Disclaimer: No harm, no infringement intended. Just using some of the characters.

Book 2 - The Trial Part 1

by Dee Price


Tom stood at the doorway of Kathryn and Chakotay's house and watched as they walked with the Lt. toward the Security Transport. Finally he overcame his shock enough to move.

Running down the steps he yelled, "Hey wait a minute! What do you mean arrested and what for? What are the charges, Captain?" He skidded to a stop as Kathryn and Chakotay turned back to him.

"Stop, Tom," ordered Kathryn. "We don't know anything. That's why we are going in, to find out. Now please go back to our guests and politely excuse us. We'll contact you when we know more."

"What's going on?" yelled B'Elanna as she came running out of the house upon hearing Tom's yell.

"Tom, take her back inside," said Chakotay quietly. "When we find out, we'll let everyone know," and taking Kathryn's arm they walked to the transport and stepped in. Within minutes the door sealed shut and the ship left, leaving Tom and B'Elanna standing dumbfounded on the walkway, while Harry, the doctor and Tuvok stood in the doorway of the house with puzzled expressions.

"What has happened, Mr. Paris?" inquired Tuvok as he and B'Elanna turned back to the house.

"The Captain and Chakotay were arrested and they don't know why," he yelled, still upset at the happening.

"Arrested!" chorused Harry and the Doctor.

"On what charge, Mr. Paris?" asked Tuvok when that twosome had quieted down.

"They weren't told, I guess, or that Lt. didn't know," muttered Tom as he started pacing. "We have to do something, you guys!"

"Calm down Mr. Paris. That will not accomplish anything or get us the information we need to know. What exactly did the Captain say?"

"Like I said, Tuvok, they didn't know. Just asked me to excuse their departure to you guys and said when they found out they would let everyone know."

"Then we must wait until the Captain contacts us. I must use the Captain's communication and inform T'Pel that I will not be on tomorrow's transport," and he turned into the house.

Everyone remained upset and grumbling about the arrest, but shortly decide to leave, and after Tom made sure all lights were off and the house secure, they departed.

As Kathryn and Chakotay were led into Starfleet's Headquarters a Captain met them and escorted them into a small room.

"Please be seated, Captain, Commander. Admiral Paris will be in shortly," and he walked out, closing the door quietly behind him.

"You don't seem surprised by this, Kathryn," said Chakotay.

"I'm not really, sweetheart. In the Delta Quadrant we were often forced to bend Starfleet's rules and I'm sure they have taken all my logs and digested each and every sentence."

"Well I hope they get indigestion," he said with a small smile, and then continued with "but things were different in the Delta Quadrant, and Starfleet wasn't any place close. We had to make decisions, based on our situation, and often on the spur of the moment."

"I know, but they might not look at it that way. Plus you and I getting married . . . I could see disapproval in all the Admiral's eyes when I told them that news after our arrival. It was just a matter of time, I guess," she said with a big sigh. "To be truthful, I'm surprised something didn't happen in this vein the minute the debriefings were over."

"Well I expected to be arrested as a former Maquis, but your arrest certainly surprises me."

Kathryn chuckled. "Chakotay, you often told me the Prime Directive was being broken, so I'm sure it's not that big a surprise to you."

He slipped his arm around her and smiled. "Well I'm still the angry warrior and I will be at your side all through this . . . unless they execute me!"

"Stop that! Don't ever say that again," she said angrily as she turned to him.

"Sorry," he said with an apologetic smile.

Just then the door opened and Admiral Paris entered the room with what Kathryn deemed a rather embarrassed look on his face. Accompanying him were a Captain and an Ensign.

"Good evening, Kathryn," he said in a soft, yet contrite voice. "I'm sorry I have to see you in this manner."

"It's nice to see you, Admiral, but please tell me what is going on?"

"Unfortunately the Review Committee has elected to make charges against you, based on their examination thus far of your Logs, as well as the records of Voyager. When I discovered this fact I protested but to no avail, so I persuaded them to let me be the one to inform you of the charges"

"Just what are the charges, Admiral?" asked Chakotay.

The admiral sighed and turned to the Captain standing to one side, who handed him two PADD's. "This is Captain Jensen by the way and Ensign Abbott," said the Admiral as he took the Padd's and again faced Kathryn and Chakotay. He looked at the Padd's a moment and then selecting one looked up at Chakotay.

"Commander I will read yours first as your charges are easily taken care of." He took a deep breath and then read, "Commander Chakotay of the Starship Voyager. You are hereby notified of the following: 1) You are charged with being a Maquis Renegade and in such a capacity have injured Starfleet personnel and destroyed or stolen Starfleet supplies and ships; 2) As the First Officer on the Starship Voyager, you are charged with violating Command Protocol by marrying and cohabitating with the Captain of Voyager, Kathryn Janeway."

Chakotay wanted to laugh at those charges, but maintained a stoic expression. The Admiral looked up at Chakotay as he placed the Padd on the table.

"On the first charge, Commander, I wish to inform you that this charge has just recently been rescinded. For the last seven years you have, by the records on Voyager, served faithfully and loyally and your records show exemplary service with several entries of praise for your valor and sacrifice. Because of that and also the fact that all former Maquis who were previously incarcerated have, within the last year, been released, I have convinced the Review Committee that your seven years in the Delta Quadrant has been akin to time served and they have agreed. Subsequently, just this morning as a matter of fact, dropped those charges. They really shouldn't even have still been on this Padd.

"As to marrying and cohabitating with your Captain, Captain Janeway of Voyager, a review of the facts, of your willingness to sacrifice yourself to protect the ship to be specific, which then resulted in that marriage, has led the Review Committee to feel the onus of such an act fell upon Captain Janeway, that she knew such an act was frowned upon by Starfleet and not to be allowed. Therefore, it was decided just a short time ago that this charge against you has also been dropped. You will be free of all charges tomorrow, Commander."

"Thank you Admiral, but I was unaware all the other Maquis had been released. To me, that is good news as we were only fighting for our homeland. Do you know of their whereabouts?"

"The only thing I can tell you is that part of the agreement on their release involved their asking permission whenever they wished to visit or come to this area. I also think you will be glad to know that no charges have been filed against other former Maquis on Voyager, with basically the same reason, that of the seven years being lost in the Delta Quadrant and exemplary service during that time."

Kathryn smiled at that news and then half expected Admiral Paris, after reading the charges against her, to also dismiss them as Chakotay's had been.

The Admiral then picked up another Padd and looked at Kathryn with sad eyes. "Now Kathryn I'm sorry to do this, but I must read your charges." Kathryn merely nodded.

"Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Starship Voyager: You are hereby notified of several charges lodged against you while Captain of the Voyager in the Delta Quadrant. 1) You are charged with three counts of Murder; 2) You are charged with a minimum of 22 infractions of the Prime Directive; 3) You are charged with aiding and abetting alien technology by selling, bargaining and trading Starfleet Technology for personal gain, which is forbidden; 4) You are charged with being derelict in duty and conduct unbecoming an officer when trying to capture Captain Ransom of the Starship Equinox, such actions almost resulting in a mutiny by your crew; 5) You are charged with violating Starship Protocol by marrying your First Officer, an act, although unwritten, that is fully understood by all Captains to not be entertained; and 6) On the basis of the foregoing charges you will face courts martial and be judged by a jury of your peers."

The Admiral placed the Padd down and looked at Janeway. She sat silently with a stunned expression on her face.

"You are to also understand that additional charges might be added as a Review of all records is still ongoing." He looked down at the table a moment and with a sigh looked up at her and said, "I'm sorry Kathryn."

"I understand Owen," she said, gaining control over her emotions. "But surely you must understand we were about 75 years from Starfleet and faced with many situations that demanded immediate decisions as well as unusual methods to just survive!"

"I'm sure that must be true, but don't argue with me, argue with the jury."

Kathryn looked at Chakotay a moment, who was sitting with an absolutely unbelieving, shocked expression on his face as he stared at the Admiral, and as she took hold of Chakotay's hand, she smiled.

"Well sweetheart," she said, making an obvious show of the love for her husband, "I guess we should start looking for a good defense counsel."

Chakotay looked at Admiral Paris. "Sir," he croaked in a shocked voice and then stopped and cleared his throat, before beginning again. "Sir, we are only just back after seven years away. This is very shocking and doesn't give us much time to prepare for such serious, and I might add, untrue charges. Do you know of, or can you recommend a good counsel for Kathryn?"

"I'm sorry. Off the top of my head I don't, but I will have Ensign Abbott here see what he can find out. Now, I am told the formal arraignment will be made tomorrow morning in Courtroom B at 1100 hours and that we have to take both of you to a cell until then.

"No!" shouted Chakotay. "You know Kathryn, Admiral! You know as officers we won't try to run away. We give our word we will be there tomorrow morning. Please, we don't need to be locked up."

At that moment Captain Jensen leaned forward and whispered in the Admiral's ear. The Admiral nodded and the Captain immediately left the room while the Admiral smiled at Kathryn.

"Our astute Captain Jensen has suggested Monitoring Anklets, to which I have agreed." Then with a smile at Chakotay he said, "Does that meet with your approval, Commander?"

Chakotay gave a tight smile and nodded his head. "I prefer our word that we will appear, but that is better than a night in jail, Admiral. Thank you."

Shortly the Captain arrived and affixed the Monitor to Kathryn's right ankle and then to Chakotay's. As the lights started blinking Kathryn looked at it a moment, digested the full meaning, and then smiled at Chakotay.

"Care to take your felon wife home now, sweetheart?"

"You are not a felon," he immediately snapped, and then with a devilish smile added, "But I would love to take you home so I can pry these damn things off." Then he quickly looked at the stunned Admiral and Captain. "Just kidding," he said.

Despite the seriousness of this situation Kathryn laughed. "As you might come to find out, Commander Chakotay has a warped sense of humor. Goodnight gentlemen, see you at 1100 hours."

After being taken home by the same Security detail that had picked them up, Kathryn and Chakotay quickly walked into their house. As Chakotay shoved the door shut he immediately engulfed Kathryn in a big, tight hug, which he kept tightening until Kathryn was almost suffocating.

"Oh my love, I am so sorry! I love you so much, so very much," he kept murmuring, "and I am really your angry warrior now. We will fight those heinous charges and I will be right at your side all the way."

"I know you will sweetheart. And I love you too, with all my heart," she said with a husky voice.

"How could they do this to you?" he asked as he kissed her neck.

"Some of those charges are true, Chakotay, you know that as well as I. The ones I'm surprised at are the murder charges, but I suppose Tuvix is part of that."

"But there were extenuating circumstances and we'll get the best lawyer in the world and prove it." He pulled his head back just far enough to kiss her and then held her tightly to him once again.

"We will fight it honey, I agree." Then she sighed. "The Incoming Message light is flashing."

"I know I saw it when we came in. Knowing Tom, probably every crewmember of Voyager knows by now."

"I don't really feel up to talking to anyone, honey. I would much rather go to bed and have you hold me tight all night long," she said as she kissed his ear.

"I can do more than that. I'm getting better physically all the time," he said as he sought her lips and kissed her, a very long and passionate kiss.

"You are the best, my love, the very best, but to be brutally honest, I would just like you to hold me and keep telling me you love me."

Chakotay immediately scooped Kathryn up in his arms and headed for the bedroom. "I will do that with the greatest of pleasure."

The following morning, while Kathryn was in the shower, Chakotay sat down at the computer and after tapping a few keys had managed to put all messages in a 'Hold' file until he could read them l. As he sat scanning the voluminous list of senders, Kathryn walked out and peered over his shoulder.

"Anything urgent?"

"No, they are mainly messages from Voyager's crew, but Tom and B'Elanna as well as Harry and Tuvok have sent several."

"They are probably frantic to know what has happened," she said as she rubbed at her wet hair with her towel. "Look at some of the latest ones."

Chakotay tapped on the last one from Tom. Immediately his worried face appeared as he almost shouted, "Where are you guys? What has happened? Please contact us!"

Kathryn grimaced. "I know it's not polite, but let's wait until after the formal charges today."

Chakotay suddenly said, "There is one from Starfleet," and punched that one in. A voice was heart to say, "Captain Janeway. There will be a Transport provided to bring you into the hearing this morning. You should be ready at ten hundred hours."

Kathryn chuckled as Chakotay snapped, "Well at least we don't have to walk!"

Kathryn left the room to get dressed and Chakotay turned on the news and rose to get dressed himself. He stopped in his tracks as the first thing he heard was an announcement that "Captain Kathryn Janeway of the formerly lost Starship Voyager, will be arraigned and charged today with several infractions that occurred while in the Delta Quadrant."

Kathryn, hearing the blaring announcement poked her head out the door and with a smirk said, "So much for having to tell people."

As promised, at 1000 hours they were picked up and escorted to Starfleet Headquarters. As they alighted from the transport, they were immediately surrounded by hordes of the news media, all yelling questions. The Lt. and his two accompanying security guards shouldered their way past, paving a way for a silent Kathryn and Chakotay, until they were safe inside Headquarters. Immediately a Captain Parry stepped forward and announced he would escort them to a private room.

At exactly eleven hundred hours they were brought into the courtroom and directed to sit behind a table. In that brief walk down the aisle to the table, both Kathryn and Chakotay were surprised as well as pleased to see the courtroom not only full but filled by almost all members of voyager's crew. They both smiled. Word certainly had gotten out.

A few moments later an Admiral walked in and took the center seat on the dais, and was soon flanked on both sides by various members of the Review Committee. As Kathryn looked up at them she could not recognize faces but silently noted their stern countenances. The Admiral banged his gavel.

"This hearing will come to order. Will both the defendants please stand?"

Immediately Kathryn and Chakotay joined hands and then stood, straight and proud, and faced the Admiral.

"I am Admiral Scanlon. This is a formal arraignment to announce charges against Captain Kathryn Janeway and Commander Chakotay of the Starship Voyager. Commander Chakotay I will read your charges first."

As the Admiral read the charges Chakotay noted they were exactly the same as what Admiral Paris had told him, but he wondered if the absolving would be the same. It was.

"Therefore, Commander Chakotay," said the Admiral, "you are free of all charges and are free to leave," said Scanlon.

"If it pleases the court," said Chakotay in a clear strong voice, I prefer to remain at my wife's side while you read the charges against her."

"So be it, if that is your choice," said the Admiral in an almost scornful tone as he turned to look at Kathryn.

The charges were the same as last night with one exception. The number of Prime Directive violations had risen to 29 from the previously stated twenty-two of last night. When he finished reading the charges, there was a definite and loud murmur of disagreement in the crowd, which the Admiral quickly silenced.

"Captain Kathryn Janeway. You have heard the charges. How do you plead?" asked the Admiral.

Kathryn, also in a clear strong voice said, "Admiral Scanlon, I am without counsel, as these charges were presented to me only last night and therefore have not allowed me time to find counsel. However, I am familiar enough with Courts Martial proceedings to know I prefer to plead Not Guilty at the present time."

"So noted," said the Admiral. "When do you expect to find counsel, Captain?"

"As soon as possible, Admiral," she responded. "When this hearing is over I shall start looking immediately."

The Admiral frowned and looked first to his left and then his right as he whispered something. At last there seemed to be agreement and the Admiral faced Kathryn.

"Captain, under normal circumstances you would be led from this courtroom to a holding cell." Kathryn's heart thudded at that announcement. "However, you have endured seven years in the Delta Quadrant trying to get back to earth and as a Starfleet Officer, we are inclined to allow you to be free until such time as the jury is convened, at which time you will be held in a cell. Find your counsel quickly Captain," he said as he looked down at a Padd. "I have been informed the trial will commence two weeks from today. That gives you time to find counsel and for him to study the case. This hearing is adjourned," and he banged the gavel and everyone on the dais rose and left the room.

Chakotay immediately hugged Kathryn, as the room became a bedlam of noise. Tom, B'Elanna and Tuvok, as well as many Voyager crewmembers, surged forward toward Captain Janeway.

B'Elanna reached Kathryn first and Janeway immediately held out her arms to the forlorn looking Torres.

"How can they even think of charging you, Captain," fumed B'Elanna. "I'd like to see them survive out in the Delta Quadrant, sticking strictly to their stuffy, precious Starfleet Protocol."

"Easy, B'Elanna," said Kathryn softly. "They do have the right and I did break some rules." Then her eyes caught sight of Tuvok and she reached for his hand.

"My friend, I thought you would be well on your way to Vulcan by now."

"I could not leave in such a situation, Captain, and informed T'Pel of my delay in returning home. She, of course, agreed I must stay and assist in any way I can."

'She is a very understanding woman, Tuvok, but you needn't stay. You haven't seen your wife in seven years!"

"I felt you would be needing assistance on obtaining a lawyer Captain, and this morning I took it upon myself to go into Starfleet early and made some discreet inquiries at the Starfleet Legal and Counsel Assistance office. I did not make much progress but as I was leaving an Ensign caught me in the corridor and quietly informed me there was a young Lt, fairly new, but who had had a few cases and did remarkably well and is highly thought of. I felt he might be too young and inexperienced, but the Ensign appeared to indicate Starfleet is, to put it in her words, 'scared to death you are going to find out about him,' so she arranged a quick meeting for me at ten hundred hours this morning. I was able to return in time for this hearing and must say that although he is young, he did favorably impress me."

"Scared to death, eh, Tuvok," laughed Chakotay. "In that case we must meet him. What is his name?"

A pained expression crossed Tuvok's face. "I regret to inform you I cannot divulge that information as this time, but also I must admit that I unconscionably made an appointment with him for you and without your approval, Captain. However, he has requested it be in secret in the event he wishes to turn down the case. However, I noted he was here and at the end I glanced at him and he nodded his head and held up two fingers. I assumed that meant he wanted to meet you at the prescribed place and time of 1400 hours."

"Why you sly old devil Tuvok," smirked Tom.

Tuvok frowned and opened his mouth, but before he could voice his complaint at that remark, Kathryn chuckled. "He sounds like a man I want to meet, Tuvok. Thank you so much. Chakotay and I are in quite a bind to find counsel and still have enough time to efficiently study my case. Let's all go to lunch and then Mr. Tuvok, you can 'squirrel' us away to this secret meeting."

Tuvok frowned. "I do not understand . . . oh, I assume that is an Earth slang expression. I will add, Captain, I have a shuttle on loan from Starfleet that we may use. I assume they granted my request so easily because they did not want a Vulcan wandering the streets trying to find his way here."

Everyone broke out laughing as they headed out to find a restaurant and have lunch before meeting with this mysterious Lt., with Chakotay clapping Tuvok on the back as they walked out of the courtroom and saying, "You told a joke, Tuvok!"

"I told no joke, Commander, I merely stated the truth," which just made everyone laugh louder.

Following lunch and after goodbyes and wishes of good luck, Tuvok, Kathryn and Chakotay headed out of town. In a small suburb just outside the city, Tuvok parked the shuttle and the threesome walked four blocks to a decrepit looking building that had a sign "Need a Lawyer? Check with me," hanging over a door. Kathryn frowned, but followed Tuvok in and up the stairs.

Tuvok rapped on one of the doors and a man's voice saying "Enter" was heard. They walked into a room devoid of all furniture, but a tall, strapping, handsome Lt. stood in the middle. He smiled and walked forward, extending his hand to all three, as his blue eyes sparkled with appraisal of Kathryn.

"Captain Janeway, it is a pleasure to meet the hero of the Delta Quadrant! I'm Lt. Jason Armstrong. And nice meeting you Commander," he added to Chakotay, as he brushed his blonde hair back.

"I don't know about hero of the Delta Quadrant," laughed Kathryn. "Didn't you hear the charges this morning?"

"Indeed I did Captain, and after a very quick perusal of some of Voyagers records since then, I would call a lot of them 'trumped up' charges. It seems obvious they found a few faults and then went on a witch-hunt to justify the few."

"I agree with you Lt," said Chakotay with a grin. "What do you want to know?"

"Well first, and I apologize for the secrecy and this poor example of a meeting room," he said as he looked around. "We can sit on the floor or just stand, as we might not be that long, but I would like you to briefly explain your version of some of the charges made this morning, and then I will decide whether I want to take your case or not. You realize this will be a media blitz, with the famous Captain Janeway being charged, and I don't know if I want to endure that kind of event."

"Are you saying you don't wish to oppose Starfleet, Lt?" asked Kathryn.

"Not that at all," he quickly objected. "It's just all the publicity that will be ongoing doesn't give me the freedom to move around and make my usual in-depth inquiries. Everyone will know who I am and whom I'm representing and that makes some people clam up and not be too forthcoming. I'm sure you can understand that." Kathryn simply nodded in understanding.

"Good, now let's hear what you have to say on a few of those charges, Captain."

For thirty minutes Kathryn explained her view of what she felt were some of the more important charges and why she did what she did, as well as an explanation of the Captain Ransom affair and her marriage of Chakotay. Occasionally the Lt would ask a question, but mainly he just listened.

"On another matter," she started to say, when Lt. Armstrong held up a hand.

"I have heard all I need at the present time to make my decision, Captain. It's obvious, that being lost and alone in a quadrant and so far from home, you were completely on your own as to making decisions. The fact you made it home shows me those decisions had value. So, if you want me, I would like to handle this case."

Kathryn and Chakotay looked at one another and smiled. "You're on, Lt." said Kathryn.

"Good. I want you come to the Legal Affairs office at," and he looked at his Chronometer, "at 1630 hours and ask for me. I will be called out from my so-called office, we will formally meet and I will shortly announce you have retained me to handle your case. As you are in a Starfleet shuttle, I am sure you will be seen leaving this office. I am supposedly meeting with a client, which I already have done, and I will now slip out the back way without being seen. I'm sorry for the subterfuge, but you will understand after we are formally Counsel and Client. Good luck to us both."

At precisely 1630 hours Kathryn and Chakotay arrived at the Legal Affairs Office and asked for Lt. Armstrong. Immediately there seemed to be frowns and a stir among some of the people in the office. The Lt was called, and in contrast to his confident appearance earlier, he now appeared meek, shy and mild, walking in a slouched appearance which hid his over six feet height very well. This amused both Kathryn and Chakotay. After a half hour in a meeting room, all three walked out with smiles on their faces and Lt Jason, in a rather meek voice and yet loud enough for everyone to hear said, "I will be at your home at 0900 hours in the morning Captain. And thank you for retaining me. I promise you I will do my very best!"

As Kathryn and Chakotay walked toward the exit a Captain suddenly stepped in front of them.

"Captain Janeway, have you really just retained Lt. Armstrong to be your lawyer?"

"Yes I have Captain," she said with a big smile. "He seems like a delightful young man."

"But he's inexperienced for someone of your stature, as well as the magnitude of this case, Captain. Surely you will want to reconsider!"

"I'm satisfied Captain."

The Captain puffed his cheeks and then blew out air in disgust, and muttered, "He really doesn't know anything. I think you'll be sorry, Captain."

Kathryn and Chakotay walked out the door, but after a few steps, Chakotay snuck back and peeked in the door. The Captain was in Communication with some Admiral and was heard to say, "They have retained that pip squeak Armstrong, Admiral. How the heck did they hear about him?"

Chakotay ducked away and caught up with Kathryn with a big grin and after explaining the conversation he heard, she chuckled and said, "I think we just might have stumbled onto a gem of a lawyer, thanks to some unknown Ensign!"

The next morning at precisely 0900 hours Lt. Armstrong knocked on the door. He had a very large container with him, which surprised Kathryn when she opened the door.

"Good morning Lt. My word what do you have there?"

He grinned as he walked in, handling the container with ease and placed it on the kitchen table. "Well the minute you left I immediately sent an official request for all records, reviews and decisions, regarding your charges, to the Legal Affairs Office as well as the Records Office and the Review Committee Chairman.

"I then waited an hour and when I didn't receive any response, including nothing from my own Legal Affairs office, I made a personal visit to Admiral Scanlon's office, the presiding Admiral when your charges were read, and after affirming I was your counsel I was able to meet with him and explained I was not getting any information. He said he would take care of it immediately. Wanting to be sure I was getting my message across to all parties, I then scurried to Admiral Paris' office and explained to his Aide that I was not getting the requested and needed information as Captain Janeway's attorney. Again, at the mention of your name, I was shown into his office. Following that I went directly to the Records Office where I left a personal message on the desk of the Chairman, of my request and expressed my displeasure at the delay.

"Well I guess the fur flew, because when I finally got back to my office, Padd's were piled sky high all over my desk," he said, roaring with laughter at his accomplishment.

"So Captain, we have a lot of work ahead of us today. The first thing I want to do is talk to you regarding each and every charge. I want to get a good feeling of exactly what was happening to you out in that Delta Quadrant, which caused these actions or infractions."

"But what about my finding out about Starfleet's notes on the violations and why they feel I need to be charged?" she quickly asked.

"I guess I didn't make myself clear. We will take each of Starfleet's charge from their Padd, and you will explain fully what happened and why you took such action, while I take notes. I myself will not look at their notes today, as I want your voice on what happened, not Starfleet's opinion. I am your defense counsel, remember, so it's important I hear your version of events and then later I will compare all this with the voluminous container of Padd's. I assure you, I will eventually inform you of everything the Review Committee said regarding what and why, but first your voice and explanation," he said as he pulled a Padd from his jacket pocket.

Kathryn smiled, nodded her head with enthusiasm and understanding, and immediately showed him to a seat, Chakotay ordered coffee from the Replicator for Kathryn and Herbal Tea for himself and the Lt. After taking a sip, the Lt looked at Kathryn.

"I don't know how you feel about this Captain, but I would prefer you just call me Jason. I know the formalities of rank are expected, but when working on cases, it makes me feel stiff, especially in private sessions."

Kathryn chuckled. "Well Jason, we are agreed. You may call me Kathryn."

He grinned. "Good. Kathryn it is now, and the formal Captain Janeway in the courtroom. Let's get busy!"

At 1800 hours that evening the Lt. gathered up all his notes. "All right, that completes going over all the charges. Sorry it took so long Captain, but we are short of time and I have lots to do. It was important to cover all of this with you today." He grinned. "I don't think I will be getting much sleep for awhile," he said as he stood.

"Now as for tomorrow, I will spend the entire day comparing your logs, your explanations of today with the Review Committee's notes, on each and every charge, so it's going to take me well into the night, if not more. As for you Captain, I simply want you to relax, make notes if you think of anything you haven't told me and then send them to this number," and he quickly sat down at her computer and typed in his name and the number where he could be reached twenty-four hours a day.

Looking at Chakotay he smiled. "It's your job Commander to make sure your wife stays relaxed and doesn't fret about this."

Chakotay grinned. "Oh I can take care of that Lt."

Jason looked at him and then with a sly smile and wink said, "Yeah that might work too. Well I'll contact you tomorrow anytime I have questions, so if you don't mind, stay home. Good night Kathryn, Chakotay," and he picked up the container of Padd's, strode briskly to the door, opened it and walked out.

"I do like that young man, Chakotay," said Kathryn as she shut the door. "I think we are in good hands."

For the next two weeks questions flew back and forth. Also, the Lt. visited as many crewmembers of Voyager as he could find. He planned on having Commander Tuvok, Lt. Tom Paris, Lt. B'Elanna Torres, and Ensign Harry Kim as witnesses for sure and was now moving on to other crewmembers to determine whom else he wanted to call as witnesses.

Kathryn herself was flooded with calls. After the first five, Chakotay diverted them to a 'hold' file, to answer later. He did answer some of them himself, thereby letting Kathryn rest and concentrate only on each request that came from the Lt.

The night before the trial, as Admiral Scanlon had indicated would happen, a Security detail appeared, with the same Lt. that had appeared with the arrest warrants. Kathryn was informed she would now have to spend her time in the detaining cell. Chakotay held her tight, not wanting to let her go.

"This will be our first night apart since we got married, sweetheart," he said softly.

"I know darling and I don't like it. Hopefully it won't be for long. Now take care of yourself and I'll see you tomorrow." They kissed and she turned, nodded to the Lt, and Chakotay felt empty and hopeless as he watched the shuttle lift off.

At 0800 hours the following morning, the courtroom was full. Chakotay, along with Tom and B'Elanna, Harry and Tuvok were in the first row, directly behind the defense table. They were allowed to attend only the beginning of this session, as all had been served with warrants to be witnesses. Voyager's crewmembers were seated in and around the room, so many of them in fact, it appeared they were filling the courtroom all by themselves.

Kathryn knew some were not present, as Jason had told her last night in a visit to her cell of the list of witnesses on her behalf, as well as telling her of the prosecution witnesses. Neither list surprised her with the names.

Shortly Lt Armstrong walked into the courtroom and shook Chakotay's hand and then informed him that today would probably be 'just finding out who the presiding Admiral would be, who the jury was and opening statements by both prosecution and defense', which would be where any witnesses in the trial would be asked to leave. It was important to Chakotay that he was visible at the start, to show Kathryn he was by her side.

Shortly Captain Janeway was led in from a side door and as she reached the defense table she smiled at Lt Armstrong but turned to Chakotay, and they engaged in a brief, but tight, hug. Following that she smiled and nodded at Tom, B'Elanna, Tuvok and Harry and then sat in her chair.

The side door again opened a few moments later, the call of "All rise" was heard and an Admiral walked out and up to the dais. As he sat the jury filed in and took their appointed places along the side of the room.

"Know any of them Captain?" asked Jason.

"None." She replied. "You forget I have been out of circulation for over seven years."

"Well I am familiar with the Presiding Admiral. His name is Chester Dodge. Sometimes he is very stiff, sometimes relaxed, but he always listens to every word and is, in my opinion, a fair man. We are very fortunate to have him. As to the jury, well there are some staunch Starfleeters in that group, which means I definitely have my work cut out for me. The prosecutor is nice, but can be an ornery guy too. His name is Captain Bradley Jordan."

"I know you will do well, Lt." Kathryn whispered.

The gavel suddenly banged and the Admiral said, "These proceedings will come to order. You may all be seated. I am Admiral Dodge and will be the ruling authority in this case of The Federation of Starfleet Command vs. Captain Kathryn Janeway. Will the Bailiff please read the charges against Captain Janeway," said the Admiral. The bailiff, a Lt of rather small stature stood, took the Padd from the Admiral, and in a loud, deep, but clear voice, belying his small frame, began to read.

"In the matter of the Starfleet Federation vs. Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Starship Voyager, the following charges have been filed against Captain Janeway. To wit:

Charge I – Captain Janeway, while Captain of the Starship Voyager has herewith been charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

Specification 1. The said Captain Janeway, with malice and aforethought did willingly end the life of a sentient being by name of Tuvix, a life form created by a Transporter malfunction and uniting the life forms of Lt Commander Tuvok and Ambassador Neelix.

Specification 2. Captain Janeway transported a lone alien life form known as Species 8472, to a Hirogen ship, knowing full well that with the Hirogen its mortal enemy, she was sending said Species 8472 to its death.

Specification 3. Captain Janeway, with malice and aforethought, and aware of the consequences, did attempt to murder Noah Lessing former crewmember of the S.S. Equinox, by removing the force field from the Cargo Bay where Mr. Lessing was held captive, and thus allowing a nucleogenic alien life form the ability to enter. Only through the intervention of First Officer Commander Chakotay, was Noah Lessing's life saved.

Charge II -- Captain Janeway, Captain of the Starship Voyager, has herewith been charged with six counts of Disobeying Orders and/or Dereliction of Duty. To wit:

Specification 1. Captain Janeway did deliberately and knowing full well the consequences, destroy what became known as the Caretaker's Array. Said Array could have transported Voyager, its crew and the Maquis criminals she was sent to find, back to the Alpha Quadrant, but by destroying the said Array, Voyager, its crew and the Maquis were effectively stranded over 70,000 light years from Earth.

Specification 2. Captain Janeway interfered with an alien life form known as Species 6339's attempt to infect a Borg Vinculum, despite a known Starfleet Directive from Admiral Necheyev to seek every opportunity to destroy the Borg. An infected Vinculum would have spread throughout the Borg, thus achieving Admiral Necheyev's Directive.

Specification 3. Captain Janeway did willfully jeopardize her crew and the Federation, by giving Borg nanoprobes to Species 8472, despite said Species' having previously vowed to destroy Earth.

Specification 4. Captain Janeway did knowingly disobey orders to not alter or disturb alien races by activating over one hundred stasis pods containing a violent, predatory race known as the Vaadwaur, who had been not only at war for centuries with a race known as the Turei, but also preyed on neighboring planets by use of what was called subspace corridors. By said activation, the killings and war against the Turei was resumed by the Vaadwaur.

Specification 5. Captain Janeway, through lack of diligence and awareness, and therefore derelict in duty, did allow her ship to be captured by an alien race known as the Kazon, such action resulting in Captain Janeway and her crew being stranded on a barren, alien planet, where two crewmembers subsequently died.

Specification 6. Captain Janeway, through negligence and lack of discipline in her crew, allowed Lt. Commander Tuvok to exchange Voyager Technology for a method of folding space, a mechanism that could have moved Voyager 30 years closer to Earth

Subsection 1: However, the race in question had turned down Captain Janeway's request for the mechanism; thus, again through negligence on the part of Captain Janeway, two former Maquis criminals, Lt. Torres, and Seska, along with Lt. Commander Tuvok formed a plan to obtain it illegally.

Subsection 2: Again through negligence on the part of Captain Janeway, The Maquis criminal Seska, aided by Lt Torres, subsequently tried to install this mechanism on Voyager, resulting in a malfunction and the warp core having to be dumped to prevent the loss of Voyager.

Charge III: Captain Janeway is herewith charged with six counts Aiding and or Abetting Criminals. To wit:

Specification l. Captain Janeway willingly brought on board Voyager the known criminals, the Maquis, and without any incarceration or sworn loyalty oath, did integrate them into her crew.

Specification 2. Seska, a criminal Maquis, rejected Captain Janeway's leadership from the start, yet Captain Janeway did not incarcerate her, but kept her integrated in Voyager's crew. Further, Seska did knowingly and willingly turn against Captain Janeway and betray her, first by giving the Kazon Starfleet Technology and then using her knowledge of Voyager's technology and systems, obtained by being made a member of Voyager's crew by Captain Janeway, assist in capturing the ship and stranding Voyager's crew on the aforesaid barren planet. It was later learned that not only was Seska a Maquis criminal, but also a Cardassian spy cosmetically altered to look like a Bajoran.

Specification 3. Captain Janeway did knowingly allow Dr.Ma'Bor Jetrel aboard Voyager, knowing full well he was responsible for the destruction of the planet Rinax and therefore the murder of millions of people. Further, Captain Janeway, despite knowing of Dr Jetrel's previous misdeeds, did allow him the use of Voyager's technology while he worked on an experiment, accepting his word it was to 'right a wrong.'

Specification 4. Captain Janeway did knowingly bring on board Voyager a load of murderers when their ship experienced difficulties and who were being transported to their execution, and set up incarceration cells in the Cargo Bay for said murderers. To knowingly assist where execution is the end result is a serious violation of Starfleet principles. Further, one prisoner by name of Iko was discovered to have a congenital brain defect by the EMH, such defect predisposing him to violence. Captain Janeway allowed Borg nanoprobes to be introduced into his system, thus changing the behavior of Iko. Captain Janeway, then in sympathy with Iko, instigated an appeal to have his sentence changed.

Specification 5. Captain Janeway, after activating the murdering species the Vaadwaur, and despite repeated warning of the Turei, did work with them in the hope of obtaining information and use of the subspace corridors, which would have speeded Voyagers return. Such cooperation led to putting Voyager and her crew in mortal danger.

Specification 6. Captain Janeway, with full knowledge the Borg were the known enemies of the Federation, did forge an alliance with the said Borg against the Borg's mortal enemy, the aforesaid Species 8472, thus aiding and abetting the Borg to eliminate an enemy that could defeat them As later learned the Borg broke the alliance and turned once again against Voyager, thus giving Captain Janeway only momentary safe passage through Borg space and placing her ship and crew, once again, in mortal danger.

Charge IV: Captain Janeway is hereby charged with four counts of Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and Reckless Endangerment of her crew. To wit:

Specification 1. Captain Janeway did recklessly endanger the welfare of her ship and crew by promoting B'Elanna Torres, a former Starfleet Cadet who didn't complete training, to Chief Engineer. This followed shortly the promotion of Chakotay, former Captain of the Maquis, over Lt. Tuvok, to be her First Officer. Captain Janeway also granted Tom Paris, a former Maquis released to Captain Janeway from the New Zealand Penal Colony, a field commission of Lt. This effectively placed three former traitors to the Federation on Captain Janeway's Senior Staff, and in essence put the Maquis in control of Voyager, with only Captain Janeway and Lt. Tuvok, along with a very inexperienced Ensign, standing between the Maquis having complete control of Voyager. Such action of putting former traitors to Starfleet in command positions recklessly endangered her crew and belied her fitness to command.

Specification 2. Captain Janeway, while in an area termed The Void by the crew, did retreat to her quarters for a lengthy period of time, refusing to come to the Bridge despite repeated requests by Commander Chakotay, thus exhibiting unwillingness to command and captain the ship. This behavior of denying the crew her leadership is unacceptable behavior for a Captain of a Starship.

Specification 3. Captain Janeway did with malice and aforethought, recklessly endanger her ship and crew as she stalked Captain Ransom of the S.S. Equinox with avowed vengeance and intent to destroy his ship, with such behavior resulting in anxiety and mistrust of their Captain by the crewmembers of Voyager. When First Officer Chakotay attempted to stop this behavior he was removed from the bridge and confined to quarters.

Specification 4. Captain Janeway, without thought of the safety of her ship or crew, or the consequence of failure, did steal aboard a Borg cube for the intention of rescuing Seven of Nine, a former Borg drone who had returned to the collective.

Charge V. Captain Janeway is herewith charged with three counts of Violations of the Temporal Prime Directive. To wit:

Specification 1. Captain Janeway did beam on board Voyager, a Romulan Captain who it was learned was twenty years from Voyager's past. Capt Janeway did knowingly send messages back with him, thus violating the temporal prime directive, but asking the said Captain to deliver the messages twenty years in his future, thus attempting to temper this grievous violation.

Specification 2. Captain Janeway is believed to have caused or participated in a temporal incursion. Although her logs do not mention such an occurrence, minute examination of the computer's core/database divulged a mixture of indecipherable information at one point, with only the words 'Annorax, timeship, alter, temporal, incursion, year and hell' within the erased information on the computer's drive. Thus it is determined from these 'squiggles' of information, that some type of temporal incursion or similar incident had occurred involving Voyager. Although information is skimpy at best, it is clear Voyager was involved in some such incursion, and had Captain Janeway kept her crew diligent and aware, this 'timeship' would have been noted on Voyager's sensors, reported to her, and as Captain she would know to stay clear of such a vessel.

Specification 3. Captain Janeway did, knowing the uncertainty and dangers of such unproven technology, willingly attempted an installation of an object that would form a Quantum Slipstream. Although Captain Janeway reported the attempt was unsuccessful and the effort aborted, minute examination of Voyager's computer drives again divulged and incident, whereby time was changed. The proof of this charge is in a message from an old Harry Kim to the present Ensign Harry Kim, stating, "We are attempting to change history. You owe me one." This clearly indicates time had been altered and a future erased, which is a gross violation of the Temporal Prime Directive.

Charge VI. Captain Janeway is herewith charged with committing twenty-nine violations of the Prime Directive while in the Delta Quadrant. While some are minor and in question, all violations are hereby listed. To wit:

Specification 1. Captain Janeway, mindful of the Borg's reputation, and in full knowledge that the Borg was Starfleet's hated enemy, did willingly forge an alliance with the Borg for the original purpose of safe passage through their space.

Specification 2. Captain Janeway did interfere with the natural development of the alien Kazon taking over the Array, when she willfully destroyed it, thus making an enemy of the Kazon. Whether the Kazon would have destroyed the Ocampa race, which Captain Janeway professed to save by destroying the Array, will never be known as the natural course of events was irreparably altered by Captain Janeway's actions.

Specification 3. Captain Janeway did willingly beam a deactivated Robot aboard Voyager and authorized the using of Federation Technology to revive it, not knowing the Robot's intended purpose. Upon reactivation the Robot insisted Lt. Torres build more units, which was a violation of the Prime Directive. Belatedly, Captain Janeway refused, resulting in the Robot taking Lt. Torres prisoner.

Specification 4. Captain Janeway did willingly surrender Voyager to the Kazon rather than destroy the ship, thus placing all of Starfleet and Voyager's technology in the hands of an enemy.

Specification 5. Captain Janeway did allow a pre-sentient "silver blood" life form to be formed by allowing the sampling of the crew's DNA. This is judged to be a serious violation in that this 'silver blood' life form's evolution was thus severely altered, with their true evolution to never take place.

Specification 6. Captain Janeway did willingly and with full knowledge present Holodeck Technology to the alien race called the Hirogen, a violent, predatory race, who callously used such technology to sharpen their hunting skills when searching for prey. As hunters and murderers the Hirogen were incapable of using the technology in the manner Captain Janeway intended, and in fact misused the technology to create Holodeck life forms as prey, with such life forms taking on sentience, rebelling against the Hirogen and convincing Voyager's EMH to desert Voyager and join them. Thus Captain Janeway not only lost her EMH, but also her Chief Engineer who was kidnapped by these sentient life forms. Captain Janeway then became a participant, albeit unwilling, in further murders while attempting to retrieve the noted EMH and Engineer.

Specification 7. Captain Janeway willingly and mindful of the consequences, did interfere with the natural chain of events when she attempted to steal a Replicator from two Ferengi who had taken residence on the planet Takar. Although the Ferengi . . .

Kathryn closed her mind to the continuous drone of the Bailiff reading the prime directive violation charges against her, and allowed herself to think back on those seven years in the Delta Quadrant. Had all that really happened? Had she really committed one violation after another to survive, to save her crew, to get back to Earth? She could recall each instance as if it were yesterday.

She thought of all the dangers they had faced, all the aliens they had met, some friendly, some not friendly at all, of almost losing her ship to the Kazon and mused they were fortunate to have survived one year let alone seven. Maybe she deserved to be court-martialed, but she had gotten her crew home and she was proud of that. Had she . . .

Suddenly she was brought out of her reverie by Jason as she felt him nudge her arm with his elbow and blinking her eyes focused her attention on the bailiff and became aware he was reading the last charge against her.

Charge VII. Captain Janeway is charged with Violation of Starfleet Protocol, specifically the command structure, when she did marry her First Officer, Commander Chakotay, despite Starfleet's unwritten rule that Captains may not consort with members of their crew.

Specification 1. Captain Janeway, despite Starfleet Protocol upon such matters, did willingly marry her First Officer Commander Chakotay. Although the situation was radically different with Voyager being stranded so far from Earth in the Delta Quadrant, and thus varied radically from most Starfleet missions, Captains are expected to avoid such happenings. By marrying her First Officer, she did place the command structure of Voyager in peril, with such peril possibly endangering the ship's welfare.

Following the reading, the bailiff walked to Admiral Dodge and handed him the Padd. Nodding as he took it the Admiral looked down at Kathryn.

"Captain Janeway, you have now heard the final and official charges read against you in your Court Martial, with some very serious and grievous charges made. During your arraignment two weeks ago, when the charges were first made known to you, you were without counsel. As you now have counsel, how say you now?"

Jason nodded to her and Kathryn stood and in a clear voice said, "Not guilty, Admiral."

"So noted," responded the Admiral. "The next order of business is the opening statements by both counsels so if the pros . . ."

"If I may Admiral," said Lt Armstrong as he quickly rose to his feet, "and I apologize to the court for interrupting you."

"Yes Lt?" asked the Admiral with a frown.

"If it please the court, ever since the arraignment two weeks ago I have diligently studied not only the charges themselves, but correlated Voyager's and Captain Janeway's logs regarding the said charges. I listened intently to the re-reading of all the charges just now and I would like to make a motion before opening statements." He hesitated momentarily while he reached down to the table for a Padd, and holding it up above his head, continued with, "All told there are fifty charges against Captain Janeway . . ."

"Please get on with it Lt.," said the Admiral, his frown deepening.

"Yes sir. As I was saying there are fifty charges against Captain Janeway and I have on this pad motions to dismiss forty-five of them as untrue, invalid and irrelevant."

A stir could be heard, not only at the prosecutor's table, but also throughout the courtroom.

"Really?" said the Admiral with a hint of surprise in his face. "And on what basis of fact, Lt?"

"I previously stated I have studied the charges, the logs and the Starfleet Manual on Code of Conduct, sir. On every motion for dismissal I have documented and referenced my refutation to the charge."

"Let's hear your motions Lt Armstrong," said the Admiral with a sigh as he leaned back in the chair.

"Well sir, as a prime example," and he poked at the Padd, "On the charge of Murder, Specification 2, Captain Janeway was not the individual to transport Species 8472. She was in fact trying to arrange his return to Fluidic Space, when Seven of Nine, in a moment of panic, and in front of a stunned EMH, did transport Species 8472 to the Hirogen ship without permission. She later apologized to Captain Janeway, but the damage had been done.

"On Disobeying Orders, five of the six charges are invalid or untrue and I have documentation, Stardate and page references in Voyager and Captain Janeway's logs to prove my motions for dismissal on each.

"Regarding the charge of Captain Janeway activating the stasis pods of the ancient aliens, the Vaadwaur, with such activation a clear violation of the Prime Directive of 'non-interference', Captain Janeway's logs clearly indicate it was Seven of Nine who activated the pod without clearance to do so. Therefore Captain Janeway should not be the one charged with such a violation."

Lt. Armstrong looked up. "These are just examples within my motions, Admiral." He suddenly grinned sheepishly. "Oh! I apologize to the court. You asked me to read my motions not give examples." He cleared his throat, but was quickly interrupted by the Admiral.

"That will take too long, Lt. Bring me your motions and both counsel approach the bench."

Both Jason and Captain Jordan quickly rose and walked to the Admiral. As Jason approached, the Admiral held out his hand for the Padd and then leaned back and started to read. One minute went by, then two and then three. Suddenly the Admiral leaned forward.

"This is indeed exact and documented work Lt. and to be fair I cannot read them quickly. Therefore, I am going to call a recess. You may both return to your seats."

Captain Jordan opened his mouth to protest, but the Admiral cut him off with a withering glare and said, "I would do no less for your client if the situation were reversed, Captain. Now take your seat."

As Jason walked back he was in a position where neither the Admiral nor the jury could see his face and he looked at Chakotay and winked.

Chakotay knew something had happened but had enough common sense to not smile or change his expression, but his heart leaped at the thought that Jason might have some charges dropped.

"The defense has presented compelling evidence concerning his motions. I am therefore calling a recess of at least thirty minutes so these motions may be studied fairly," said the Admiral. He banged his gavel and strode quickly out of the room. Moments later the Bailiff led the jury out.

Jason stood as the Security guard approached him. "Please show us to Counselor Room 1B Lt."

As the Lt nodded Jason turned to Chakotay and the others in the front row. "I would suggest you people find something to do. You have all been called as witnesses and therefore cannot hear any more. I granted your request to hear the charges because you all wanted to show support for Kathryn, but your further presence will not be allowed."

Chakotay frowned as he reached out and took hold of Kathryn's hands. "I so want to be at your side through all of this Kathryn."

"I know sweetheart, and you will be, even if only in spirit."

"Can I visit Kathryn, tonight Jason?" asked Chakotay.

"I can arrange it as long as there is no discussion regarding the case," he replied. "However, I will have to be present to prevent any misconception by the prosecution. Well, we have to go. The Lt is waiting."

"I'll see you tonight, honey," said Chakotay as he gave her a tight hug.

As Kathryn and Jason were led away by the Lt, Chakotay stood quietly watching her until she disappeared through a door.

Tom clapped him on the shoulder. "It's a little early, but let's all find a restaurant and have something to drink."

"Yeah," said Harry quietly. "And if we take long enough on that we can have lunch and then maybe enough time has gone by that we can check back here to see what's happening."

"It's worth a try," said B'Elanna and the group, along with a quiet and frowning Tuvok left the courtroom.

Thirty minutes went by while Jason and Kathryn sat quietly in the Counselor Room awaiting the summons to return to the courtroom. Kathryn was amazed that Jason had made motions for so many charges to be dismissed, but he had just grinned, in a delighted yet mischievous manner, and said that a lot of the charges had no merit and the review committee had wasted a lot of time. "It's better to have them dismissed than try to argue a moot point."

"Do you think Admiral Dodge will dismiss any of them?"

"Oh sure - I'm quite confident he will. Of course, in my opinion I think all of my motions should be honored, but we'll see shortly whether the Admiral agrees with me," he said with a chuckle.

An hour went by and then two. This just made Jason smile. The longer the Admiral took, the more he was studying the merits of dismissal. At least that's what Jason hoped. At last there was a knock on the door and the security guard poked his head in and told them the Admiral had announced he was ready to resume.

As they sat in the courtroom the Admiral walked briskly to the dais and took his seat, banged the gavel and called the courtroom to order.

"I apologize for taking so long, but the motions for dismissal by Lt Armstrong were not only lengthy but exceptionally well documented with specific references to each charge, and I compliment Lt Armstrong on a job well done. I have finally made my decision. Lt Armstrong has submitted Motions for Dismissal of forty-five of the fifty charges against Captain Janeway and after due diligence and study I find that I concur on forty-one of the motions to dismiss, which still leaves Captain Janeway to face nine charges."

A tremendous uproar arose in the courtroom as the spectators realized what the Admiral had just ruled, and he banged away with his gavel to silence them.

Captain Jordan jumped to his feet. "Sir I protest!"

"On what grounds, Captain?" asked the Admiral. "Some of those charges were ludicrous and I believe our esteemed Review Committee had too much exuberance to charge Captain Janeway with anything they could find. Lt Armstrong proved that point quite conclusively in his documentation. However, the nine remaining charges are quite serious. Now I realize with so many charges dropped this has had quite an impact on your opening statement, as well as the defense counsel's remarks because he had no idea what I would accept or reject regarding his motions, so I have made a copy of the remaining nine charges for each of you and will now call a recess until 1430 hours this afternoon."

The Bailiff stepped forward to take the offered Padd's from the Admiral, and he moved to give one to each counsel. Jason quickly glanced through the remaining charges and stood, saying "Admiral, a question if I may?"

Admiral Dodge was virtually in the motion of calling recess and stopped, looked at Armstrong and said, "What now Lt?"

"Sir, one of the charges remaining . . . I confess I am confused as to why?"

"Which charge is it you're referring to?" the Admiral said with an audible sigh.

"Specification III within the Prime Temporal Violations, sir. Where an elderly Harry Kim is stating to the Ensign Harry Kim of Voyager about changing history. Sir - there isn't anything within Captain Janeway's logs, Voyager's logs or Voyagers internal computer that indicates anything occurred. You dismissed Annorax and the Timeship, Specification II, so why did you allow this charge to remain?"

"Because of the message itself Lt. It was retrieved from the data base and is on record as an actual message received."

"But it doesn't explain anything, sir. It is only a message, which could, in reality, be only part of a message, or something from an alternate universe that somehow ended up on our Voyager!"

"Then maybe that is something you need to do more of your excellent research on Lt. It could also mean that there was an attempt to erase the message and only that much somehow remained."

"That couldn't be sir, because Captain Janeway herself turned the message over to Harry Kim and said she didn't understand it, that maybe he could figure it out. So . . ."

"You are contradicting yourself now, Lt Armstrong. The charge remains because it does indicate something peculiar happened."

Jason started to open his mouth and then just straightened his posture slightly and said, "Yes sir," and sat down.

The Admiral continued to stare down at Jason for a few moments, making Jason think he had pushed too hard, but suddenly the Admiral picked up his gavel, sharply banged it and with the curt, "This hearing is in recess until 1430 hours," rose and left the court.

The buzz in the room became louder as all the spectators commenced talking at once as they slowly filed out of the room. Jason smiled at Kathryn as he started to gather his Padd's and she grabbed him and gave him a big hug.

"Marvelous work Jason!" she said.

"Well we won a small victory, but there is still a war to be fought, Kathryn."

"What charges are left?" she asked.

He glanced quickly through the Padd and upon looking up smiled again.

"The ones I thought would be, actually, but they are the serious ones that we should be concerned about. Give me a few moments and then I'll come see you in your holding cell," and he nodded to the Lt to take Kathryn away.

An hour later as Kathryn sat in her cell she heard Jason's voice.

"I'm Lt Armstrong, counsel for Captain Janeway. Can you put the force field down so I may enter and confer with my client, please?"

As the guard examined Jason's credentials, Armstrong smiled. "You are new here, Lt. What happened to Lt Sutton?"

"He has apparently received an assignment to return to the Security Office, sir," said the guard as he handed Jason's Padd back to him. "How long will you be sir?"

"Hard to say Lt. My client and I have a lot to discuss," he said abruptly as he moved in front of Kathryn's cell. As the force field went down he smiled and stepped in, then turned and called out, "I see Captain Janeway hasn't had lunch yet, Lt. How about ordering it now and include some for me," he said with a slight chuckle.

"So what is the news Jason?" asked Kathryn as he sat down beside her.

"Well the remaining charges as I said are serious, but quite defensible, considering the situation you were in so far from home. Let's see," he said as he fumbled in his bag and finally pulled out a Padd.

"Okay, you still have two counts of Murder, which involves Tuvix and Noah Lessing. Tuvix is easily defendable in my opinion, but we will discuss it further as we go along.

"On Disobeying Orders you still have Specification 4 regarding the Vaadwaur, on Aiding and Abetting, it is Specification 5 which again involves the Vaadwaur, and on Conduct Unbecoming you have the serious charge Specification 3 with that nasty business with Captain Ransom and the Equinox as well as Specification 2 on your refusing to come out of your quarters when in The Void. I'm not quite sure why he left that one in. Then the Violations of the Temporal Prime Directive, Specification 3, concerning Harry Kim's message from the future, and on which I just may have irritated the Admiral. I have to have a long talk with Mr Kim on that. Maybe he can enlighten me.

As to the twenty-nine Prime Directive violations we lucked out and the only charge there is Specification 6 concerning giving Holodeck technology to the Hirogen, and then the last charge, that of marrying Commander Chakotay, your First Officer, which to me is perfectly understandable being out in the Delta Quadrant, possibly for a lifetime, but we have to make the jury understand that, and as I stated before, there are some hard-line Starfleet people there."

He looked up from the Padd and smiled. "This isn't going to be easy, Kathryn, despite my getting so many charges dropped. Some of those that remain are quite serious as far as Starfleet is concerned."

"I know, and I understand. I'm quite sure you will do your best. I trust you Jason," said Kathryn with a quick smile. He nodded his thanks and looked back at the Padd.

"Also, the Admiral has written a paragraph at the end stating, and I quote, 'If the prosecution mentions, during his opening statement, during questioning of a witness, or even in passing in any way, any of the dropped charges, the defense counsel has the right to dispute such charge with his documented proof.' So he's clearing the way, in a sense for some of those dropped charges to be brought up, and it wouldn't surprise me if Captain Jordan did just that."

Jason looked up and smiled again. "However, I must say in all honesty, those nine remaining charges are much more manageable and defendable then that massive fifty, but some are pretty serious stuff, don't you agree?"

"Yes I do agree," she said softly, "But those were difficult times for everyone and I was just trying to get my crew home."

The guard suddenly appeared in front of the cell. "Lunch has arrived sir." And then with a cocky grin he added, "And there seems to be enough for two people."

Jason laughed as the force field went down and the cart was wheeled in.

"Let's eat first Kathryn and talk later. Besides, I still have to work on my opening remarks, so I won't be here very long."

* * *

Court resumed at precisely 1430 hours and Captain Jordan rose to give his opening statement.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. When Captain Janeway first sailed Voyager into view at Earth after being lost for seven year in the Delta Quadrant, we were ecstatic. She had done it. She had come home. Sadly, as we look at this woman," he said pointing to Janeway sitting beside Jason, "we have discovered she is not a hero. Examination of her personal logs as well as the ship's logs divulged many violations. Violations she felt might be excused by the extraordinary task of getting her ship home.

"Although my esteemed colleague, the defense counsel Lt Armstrong, has managed to dismiss many of her violations as trivial or irrelevant, I ask you, how could anyone in good conscience excuse what she did? She manipulated Starfleet Rules and Regulations to get home; she gave away Starfleet Technology to aliens in the Delta Quadrant, and for all we know those aliens may someday attack Earth! She murdered a man and attempted to murder another! She circumvented a plan to do away with the Borg, Starfleet's vaunted, most dangerous and hated enemy. She went after another Starfleet Captain with not only an obsession, but also a vendetta to kill him and was only stopped by her First Officer. She consorted and made deals with criminals, putting her ship and crew at risk; she activated the stasis pods of a murderous race the Vaadwaur and then worked with them! With all that who knows what she did to change history. Maybe Harry Kim can explain that violation, but the responsibility still rests with Captain Janeway.

"Strike one," mumbled Jason.

"She professed to run her ship by staunch Starfleet Rules, but when you look at her escapades and violations, you know that is a lie!"

Kathryn stiffened at that remark and put her hands in her lap, where she tightly clenched them into fists.

"Easy" whispered Jason under his breath as he quietly leaned toward her and tried to make her relax.

"This is proven conclusively when she married her First Officer Chakotay, an act frowned upon by Starfleet and strictly adhered to by all Starfleet officers. In addition, although it has been dismissed, she showed little concern for her crew by retreating to her quarters when in The Void and refusing to come out, which to me is an unconscionable act by a Starfleet Captain!

"Strike two," muttered Jason.

"Now we are to judge this woman, a woman who has committed violations beyond comprehension, worked with criminals and who in destroying the array, deliberately stranded she and the crew, not to mention the Maquis who she was supposed to return to Earth, and then compounds that little disobedience by marrying Chakotay the Maquis captain and now her supportive First Officer!"

"Strike three," said Jason softly as he leaned back.

"Ladies and gentleman," continued Captain Bradley, "the prosecution will show you the evidence that Captain Janeway is guilty of all the charges against her and I know you will return the just verdict of Guilty as charged."

The Captain then walked slowly to his seat, glaring at Jason as he walked by. As he reached his seat he turned to the Admiral and said, "Thank you. That is all I have to say at the present time, your honor."

Dodge looked at him a moment, but did not acknowledge his bringing up some of the dismissed charges and then glanced down and nodded at Jason.

"The defense may now state their opening remarks."

Jason leaned toward Kathryn and whispered in her ear, "I'm not going to say anything about what Bradley did." Kathryn just nodded her head

Jason rose from his seat and walked toward the jury. When near where they were sitting, all having impassive expressions on their faces, he suddenly stopped and deliberately took time to look each person in the eye. Then taking a deep breath he began.

"Ladies and gentleman of the jury. In that far off Delta Quadrant, no one can hear you scream." He hesitated and let that statement sink in.

"What do I mean by that? Simply this: Voyager was over 70,000 light years from home. There wasn't a nearby Starfleet base where they could stop for repairs and take on supplies. There wasn't Starfleet Command anywhere near them so they could make a call and receive advice or advise them of what was going on. They couldn't send a message and if they were able to somehow do that it would take decades for that message to arrive here at Earth. That's decades, ladies and gentlemen. Not minutes, hours or days . . . but decades! Captain Janeway had to make decisions, sometimes instantly based on what was happening. She hardly had time to think about it. She had to rely on her Starfleet training to make decisions based on the here and now of each situation as it occurred in the Delta Quadrant, because no one from Starfleet was available or even close by. They couldn't have heard her scream for help, so remember that.

"However, Captain Janeway did not give up even though so far from home. I assure you she ran her ship with full Starfleet Rules and Regulations, made decisions as best she could and vowed to her crew she would get them home. And she did. Not in 70 or 60 or even 40 years. She got them home in seven years, using her Starfleet ingenuity, her experience and help from some friendly aliens.

"Once she got home she was hailed as a hero. She had done it . . . she had gotten her ship and crew home, with only minimum casualties! But," and Jason held up his index finger for emphasis, "Shortly after Voyager's return, some worm poked its head up from the dirt and said, 'hey wait a minute . . . how did she get them home so fast from so far away? Something is wrong here', and that worm, whom I shall call "Homer," started to look around." There were a few titters and chuckles heard from the spectators at that term.

"Then Homer gathered a bunch of his friends and told them Captain Janeway couldn't have done all that legally, so they started an investigation. Using microscopic technique they burrowed into Voyager and Captain Janeway's records.

"Now I am sure that when you members of the jury have in the past read a report, you will agree with me that all you are seeing are the words describing, in summary, what happened. You aren't hearing the action, you don't feel the pressure or the tension, you don't see the blood and you obviously don't feel the pain. All your eyes see are words. Well, Homer decided to read 'between the lines' and assumed and interpreted every sentence the way he thought it was, resulting in some pretty ludicrous charges, which our esteemed Judge also recognized and wisely saw fit to drop many of those charges.

"Granted, some of the charges that remain are serious, and Captain Janeway acknowledges that fact herself. But we weren't with her in the Delta Quadrant, so we don't know why, based on the dry words of reports, such action or decisions were made. That is what the defense will prove during this court martial, that Captain Janeway was justified in virtually everything and every decision she made, and she made them from a Starfleet viewpoint. Her crew never rebelled at her decisions, never mutinied. When they found reason to question, they were allowed input and given an explanation as to her decision.

"Homer found Captain Janeway's behavior, as she pursued Captain Ransom, as Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and Reckless Endangerment of her Crew. So do I. I happen to agree with Homer on that one, but Captain Janeway's pursuit, although obsessive, was because HE was breaking Starfleet rules and protocol, and that was the cause of her chasing after Captain Ransom, which we will prove.

"Did she really attempt to murder Noah Lessing or was she playing a game long ago known as 'chicken' where you try to go to the very last second before changing your mind? Did she really murder Tuvix, who was a composite of two of her officers, or was she merely trying to recover Tuvok and Neelix, two members of her crew?

"Yes she gave Holodeck Technology to an alien race, but both she and the Alpha Hirogen agreed on its purpose, which was to save the Hirogen from their endless roaming of space searching for prey. Neither of them expected some rogue Hirogen to take the technology and use it for dire purposes.

"Those and all the other charges, including Captain Janeway's marriage to her First Officer, will be looked at during this trial and it is the defense's contention that we will prove that Captain Janeway was right in her actions and thus not guilty. We weren't there, ladies and gentlemen. Captain Janeway and her crew were, for seven long years. I look forward to their story and the corresponding vindication for Captain Janeway. Thank you."

Jason turned and walked briskly back to his seat, looked up at Admiral Dodge and nodded his head, indicating he was finished.

Admiral Dodge checked his chronometer and then stated, "The prosecution will begin their case tomorrow morning at 0800 hours. Until that time court is adjourned."

* * * *

That night Jason and Chakotay walked into the Brig. After Jason showed his clearance for Chakotay, the force field was lowered and Jason warned him, more for the guard's information than Chakotay, to not discuss the case.

The minute Chakotay stepped into the cell Kathryn rushed to meet him and they embraced tightly, followed by words of endearment and kisses.

"I have missed you so much sweetheart," said Kathryn as their lips parted. "This cell bed certainly isn't comfortable and you aren't here to hold me in your arms all night."

"I know," murmured Chakotay. "My bed is so empty and cold without you beside me. Oh Kathryn, I love you so much."

"And I love you honey. We'll get through this somehow. Jason is doing wonderfully."

"Well," said Chakotay as a playful grin lit up his face, "If they send you to jail I promise to visit at least once a month."

"Once a month! You bad man," she said as she laughed and snuggled tighter into his arms.

"You know it will be every day, all day, if I can," murmured Chakotay softly as his lips once again sought hers.

They moved to the couch and sat looking at one another, not knowing what to say. Finally Kathryn chuckled

"I almost wish we were back in the Delta Quadrant fighting the Borg than go through this."

Chakotay chuckled. "Right now it does seem safer," and they both laughed.

Jason stepped inside the room after first checking to make sure he wasn't intruding on some private moment.

"Good evening Kathryn. How are you doing?"

"I'm doing fine Jason. I just miss my husband. We haven't been apart since we married."

"Well hopefully the trial won't last too long." He looked at Chakotay. "Look Chakotay I really have to discuss a few things with Kathryn. Can you step out for about ten minutes? I promise I'll leave enough time for you to come back and be with your wife for awhile longer."

Chakotay nodded and kissed Kathryn, then slowly walked away, glancing back as he stepped out of the cell.

"What is it Jason? You look worried."

"No not worried. I just have a lot on my mind. I have a lot to do when I get home. I did want to tell you that the prosecution is calling Lt Tuvok as his first witness tomorrow morning. As I also have Lt Tuvok on my list, he will be termed a hostile witness by the prosecution. Now either Bradley is starting off with the murder charge of Tuvix or trying to get your Security Chief to say what he thinks of your performance as a Captain. Likely he will bring both up."

"I don't think Tuvok will say anything bad, Jason. He always spoke his mind on Voyager and let me know the minute he thought I was doing something I shouldn't. He even quoted Starfleet rules when he thought I was close to bending them."

"Well Vulcan's don't lie, so I just hope dear Bradley doesn't have him stumble and say something that will give us some grief. Try to get a good night's sleep. I'll have Chakotay come back in now. I think we have a fighting chance, Kathryn, if not of full acquittal, darn near it," he said with a light chuckle. "Thank you for having confidence in me." He then squeezed her hand and walked out and almost immediately Chakotay was back in the cell and holding Kathryn in his arms.

* * * *

The courtroom was jammed with spectators as well as media the next morning, when Kathryn entered the room and was led to her seat by a Security Guard. Jason was already in his seat and she smiled at him as she sat down.

"Good morning, Kathryn," he said with a big smile and a cheery voice.

"Good morning to you, too, Jason. Well, so now it begins."

"Yep it sure does. This is exciting!" Then his face fell and he laughed. "That didn't come out the way I meant it."

Kathryn smiled and was about to make a retort when the Bailiff called out "All rise," and the judge, Admiral Dodge, entered and moved to his seat on the dais.

"Good morning. I assume prosecution is ready?"

Bradley nodded his head and replied, "We are your honor."

"Good then let's proceed. Call your first witness."

"The prosecution calls Lt. Commander Tuvok, Chief of Security on Voyager. And I wish to make it known for the record, we consider Lt Tuvok a hostile witness."

'So noted," replied the judge and nodded to the Bailiff, who immediately opened a door and Tuvok walked out, resplendent in his Starfleet uniform. Following taking the oath to tell the truth, at which he frowned and Kathryn had a hard time holding in her laughter, Tuvok sat down.

Bradley stood behind his desk and said, "For the record will you state your name, position and years you have known Captain Janeway."

"My name is Tuvok, I am a Vulcan and my rank is Lt. Commander. While on Voyager I was head of Security. As to how many years I have known Captain Janeway, I knew her before my service on Voyager, so I have known and served with or for her for many years"

Now Lt., before you took the position on Voyager, you were actually a spy on then Captain Chakotay's Maquis ship, were you not?"

"That is correct."

"And what was your assignment?"

"To discover their intended targets and then inform Starfleet so they could apprehend him."

"That obviously didn't happen. Why not?"

"The Maquis ship was pulled into the Delta Quadrant to the same Array as the Starship Voyager was."

"And at that time, upon contact from Captain Janeway, you acknowledged your role to Chakotay. What was his reaction?"

"He was angry that I had deceived him."

"Captain Janeway then brought you back onto Voyager, there was the conflict with the Kazon, the Array was destroyed and Chakotay's ship was destroyed, which brought all the Maquis onto Voyager."

"That is not correct, sir. Captain Chakotay voluntarily and deliberately crashed his ship into the Kazon battle cruiser to save Voyager, and was beamed to Voyager at the very last second. This act then did bring all the Maquis onto Voyager at that point yes. However, the Kazon battle cruiser lost control as it was breaking up and crashed into one part of the Array, thus stopping the self-destruct program, which the Caretaker had already initiated. This is all recorded in the ship's records."

Bradley seemed flustered for a moment, by this contradiction. "I see I will have to be precise when asking you a question Lt," he said as he picked up a Padd from his desk and perused it for a moment.

"Now then, Lt., Captain Janeway made then Captain Chakotay of the Maquis, her First Officer, giving him a rank of Commander in Starfleet. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"But you were in line for that position and she makes a Maquis criminal Commander over you. You were angry over that weren't you?"

"Vulcans do not have emotion sir. But I confess I was puzzled by this act until Captain Janeway explained her reasons for doing so."

"And you just blindly accepted her explanation!"

"Vulcans do not 'blindly' as you stated, accept explanations, sir. Her reasons were quite valid and proved to be correct."

Jason sat quietly, as he intently listened to this questioning. Bradley had once again brought out one of the dismissed charges and to Jason that showed he was desperate. That or he was so completely thrown off by the Admiral's dismissal of so many charges, that he couldn't change his tactics.

"All right Lt." continued Bradley. "Let's move on then. In the Transporter accident, how did it feel to suddenly be part of someone else?"

"I could not and did not 'feel' anything. My mind was being used by the individual who became known as Tuvix, but I must admit, it was quite uncomfortable to having Neelix be part of me."

"You are not fond of Neelix?"

"He was . . . different, and not a Starfleet crewmember, so his actions and 'exuberance' for different things, was, shall we say in a human term, annoying."

"So you didn't mind when Captain Janeway murdered Tuvix?"

"I was not aware of a murder, Lt. Suddenly I was myself again and Mr. Neelix was sitting beside me."

"But Captain Janeway ended Tuvix' life, Lt.!"

Tuvok frowned. "I am not aware his life ended. I merely became myself once again, or as you humans might say, I had my life back."

Bradley stared at Tuvok a moment, as if not believing the answers he was getting. He gave a big sigh, punched at his Padd and then looked back at Tuvok.

"Did you agree with Captain Janeway's action in releasing the force field where Noah Lessing was being held?"

"I did not," Tuvok stated blandly.

Aha, thought Bradley. At last!

"Did you agree with her pursuit of Captain Ransom and her resultant behavior?"

"I felt she was over exuberant in her pursuit. But Captain Ransom had violated, quite dangerously I might add, Starfleet's directive and now not only Captain Ransom's ship, but Voyager as well was under attack from the nucleogenic life forms, and Captain Ransom had to be captured and punished."

"But she agreed to turn over Captain Ransom to these life forms, did she not?"

"Yes she did, and I objected at the time, but I also believed she was just appeasing the nucleogenic life forms so as to stop them from attacking us. We were slowly being destroyed by them and Voyager couldn't have lasted much longer. It was a decision to save Voyager and the crew."

"But her behavior was already erratic. She threatened to confine you to quarters as she had Commander Chakotay!"

"That is correct. But she was the Captain and making this decision. I had, by objecting, shown my side to her decision. After that, it is the Captain's right to do what she feels is best for her ship."

"And you didn't object again, you just let her make this agreement to turn Ransom over to these life forms?"

"Captain Janeway is a skilled negotiator and proved many times she was capable of working out of a dilemma. This was just another incident of making a decision, yet possibly doing something else in the end. In fact, she managed to get through to Captain Ransom and he mentioned he had realized how wrong he was and that his crew had mutinied thus preventing him from beaming them to Voyager. So he and Captain Janeway began to secretly beam various members to Voyager, however it was blocked by . . ."

Captain Bradley sighed audibly, stopping Tuvok's testimony, and walking back to his desk picked up a different Padd.

"And it was after she had beamed several of the Equinox crewmembers, including Noah Lessing that she put Mr. Lessing in the Cargo Bay and lifted the force field protecting that area?"

"I am unsure of the exact time of events, but it was in that time frame and before Captain Ransom' ship was destroyed."

"Did you object at all to Captain Janeway's action against Mr Lessing?"

"Commander Chakotay was with her, but I did voice my concern to the Captain that a nucleogenic life form was about to break through. Commander Chakotay then did his duty and closed the force field, thus preventing the life form from entering the Cargo Bay."

"And then you learned Captain Janeway had relieved Commander Chakotay of his duties and confined him to quarters for such action. What was your reaction to that?"

"I was not present to hear the conversation between the Captain and the Commander, so I cannot answer your question. Usually when a Captain resorts to such action there has been disobedience on the part of the crewman."

"But Commander Chakotay had just saved Noah Lessing's life and now the Captain was relieving him of duty! Surely you questioned her frame of mind?"

"We were in a life or death situation at the time, Captain. We did not have time to question such an action."

"But you must have disagreed with her behavior?"

"As I said I was not present . . ."

"Answer my question Lt Tuvok! Did you or did you not disagree with Captain Janeway's vendetta and behavior against Captain Ransom?"

"Objection!" shouted Jason as he rose to his feet. "He's badgering the witness, your honor."

"I agree counselor," said Admiral Dodge. "Captain, you have a right to ask that question, but mind your tone of voice."

"I'm sorry your honor," said Bradley. Looking at Tuvok he repeated the same question. "Did you or did you not disagree with Captain Janeway's behavior in tracking down Captain Ransom."

"I must admit I found it unlike the Captain. But we all had to remember that Captain Ransom was committing a grievous act by killing the nucleogenic aliens to use their bodies to generate power for his ship to return to Earth. That was a direct violation of the Prime Directive and Captain Janeway was most upset by this action and determined to stop him from further transgressions."

"To the point of being overly obsessed with his actions?"

Tuvok frowned. "She did seem overly aggressive at times, but . . ."

"Regarding the Vaadwaur, Lt," said Bradley quickly interrupting and keeping Tuvok's answer of the question, "They were a predatory and murderous race, as you came to find out, correct?"

"That is correct."

"And yet they were not only activated, mistakenly by Seven of Nine," Bradley said as he pointedly looked over at Jason, "But Captain Janeway, then activated the other stasis pods and actually worked with them, trying to forge an agreement to use their sub-space corridors!"

"That is correct. Those corridors could have gotten us home several years ago. However I must add that once Captain Janeway realized the intent of the Vaadwaur, she attempted to make an escape by notifying the Turei, who helped us make it away from that planet."

"But that resumed the Vaadwaur and Turei war?"

"Possibly. But the Vaadwaur were rather small in number and had old antiquated ships. I really do not believe the conflict, if indeed there was one, lasted very long."

"Alright, Mr. Tuvok... But you agree the reviving of the Vaadwaur was a violation of the Prime Directive."

"Yes it was."

"Good. Next is the matter of the Captain and Commander Chakotay's marriage. This was a violation, although there isn't anything in the Starfleet Manual condoning such action in actual words. How did you feel about that?"

"When I was first informed by the Captain that she intended to marry the Commander I disapproved, but at the same time I could understand. Commander Chakotay had voluntarily sacrificed himself to save the Captain, the ship and the crew. He suffered not only grievous, but horrendous physical harm and to this day is still suffering the effects of his torture. It was only a daring, brilliant maneuver by the Captain that we were able to retrieve Commander Chakotay's body. I could sense they had feelings for one another for years, but not once did they act on them. To see the Commander, with his entire skin almost burned off and hanging from his body in black strips from the fire, made her realize the fragility of life, and if we were to remain lost in the Delta Quadrant for many years yet to come, she made the decision to have happiness. At that point, I concurred, and he miraculously survived."

"How did the crew feel about their Captain and Commander getting married?"

"They all appeared to favor it."

"So there wasn't any problem in the Command Structure or protocols?"

"None whatsoever."

Bradley's shoulders seemed to slump. I've made a mistake calling Tuvok as my first witness, he grumped to himself as he walked back to his desk.

"I have no further questions for this witness, Admiral."

The Admiral nodded and looked at Jason. "Does the defense have any questions?"

"Yes sir," said Jason as he stood and walked forward.

"Lt Tuvok . . . do Vulcan's lie?"

"Vulcan's are incapable of lying, Lt."

"Not even to stretch the truth or bend it?"

"Not if it would result in tainting the truth and making it untrue in any way."

"So everything you just testified to is true. It's not stretched or bent in any way shape or form. What you have said is the absolute truth."

"Yes. The absolute truth, Lt."

"No more questions. Thank you Lt. Tuvok," said Jason and he turned quickly and walked back to his table.

"Any re-direct from the prosecution?" asked the Admiral.

"No sir," reported Bradley.

"Do either of you two gentleman have any intention of recalling this witness for further testimony?"

Jason stood. "I might your honor, when I present the defense side of the case."

Captain Bradley just shook his head when the Admiral looked at him.

"Very well," said the Admiral. Lt. Tuvok I remind you to keep yourself available and you are warned to not discuss this case with anyone."

"I understand," said Tuvok who then stood and left the courtroom.

"Prosecution my call its next witness."

"The prosecution calls Noah Lessing, your honor."

As Noah was led into the room from the back, he kept his eyes straight ahead, not looking once at the Voyager crewmembers present who turned to look at him, nor did he glance at Captain Janeway who looked up at him as he moved past her.

Once seated and after taking the oath, he concentrated fully on Captain Bradley.

"Please state your name and rank."

"My name is Noah Lessing, former Lt on the S.S. Equinox."

"After you were incarcerated by Captain Janeway, what happened?"

"After Captain Ransom's ship was destroyed Captain Janeway stripped all the crewmembers brought over from the Equinox of rank and made us crewmen. She told us we would have to earn her respect as well as the respect of the other Voyager crewmembers."

"And did you?"

"After one year we were all promoted to Ensign."

"How were you treated by Captain Janeway?"

"She treated us civilly, but was formal. We didn't receive the smiles that Voyager's crew did."

"And you had to do manual, mundane, dirty work?"

"We were assigned to cleaning the Plasma Manifolds and various jobs like that."

"When you were in the Cargo Bay and the nucleogenic life form was about to break through, what did you think?"

"I thought I was going to die, but Commander Chakotay raced in at the last second and sealed the fissure with his phaser"

"So you were grateful to him?"

"No, I thought it was a last minute 'show' to try and gain my confidence and I told him that. It was out in the corridor when I saw the Captain and the resentment she had for the Commander's action, that I realized he had disobeyed orders."

"Then you hate Captain Janeway?"

"I did at first. Attempting to kill me or 'bluff' me into talking seemed harsh, but after thinking about it I realized she was right. Captain Ransom had committed terrible acts by killing the nucleogenic life forms and I had questioned that even while on the Equinox. I just felt her method was . . . extreme."

"You thought Captain Janeway was right in attempting to kill you?" asked Captain Bradley in a shocked tone.

"No. What I meant was her trying to get information to prevent further atrocities was right. But her method to extract information was extreme."

"So after the 'incident', as I will call it, and you were saved and then Captain Ransom and his ship were destroyed, you were stripped of rank and given menial tasks. How did you and the other Equinox crewmembers feel about that punishment? It was demeaning wasn't it?"

"Well Lt. Gilmore, who helped save Captain Ransom by not locking him up as ordered, and I, felt it was just. We had committed grievous acts of violence against aliens, but the rest of the Equinox crew seemed to harbor resentment for a while, even though we were not mistreated by anyone on Voyager. We all had the same privileges, just the job assignments were meant as punishment I think."

"But even now you harbor resentment against Captain Janeway for her behavior toward the Equinox crew and the relentless way she pursued, with the intention of either killing you or putting you all in the Brig for the rest of Voyager's journey?"

"As I said, I did at first. But I soon realized Captain Janeway was a good Captain. She ran her ship under strict Starfleet Rules and Regulations, despite the situation they were in. After the first month, when we Equinox crewmembers sort of kept to ourselves, maybe through embarrassment at what we had done, several of the Voyager crewmembers started to ask us to join them in the Mess Hall. I think they realized we were not causing any trouble and doing our assignments the best we could."

"Mr. Lessing, I will ask you once again. Do you at the present time have any ill feelings about your treatment by Captain Janeway while on Voyager?"

"It's the Captain's prerogative to do as she sees fit. We do not question. She just did what she thought was right regarding what we had done."

"You are evading my question, so I will ask in another way. Do you now, as you look at Captain Janeway in this courtroom, harbor any resentment towards her?"

Noah for the first time looked at Janeway and stared. Then he shook his head and said, "No, what's done is done. My father always told me to accept any punishment given you and move on and that is what I have tried to do. The only negative feeling I still occasionally have, is from the incident in the Cargo Bay."

"Thank you Mr. Lessing. Your witness Lt." he said as he glanced at Jason.

Jason rose and approached Noah with a smile.

"I notice you are now wearing Lt's pips. Starfleet reinstated your rank upon your return to Earth."

"No they did not."

"No? But you have just testified that Captain Janeway stripped you of rank and made you a lowly crewman."

"Three months after we were on Voyager Captain Janeway came to where I was working. Commander Chakotay was with her and I thought I was going to be put in the Brig, but she smiled, said I had done well and handled all assignments from Commander Chakotay without complaint, and that I showed great potential and to keep up the good work. Nine months later I was given a promotion to Ensign."

"Ensign. Then when and how did you receive Lt.'s pips?"

Noah smiled. "Last year I had finally been assigned several away missions and felt really good about being included in assignments. Then I was suddenly asked to assist Seven of Nine and a young man by name of Icheb in the Astrometrics Lab and helped them to determine another, faster, method of collating long-range charts into the database. Captain Janeway came there one day and was impressed by my contribution. Two weeks later I was called onto the Bridge and in front of all the Officers, was given a promotion to Lt. and all the officers present clapped and congratulated me. Captain Janeway said I had proven my worth as a member of Voyager. That was one of the happiest moments of my life, to know I had won her trust."

"Are you aware if any of the other Equinox crew members happened to be promoted?"

"As I stated earlier, we were all promoted to Ensign and then shortly after my promotion to Lt, Gilmore was also promoted to Lt, but the rest remained with the rank of Ensign.

"Let's back up a little bit - you do not hate Captain Janeway for that incident in the Cargo Bay?"

"I do not hate her at all. I resented her at first as I have stated, and now I respect her very much."

"Despite the fact she is accused of attempting to murder you?"

"In retrospect, I do not believe that was her intent. She was trying to scare me into talking, yes, but not murder me."

"You then believe she would have sealed the rift herself if Commander Chakotay had not intervened?"

"That is what I believe. After serving with her for two years, I can truthfully say I do not believe she intended to murder me."

"In the two years you were on Voyager, were you conscious of or did you see Captain Janeway violate the Prime Directive?"

"No sir, I did not. Not the way Captain Ransom broke them. Depending on the seriousness of our situation, I think at times Captain Janeway stretched the Prime Directive to save the crew, but never broke them, sir."

"If asked, would you be willing to serve with her again?"

"In a heartbeat, yes sir."

"Thank you Lt. That is all." And Jason turned with a smile at Kathryn and returned to his seat.

"Redirect counselor," asked the Admiral.

Captain Jordan sat at his table tightly pinching the bridge of his nose. Damn that Lt Armstrong anyway! He had noticed Noah Lessing's pips. I was hoping that would slip by. Damn! I should have brought them up he groused to himself.

"Counselor?" said Dodge in a harsh tone.

"Uh," said Jordan straightening up.

"Re-direct?" asked the Admiral.

"No sir. Sorry sir. I was just . . . no sir."

"Call your next witness then."

"Admiral, I notice the time would cut into my next cross-examination. I would like to suggest we break for lunch?"

Without a word the Admiral picked up his gavel, looked at the Captain and then said, "That might be a good idea. Court is in recess until 1430 hours."

Kathryn leaned toward Jason, but he shook his head, so she straightened and sat quietly. After Captain Jordan had packed up his materials and left Jason looked at Kathryn and then a slow smile creased his mouth.

"We have gotten both prosecution witnesses to testify favorably of you Kathryn. Things are looking up."

"That's what I was going to say. I thought Noah would crucify me."

"Nope, so you obviously impressed him in those last two years."

"Who is the next witness?"

"I believe it is Gilmore, another member of Ransom's crew. Do I have anything to worry about?"

"I don't think so. When we first encountered the Equinox, and before we realized what Captain Ransom was doing, she had asked Chakotay if she could transfer to Voyager."

"Really? Then maybe he won't call her," he said softly. "If she has mentioned that to Bradley at all, it again speaks on your behalf. Interesting - very interesting. Well, I'll see you after lunch I have some reading to do," he said abruptly, stood and walked away. The Security guard immediately approached Kathryn and led her out of the room.

During the extended lunch break Chakotay, Tom, B'Elanna, Harry and Tuvok met with Jason in the Witness Room and he asked them to think of any crewmember on Voyager, beyond Lessing and Gilmore who might have an 'axe to grind' with Kathryn.

Tuvok frowned as he looked at Chakotay and then said, "Are there any Maquis who are still bitter, Commander?"

"Not to my knowledge Tuvok. They all seemed to come around and be good crewmen. I know Dalby hated Kathryn at the beginning but at the end I discovered he respected her very much."

"What about the other Ransom crew?" asked B'Elanna.

"They seemed okay too after the first two months," said Chakotay with a frown. "Jason, are you worried about something?"

"As a matter of fact I am. I am not sure just who his next witness is and it could be someone not on his list."

"Can he do that?" asked Tom.

"Yes, but he will merely explain it as 'some new evidence has come to light' sort of thing and the judge will allow it."

"Are we allowed to ask how things are going?" asked Harry.

"Things are going better than I expected," said Jason with a smile. "But that's all I can say for now. Okay I have to get back and go through my notes. Thanks for meeting with me. I know you are all kept in rooms so you are available at any time should you be called, and that's rough, but stick with it and keep your minds clear." With that he turned, and walked out of the room.

Despite Jason's last comment, Chakotay suddenly felt his heart cramp. If Jason was worried about something, then he was too!

* * * *

As per custom, court resumed at precisely 1430 hours. Captain Jordan rose and said he was calling Henley to the stand as his next witness.

Jason immediately stood. "Your honor this witness isn't on the list and I wasn't informed of the addition."

"She just came forward during the lunch break your honor," said Jordan. "There wasn't time to find my esteemed colleague and inform him."

"I'll allow the witness," said Dodge, "But try to inform the court before resumption of activities next time, Captain."

Henley was brought in and after taking the oath sat back, an air of confidence about her.

"Miss Henley, will you state your name and rank, please," said Jordan as he approached.

"My name is Mariah Henley. I am a former Lt in the Maquis and lowly crewman on Voyager."

"Your tone seems to imply resentment."

"Of course I am. Simply because I was in the Maquis, Captain Janeway saw fit to make my rank on Voyager the lowest rank there is."

"She said that was her reason?"

"Not in those words, but in seven years on Voyager I was never given any commendation or thank you for anything I did and - no promotion."

"You dislike Captain Janeway then?"

Henley sneered. "Dislike is a tame word. I hate her!"

"Simply because she didn't give you the rank you thought you deserved?"

"Not just that. She broke all kinds of rules, yet said we had to live by Starfleet Rules and Regulations." She laughed then as she added, "And then she gets Voyager home and is initially hailed as a hero. She deserves this court martial!"

"I see," said Captain Jordan. "Can you quote an incident or time when Captain Janeway broke Starfleet rules and regulations?"

"She broke them every day! You want me to mention only one?"

"Yes please. The one that immediately comes to mind, if you will."

"There are so many! But she deliberately stranded us in the Delta Quadrant by destroying that Array. We had time to figure it out and get home. Voyager's Warp Drive was faster than the Kazon so she should have kept the ship there and worked on configuring the Array to send us back to Earth. The Kazon said they had other ships on the way, but instead she uses saving the Ocampa race as an excuse and destroys the array, not only stranding us in the Delta Quadrant, for possibly the rest of our lives, but making an enemy of the Kazon who later captured the ship and left us stranded on that desolate planet!"

"You were friends with Seska were you not?"

"Yes, and she was a hero! Janeway didn't like her and virtually forced her to be a traitor to Voyager. I wish I knew what she had planned as I would have worked with her."

"Can you give your explanation of why Captain Janeway worked an alliance with the Borg?"

"Because she liked them", Henley said loudly. "She liked the challenge of the confrontation with the Queen and seeing just how far she could go before it became too dangerous. She thought she was smarter than the Borg and would always win. It was as if it were a game to her! She risked the lives of the crew so many times for her little games. It just seemed every time we turned around there was the Borg and Janeway would actually smile. She even saved a Borg drone, Seven of Nine who became her pet crewmember on Voyager! A Borg, mind you! I thought we were going to be assimilated so many times and just the thought of that, even now, sends chills down my spine. The Borg was our most vaunted enemy and why she kept dealing with them, I will never know."

"What about the Equinox and Captain Ransom? He did violate the Prime Directive with what he was doing."

"He was just trying to get home. I don't excuse what he did, but I can understand why. Until you have been stranded over 70 years from home, no one will understand the desolate, hopeless, lonely feeling that gives you."

"So you think Captain Janeway should have been using some of those methods to get Voyager home?"

"She was breaking rules all the time, so why not? Instead she kept quoting Starfleet Prime Directive as the all-holy rule even after she had just broken it and excused herself with fancy language no one on the ship could understand."

"Did you ever try to talk with Captain Janeway? Explain your feelings?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"You try to do something on your own to make the ship run better and you are punished for it. So why try to reason with a tyrant? Commander Tuvok put four of us through 'boot camp' training one time because Dalby fixed something without going through the 'proper' channels. Plus we almost died one of those days when we became trapped in the Cargo Bay with a toxic gas."

"So after seven years on Voyager you did not gain respect for Captain Janeway in any way? She did get you home."

"Not at all. I hated her then and I hate her now, sitting at that table with that self-righteous look on her face! And as I said before, we would have been home in a matter of days if she had just used the Array to get back instead of destroying it."

"Thank you Miss Henley. No further questions."

Jason rose without waiting for the Admiral to indicate he could start. He walked toward Henley and then stood there for a moment, just looking at her, studying the hate in those eyes. He sighed and then smiled.

"Captain Bradley addressed you as Miss Henley. You are no longer in Starfleet?"

"I never was in Starfleet."

"You wore the uniform for seven years," said Jason in a soft voice.

"Under protest, and I took it off virtually the minute I stepped off Voyager, and consider myself out of Starfleet."

"You still considered yourself a Maquis then?"

"Yes."

"Despite your feelings, Miss Henley, Captain Janeway did get you back to Earth safe and sound. You feel no appreciation for that?"

"None whatsoever. As I said before about the Array . . ."

"I know, I know," he said putting his hand up to stop her.

Jason kept questioning Henley, digging, probing, covering different incidents, trying to bait her into an answer he wanted, but she never changed her tone of contempt for Janeway. He was just about to give up, to recognize this woman was not going to break. He stood a moment, trying to organize his thoughts. Finally he looked up at her and felt totally helpless . . . helpless and angry!

"So you really hate Captain Janeway and nothing is going to change your mind?" he said, his voice suddenly rising in an angry tone.

"That's correct."

"She did nothing right in your eyes?" he sneered in an angry shout. "Nothing at all?"

"Nothing," came the response, but with a rising volume in her voice.

His voice rose to almost a shout. "She got you home Miss Henley. She got you home along with everyone else on that ship! You are all alive, thanks to Captain Kathryn Janeway!"

"She could have done it sooner if she hadn't kept to those damn Starfleet protocols!!" she yelled, standing up as she did so. "She's Starfleet and Starfleet didn't help us when we were fighting the Cardassians for our homes!"

Jason suddenly got quiet as he saw her eyes widen at her own outburst.

"So you don't hate Captain Janeway," he said in almost a whisper. "You hate Starfleet and you are taking it out on Captain Janeway?"

Henley didn't answer, just sat down after a quick furtive glance at Captain Bradley.

"Answer my question, Miss Henley," said Jason. "You don't hate Captain Janeway do you?"

"No," she said in an almost inaudible answer.

"Your testimony then, is not against Captain Janeway, but your feelings against Starfleet?"

"Yes."

"Do you wish to recant or re-state any of your testimony against Captain Janeway, Miss Henley?"

"She did the best she could. It was very hard and very dangerous out there in the Delta Quadrant. We could have died or still be lost, but I still feel she should have broken some Starfleet Rules and gotten us home sooner. At the same time you have to admire her for sticking to her principles, I guess."

"You think Captain Janeway did a good job then of getting her crew home?"

"Yes," Henley whispered, her head down.

Jason turned and walked to his desk and suddenly sat on the front edge and faced Henley. "For your information Miss Henley, at the time the Cardassians were attacking your homes, Kathryn Janeway was fighting the Cardassians and at one point was taken prisoner."

Henley looked up, a shocked look on her face. "I didn't know that. She never said . . ."

"She had no reason to explain that to you, Miss Henley, although I'm sure Commander Chakotay eventually found out. No further questions, your honor."

Admiral Dodge looked at Captain Jordan who merely shook his head. "The witness is dismissed."

Jason stood. "Your honor, it is getting late. May I suggest we break for the day?" He stood looking at the Admiral, praying he would agree, as he wanted the testimony of Henley to linger in the minds of the jury overnight.

When Captain Bradley did not object, the Admiral adjourned until 0800 hours the next morning.

The next morning as Kathryn sat at the table, she watched Jason take out his work and carefully place them around the table.

"Have you seen Chakotay? He didn't come and see me last night."

"I'm afraid that was my fault Kathryn," said Jason as he continued to arrange his Padd's. "I have decided to make him my first witness when the prosecution is finished and we had a lot to go over."

"I miss him so much. How is he doing?"

Jason looked at her and grinned. "He's as miserable as you are Kathryn. I had to constantly keep him on track last night as he kept drifting away from the work at hand and asking how you were doing."

She smiled. "As I said before, we haven't been apart since we got married."

"You know, when I'm with him and then with you I can feel the tremendous love between you two. How on earth did you keep apart for six years? Chakotay told me he fell in love with you almost right away."

"It was hard. I tried to maintain the Starfleet principles on not consorting with your fellow officers, but when the Keshen . . ." and she trailed off.

"That must have been heartbreaking for you. No, that's not the word. To see him actually being tortured, virtually ripped apart right before your eyes and you not able to turn away, I just can't even begin to fathom what you felt."

Kathryn sighed but didn't answer as her stomach and heart cramped at that memory. She would never forget how Chakotay had suffered for her. At last she looked at Jason, who sat quietly watching her with a sad look on his face.

"How much longer do you think the prosecution will be?"

He pursed his lips. "Hard telling. He still has quite a few witnesses on his list."

The trial began and the first witness was Chell, who did not really add or detract much and was followed by Dalby and then Gerron. Both commented on the Vaadwaur and the 'bending' of some rules, which did not really cause any harm to Kathryn. Gerron however, condemned Kathryn for her behavior toward Noah Lessing and the 'murder' of Tuvix. The last witness before lunch was Gilmore, but Jason scored points there when she admitted Captain Ransom was wrong and that she had asked Commander Chakotay about the possibility of requesting a transfer to Voyager.

Following lunch Captain Jordan called the EMH as his witness.

"Are they allowing a Hologram as a witness," asked a surprised Kathryn.

"They don't usually do that, but when I was asked I agreed to it. I'm interested in what he has to say, and from reading his logs I really don't think he will damage our case."

The EMH strode down the aisle with a big smile on his face and continued smiling as he sat down and took the oath. When that was finished he looked over at Kathryn and putting his hand up said, "Hello Captain. It's nice to see you again!"

The crowd tittered and the Admiral admonished him, saying he was not allowed to speak to the defendant. The EMH frowned and almost 'harrumphed' out loud.

Captain Jordan approached the EMH. "Now state your name and position, please."

"I don't really have a name. I could never think of one and everyone on Voyager just called me 'Doctor,' but I am the EMH of the Starship Voyager. Or was, I probably should say."

"To review a little for the jury, let me say this. When Voyager was damaged after they were pulled into the Delta Quadrant, a good many of the crew died, including the Doctor. They brought you online at that time and you remained the doctor for the seven years Voyager was in the Delta Quadrant. Is that correct?"

"Yes, and I wasn't programmed to be online for long periods of time, I must add."

"First of all I want to thank the Defense for allowing you to testify, as holograms are not considered sentient and usually do not testify."

"Well I may not be sentient in your eyes, but I served the Captain for seven years and both Captain Janeway and her crew considered me part of Voyager's family!"

"Thank you, doctor. I would like to ask just a few questions. First of all, what was your impression of Tuvix?"

"Ah yes, Tuvix. He was a delightful man, even though an accident caused by a Transporter malfunction."

"Was he proficient in his duties?"

"Very much so. He fit in with Voyager's crew very well. In fact he . . ."

"Just answer the question Doctor," said Jordan.

"Well I'm trying to but you interrupted me as I was about to say he . . ."

"Moving on Doctor, when you examined him he was a fully developed human being?"

"Yes of course. He wasn't a freak if that's what you are asking. He had two arms, two legs, a brain, a . . ."

"Just answer the prosecutor's question, Doctor," said the Admiral.

"Doesn't anyone allow me to complete a sentence here? You are as bad as Captain Janeway," he barked at the Admiral.

The spectators burst out in laughter and Kathryn quickly put her hand over her mouth and ducked her head so she wouldn't be seen laughing. Jason himself had a smile on his face as he first looked at the doctor and then the Admiral to see his reaction on being spoken to like that.

At first the Admiral had a surprised look on his face and then said, "Just answer the question Doctor. Just a 'yes' or 'no' is sufficient. No need to be verbose."

"But you can't answer a question with a simple yes or no when an explanation is needed!"

"Just answer the question. That's an order, Doctor!"

"Now you really sound like Captain Janeway," said the Doctor as he turned his attention back to Captain Jordan, who was standing with an amused look on his face.

After waiting for the courtroom to settle down, Captain Jordan continued.

"Tell me Doctor. What was your feeling when you discovered Tuvix would no longer exist after a method had been found to separate the two entities he was composed of was actually going to be used?"

"I didn't like it one bit." He started to open his mouth to say more but didn't.

"Did you tell Captain Janeway that?"

"I most certainly did. In fact I told her it would violate my Hippocratic Oath and that in good conscience I refused to be a part of it."

"What did Captain Janeway say to that?"

"Virtually nothing. Something to the effect she would be down shortly."

"So Captain Janeway carried out the treatment herself?"

"Yes she did She walked in, didn't say anything to anyone and proceeded to carry out the treatment."

Did Tuvix say anything?"

"Yes he protested most forcefully, saying he wanted to live!"

"And what did Captain Janeway say?"

"Nothing, she just had him sit on the Bio bed."

"And you did not assist her?"

"I most certainly did not."

"Why?"

"Because it was murder!"

"You feel that treatment ended Tuvix life? That what Captain Janeway did, in your professional opinion as a doctor, was murder?"

"It was murder. It was plain, out and out, cold-blooded murder; she ended Tuvix's life!"

"Thank you, doctor. No further questions. Your witness, counselor," he said as he looked over at Jason.

To be continued with The Trial, Part 2

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