Crineal Chronicles 1: In Hera's Service (24 page)

Commander
Junon consulted the notes on his data pad. “This was the incident in Fighter
Bay Alpha Ten?”

“Yes,
I wasn’t aware of the general’s rank or the local regulations in place. I admit
I was remiss in not establishing these things.”

Having
read the reports of the incident gathered by the prosecution, that was the
understatement of the year, Junon thought. But it did give him a tiny sliver of
a chance, if what Del’Tarim had told him was true. “I think I can use that to
help your case, Commander. Now, do you intend to take the stand as a witness? I
would advise against it.” If Del’Tarim was being as honest as Junon thought he
was, then he didn’t want the commander anywhere near those monitors.

Nodding,
Del’Tarim agreed. “I will trust your professional judgment on that, Commander.”
Junon gave a mental sigh of relief.

“Then
I think we’re done here, Commander. If I have any questions, I’ll be in touch.
If you think of anything else that might be relevant, please contact me,” and
with that he nodded to Del’Tarim and left the room.

By
the time that Cyndora had finished in the bathroom she was feeling much better
and ready for a nap herself. Crineal was already asleep so she quietly placed a
clean robe on the bed next to him, stripped down to her panties and climbed
into her own bed. She was only dozing lightly when sometime later she heard an
“ow’ from the direction where Crineal was laying. Cyndora propped herself up to
see Crineal trying to lever himself out of bed. Stubborn idiot, she thought,
and she got up to assist him.

“Sorry,
Cyndy, I was trying not to wake you,” he said apologetically.

Helping
him get up and get his robe on she replied “You didn’t, I was just drifting in
and out.”

After
a quick visit to the bathroom, she settled him down onto the sofa in the
lounge. Cyndora had gotten dressed whilst he was using the toilet, not wanting
to get him all worked up again by running around mostly naked. They sat there
with the drinks she had made, trying not to look at each other, unsure what to
say.

Cyndora
took a breath and broke the silence. “About earlier… I’m sorry if I embarrassed
you.”

He
smiled at her reassuringly. “You didn’t, I was just a little surprised. But
pleasantly so. Very pleasantly.”

“I
know it’s part of what I’m supposed to do, but I want you to understand that I
did it because I wanted to, not because I had to. It’s difficult to explain.”

“Just
tell me the best you can. I’m sure we’ll work it out.”

She
took another deep breath and collected her thoughts. “I’ve been conditioned to
use my body to please others.” He nodded a little in acknowledgement. “But what
happens when I want to just do that kind of thing to show affection? I don’t
know what to do any more. Am I just responding to my training to keep a friend
happy, or am I genuinely doing it out of love? What I did in the shower was
probably a little beyond friendship, I think.”

Crineal
looked at her thoughtfully. “Maybe, maybe not. Some people are friends and they
have sex without wanting or needing that deeper love. They love each other as
friends and to them it’s like watching a movie together or playing tennis or
something. So it’s more down to how you feel emotionally, I guess.”

Cyndora
looked into her cup. “I know, and that’s confusing, too. We were and are
friends. We already know each other. But our situation here makes it difficult.
We can hardly go on dates, have romantic dinners together, walks in the
moonlight and stuff.”

“That’s
true, but a lot of that is just so that the people can get to know each other
anyway. I think we’re well past that stage. So it’s down to how we really feel
about each other. Would you like to go first?”

She
looked up at him. “I know I love and care for you as a friend. I think it could
be more, but it’s all a bit confused right now. I know that I don’t want your
love out of pity for my situation and I’m worried that what’s happened to me
might affect how you feel towards me. I’m hardly a sexual innocent any more.”

Crineal
nodded in understanding, carefully trying to think of the right words. “When we
worked together in Coventry I would have liked us to have been a couple. I know
bad things have happened to you since. I took you out of the rec dorm because I
wanted to help a friend, not because I pitied you or wanted to buy your
affection. Over the last few weeks I think I’ve found that you’re still the
same woman I liked so much over a decade ago. If you feel you need to talk to
me about what happened to you in prison, then I’ll listen; but if you’d rather
I didn’t know, then I’ll accept that too. It won’t change how I feel about you
in either case. I love you as a friend and I’d like to do more.” His blue eyes
locked onto her green ones. She put her cup down and walked unsteadily to perch
on the edge of the sofa next to him, putting her arms around his shoulders.

“Thank
you, I’d like to try, too,” she was crying a little now. “I thought that maybe
no one would want me after I’d been used by so many. I never thought I’d meet
someone I knew ever again.”

“It’s
ok, we both have things in the past that we wish weren’t there.” Crineal kissed
her cheek gently. “We’ll just have to help each other get through them.”

The
next day a med tech arrived to shuttle Crineal to the med bay in a grav chair.
Cyndora followed along together with the marine guard for the morning. Waiting
for them was Doctor Marrash.

“General
Crineal, now my morning is complete,” he boomed witheringly.

“Good
morning, Doc. I see you’re in an excellent mood as usual.” He looked around the
med bay noting that there were only three occupied beds. “Running out of
patients to torture, Doc?”

“My
life is always quieter when you’re not out stirring up trouble.” Marrash paused
at the look of hurt on Crineal’s face. “My deepest apologies, General, that was
uncalled for. I know how much your pilots mean to you,” he said sincerely.

“That’s
ok, Doc, I know you didn’t mean anything by it. So when can I get this stuff
off me?” he asked as the med tech helped him onto a diagnostic table.

The
doctor studied the readouts for a minute. “We’ll give you a new set of bandages
and gel and then you can come back in two days to have them removed.”

Crineal
shook his head. “Sorry, I’m required in court that day. How about tomorrow?”

Marrash
looked steadily at him. “How about after the court martial instead?”

“Alright,
I guess I should set an example and follow your instructions.”

Raising
his eyebrows the doctor stared at Crineal. “Really? That would be a change. Ok,
Tech, go ahead and change his dressings. I’ve got some work to do.”

“Later,
Doc,” Crineal said to his retreating back as the med tech started to cut away
the bandages. When the tech was done Crineal visited the three Ares pilots who
were still in med bay. Cyndora was pleased that Feldea had been released and
was probably already on Earth shopping but sad that her friend wasn’t there to
talk to.

Once
Crineal was safely back in his quarters, Cyndora got changed and headed out to
the gym. She wasn’t surprised to have another group of pilots appear just after
she arrived and keep her company during her workout. The evening was spent with
Crineal and Cyndora curled up together on the sofa watching a couple of holo
movies. Cyndora enjoyed the feeling of intimacy without the pressure of sex.
They retired to their separate beds feeling very relaxed and happy. The day
before the trial Crineal spent a lot of time providing comfort to Cyndora and
reassuring her that she would be fine testifying. Cyndora was still restless
that night and finally cuddled up to Crineal in his bed for solace.

 Commander
Junon sat next to Del’Tarim in the conference room designated for the court
martial. He studied his notes whilst waiting for the panel members to enter.
There were only three spectators, Admiral Ken’Rathel, Captain Aldar and Senior
Commander Raptcha, head of the Annihilator’s JAG section. Behind the adjacent
desk sat Lt. Commander Illyat, the prosecuting council. She was studying the
notes on her data pad, too. He thought she looked a lot more confident about
her evidence then he was about his.

The
rear door of the chamber opened and everyone stood to attention as the three
judges entered. None of the three were young; one was a vice admiral and the
other two were commodores.

The
clerk of the court announced them. “All rise. This court martial is now in
session. Vice Admiral Reylenth presiding with Commodores Arranak and Beratt
assisting.” The judges seated themselves and everyone else followed suit after
a suitable, respectful pause. Junon queried his data pad for information on the
judges. All three were decorated combat officers with distinguished records.
None of them seemed to be political, and Junon grew more worried. He’d expected
at least one or two to have some affiliations with the Imperial Council.

The
clerk stood again. “This court is here to consider the charges against Commander
Del’Tarim.  Commander Del’Tarim is charged with conspiring with a junior crew
member to obtain an illegal key card, a violation of Article Twenty Three,
Subsection Nine; with possession of an illegal key card, a violation of Article
Twenty Three, Subsection Twelve; with bribing a junior crew member to subvert
security, a violation of Article Seventeen, Section Three; with intent to
assault and rape a junior crew member, a violation of Article Three,
Subsections Seven and Eight;  with attempted coercion of a junior crew member
in an attempt to gain access to a senior officer’s quarters, a violation of
Article Five, Section Nine; and, of unauthorized entry into a senior flag rank
officer’s quarters with malicious intent, a violation of Article Five, Section
Seven. How does the defendant plead?”

Commander
Junon stood. “Commander Del’Tarim pleads Not Guilty to all of the charges as
stated, Your Honor.” He reseated himself.

Vice
Admiral Reylenth nodded. “Thank you, Commander. Lt. Commander Illyat, would the
prosecution like to make its opening statement?”

Illyat
stood. “Thank you, Your Honor. The prosecution intends to show that Commander Del’Tarim
bribed a medical technician to obtain information about the movements of
General Crineal’s recreation assistant, and then, using this information,
positioned himself to threaten her in an attempt to gain access to the general’s
private quarters where he intended to assault and rape the assistant. And that
he obtained an illegal key card from a bridge technician so as to obtain entry
to the general’s quarters if his threats failed to gain him access. Also, that
he used this card to illegally enter General Crineal’s quarters with malicious
intent.” She finished and sat down.

“Thank
you, Lt. Commander. Commander Junon, would the defense like to make its opening
statement at this time?” the vice admiral asked.

“Your
Honor, the defense requests its right to reserve its opening statement at this
time.” Junon didn’t want to say anything that might prove stupid in the face of
the prosecution’s evidence. There would be time to make a statement afterwards.

“Very
well. Lt. Commander, please call your first witness.”

“The
prosecution calls Medical Technician Torgat.”

A
man in a uniform with the badges indicating the medical section on the
shoulders entered the court and took his place on the witness stand, where he
was sworn in as a witness by the clerk.

Illyat
stood to address him. “Technician Torgat, please relate the events of the fifth
of this month in relation to Commander Del’Tarim.”

Torgat
started nervously to tell his story. “I was on duty in the medical bay serving
the port side flight decks when a commander I didn’t recognize came in and
asked me if I’d seen a redheaded recreation assistant in here. I said I had and
that she’d been in to visit one of the injured pilots. Then he said he’d
appreciate it if the next time she was in the med bay that I’d give him a call
to let him know when she left and he gave me a ten credit chip.”

“And
could you identify the commander who approached you?” Illyat asked him.

“Yes,
Ma’am, that’s the commander there,” he pointed to Del’Tarim.

“And
what happened next?”

“Well,
Ma’am, the following day I saw the recreation assistant in the med bay again.
As soon as she left, I commed the commander like he asked and told him that
she’d left the bay. He thanked me and that was it.”

“Thank
you, Technician Torgat. I have no more questions.”

Vice
Admiral Reylenth looked at Junon with her hazel eyes. “Commander, do you wish
to cross examine the witness?”

Junon
stood. “Thank you, Ma’am. Technician Torgat, did the commander tell you why he
wanted to know the movements of the woman?”

“Yes,
Sir, he said he’d like to meet her. That was it.”

“So
there was no indication of any malice in the request?”

“No,
Sir,” Torgat shook his head.

“No
further questions, your Honor,” Junon said and sat down. All of the technician’s
answers had proven true and Junon felt at least he’d been able to show no
obvious intent at this point.

The
silver-blonde vice admiral looked at Illyat. “Any further questions, Lt.
Commander?”

“No,
Ma’am.”

“Then
the witness is excused.”

Once
the technician had left, Illyat stood again. “The prosecution calls Senior
Bridge Technician Narain.”

The
man that entered this time was handcuffed and escorted by a marine. The marine
took up post behind the technician as the clerk swore him in.

“Technician
Narain, would you please tell the court what happened on the sixth of this
month?”

The
technician looked miserably at Illyat. “Yes, Ma’am. I was just coming off duty
when an officer approached me. He said he’d heard I could make access cards. I
told him that doing that was completely out of order and there were stiff
penalties for doing it. He said he’d heard it from a friend who’d got one from
me and he gave me the name. So I called the guy and checked out that he’d
pointed the officer my way. He said he had. So I asked the officer what kind of
key card he needed. He told me that it had to be unregistered and could open
any door. I told him that I don’t normally make those because it’s too
dangerous if it gets discovered. He said he might not need to use it at all and
he offered me two thousand credits for the card.” The technician shrugged. “At
that price I couldn’t afford to say no, so I told him I’d meet him later. I made
up the card like he asked and then met him like we’d arranged. I gave him the card.
He gave me a credit chip.”

“And
do you recognize the officer who approached you and that you gave the illegal
key card to?” Illyat asked.

“Yes,
Ma’am. That’s the man right there,” Narain pointed to Del’Tarim.

“No
further questions, Your Honor,” and the Lt. Commander reseated herself.

Reylenth
looked towards Junon. “Commander?”

He
stood. “Thank you, Ma’am,” Junon said and then turned to Narain. “Technician, you
said that you don’t normally make these kinds of cards… but you have made them
before?”

“Yes,
Sir,” replied Narain.

“So
it’s possible that there are more of these uncoded cards around?”

“I
guess so, Sir. I don’t keep track of what happens to them.”

“Thank
you, Technician. I have no further questions, your Honor.”

“Lt.
Commander Illyat?” the vice admiral asked.

“No
further questions, your Honor.”

“The
witness is excused,” Reylenth said and the unfortunate Narain was led away by
the marine.

Again,
the witness hadn’t been lying, but Junon hoped he’d managed to create enough
doubt to say it was possible that Del’Tarim had found an uncoded card.

Lt.
Commander Illyat stood once more. “The prosecution would like to call
Recreation Assistant Cyndora.”

Junon
steeled himself as the redheaded woman he’d read so much about, but never met,
entered the court and was sworn in. She was wearing the standard assistant’s
uniform and looked out of place amongst all the black military outfits.

“Assistant
Cyndora, would you please tell the court what happened on the sixth of this
month?” Illyat asked in a kind voice.

Cyndora
nodded. “Yes, Ma’am. I had just finished visiting my friend in the recreation
dorm and I was on my way back to General Crineal’s quarters when I saw an
officer I didn’t know in the corridor ahead of me. As I went to pass him he
reached out and grabbed me by the throat. He told me if I screamed or struggled
that he would kill me. Then he said he wanted me to entertain him the next day.
I told him that I was assigned to General Crineal. He laughed and said ‘I know
who’s fucking you, slut, and I’m not scared of him.’ Then he pushed my top
aside and squeezed my breast and pinched the nipple hard. He told me that he’d
be at the door to the general’s quarters at about nine and that I was to let
him in and that if I didn’t he’d find me and kill me. Then he put his hand
inside my panties and roughly fondled me there. He said he’d see me in the
morning, or else. Then he dropped me to the floor and walked away.”

“And
can you identify the officer who accosted you?” Illyat asked her
sympathetically.

“Yes,
Ma’am. It was the officer sitting there,” Cyndora replied, pointing at Del’Tarim.

“And
what did you do after that?”

“I
went back to the general’s quarters and when the general returned I told him
what had happened.”

“Even
though you’d been threatened?” the Lt. Commander asked.

“Yes,
Ma’am. The general had made it clear to me that I was assigned to him and no
one else and that I should report to him if anyone approached me for my
services.”

“Most
diligent and brave of you, Cyndora. And what did General Crineal do when you
told him?”

“He
called Colonel Jaynes and asked her to report to his quarters with a security detail
the following morning at oh seven hundred hours,” Cyndora replied.

“Did
he tell her why?” Illyat inquired.

“He
said that he was concerned that there might be a security breach the following
morning.”

“And
what happened the following morning?”

“The
colonel and two other marines arrived at seven and I served breakfast to
everyone. Then at a little after nine the door comm panel buzzed. I answered
the door comm to see who it was and the voice of the officer who had attacked
me the day before said that he was here and to let him in. General Crineal,
Colonel Jaynes and one of the marines went into the bedroom and the other
marine hid behind the kitchen counter.”

“And
what did you do?” Illyat asked gently.

“I
backed away from the door and went and stood in the corner of the lounge. As I
was going there the officer was threatening me to let him in. Then he said that
I was going to get it now and a few seconds later the door opened and the
officer came in.”

“You
didn’t let him in?”

“No,
Ma’am. I was in the corner when the door opened.”

“And
what happened then?”

“He
told me he was going to make me suffer and started to come around the table at
me. That was when the marine in the kitchen stood up and the general, the colonel
and the other marine came out of the bedroom.”

Illyat
nodded. “Thank you, Assistant Cyndora, you’ve been very brave. No further
questions, Your Honor.”

Reylenth
looked over at Junon. “Commander, your witness.”

Junon
sat there stiffly. The monitors hadn’t shown the slightest indication of falsehood.
Everything that Del’Tarim had told him was a lie, just as he had suspected. He
stood up. “Ma’am, I’d like to beg the court’s indulgence and request a brief
moment to consult with my client.”

The
vice admiral looked at the commodores to either side of her before nodding.
“Very well, Commander, but please make it quick.”

“Thank
you, Ma’am,” he said before motioning Del’Tarim to follow him into a side room.

Once
inside he rounded on him. “So she approached you and it was all a trap? You’re
an idiot, Commander.”

Del’Tarim
snarled back at him. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that. She’s lying.”

“Of
course she isn’t. If she was then the monitors would have been screaming. There
are no questions I can even ask her to try and mitigate the damage her
testimony has done. I presume it’s safe to assume that the witnesses that you
suggested I call to verify your story will show up to be as big a liar as you
are?”