failed to conform to fleet guidance on encounters with third-party shipping… fourth specification… failed to conform to rules of engagement as promulgated in general order 267-97… fifth specification… failed to obey a lawful order from his immediate superior to keep said superior advised of all movements… sixth specification… derelict in the performance of his duties under fleet operational standards… seventh… derelict under requirements of Open Space Navigation Treaty… eighth… derelict in carrying out operational orders… ninth… derelict in exercising command functions during crisis as set forth in fleet instruction…'
Paul surfaced from his reading, blinking in amazement. No wonder this charge sheet is so long. What else are they hitting Wakeman with? He began scrolling through the charge sheet again. 'Article 107. False Official Statement. In that Captain Peter Wakeman did… knowingly provide false information in a message sent to Commander, United States Naval Space Forces regarding his encounter with a ship of the South Asian Alliance'… Three specifications… one for each message Wakeman sent. 'Article 110. Improper hazarding of a vessel.' Good Lord, that's potentially a death penalty offense. 'In that Captain Peter Wakeman did… wrongfully and willfully hazard the USS Michaelson by bringing said ship into proximity with another spacecraft without justification… second specification… wrongfully and willfully hazard the USS Michaelson by failing to maneuver his ship to remain clear of another spacecraft, thus risking collision… Article 111… Drunken or Reckless Operation of Vehicle, Aircraft or Vessel.' Give me a break! 'In that Captain Peter Wakeman, while serving as commanding officer of USS Michaelson, did suffer his vessel to be hazarded negligently by failing to order maneuvers to open the distance with another spacecraft when warned of a risk of collision… Article 119… Involuntary Manslaughter… in that Captain Peter Wakeman did, through culpable negligence, bring about the death of thirty-seven individuals manning a ship of the South Asian Alliance…'
Paul sat for a long time, staring at the charge sheet, a lump in his stomach. They threw the book at him. Every charge they could come up with. I'm surprised they didn't try to toss in bigamy and burglary. Yet, the death of the SASAL crew almost sounds like an after-thought. What's the point of all that? To make sure Wakeman gets nailed? After all, the more he's charged with, the more guilty he must be, right?
'Hey, Paul.' Jen leaned into the stateroom. 'My department head got a message from some JAG about maybe being a witness, so he's running around with his hair on fire. Does that mean a court-martial's going down?'
'Yeah.' Paul indicated the document on his screen. 'A general court-martial.'
'That's the worst there is, right?' Jen came into the stateroom, peering at the display. 'That thing's dated yesterday. Do you think Wakeman's seen it, yet?'
'I'd bet he saw it yesterday. I've been reading up on this stuff. They've got to give Wakeman a minimum of five days after being notified he's being court-martialed to get his defense together before they actual start his trial. The sooner they handed him a copy of this, the sooner that clock starts ticking.'
'Wow. So you think they're going to do this as fast as they can, huh?' Jen looked away from the message, focusing on Paul, and frowned. 'What's bothering you?'
'I read the charges.'
'I can't imagine it's any fun to relive that mess. None of it was your fault, Paul.'
'I know. It's just…'
She sat down. 'What?'
'They're trying to hang Wakeman, Jen.'
'Literally?'
'Uh, no. I don't think so, although some of the things they charged him with allow the death penalty.'
Jen's eyebrows shot up. 'You're kidding. I didn't expect that, even for Cap'n Pete.'
'I guess I didn't either. Jen, I want the guy to be called to account for what he did, but I don't feel right about all these charges.'
'Why? What's the big deal?'
'Jen, look at this charge sheet. They're piling on the charges.'
'Piling on? What's that mean?'
'It means they're charging Wakeman with everything they conceivably could, regardless of whether or not it increases the potential penalty. They're officially called, um, lesser included offenses.'
Jen shrugged. 'Hey, if he did it, he did it. What kind of extra charges are you talking about?'
Paul pointed toward his display. 'Well, look here for example. Right at the top. They're charging him with two counts of violating Article 86.'
'Article 86?' Jen squinted at the charge sheet skeptically. 'They're charging Wakeman with being AWOL?'
'No. It's not the Absent Without Official Leave component of Article 86, it's the Leaving Appointed Place of Duty component. They're charging Wakeman with Article 86 first for leaving our patrol area while we were chasing the SASAL ship, and then again for matching course with the wreck and accompanying it for a few days instead of heading back into our patrol area.'
'You're kidding. We were in hot pursuit of the SASAL ship, and no one in their right mind would have just let the wreck zoom off into nowhere without going aboard.'
'Then you see my point.'
'Okay. I will, with great reluctance, agree that those two charges are over-the-top. But it isn't like Wakeman doesn't deserve to be hammered. He was a lousy commanding officer.'
'I'm not debating that. I think he's also a lousy human being. But he's not on trial for his general performance as a commanding officer. No. He's being tried for the specific actions he took while pursuing and firing on the SASAL ship. And some of these charges are nailing him for doing things anybody would've done.'
'Like shooting at an unarmed ship?'
'I said some of them! Why couldn't they have just charged him with involuntary manslaughter? And maybe the false official statement charge, because he knew those messages we sent didn't reflect what we'd found on the SASAL ship. Why all this other stuff? It's like in medieval times when they'd sentence someone to be hanged, then drawn and quartered, and then beheaded. It's overkill. And like I said, some of this stuff he's being charged with is the same sort of thing we'd have done in his place with the orders we had.'
Jen leaned back, crossing her arms. 'So, you don't think it's fair, huh? What are you going to do about it?'
'I don't know.'
'Are you planning to somehow go to the mat defending Cap'n Pete's virtues as a commanding officer and leader because you don't think the system is being fair to him?'
'No! But… look, I just don't know.'
'Will you at least promise me not to do anything stupid in the name of some personal concept of nobility?'
Paul frowned at her. 'Why? What do you care what happens to me?'
'Who said I care?
'It sounds like you care.'
'Ha! Don't get your hopes up, Sinclair. I'm just trying to keep your butt out of a bight so I don't get stuck trying to pry you loose and having to pick up all the pieces afterwards.'
Paul stared stubbornly at his display, unwilling to meet Jen's eyes. 'Thanks for the vote of confidence.'
'Oh, for heaven's sake. Don't get your ego up. I hate seeing my friends dig themselves into deep holes. Does that sound better?'
Paul sat silently for a minute, while Jen waited as if sensing he needed time to think. 'Jen, did you ever see something happening that you thought was bad, and everything you'd ever been taught said it was wrong to do nothing, but you ended up doing nothing anyway?'
'Duh. That's life. Theory versus practice.'
'But didn't it bother you? Doesn't it still bother you? I remember back at the Academy, seeing some guy doing stuff that should have gotten him kicked out, but getting away with it all because he had the right connections. Thinking I ought to raise a stink. But I didn't. Now that guy's an officer and probably well on his way to becoming another Peter Wakeman. Because I didn't do something when I knew I should. How many lives will he make miserable? How many people might he kill through his own incompetence?'
Jen exhaled heavily. 'Paul, part of me wants to try to slap some sense into that brain of yours. And part of
