oath.'
For the first time, emotion flashed across Herdez' face. 'I did not need to be reminded of that fact,' she stated icily. 'Captain Wakeman stated that seizing the SASAL ship would generate a favorable reaction toward the ship from our fleet staff.'
'A favorable reaction toward the ship? Or toward Captain Wakeman personally?'
'Captain Wakeman did not specify.'
'He said nothing about believing intercepting the SASAL ship would be a feather in his personal cap?'
'I don't recall his exact words.'
'But he did express the hope that he personally would gain favorable recognition as a result of his actions?'
'Yes.'
'I see.' Wilkes paced back and forth a few steps. 'What about when you were closing on the SASAL ship? Did Captain Wakeman ask your advice during that period?'
'No.'
'Not at all?'
'No.'
'Don't you regard that as unusual? Negligent, even?'
'The captain of a ship is not required to ask advice of his or her subordinates.'
'But doesn't a wise captain do so?'
'Some do and some don't, Commander Wilkes. I'm not in a position to comment on their professional judgment, either.'
This time Feres just cleared his throat.
Wilkes stood directly in front of Herdez. 'Isn't it a fact that prior to Captain Wakeman firing the shot across the bow of the SASAL ship, you publicly questioned the wisdom of that act?'
'No, it is not.'
'You called to the captain across the bridge, pointed out that you were outside of the American territorial area, and raised the question of whether use of force under those circumstances was covered your orders, did you not?'
'Yes. But those actions do not add up to publicly questioning the wisdom of the captain's actions.'
Wilkes smiled. 'Would you then characterize your questions as attempting to alter a course of action which Captain Wakeman seemed intent on pursuing?' Herdez hesitated again. 'Commander?'
'Yes.'
'Yes, you were attempting to dissuade the captain from firing that shot?'
'Yes.'
'And what was Captain Wakeman's response?'
'He asked Ensign Sinclair, the ship's legal officer, if our orders could be interpreted as justifying his action.'
'So he turned aside your concerns. He ignored the obvious intent of your question and instead turned to the most junior officer on the ship for some form of justification for the course of action Captain Wakeman had already decided upon. Isn't that correct?' Herdez sat silent, her face revealing nothing. 'I asked you if that is correct, Commander.'
'That is one possible way of describing events.'
'And once the SASAL ship had altered course, once it had begun closing on the Michaelson, did Captain Wakeman follow the advice of anyone else?'
'I don't recall-'
'The ship's log indicates Commander Garcia more than once recommended that Captain Wakeman maneuver the Michaelson to open this distance between the ships. Did Captain Wakeman order his ship to maneuver?'
'No.'
'Several individuals heard you caution Captain Wakeman that the SASAL ship could be continuing its pattern of perceived harassment. Do you recall doing that?'
'Yes.'
'Did Captain Wakeman acknowledge your advice?'
'No.'
'Did Captain Wakeman begin to panic as the SASAL ship closed on the Michaelson?'
'Objection.' Lieutenant Commander Garrity motioned toward Herdez. 'Trial counsel is asking Commander Herdez to comment on Captain Wakeman's state of mind.'
'I will rephrase. Did Captain Wakeman appear to panic as the SASAL ship closed on the Michaelson? Commander Herdez?'
'Captain Wakeman appeared agitated.'
'Agitated? Did he appear to be in control of the situation?'
'There was no way for Captain Wakeman to control the actions of the SASAL ship.'
'Did Captain Wakeman appear to be in control of the situation on the bridge of his own ship? Or was he simply reacting to events which he had allowed to get totally out of hand?'
'Objection.'
'I withdraw the question. Commander Herdez, whose decision was it to pursue the SASAL ship?'
'Captain Wakeman's.'
'Whose decision was it to fire a warning shot at the SASAL ship?'
'Captain Wakeman's.'
'And whose decision was it to fire on the SASAL ship itself, killing its entire crew and crippling the vessel?'
'Captain Wakeman.'
'You're an experienced fleet officer with an impeccable record, Commander Herdez. Would you have done any of those things? Would you have made any of those same decisions? Would you have ignored the advice of everyone around you?'
Herdez took a long moment to reply. 'I was not the commanding officer. The ultimate responsibility for the safety of our ship, for executing our orders and carrying out our mission, did not rest with me.'
'You're saying you would have done all those things, Commander? Exactly as Captain Wakeman did?'
'I am saying I cannot claim to know what I would have done had the burden of command rested upon me.'
Wilkes smiled slightly. 'I have no further questions at this time.'
Lieutenant Commander Garrity walked slowly toward Commander Herdez. 'Commander, how long had the Michaelson been on patrol before the encounter with the SASAL ship?'
'Approximately ten weeks.'
'And during that ten week period, how many ships had come anywhere near the Michaelson?'
'Once we left the vicinity of Franklin Station we had very few encounters with other shipping.'
'And most of those encounters were at great distances, weren't they? Yet, during the incident with the SASAL ship, you suddenly found yourselves in a very fast moving situation. Do you think any crew could have performed optimally under those circumstances?'
'I kept the crew well-trained, Commander Garrity.'
'I don't doubt that, ma'am. But there's no substitute for actual practice, is there? Would you agree the crew was unpracticed in dealing with such a fast-moving situation?'
'Yes.'
'Could this have affected the support they provided to Captain Wakeman?'
A pause. 'Yes.'
'Commander Herdez, your loyalty to your commanding officer is obvious and commendable. But Captain Wakeman is no longer your commanding officer. Why are you clearly unwilling to condemn his actions?'
Herdez gazed back at Garrity. 'My duty as the executive officer is to support my ship's captain to the best of my ability. The moment I lose the confidence of my ship's captain I am no longer able to carry out that duty.'
