Taking Another Look

Posted on Sun Sep 18th, 2011 @ 9:17am by Vice Admiral Iluvar

Mission: Episode 2.3 - "Hippocratic Oath"
Location: Judge Advocate-General's Office, Starbase 386
Timeline: 23 May 2387

ON: [[Judge Advocate-General's Office, Starbase 386, 23 May 2387]]

Andrew (PNPC) deactivated his desktop terminal with the touch of a button, leaned back slowly in his chair, and let out an exasperated sigh. It was becoming clear to him that there were some amongst the Federation News Services who seemed more interested in what would increase their viewership rather than what would lead people to the truth. He had seen many times in his life how business model journalism had completely corrupted people, places, or events until the truth was no longer recognizable. There was no doubt in his mind that these were difficult times for the Federation and her Allies, but the fear mongering he had been seeing in some of the most recent news transmissions certainly wasn't doing much to help the situation.

PADD in hand, Olivia (PNPC) made her way to Andrew's office on Starbase 386. She frowned slightly; overall, she wasn't happy with how things had been going lately. Perhaps a meeting with the JAG Director would bring about some potential solutions. Slowing as she approached the door, Oliva rang the door chime.

"Come in," Andrew called out, sitting up again so that he could properly welcome whomever was choosing to pay him a visit.

Waiting for the door to swish open, Olivia then strode forward toward Andrew's desk. "Good morning, Admiral. I hope I'm not disturbing you." He had always had an open door policy - as did much of the Fleet Command staff - but it was still a customary saying. She gave him a small smile and awaited his reply.

"Of course not," Andrew replied with a warm smile. He motioned politely to one of the open seats across from him before folding his hands and placing them on the edge of the desk before him. "What can I help you with, Olivia," he asked.

Olivia glanced back and sat in one of the chairs Andrew had indicated. "I wish this were more of a social call, but as always, duty calls... I compiled some information from the various reports Fleet Command has been receiving about current conditions. I'm sure you're familiar with most, if not all of it, but here it is regardless," she said, sliding the PADD over to him. "I don't like the look of things..."

Carefully lifting the PADD from his desk, Andrew took a brief moment to skim over its contents before turning his attention back to the woman seated across from him. "It may not be the armageddon some of our more colorful journalists are predicting at the moment," he said, nodding toward his darkened desktop terminal, "but they certainly have given us plenty to be concerned about."

"Indeed they have," Olivia replied. Pausing to gather her thoughts, she continued, "That's essentially why I'm here. With the current situation we're in, we need every good officer we have. Speaking of which, what were your thoughts on the outcome of Iluvar's trial?" Ever since Olivia had received word of the verdict, it had never sat right with her. It didn't entirely seem to add up and she'd spent many nights contemplating what to do about it.

"Somehow, I had a feeling you were going to ask about that," Andrew sighed. He had watched the events surrounding Captain Iluvar's board of inquiry from an uncomfortable distance as they had unfolded aboard Deep Space Four nearly one year prior. Despite the deep-seated concerns he had felt about the nature of those proceedings, it had been decided they would not interfere at that time in favor of waiting to see just how the inquiry decided to play itself out. The fact that Admiral Tavez was now asking him to reconsider that decision was a clear indication he was not the only one who continued to harbor such feelings toward those events.

Andrew leaned forward slightly and looked Tavez directly in the eye. "I will be perfectly frank with you," he said slowly, "the fact these proceedings took place within my jurisdiction without my being consulted leads me to believe they would be worth taking another look at."

Olivia nodded slowly, meeting Andrew's gaze, "I have to agree. Perhaps I'm wrong about it, but the inquiry has left me unsettled. Iluvar has been an excellent officer and the results of the inquiry don't seem to fit, nor does the punishment. Maybe you'll find some things, maybe you won't, but I think a review would be prudent."

"Agreed," Andrew said, reaching into a small drawer and withdrawing a single PADD. He placed the device on the surface of his desk between himself and Admiral Tavez before gently leaning back in his chair again. "It shouldn't take long to subpoena the necessary transcripts and testimony from the original inquiry," he continued, "but I will need to conduct interviews with several of the participants regarding the proceedings themselves."

"Of course," Olivia replied. "How long do you think it will take? I certainly don't want to rush you; I'd rather this be done thoroughly so it won't also be questioned later, but I also hope it isn't drawn out for a long period of time. And is there anything I can do to aid in the process?"

Andrew remained silent for a moment as he considered the question carefully. They had already waited nearly a year to revisit the results of Iluvar's inquiry which meant that any delay could prove to be their undoing. At the same time, any attempt to rush the proceedings in hopes of reaching a favorable verdict could result in a miscarriage of justice. "I will proceed as readily as my skills permit me to do so," he answered, "but we cannot overlook due process in these matters. Assuming all progresses as smoothly as could be hoped, I would expect the review to take no longer than a few days, once all of the evidence has been submitted, of course."

"I wouldn't want due process to be overlooked. I think that the timeline is perfectly reasonable, all things considered. I don't want you to feel rushed; take the time that you need," she told Andrew. It would be better for everything to be done properly now, rather than have someone question the new findings and then have to go through it all again. "Is there anything I can do to aid in the process?"

There was a glint in Andrew's eye as he smiled and leaned back slightly in his chair. "You know," he said, "there just might be..."

OFF

A JP by:

Admiral Olivia Tavez (PNPC)
Chief of Staff
Eighth "Horizon" Fleet

and

Vice Admiral Andrew Hawkins (PNPC)
Judge Advocate-General
Eight "Horizon" Fleet