to be in the act of finishing dressing. Correct so far?'
Taber nodded briskly. 'Yes.'
Bashir leaned even closer to Taber. 'This compartment. Wasn't it Lieutenant Shen's stateroom?'
'I… '
'Was it or wasn't it?'
'I don't recall exactly.'
'That's an odd detail to forget, isn't it, Lieutenant? When you remember so much else about the event so clearly?'
'Objection.' Commander Carr didn't rise, didn't even look toward the bench. 'Defense counsel is harassing the witness.'
'Sustained.' Judge McMasters seemed just as unenthusiastic as Carr. 'Just ask your questions, Lieutenant Bashir.'
'Yes, Your Honor. Lieutenant Taber, you're under oath. Lying under oath is perjury. Now think again. Was the compartment in question Lieutenant Shen's stateroom?'
'I… okay. Yes.'
'Then, if I may summarize again, your testimony indicates that Lieutenant Shen was getting dressed in her own stateroom.'
'I-'
'Do you find anything unusual about being asked to wait while a female officer finishes dressing in her own stateroom?'
'Objection-'
'Overruled.'
Bashir leaned in closer to Taber, who seemed increasingly nervous. 'Lieutenant, did you ever ask Lieutenant Shen for a date?'
'Objection!'
McMasters frowned down at Bashir. 'Does counsel for the defense have any grounds for asking that question?'
'Your Honor, I have in my possession sworn statements signed by two surviving officers from the USS Maury that Lieutenant Taber had asked both Lieutenant Shen and Lieutenant Schmidt for dates on separate occasions. According to the statements, he was turned down in both cases. I will be happy to offer both statements to be added to the record for the trial.'
Paul looked over at Commander Carr, who was finally looking at Lieutenant Taber with an icy expression.
Judge McMasters also looked toward the Trial Counsel's table. 'Commander Carr? Do you still wish to object?'
'No, Your Honor, though I reserve the right to bring up the issue again after I've reviewed the statements in question.'
'Very well. Continue, Lieutenant Bashir.'
'Thank you, you honor.' Lieutenant Bashir focused back on Taber, who looked both nervous and unhappy. 'Will you answer the question, Lieutenant? Didn't you ask Lieutenant Shen for a date?'
'I might've.'
'And Lieutenant Schmidt?'
'Maybe. I don't really remember.'
Bashir leaned very close to Taber. 'You're still under oath, Lieutenant,' he said softly.
Taber nodded once. 'Okay. Yes. I guess I did. If I had to say, I'd say I did. So what?'
'I'll ask the questions, if you don't mind, Lieutenant. When the hatch to Lieutenant Shen's stateroom opened, was there any physical contact apparent between her and Lieutenant Schmidt?'
'No, I said-'
'No hugging? No touching? No kissing?'
'No!'
'Lieutenant Schmidt was fully dressed?'
'Uh, yes.'
'You testified you thought they were breathing heavily. Was either woman's hair in any disarray?'
'I… can't remember.'
Bashir leaned very close. 'Lieutenant, you've testified that a female officer was getting dressed in her own stateroom with the hatch closed, with another female officer present. Have you ever been in your own stateroom, getting dressed, with another male officer present?'
'Objection. Counsel for defense is harassing the witness.'
'Overruled.' McMasters shook his head. 'It's a legitimate line of questioning for this witness.'
'Your Honor, it implies-'
'I'll remind trial counsel that she introduced such implications into the trial. Continue, Lieutenant Bashir.'
'Thank you, Your Honor. Lieutenant Taber? How about it? Have you ever gotten dressed in your stateroom, the hatch closed, with another male officer present?'
Taber glared at Bashir. 'I'm sure I have.'
'Would you regard it as reasonable to assume you had a physical relationship with that other officer because of that fact?'
'No.'
'These other occasions you testified to, when you say you saw Lieutenant Schmidt and Lieutenant Shen touching each other, what kind of touches? Where?'
'I really don't-'
'On the arm?'
'Yes.'
'The hand?'
'Uh, yes.'
'Shoulder?'
'Maybe. I don't — '
'Did you ever see them touching other inappropriately? Touching each other on any part of their anatomy which was improper in public?'
'I… not directly.'
'Not directly. I see.' Lieutenant Bashir leaned back, still eyeing Lieutenant Taber. 'Lieutenant, wouldn't you agree that any assumption that Lieutenant Shen and Lieutenant Schmidt had an inappropriate physical or emotional relationship based upon your testimony would be absurd, and that in fact your own assumptions are grounded in little more than anger at your own rejection by both women and your own sexual fantasies?'
'Objection!'
Before an obviously angry McMasters could speak, Lieutenant Bashir stepped back. 'I withdraw the question, Your Honor. My apologies to the court.'
McMasters didn't seem mollified by the apology. 'Pull something like that again, Lieutenant Bashir, and you'll be held in contempt. The members of the court are directed to disregard counsel for the defense's last statement. Trial Counsel, do you wish to redirect?'
Even from where he sat, Paul could see the contempt in Commander Carr's eyes as she looked at Taber. 'No, Your Honor. The government is quite through with this witness.'
But Captain Carney leaned forward, his elbows on the members' table, his face intent. 'Lieutenant Taber, you started to say something about Lieutenant Schmidt getting engaged?'
Taber, visibly sweating, looked toward Carney and nodded rapidly. 'Yes, sir. She got engaged right before we got underway for the ops with the Michaelson. To some guy stationed on Franklin.'
'Some guy? A male officer?'
'Uh, no, sir. He's some kind of civilian contractor.'
'Very interesting, Lieutenant Taber. Thank you. No other questions? Thank you, Lieutenant.'
