'Yes, sir.'
'Do you have any questions about your right to counsel?'
'No, sir.'
'Who do you want to represent you?'
'I wish to be represented by my detailed defense counsel, Lieutenant Bashir, sir.'
'Very well. Counsel for the parties have the necessary qualifications, and have been sworn. I have been detailed to this court by order of the judge advocate general's office of the Commander, United States Space Forces.'
Commander Carr stood up and walked to face both the judge and the table where the members of the court sat. 'The general nature of the charges in this case allege deliberate sabotage against a warship of the United States Navy, the USS Maury, which resulted in the murders of sixty-one officer and enlisted personnel of the United States Navy and extensive damage to US military property. The charges were preferred by Commander, United States Naval Space Forces, and forwarded with recommendations as to disposition to Commander, United States Space Forces.' Commander Carr faced Judge McMasters. 'Your honor, are you aware of any matter which may be a ground for challenge against you?'
'I'm aware of none.'
'The government has no challenge for cause against the military judge.'
Lieutenant Bashir stood yet again. 'The defense has no challenge for cause against the military judge.'
Judge McMasters leaned forward and looked at Jen. 'Lieutenant Shen, do you understand that you have the right to be tried by a court-martial composed of members and that, if you are found guilty of any offense, those members would determine a sentence?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Do you also understand that you may request in writing or orally here in the court-martial trial before me alone, and that if I approve such a request, there will be no members and I alone will decide whether you are guilty and, if I find you guilty, determine a sentence?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Have you discussed these choices with your counsel?'
'Yes, sir, I have.'
'By which type of court-martial do you choose to be tried?'
Lieutenant Shen still hadn't moved, maintaining rigid attention. 'By members, sir.'
'Very well. The accused will now be arraigned.'
Commander Carr looked toward the defense table. 'All parties and the military judge have been furnished a copy of the charges and specifications. Does the accused want them read?'
Jen moved for the first time, turning her head and nodding firmly to Lieutenant Bashir, who nodded back and addressed Commander Carr. 'The accused wishes the charges to be read.'
'Very well.' Carr positioned her pad where she could easily read it. 'Lieutenant Junior Grade Jenevieve Diana Shen, United States Navy, is charged with violations of the following articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.'
'Article 107, False Official Statements. In that Lieutenant Junior Grade Jenevieve Diana Shen, United States Navy, did, on board USS Maury CLE(S)-4, on or about 5 March 2101, with an intent to deceive, make to officers investigating the damage which had been suffered by the USS Maury, an official statement, to wit her knowledge of events onboard USS Maury, CLE(S)-4, the afternoon of 21 February 2101, which statement was false in that it failed to correctly state Lieutenant Shen's actual knowledge of and role in those events, and was then known by said Lieutenant Junior Grade Shen to be false.'
'Article 108, Military Property of the United States- sale, loss, damage, destruction or wrongful disposition. In that Lieutenant Junior Grade Jenevieve Diana Shen, United States Navy, did, onboard USS Maury, CLE(S)-4, on or about 21 February 2101, without proper authority, willfully damage and destroy by unknown means military property of the United States, to wit all equipment located within the engineering compartments onboard the USS Maury as well in surrounding compartments as enumerated below.' Carr glanced up. 'Does the defendant desire me to read through that enumeration?'
Paul saw Jen shake her head. He hadn't seen her expression change as the charges were read. Trying to look as professional as possible. That's good. Isn't it? Or will it make her look unmoved by the tragedy instead?
Commander Carr returned her gaze to the data pad. 'Article 109, Property other than military property of the United States — waste spoilage or destruction. In that Lieutenant Junior Grade Jenevieve Diana Shen, United States Navy, did, onboard USS Maury, CLE(S)-4, on or about 21 February 2101, willfully bring about the destruction of personal effects belonging to members of the crew of the USS Maury and then located within berthing compartments onboard the USS Maury which were substantially destroyed as a result of the destruction of equipment within the engineering compartments of the USS Maury.
'Article 110- Improper hazarding of a vessel. In that Lieutenant Junior Grade Jenevieve Diana Shen, United States Navy, did, on or about 21 February 2101, onboard USS Maury, CLE(S)-4, willfully and wrongfully hazard the said vessel by bringing about by unknown means the destruction of equipment within the engineering compartments of the USS Maury, thereby leading to extensive internal and external damage and creating conditions in which the total loss of the ship could have occurred.
'Article 118 — Murder.' Carr paused after the word, then went on speaking. 'In that Lieutenant Junior Grade Jenevieve Diana Shen, United States Navy, did, on or about 21 February 2101, onboard USS Maury, CLE(S)-4, with premeditation, deliberately murder sixty-one officer and enlisted personnel of the USS Maury by bringing about by unknown means the destruction of equipment within the engineering compartments of the USS Maury.' She paused again and once more looked up. 'Does the defendant wish the list of victims to be read?'
Paul could see Jen's jaw twitching, but she shook her head steadily once again.
'Article 124 — Maiming. In that Lieutenant Junior Grade Jenevieve Diana Shen, United States Navy, did, on or about 21 February 2101, onboard USS Maury, CLE(S)-4, maim by concussion and fragmentation effects eight surviving members of the crew of the USS Maury by bringing about by unknown means the destruction of equipment within the engineering compartments of the USS Maury.' Another pause. 'Does the defendant wish-?'
Jen was already shaking her head.
'Article 131 — Perjury. In that Lieutenant Junior Grade Jenevieve Diana Shen, United States Navy, did, on or about 12 March 2101, onboard Benjamin Franklin Naval Station, in a statement under penalty of perjury pursuant to section 1746 of title 28, United States Code, willfully and corruptly subscribe a false statement material to the matter of inquiry, to wit her knowledge of the cause of the destruction of equipment within the engineering compartments of the USS Maury, CLE(S)-4, and which statement she did not then believe to be true.
'The charges are signed by Commander, United States Naval Space Forces, a person subject to the code, as accuser; are properly sworn to before a commissioned officer of the armed forces authorized to administer oaths, and are properly referred to this court-martial for trial by Commander, United States Space Forces, the convening authority.'
Paul had never before noticed how the charges against a defendant seemed to roll out like vast weights, each one seeming to press down upon the courtroom and oppress everyone within it. He looked at Jen, realizing the weight of the charges had actually fallen upon her, and wondered how she'd been able to maintain her composure.
Judge McMasters looked at Jen Shen again. 'Lieutenant Junior Grade Shen, how do you plead? Before receiving you pleas, I advise you that any motions to dismiss any charge or grant other relief should be made at this time.'
Jen seemed uncertain for a moment, first facing the judge, then turning to face the members. 'I plead not guilty to all charges and specifications.' To Paul, her voice sounded stilted, and he realized how much difficulty she was having controlling it. He wondered how it sounded to others who didn't know her as well as he did.
'Very well,' Judge McMasters noted. 'Do you have an opening statement, Trial Counsel?'
'I do, your honor.' Commander Carr studied her data unit, then for just a moment looked up toward Jen. Paul couldn't tell if in that moment she'd also looked at him. Then Carr faced the members of the court and began speaking unemotionally. 'The prosecution intends to prove that on 21 February of this year, Lieutenant Junior Grade Shen deliberately and with malice sabotaged the engineering systems of her ship, the USS Maury, not only bringing about extensive damage to her ship, but also executing the premeditated murder of sixty-one of her shipmates,
