Dark Space (12 page)

   Shawn slipped his hands to
the armrest of the chair, out of sight of everyone, and involuntarily tightened
them.

   Krif was caught off guard
by the question. “She’s dead.”

   “And when did this happen?”

   “During the war against the
Kafarans.”

   “And you were serving with
the commander at the time?”

   Krif nodded. “In a manner
of speaking.”

   Branson brought his hand
down to his side. “Could you elaborate more on that?”

   Krif leaned back in his
chair as be began to recall the events. “I had family located on the same
planet that the commander’s wife was present on. I was on leave visiting them
when we got word of a pending Kafaran invasion force heading in our general
direction.”

   “And which planet was this,
Captain?”

   “Corvan.”

   The young lieutenant
nodded. “I see. So where was Commander Kestrel at the time?”

   “He was on board the
carrier
Fahrenwald
, located several sectors away.”

   Branson nodded again. “He
was near the front lines, then?”

   “He was,” Krif
acknowledged.

   “So, back to the planet.
You received a report about a pending invasion. What happened next?”

   “The governing body
requested that the colonists evacuate the planet as soon as possible.”

   “And how was this to be
accomplished?”

   “There were several
civilian transports available, more than enough for the colonists.”

   “And what about the
military personnel?”

   “There was a small Marine
base on the planet. They were also evacuated.”

   “On their own craft or
civilian ones?”

   “On their own transports,”
Krif nodded.

   “And you left with them?”

   Krif nodded. “I did, as per
regulations.”

   “And the commander’s wife?”

   “She was a civilian.
Colonial Operations procedure mandated she remain with the colonists.”

   “And what about the
military transports? Was there enough room in them to also transport
civilians?”

   Krif nodded slowly. “Had
the situation warranted it. However, as I said, the civilian transports had
more than enough room in them for the entire colony.”

   “And, had the situation
warranted it, as you say, who would have been the deciding officer? Who would
have ultimately given the civilians authorization to board military craft?”

   Krif shifted in his chair.
“The ranking officer nearest the particular transport. They would have assumed
responsibility.”

   “And you would have been
that person on the ship in which you ultimately departed the planet?”

   Krif nodded. “As a senior lieutenant,
I would have. Yes.”

   “And the commander’s wife
was in close proximity to you at the time of the evacuation, correct?”

   “She was. Her duties often
brought her to the Marine camp. We happened to be there at the same time that
day.”

   “So, per procedure, you
informed her to reach the nearest civilian transport to evacuate.”

   “I did.”

   Branson began pacing the
room. “Which was how far away?”

   “The spaceport was located
on the far side of the city, about two miles from the base.”

   “And you were evacuated a
short time later?”

   “I was.”

   “And what happened next?”

   “The military transports
left the planet. As soon as we reached the nearest jump gate, we departed the
system.”

   “And the civilian craft?”

   Krif looked down to his lap
for a moment. “Only three of ten made it out of the system. Not long after the Marines
jumped, the Kafarans arrived. A handful of evacuees made it to the gate before
the Kafarans destroyed it.”

   Branson stopped pacing. “So
are you telling me that the military personnel fled the system while the
colonists remained?”

   “Absolutely not,” Krif said
as he straightened. “Four military units jumped ahead of the colonists, as per
regulations, in order to scout the area around the target jump gate. Another
three remained behind to make sure everyone made it out. None of those three ever
made it to the gate.”

   “And the commander’s wife?
What about her ship?”

   Krif looked back to his
lap, and Shawn saw a definite look of sorrow on his face. All Krif could do was
shake his head. “There was nothing we could have done. I was fully intent on
taking a squadron of fighters back through to retrieve the stragglers, but the
Kafarans had destroyed the gate.”

   “I see,” Branson said. “Can
you tell me how the commander reacted when he heard the news?”

   Krif looked at Shawn for
the first time. “He was as distraught as I’d ever seen anyone, given such
news.”

   “He was angry?”

   “Yes?”

   “Grief-stricken?”

   A nod. “Of course.”

   “And what about after he
was provided your official report … when he learned that you could have taken
his wife with you as you evacuated, yet you told her to take a civilian
transport instead? What was his reaction?”

   “He was angry. I believe it
was understandable.”

   “Resentful?”

   “Yes.”

   “Would you say it damaged
your relationship?”

   Krif nodded, his eyes
darting to Shawn for the second time. “Without a doubt.”

   “Would it be safe to say
that he blamed you for her death?”

   A nod. “I’m sure he does.”

   Branson looked at Shawn and
then back to Krif. “Are you saying that he still, to this day, blames you for
the incident?”

   Krif nodded somberly. “I
believe he does.”

   “Would you further say that
this anger filtered down to the entire service?”

   Krif looked at him,
confused. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

   “Well, you said it yourself:
standard Sector Command procedures were followed with regard to the civilian
and military personnel with respect to their evacuation orders. Those same
policies resulted in the death of his wife. So, would you say that Commander
Kestrel now bears a grudge against Sector Command policies and procedures in
general because of that incident?”

   “A lot of people lost loved
ones during the war, and they went on to lead extremely successful careers in
Sector Command.”

   “Captain,” Branson
admonished, “you’ll forgive me, sir, but we’re not talking about others. We’re
talking about Commander Kestrel.”

    Hesitantly, the captain
nodded. “I’m sure her death has something to do with it.”

   “Thank you, Captain Krif. I
have no further questions. You may step down.”

   Krif stayed seated. “I’d
just like to say, for the record, that Commander Kestrel’s performance prior to
that incident was beyond reproach.”

   Admiral Hansen cleared his
throat. “Thank you, Captain. That will be all. You may step down.”

   Krif slowly stood, nodded
to the board of officers, and then quickly left the room.

   Admiral Hansen took a quick
glance at the officers flanking him. Getting nods of approval from both Ramos
and O’Connell, he turned back to Branson. “Lieutenant, you may call your next
witness.”

   “The court calls Sergeant
Trent Maddox to the stand.”

  
Finally, someone who can
paint me in a better light.

  
As Trent entered the room, he glanced
first at Shawn, then at Branson. After he was sworn in, Trent took the seat
Krif had vacated.

   “Sergeant, I have only a
few questions for you,” Branson began in an easygoing tone.

   “Okay,” Trent replied,
obviously nervous about being under the spotlight.

   “You’ve known the commander
for a long time, is that correct?”

   “That’s correct, sir. A
very long time.”

   “And you consider him more
than just a superior officer. He is a friend, yes?”

   “Yes. Very much so.”

   “And you’re aware why
you’re here, and what the charges are against the commander?”

   Again, Trent looked
nervously to Shawn before answering. “I do.”

   “In the time leading up to
the incident in question, the commander requested you meet him in the hangar
bay. Is that correct?”

   “Yes.”

   “For what purpose?”

   “To see that his fighter
was ready for launch.”

   Branson nodded. “Did he
have authorization to launch?”

   Trent looked to Shawn, then
back to Branson. “I assumed so, at the time.”

   “So you prepped his fighter
for launch.”

   “I did.”

   “And when did you learn
that he did not, in fact, have authorization to launch?”

   Trent shifted in his seat,
much as Krif had. “When he asked me to open the launch bay doors.”

   “And what did you tell
him?”

   “I said that was out of
protocol. You see, they normally do that from the bridge and …”

   “And what happened next?”

   “Well … it was clear he
wanted the doors opened in a hurry, and seeing that it might be an emergency …”
His eyes darted back to Shawn.

   “Please, Sergeant, if you
will kindly address the court and not the accused.”

   This brought Trent’s eyes
immediately back to Branson. “Yes, sir.”

   “Let me be blunt, Sergeant.
Did Commander Kestrel forcibly order you to open the doors after you mentioned
to him that doing so would be a violation of standard procedures?”

   Shawn watched as Trent
swallowed hard. While it was admirable that Trent might try to stick up for
him, Shawn knew that doing so would only make for another court-martial for his
friend. In the end, Trent nodded.

   “He did, sir.”

  
Good boy, Trent. 

   “I have no further questions.
You may step down.”

   Trent slowly got up from
his chair, and when he passed Shawn, he tossed an apologetic look in his
direction.

   Admiral Salus Hansen looked
to the two captains at his side, then down to Branson. “Call your next
witness.”

   “Admiral, the court
believes we’ve firmly established that the commander has a history of blatantly
disregarding orders whenever it suits him, this matter being no different than
at any other time in the past. The commander has a documented history of malevolence
for the service and all it stands for, and the court requests that judgment be
rendered against him for the stated crimes committed.”

  
Well, that was quick,
and after only two witnesses.

   Hansen nodded. “So noted.
Commander Kestrel, are you prepared to answer for the charges brought against
you?”

   Shawn stood from his chair
slowly and stood at attention. “I am, sir.”

   “Commander, I find myself
wanting to make my point quickly. I have but one simple question for you: Did
you willfully, without regard to yourself or the property under your care,
perform these actions of your own accord?”

   What could he say? The only
thing left was the truth, and the truth was that he took matters into his own
hands. For better or for worse, he had known he would have to answer for the
crimes of his actions. He accepted that, just like he had finally accepted that
the death of his wife was not Krif’s fault. Shawn would be drummed out of the
service, and likely never given the chance to speak to Krif again about the
matter. And what about Melissa? What was to happen to her … to them? And Trent?
And everyone else on board. Everything he’d accomplished was about to come
crashing down around him, and it was a rock in the pit of his stomach. That
Shawn still felt fully justified in his actions was beside the point. He was to
be made an example, and whatever honor was left in him would be displayed in
his answer to Hansen.

   “Yes, sir. I am fully
responsible for my actions. I am … guilty as charged.”

   Admiral Hansen nodded. “So
end it, Commander. The court is ready to render its verdict. Captain Ramos?”

  
No deliberation? That’s
almost as unusual as not getting any council appointed to you.

   Ramos stood and faced
Shawn. “On the charges brought against you on this day, Commander, the court
has no choice but to find you guilty as charged.”

   The pit was now a
full-fledged stone.

   Ramos continued. “Commander
Kestrel, until further notice, you are relieved of all duties until such time
as you can be properly processed out of Sector Command. This will take place at
Sector Command outpost twenty-two within one solar week. You will be ferried
there no later than this afternoon. Do you understand the verdict as it has
been rendered?”