Star Trek Vanguard: Open Secrets by Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore

Author:Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore [Ward, Dayton & Dilmore, Kevin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Star Trek
Published: 0101-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

Despite the weeks of confinement, along with the long days and nights spent in conference with Desai, the idea of facing an actual court-martial had seemed somehow surreal to Reyes. Only now, as Admiral Moratino reached for the wooden striker resting on the bench and used it to tap the ancient ship's bell before her, did it finally hit home that this was really going to happen. He was about to be tried by a board of his peers and, if found guilty of the charges against him, likely be sentenced to prison for a considerable portion of whatever life remained to him.

Too late to cry about it now.

"This court is now in session," Moratino said, directing her gaze to Desai and Sereb. "Commodore Reyes has provided an official statement, which has been read to the board members and entered into the official record. Does counsel wish to raise any objection?"

"No objection, your honor," Sereb replied. Desai shook her head, repeating the Tellarite's answer.

Moratino next turned to Reyes. "Commodore Reyes, the board for your trial currently consists of Admiral Franklin Komack, Commodore Jeong Hynu-Su, and Admiral Alejandro Perez. Do you object to the selection of any of these officers serving in this capacity?"

"No, Admiral," Reyes said, staring straight ahead. Of the four officers making up his court-martial board, only Admiral Komack possessed any knowledge of Operation Vanguard prior to his selection for this trial. The admiral was not in the project's chain of command and was therefore deemed capable of remaining impartial in this matter.

Nodding, Moratino asked, "Do you have any objections to Captain Sereb serving as prosecuting attorney or to myself as president of this court?"

"None, Your Honor."

Hell of a time to ask.

"Very well," Moratino said. Looking down to the young Vulcan, she prompted, "Lieutenant T'Nir."

Standing as she had since first taking up her station by the computer interface, her face impassive as she looked toward the rear of the courtroom, T'Nir said, "Charge: willful disobedience of a superior officer. Specification: in that on stardate 1528.4, Commodore Diego Reyes did defy standing orders by revealing classified information to unauthorized personnel. Charge: releasing classified Starfleet intelligence data to unauthorized personnel. Specification: in that Commodore Reyes did allow a member of the press to distribute to the Federation News Service restricted information vital to the interests of Federation security, with that information being published via public news outlets. Charge: conspiracy in the second degree. Specification: in that Commodore Reyes, through purposeful action or lack of action and with knowledge aforethought, did allow unauthorized persons to disseminate classified information."

Reyes stood silent as the charges were entered into the trial's official record, each word cutting into him with the unforgiving torment of a dulled blade. Everything he had once upheld as right and proper, every oath he had ever sworn, seemed to fall to dust in the face of the blunt, cold offenses of which he now was accused.

"Commodore Reyes has entered a plea of guilty to the charge of willful disobedience," Moratino said after the charges were entered, "and not guilty to the remaining charges.

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