by Robert Lyon
Artimus struck an argumentative demeanor and replied, “Well I’m sorry your honor, I’ve been in a god damn cage for a week…while you were out with the natives living it up in ‘we have water and fish town’” Mike replied, “Captain please…” Artimus ranted, “No…fuck you. What do you have over there.” The crowd jostled and mike became visibly nervous. As captain artimus began to smile mike regained his composure and said, “Captain, I am well aware of my accomplishments; because, it was hard work. But we are here in a trial, not an ‘inquiry’, to present charges as to your guilt.”
Artimus lashed out, “well maybe you can tell me what that was.” Mike responded angrily, “Yes, let’s finally get to that, let’s do that, let’s get to that. Prosecutor, please present your charges. Because I am an impartial judge that was making fresh water and even catch fish for food since we got here, I don’t even know what the charges are!” Brosuer said apologetically,
“That’s your job judge.” Mike Elpers retorted, “What!?”
Brosuer again speaking apologetically said, “Well, I don’t have anything to write with.” Mike sighed and said, “Chief…just say what the charges are.”
Brosuers looked down at his feet and said, “I don’t have any shoes, because of where we are…” then pointed at
Artimus. He continued, “I haven’t had any real food despite the hard work of the natives…” Mike noded and interject, “right” signifying he had taken no offense and Brosuer continued,
“because of him. So in the legal terms we non-lawyers are not so familiar with what is he guilty of? Well, he lost the ship, made no distress call, and couldn’t for the life of him tell these other officers exactly where we were. And I don’t mean exactly in terms of GPS coordinates down to hours, minutes, and seconds…” Brosuer than turn red in the face and yelled, “I mean he doesn’t know what god damn hemisphere we’re in!” Brosuer look around with his hand extended and said calmly, “You all know I’m trying to be professional about this…He willfully disobeys orders which we chiefs hear about in the chiefs mess refusing to get underway because he’ll miss a football game.”
Artimus in a hush gestured to himself and said, “That wasn’t me, it was a large portion of the crew.” Brosuer yelled again,
“Captain! Stop…” Brosuer gestured an apology and continued,
“We lost the ship, we’ve lost crew…I don’t want to break with my role but that cage is no solution. I would like to know why we had him instead of a real captain, I would like to know what he plans to do, I would like to know why we built him a pentagon and on that note, I’m wondering if he is running for president here on ‘oh fuck oh fuck we’re lost’ island.”
Hauldbalm had begged forgiveness from his girlfriend for his insecurities and literally kissed her ass in apologies and
now with those issues at rest he said, “Maybe I should step in a prosecutor.” Mike replied, “Let’s stick with this prosecutor but if you can make it sound more formal please do.” Brosuer looked back and shrugged at the Master Chief and Hauldbalm counted on his fingers, “Let’s see destruction of government property possible misuse, hazarding the ship, hazarding personnel, abuse of authority, malicious maleficence , and something I can only describe as ‘aqualung’.”
Brosuer exploded, “Aqualung! That’s a good example.
It’s a crime, it is recognized, then joked about…the guy that did it…the assailant, is ridiculed and then nothing…we still have to work with the jack asses! Because he doesn’t want anyone looking at his conduct.”
With distain Hauldbalm offered the correction, “I was referring to the way I almost drown.” There was a grumble in the crowd and Brosuer said, “I’m sure it was traumatic…”
Hauldbalm interjected, “Your god damn right it was, I…”
Brosuer spoke over him, “Exactly so now we joke about it and then it’s forgotten. But we all almost drown!” Hauldbalm said quietly as he sat down, “Your right.”
Brosuer said, “Let’s just cover everything until we know where this goes. I mean who this guy has actually been.”
Brosuer shrugged and looked around and continued, “Maybe there is actually a mitigating factor I honestly don’t know”
Artimus interjected, “That would be that I am the Captain.”
Brosuer retorted in a strong clear voice that trailed off as he spoke, “Not anymore…not anymore…not anymore.” shaking his head in defeat and disbelief.
There was a crack of thunder from the horizon, a storm was rolling by, or at least that’s the way I remember it. I had been watching from the mountain top along with several
others, we were still proficient lip readers, over the course of that trail there would be drama and inanities but we would sit back and watch, because we had nothing better to do.
Artimus stood up and asked, “Have I finished my opening statements?” and looked around and saw there was a general affirmative from the crowd and he added, “So, I made my point then? What does the jury say?” Mike Elper acting as judge said, “Not so fast there slick. I honestly think some of these people believe you failed in leadership one oh one, and would like to see you never referred to as Captain ever again, others…seem to have put a lot of effort into that cell. But then I am impartial and perhaps, there are mitigating factors?” Brosuer asked, “So they I’ll continue then?” and mike replied, “If there aren’t any rebuttals or objection from the defense, we’ll continue in this forum.”
Deckly said, “I’m just waiting to hear something that isn’t whining about having to follow instead of lead.” Mike replied, “Point taken.” Brosuer redirected, “Then I will continue to make my case.” and from the background a voice called out,
“I think you guys are starting to get the hang of this.” As more and more terms from T.V. law shows started to come out their vocabularies became refined. Marcy stood up and said, “Stop. I think you said party of the parties.” and everyone decided he need not be present and he was sent to check on Hudlow and his followers. Marcy had remembered hearing a legal contract read in central control by Clarkson to see if anyone had that level of reading comprehension, “party of the first part, party of the second part”; he thought maybe it’ll be funny this time.
Brosuer continued, “We all seen this captain at his finest asleep in his bridge chair while the ship is underway, but what about that night watch? It was cold that night and he and
the entire bridge crew were asleep, when as cold as it was there was a cold snap and they nearly died of hypothermia. And when the vertical launch system needed to be tested and he and several fire controlmen stood there playing with the wires until one of the caps blew off and broke a bridge window. The captains mast he broadcast on sight t.v. because his bailiff a third class engineer was in the habit of kicking the command master chief out, only for us to find out the minor infraction being discussed was soliciting comments and admissions on the part of the captain that were in fact criminal offenses. And the utter insistence that the manuals don’t run the ship, the captain does…well, the manuals weren’t running the ship and maybe that’s why it’s at the bottom. I would like to know Captain, why is the ship at the bottom?”
There was a pause and Artimus felt it was working against him so he asked Mike, “Would you like me to answer that?” Mike Elper serving as the judge replied, “Yes, sir.”
Artimus stood up and said, “Metal stress.” Brosuer scoffed with a degree of condescension, “Mental stress?” Artimus replied,
“Metal stress. The ship’s hull has a long, twenty year history that doesn’t start well, nor did it end well. The ship fell off the blocks during construction, in its initial sea trails the sonar dome cracked, years later it cracked again on a deployment in the eighties, the ship has been struck by mines, The ship came in contact with pier stanchions as the low tide side in Everett before the extension of the piers breaking those stanchions and stressing the hull near three generator room to the point of a leaking fissure. I did the best I
could with what we had and you were here to help me not hinder me but look where you have us and now I am to blame?”
Mr. Deckly interjected, “I think it is time for the defense to speak now. This man has been your captain, he carries your pride for which you loath him but he also carries your shame for which you have hidden behind him and now when he needs something from you…A little trust, a little consideration you turn on him. This crew should be glad for him without him you wouldn’t have survived to this point. Maybe some of you have a true reason for resentment, the ship was never properly maintained because you didn’t work at it, but you said you had. When those transgressions were found I felt he was far too lenient. The corrosive element with in the crew remained and hazarded us all but not on his account but on your own. Which of you should have been sent to the stockades for derelictions and which of you were just in competent is perhaps where this trail should focus, but a few of you did work hard.
So, don’t give it a name…don’t answer as to whom it was that failed all of us, just start again. And, with that I move that the charges be dismissed.”
Brosuer pointed at Mike and said, “I object to that.”
Mike smiled at them both and said, “Objection over ruled but the motion does not carry. There is more to be heard.”
Brosuer asked, “Captian, why did we fail those inspections.” Artimus replied, “We weren’t ready.” Brosuer asked further, “Was it the leadership that wasn’t ready.” Artimus replied, “You know…I’m accustom to concealing certain things about what happens, where, and why, so as not to overwhelm you. But I realize now there’s no rason for that concern here. We were a part of using an obscure law to give ourselves access to private property owned by the electric company to restore power to the civilian populous during a blizzard. To some that was martial law to others it was a military cue da ta. That drew some
unwanted attention and some attacks that may have been justified. We weren’t ready because you weren’t ready because someone was trying to put you on an ego trip to see just how arrogant you were, while others were trying to show they are your adversary no matter what you are doing.” Brosuer asked,
“But, captain what does that have to do with what we are discussing here?”
Artimus struck a refined posture and answered with a sense of command in his voice, “You have just reminded me you are a chief petty officer and in doing so reminded me that I am a captain. Your understanding of the ‘scope’ of a situation and the implications of actions taken are devoid of any comprehension as to the meaning or definition of the words,
‘scope’ and ‘implication’.
Mr. Deckly said, “Your honor these questions are far too vague, my client would have to give a four year long class on various topics of education for his responses to these uncertain and generalized ‘why, but..but, why’s’ we are hearing.
Mike replied, “Chief keep your questions simple enough that I could answer them.”
Brosuer said, “The Captain was in misconduct and he made political enemies and he is trying to blame us for something that was done right but be someone beneath his rank.” Mike replied, “Then chief ask him questions that will either establish in his own words that that is the case or explain why it isn’t that way.” Brosuers face turned bright red and he looked to the sky and said while looking up, “Captain were you placed in hack” Artimus replied, “Yes.” Brosuer again in obvious frustration asked, “Captain, does ‘Hack’ stand for
House Arrest and Confinement.” Again Artimus replied, “Yes.”
Brosuer then turn to him and asked, “Why?” Artimus responded,
“There’s the trick, you hit on something that actually is a personal matter. But, were it not I would still have the right to not testify against myself, and all I am left with now is establishing, it was in fact irrelevant. But, I will tell you as I mentioned before, I am accustomed to shielding you from things you don’t need to know, and…well, the squadron commander and I had a difference of opinion.” Bruce looked confused as that question seemed as though he were leading in a specific direction and despite Bruce having been one of the commissioned officers on board he had no knowledge of this ever having happened.
Brosuer spoke as an adult speaking to an unruly child and said, “No Captain, it goes to your state of mind and general conduct. Were you not harassing a third class petty officers girlfriend and father for applying the instruction per the navy manuals rather than ‘doing it your way’ which caused many failed evaluations?” Artimus responded, “There seems to be some question as to whether or not I am the captain now and I am reasonable, so I understand your confusion but at the time I was absolutely the captain and those were my decisions to make.” Brosuer replied, “I don’t think so Captain, it was an illegal harassment for which you were placed on house arrest and confinement, you still don’t see that error as you don’t see the errors you are making now.”
Artimus was cleaning the underside of one of his fingernails with a thumb nail looking distracted when he replied,
“Well, that’s your opinion.” Brosuers looked at mike and said,
“I move that that be recognized as a fact.” Artimus uttered,
“Object” Bruce Deckly declared, “Objection” Brosuer extended his hand toward the judge to prevent him from acting to quickly then asked; “On what grounds?” Deckly responded dismissively,
“It hasn’t been established.” Mike said, “Over ruled. It is recognized as a fact that Captain Artimus’s house arrest and confinement was the result of a crime, the court recognizes he is still in denial on that matter and will hear more as to whether he is currently in error and whether he actually recognizes that.”
We watched from the mountain top as these events unfolded, they eventually adjourned. And we watched Artimus much less confident and smug in his cage, he seemed fascinated with his finger nails being clean, he even started polishing them with sand.
Athena and I had dealings with Artimus before he was intrusive and voyeuristic on personal matters and later tried to say he just wanted to be our friends. We were the only native
California’s that suffered this but we both knew how to party, I had social skills that were good and public speaking wasn’t a problem, Athena had a better look about her but in high school I had taken a work experience program and earned a two hundred hour certificate in food preparation and management which in comparison to a mess specialist made me a gourmet chef. I’m not sure what drove him so zealously at Athena other than a possible sexual attraction but I had been in a porn shop when old
Dave tried a nineteen seventies style beer run, except it wasn’t beer it was a dildo he needed for a prank and the two guys working the counter weren’t over worked under paid college students they were the co-owners and security cameras were everywhere these days. His impulse control was only moderate and his maturity seemed to be based on peter pan.
She and I slept together on the mountain top that night, I cuddled up to her and she nuzzled in despite the lack of wind blowing across us. We had a bound, upon meeting we initially had an attraction to one another, but her interest faded
as she saw me overworked in a destroyer engine room and marred with grease, oil, and all the failures of being on Ol’
Dave’s ship. She was sweet and smelled like home.
Tammy had started becoming more active at night, she was going from bush to bush just to see if it was only Joseph
Leos that was keeping Tommi in the bushes. Tammy found a well-rounded stick, nice and smooth and the end had been rounded and smoothed with stone and sand. She had her suspicions so she sniffed at it and found what she was looking for. She slipped off her pants and pulled down her panties, kneeling there looking at it in the moon light, she whispered a name to it and slowly slid her knees apart. She reached down and used circular motions on her labia and then tugged at her lips until she dripped with moisture. She placed the stick beneath her and impaled herself, caressing her breasts and t
he back of her neck as she rode they stick at a steady canter. Athena woke to the call she heard below the mountain top, “Your my
Stud! Your my Stud!” Then Athena pulled my hair.
The next morning they moved at such a slow pace we weren’t sure if the trial would continue. I told Athena I should probably do some fishing today, since I noticed Michelle seemed to have lost someone. Athena said she’d take notes on this trial and Mitch joined her on the hill top as I headed down.
Mitch mentioned in passing, “Mike’s over there now Rob,
Tommi and Michael are taking care of the boilers and Tim’s stilling looking for those pigs.” I replied, “Alright, I’m fishing.”
As the trial continued they lined up and took their places in their court circle kneeling and sitting on dried grass and green palm leaves, the captain was ushered in and he said,
“You know before we start, I’ve been thinking and first I want to thank you for your service, but I’d also like to address some
of the things I’ve had to keep from you as a navy captain. I can hear the groans and see the concern in your faces but it’s not about you. There has been an issue with the navy for quite some time we’ve recently labeled a ‘training issue’. In truth, our recruiters have turned away people that are too smart to be subordinate to someone with an associate’s degree from the year nineteen seventy eight. And now, we are paying the price, I’d like to remind you none of us are perfect but you did not get weeded out of that screening process. There are people smarter than you, they made sure during your recruitment that I as an at least average Navy Captain am smarter than you. I just need more time.”