition. The other one."

 

"Have a very good evening, captain," Jami offered, meeting his eyes. "Thank you."

 

"Good night."

 

Angel stood by the open door looking between Halloway and Farrington. "Ladies and Commanders first."

Edited June 18, 2008 by Captain Halloway