Court-Martial (Horatio Logan Chronicles Book 2)

by Chris Hechtl

  “I'll settle for a hung jury if it comes to that,” Horatio replied with a nod.

  @^@

  Horatio talked to his legal team as they planned their next move. There were still problems with getting his suit each day. He had to change in processing, and the guards tended to play games with his suit. Sometimes that caused a delay.

  Commander Steele shook her head. “Sir, why fight it?”

  Horatio stared at her. “Why not? he asked mildly, assessing her commitment to his cause.

  She shook her head. “What, you have nothing better to do? Sir, the motions involved, I do have other cases …”

  His eyes narrowed instantly. This was a capital case; he should be her number one priority. “No, it's not that. I won't legitimize their point of view. And for the record, Commander, this is my life we're talking about, not just my career. So, you'd damn well better have your all in this.”

  “I am. I'm doing my best, sir,” she replied, clearly nettled.

  “It's also the legitimacy of Admiral Irons and his orders. Everything he's said and done is on trial here.”

  “Not … everything,” she replied, squirming.

  “If they call into question one thing, then they can others. In fact, they already have. This trial is not just about me. We need to make that clear,” Horatio stated.

  Doctor Bullettine nodded sagely. “There is a reason I liked him from the start,” he murmured in an aside to Theresa. She nodded mutely as they watched.

  “It's like seeing two cars collide over and over,” the civilian attorney said with a shake of his head. Horatio glanced at him, then the two consultants, and then back to the JAG.

  “And I get that you are stuck in the middle. I know your career may be on the line too, and you are walking a fine line between your duty and honor and what is expected of you from both sides,” he said, watching her vital signs closely. He saw some of that score with her. “But that's the job of an advocate. You chose your profession. Now I call upon your oath to do your duty. Can you do that, Commander?”

  “I'm starting to wish I'd gone with accounting,” Commander Steele replied dryly. Horatio snorted. She finally grimaced. “I'll do my best,” she said.

  He decided to let her off the hook for the moment. “So, you are going to keep this up, sir?” the commander finally asked. “No plea at all, even if they drop it down to just insubordination?”

  “Pretty much. I am a rear admiral. They don't like it, and they are trying to undercut my promotion. By accepting their point of view and going with the flow, it undermines my orders from Admiral Irons, even just subtly,” Horatio said as the commander began to open her mouth to protest. “So, no, it isn't going to happen. Either get me the proper outfit or I'll attend court in my prison jump suit.”

  “Won't that look good? You'll look even guiltier,” Doctor Bullettine muttered.

  “Then do your job and help me prove I'm who I say I am,” the admiral said as he looked at the psychologist.

  “I'll … see what I can do,” he said uncomfortably. “Sometime though, you are going to have to look out for you, sir, numero uno.”

  “My duty is to see this through to the end. Sometimes you have to put yourself and your own needs second to that.”

  “I see.”

  “Well, I can get Chuck to make multiple copies of your suit. We have them at the processing. They can lose them all the time, but we'll keep at least two backups on hand. That should make it harder for that game to be played. We might go through a lot of uniforms though.”

  “Do it. Make sure you document each loss. Find a way to point it out in court.”

  “It isn't relevant. We'll get slapped down,” Benny reminded him.

  “Yeah, maybe, but it'll be a way of showing we know what they are doing and aren't afraid to call them on it. And more importantly, go on the record against it,” Doctor Bullettine stated, gripping Benny's shoulder and giving it a squeeze. Benny turned to him. “Maybe it will shame someone into quitting the petty games.”

  Benny gave him a disbelieving look.

  Bull shook his head as his hand dropped. “Hey, stranger things have been known to happen.”

  @^@

  The following evening Commander Steele was called in for a talk with Admiral Shren. She dressed in her formal uniform and met him in his office. She was unsurprised that he was intent on chewing her out. She weathered the brunt of it until he wound down and then started to list demands.

  “The navy needs this trial to be behind us. So, scuttle whatever you are planning and fold, Commander.”

  “Sir, Admiral …”

  “He's a commodore, damn it! Don't you start!”

  “Sir, my client is an honorable man. I can't do that. It won't look good. I won't do that.”

  “You will do what I tell you to do, Commander!”

  “With respect, sir, that won't wash. I'm one part of a team, sir. If I drop the ball, the others will pick it up.”

  The admiral glared at her for a long moment. “Let me be clear. I want you to throw this trial. Can I be any clearer, Commander? I certainly used small enough words,” Admiral Shren growled.

  “Sir …”

  “Shut it. I'm not finished talking. You will make certain your client is destroyed. You're to sabotage his defense. All you are there for is window dressing. You are a pretty face for the cameras and nothing more. Are we clear?”

  “Sir, I respectfully ask that those orders be given to me in writing.”

  The elf's eyes nearly bulged out at her over that request. “Excuse me?” he demanded. “Are my orders not good enough for you or are you having memory trouble?”

  “Sir, you are demanding I disobey several tenants of the JAG ethics code as well as the UCMJ. With respect, sir, what you are ordering me to do is flat-out illegal. I request legal cover for my own defense should this come to trial.”

  “You damn well will do what I want or I'll have you up on charges as well!”

  “Sir, you can do that if you wish. But I will bring this conversation up as my defense.”

  “So? It is your word against mine?”

  “Given that this room is bugged and this conversation is currently being recorded, I doubt that. But I'll have to go into detail about all my orders.”

  The elf stared at her. “This will end your career. You know that, right?”

  She gave a short choppy nod of acknowledgement. “Yes, sir. Which is why for the best of my client, I am filing a motion to recuse myself from the trial.”

  The admiral inhaled sharply. “You can't do that.”

  “I just did, sir. Given you have just attempted to blackmail me and have threatened my career, I have no choice but to stand aside.”

  “Fine,” the elf snarled. “Stay away from the defense. You walk away, you stay the hell away,” he said.

  “I will give them my notes and files. They can go from there.”

  “You will give them to me. I'll see that they get them.”

  “Given that you just said you want my client railroaded, sir, I don't think that is wise or in the best interests of my client so I will have to decline.”

  “Damn you …”

  “I will also be tendering my resignation.”

  The elf stared at her. She snorted, finally breaking from her carefully constructed image of standing at parade rest, stoic in the face of adversity. “As I said, sir, you just threatened my career so I no longer see a place for myself in the navy.”

  As he began to sputter, she nodded once. “Good day to you, sir,” she said quietly and about-faced and marched out. She felt heat on her cheeks as she walked out, but for the first time since being assigned to the case, she felt like she could truly hold her head high. She knew there would be hell to pay over it, but at the moment, she didn't care.

  Once word got out, private practice and even some politicians would beat a path to her door. It wasn't the career move she had planned. It was early, but that was fine with her.<
br />
  @^@

  The following morning Benny and Bull brought word to Horatio about Commander Steele's resignation. They went through security but something on the vid screen made Benny pause. Bull had to go through a pat-down so he missed whatever was on the screen. He did see Benny's keen interest in the news, but by the time he turned, he'd missed the story.

  Once they were through, he looked over to Benny. “I'll tell you later,” Benny replied as he pulled his phone out and made a quick call.

  @^@

  “Good morning, Admiral. It seems Commander Steele will not be joining us, now or ever; apparently, she quit.”

  “Quit?” Horatio asked, cocking his head at the psychologist.

  “Apparently, she grew a conscience,” Bull said. “She called me last night from a private phone when she finished her paperwork. It was rather late, but for once I didn't mind. She told me that she had been ordered to sabotage the case. I of course passed the information on to the media. The media is all over it.”

  Horatio nodded. “They didn't like what she was doing. I knew she was on their side, but they didn't like that she wasn't completely useless. A pity she's gone.”

  “But not forgotten. Something tells me she'll land on her feet. The AG's office called me to get her number when we were on our way over. No doubt they'll either want to interview her or offer her a job.”

  “Or both,” Benny replied with a sniff. “But, that's not all the good news we've got,” he said with a grin.

  “Oh?” Horatio asked.

  “As we were walking into the prison, I noticed a news story. I only caught the tail end of it, so it didn't make sense at the time. I called the office and got more intel on it, but again, not everything.”

  “Spill, Benny. You are like a cat with a canary,” Bull said with a shake of his head.

  “They haven't gotten around to telling us yet, but apparently one of the jury members was injured in a climbing accident. She is out.”

  “Damn,” Horatio said.

  “No, that's good news,” Benny replied.

  “No, it's not if an officer was injured. Is she okay?” Horatio asked.

  Benny stared at him in surprise and then frowned. “You know, I don't know,” he admitted, spreading his hands and then shrugging.

  “Can you find out? I'd like to know.”

  “We'll see what we can do,” Bull said dryly. “But that's not all the news, right, Benny?”

  Benny grimaced. “Trust you to read that much out of me. Okay, other shoe to fall, the alternate that was supposed to replace her was just reassigned to a new mission. He shipped out immediately before he officially took over.”

  “Gee, that was fast,” Bull replied sarcastically. “Apparently, someone looking over our shoulder saw something they didn't like in our assessment of the commodore?”

  “Who knows? He might have told someone on the jury he wasn't going to vote guilty. I don't know,” Benny replied. “But, that just ran us out of alternates. We're going to a mistrial.”

  “I bet the powers that be will be pissed,” Bull replied with a smirk. “I don't know how or why the commodore was reassigned away from the trial. It's not supposed to happen that way. But it did.”

  “Quite possibly,” Benny replied with a nod and grin. “Double jeopardy applies.”

  “No.” They turned to Horatio. “I want the trial,” he insisted quietly.

  “Sir? This is our best way of getting you off.”

  “If I get out, I'm a dead man. Someone will arrange something, most likely an inconvenient accident. Also, I'd return to duty. No, I want the trial. We can start over.”

  “I'll … talk to the prosecution,” Benny said, looking at Doctor Bullettine.

  “Admiral, I know you want your time in court, but are you serious?” the psychologist asked. “Something can just as easily happen to you in custody as it can outside it.”

  “I know that. But … let's just say I have my reasons,” Horatio said, bending his head to touch his ear with his fingertips.

  Bull grimaced but then nodded.

  Chapter 26

  When the delay and retrial was announced, it made Admiral Childress furious beyond words. The fact that they had to start over just made JAG a laughing stock. He was aware that Admiral Shren had decided to allow it to play out rather than continuing the trial. The elf was dancing around the image of being corrupt. Captain Prescott and Sherman had both counseled him to remain patient.

  He was even more furious the following morning when a ship transmission from the outskirts of the solar system dumped intel about the situation in Bek B. It took most of the morning for the intel to be processed, but Patty didn't hold back when she got the news. She presented it to the senior staff in an emergency evening conference. When Omar found out about his people who had been turned away from Bek B, he was furious. “How dare they?!?”

  “Talk about being hoisted on your own petard,” Admiral Hill said softly. Omar looked at her sourly. She shook her head. “Sorry, but it fits. You refused to obey orders and even cast doubts on Logan's promotion. Now they are doing the same.”

  “This is … not the same,” Omar said in a strangled voice as his face turned red with rage.

  “Oh no? I seem to recall they used the orders Admiral Irons passed on to us from Caroline, that there are to be … ah,” her fingers found the tablet and then the relevant order. “Article Fourteen, paragraph nine. No flag promotions are to be held without first consulting high command and the president. All list promotions are to be reviewed by the Admiralty on a case-by-case basis. All promoted personnel are to receive implants as due their rank,” she read and then set the tablet down. She knitted her fingers in front of her.

  Sherman grimaced as he looked on to Omar. Admiral Callisto cleared her throat delicately and schooled her expression into impassive lines. She shouldn't be pleased by the turn of events given where it could lead, but she was aware that a part of her perversely was and was rooting for the underdog.

  Where those thoughts would lead she left alone for the moment. She had to focus she reminded herself.

  Omar scowled and looked around the room. Finally, Admiral Shren coughed into his tiny hand. All eyes turned to the elf. “Yes? What is it?”

  “I suppose we could argue that since we're out of contact and in an emergency situation all of the promotions are necessary or consider them frocking,”

  Again, all eyes turned to Omar. Patty thought it was something like a tennis match. “I don't like the idea of calling it frocking,” he ground out. “I won't do that to our people. They deserve better.”

  Sherman hid a grimace. Apparently, the irony of that statement was lost on Omar. “Then using the emergency situation articles … that might be our out.”

  “There is precedence with the Xeno war,” Admiral Shren agreed with a tight nod. “I can cite the relevant articles and events we know of.”

  “Do so,” Omar said.

  “It still won't wash with the navy or the public. The media and the government both have access to the UCMJ articles. They'll tear us apart,” Captain Prescott warned with a shake of her head. She wasn't thrilled that she hadn't been given her own promotion yet. Admiral Draken had counseled her to be patient and that they were trying to avoid any allegations of impropriety in the promotions. Now this, she thought.

  Perhaps it was best she hadn't gotten it after all? She wasn't certain.

  “With our own people it will,” Omar said, shooting her a quelling look.

  “But not all,” she said, meeting his eyes.

  “Give them enough time and this will be forgotten. It will be an ugly memory, and that is all,” Omar said, clearly in a sour mood. He picked at his breakfast, apparently not hungry. The others grimaced and silently decided to drop the matter and stop testing his patience.

  @^@

  “Lieutenant, it's come to my attention that you've been making some … let's say, changes to personnel? Possibly unauthorized
ones?” Admiral Culberg said.

  “Sir?” Lieutenant Weiss asked cautiously.

  “I know you are doing implant surgeries,” he said, eyeing her.

  “I've had some requests. Since my orders were to do them, I didn't see the harm,” she replied. “Most of it is limited to identification implants. All of it is volunteer.”

  “I see. I didn't find anything in the log about orders authorizing this from my predecessor. But, I'll let it slide since a lot has been going on.”

  “Thank you, sir,” the lieutenant said with a slight air of relief.

  “What is the process like?”

  “Well, if it is enlisted and low level it is as simple as swallowing a few pills that have been programmed for the patient's physiology.”

  He blinked at her and then cocked his head. “That's all?”

  “That's the very basic ID implants, sir. The pills will activate when the patient is asleep. They'll create the basic implant in the hand,” she held up a hand. “And wiring to a microcomputer and then make the connections in the brain for the HUD and audio system. There is also an RF tag and limited Wi-Fi.”

  “So that's a basic implant. What about the others?”

  “It goes up from there,” she replied with a nod. She knew it was all on file; he could access it at any time but apparently wasn't interested. “We can tailor the package to the user. Officer implants have more computer hardware support. They can access files, make notes, send and receive files, that sort of thing.”

  “Ah.”

  “There are security systems embedded in each package. The higher the rank, the more implant tech. You, for instance, would have a flag officer's implants.”

  “Well, that goes without saying. Tell me about them.”

  “Well,” she drawled, slowing herself as she pulled up a basic spreadsheet. “You get a more advanced security suite. That protects you in case of assault, an assassination attempt, kidnapping, and has suicide protocols in the event you are captured and tortured.”