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Date: Sat, 05 Jun 2004 17:48:37 -0400
Subject: [ASC] NEW:VOY "In Pursuit of Justice" 5/13 J [PG-13]
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Forwarded by the ASC-VSO 
Posted: 3 Jun 2004 13:25:20 -0700  
In: alt.startrek.creative 
From: roq@iname.com (Rocky) 
 

Title: In Pursuit Of Justice
Author: Rocky
Contact: roq@iname.com
Web page: http://www.angelfire.com/yt/rockyroad
Series: VOY
Part: 5/13
Codes: J
Rating: PG-13
Date first posted: 6/3/04
Archive: ASC yes, all others please ask

Summary & Disclaimer: see part 1


"Commander Tuvok," said Mendez, "You were named Acting First Officer
after Commander Chakotay was relieved of duty?"

"That is correct."

Gaines interrupted, "Admiral, I would like to renew my objection to
this line of questioning. Commander Tuvok has already stated that he
was on the Bridge during the incident in the cargo bay; the only
information he can give us pertains to events that happened afterward,
events which are irrelevant to these proceedings."

"They are not irrelevant," Mendez said calmly. "Based on what
transpired, it can be shown that Captain Janeway's behavior toward
Lessing was part of an overall pattern, her anger towards and quest
for revenge upon Captain Ransom and the entire Equinox crew."

"I'll allow it," U'Tzedek said. "But be sure that we do see, Captain
Mendez."

Mendez nodded and turned back to the witness. "As Acting First
Officer, Commander, you accompanied Captain Janeway when she made
contact with the 'Spirits of Good Fortune.'"

"Yes."

"What did Captain Janeway say to the aliens?"

"She asked them to stop attacking Voyager."

"What reason did Captain Janeway give? Because you were not the ones
who were murdering their people?"

"Objection," Gaines said. "The prosecution is leading the witness."

"I'll rephrase," Mendez said quickly. "Did Captain Janeway emphasize
that Voyager had not participated in Equinox's genocidal campaign?"

"Yes."

"I see," Mendez said, taking a stroll about the chamber. "Did the
aliens accept the Captain's assurances? Were they suddenly more kindly
disposed to Voyager?"

"No, they did not accept her argument. The aliens stated, correctly,
that Voyager had rendered aid to Equinox, and had allied ourselves to
their enemy. They viewed us as one and the same."

"So Captain Janeway told them she, too, had a grievance against
Ransom?" Mendez asked.

"She told them that Captain Ransom's actions were abhorrent, totally
contrary to our laws or codes of behavior, and that she had been
unaware of any wrongdoing until much later," Tuvok said. "The Captain
expressed regret over what the Equinox had done to the other
nucleogenic beings."

"What else did Captain Janeway say about Ransom?"

"She told them of Equinox's sabotage of our ship, and subsequent
attack, which was why we ourselves were in pursuit of Ransom's ship."

Mendez looked at Tuvok for a long moment. "Did she also offer to hand
Ransom over to them when she found him?"

A low murmur broke out among the members of the jury. Admiral Getz in
particular looked agitated.

Tuvok did not deny the charge. He said, "That may have just been a
negotiating tactic to gain their cooperation--to stop the alien
attacks."

"Ah, a 'negotiating tactic.'" Mendez nodded and smiled wryly. "Captain
Janeway seems to do that often, doesn't she?"

"Objection," Gaines said, his mouth a tight line.

"Sustained." U'Tzedek turned to the prosecutor. "Captain Mendez, you
will rephrase your question in a more respectful manner."

Mendez didn't miss a beat. "Captain Janeway offered to turn Ransom
over to the tender mercies of the nucleogenic beings, knowing full
well what they would do to him?"

"Captain Janeway did not make the suggestion. The aliens did,"  Tuvok
pointed out.

"But she didn't refuse, did she?"

"Captain Janeway did not agree right away."

"Did you raise any objections, Commander Tuvok?" Mendez asked
curiously.

"I did."

"What did you say?"

"I did not approve of this course of action."

"Your exact words, Commander?" Mendez pressed.

Tuvok's face retained its implacable expression as he said, "I told
her she was acting irrationally."

Mendez didn't keep the pleased note out of her voice. "So you're
saying Captain Janeway's anger toward Ransom blinded her to all else?"

Tuvok shook his head. "The purpose of our meeting with the aliens was
to get them to stop attacking Voyager, not to offer to help them
avenge themselves on the Equinox. That was not the Captain's
objective."

"But that's what it quickly became, isn't it?"

"Objection," Gaines said, with a hint of exasperation.

"Withdrawn," Mendez said. "Commander Tuvok, you stated you did not
approve of the agreement Captain Janeway arrived at. At any point were
you threatened with removal from duty if you did not comply with the
Captain's wishes?"

"Yes," Tuvok admitted.

"As you weren't removed, unlike Commander Chakotay, we can assume you
did in fact comply?"

"Yes."

"Why did you back down, Commander? What about the principles that were
at stake? Or weren't those important any more?"

Tuvok did not respond to Mendez's mocking tone. "The principle at
stake, Captain Mendez, was obedience to Captain Janeway's orders. She
was in command. In a crisis situation such as the one we found
ourselves, following orders could be the difference between life and
death."

"Even if you felt she was wrong, that those orders were unlawful?"

"I did not 'feel' anything, Captain Mendez," Tuvok said quietly. "Nor
could I say of my own volition that Captain Janeway's approach was
wrong in any way. The aliens *did* agree to break off their attack. To
arrive at that settlement, they did not seem amenable to anything
short of being promised the Equinox."

"But Captain Janeway had just agreed to hand over Ransom to what would
undoubtedly be certain death at the hands of the aliens!" Mendez said.
"You have no problem with that course of action, Commander? The
injustice of it?"

"On the contrary," Tuvok said. "Considering Ransom's crimes against
the nucleogenic beings, their request was not without merit." He
looked directly at the tribunal for a moment. "We already established
that the nucleogenic beings were sentient; there is ample precedent in
turning over an accused criminal to an alien justice system."

"Justice, or murder?" Mendez snapped. "Do you honestly think the
aliens would give Ransom a fair hearing before--" With an effort, she
stopped. "Why not hold Ransom for Starfleet justice? He also committed
crimes against a fellow Starfleet vessel, contravened several laws of
the Federation. Under our legal system, those take precedence. Captain
Janeway could have convened a court martial on board Voyager, if
'justice' was her primary concern."

"That was a distinct possibility," Tuvok said, "but it was not my
decision to make. The job of the First Officer is to provide the
Captain with alternate courses of action and then, once she has made
her decision, to follow her orders."

"And if  those orders are questionable—or dare we say, unlawful,
Commander?"

"On board a vessel, it is impossible to for the senior officers to
continually second guess the captain or question her orders. If the
captain is unable to rely on her subordinates, or if the crew has no
confidence in the captain, the ship cannot function. Additionally,
after serving together, a crew comes to know and trust the captain
implicitly." Tuvok's eyes met Janeway's. "I have served with Captain
Janeway for many years, and I trust her judgment. Specifically, I
trust her to do what is right."

"Did you agree with Commander Chakotay's demotion?" 

"That was not my decision to make." 

Mendez smiled wryly. "If you had been the first officer at the time,
would you have done what  Commander Chakotay did, disagreed with the
Captain's orders?"

"I cannot say." 

"Did you agree with Captain Janeway's actions toward Ensign Lessing?
Or was that 'alien justice' as well?"

"Objection," Gaines said.

"I'll rephrase," Mendez said. "As Chief of Security, did you agree
with the conditions of the interrogation?"

Tuvok hesitated. "No, I did not," he said finally. "However, it was
the Captain's belief that such measures were--"

"Thank you, Commander Tuvok," Mendez said. "I have nothing further."

"Commander," said Gaines, slowly rising from his seat. "During your
tenure as Acting First Officer, did you ever see Captain Janeway
threaten Noah Lessing?"

"No, I did not."

"Did you see her interact with him at all?"

"No," said Tuvok once more. "Captain Janeway concentrated all her
efforts on the pursuit of Captain Ransom and the Equinox."

"What happened to Lessing after the cargo bay incident? Was he placed
in the brig?"

"He was confined to quarters," Tuvok answered.

"Hardly punitive measures," Gaines said dryly. 

"Mr. Lessing had given us valuable assistance in locating the Ankari."

Gaines allowed a look of astonishment to cross his face. "You mean Mr.
Lessing was cooperative, after the incident in the cargo bay was
over?"

"So it appeared." 

"Do you think that was why Captain Janeway didn't threaten Lessing
again?" Gaines asked. "After all, if she was so angry at him,
determined to take revenge against him in lieu of Ransom--"

"Objection," Mendez said.

"Sustained," U'Tzedek said. "We have established that Captain Janeway
made no further attempts to harm the victim."

Gaines inclined his head in acquiescence. "Just one more question,
Commander Tuvok. Did you feel at any time that Captain Janeway's
actions warranted removing her from command, or fell outside the pale
of command behavior?"

"No, I did not."

"Thank you, Commander," Gaines said. "You've been most helpful."

End part 5

--
Forwarded to ASCL by:
Stephen Ratliff
ASC Stories Only Forwarding

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