Lieutenant Silver has repeatedly betrayed the trust placed in him by the United States. I ask you not to give him a chance to do so again. Thank you.'
Commander Carr walked deliberately back to her table, while Paul watched her with wide eyes. If that performance doesn't convict Silver, I don't know what will. He looked toward Lieutenant Silver, whose expression seemed less calmly confident now. Sweat, you bastard. You've run into someone who can spin words just as well as you can, and she wants your hide.
Judge Halstead, still apparently unaffected by the emotions swirling through the courtroom, looked toward the defense table. 'Is counsel for the defense prepared to present closing argument?'
'Yes, your Honor.' Commander Jones walked to the same position Commander Carr had taken to address the members of the court. 'Lieutenant Silver has already clearly stated the grounds for acquitting him of all charges. Bluntly, there is no evidence directly linking him to most of the offenses with which he is charged. It is a case built entirely on circumstantial evidence, a house of cards resting on a foundation of speculation and innuendo. How can an officer be charged with giving an order which no one can testify they heard him give? How can an officer be charged with negligence because one of his sailors, acting alone, overrode safety interlocks and attempted a hazardous repair task single-handedly? How can an officer be charged with destroying data in his ship's engineering logs when the only evidence supporting that charge is that Lieutenant Silver was aboard the ship when the destruction allegedly happened? He was aboard the ship on his duty day! This is evidence of wrongdoing?
'Certainly, Lieutenant Silver was not seen by others for a brief period during the evening of 19 September. As his own department head testified, seeking out a small moment for private grief over the death of one of his sailors is not only understandable, but also appropriate.'
'Yes, Lieutenant Silver admits to having provided incomplete information to his commanding officer on one occasion. Not out of intent to deceive, but out of shock and horror at what had happened. Yes, he tried to protect Chief Asher's reputation and service benefits during the formal investigation. This was perhaps misguided, but it was an error of the heart.
'Dereliction of duty? Because he failed to open some mail? If Lieutenant Silver's performance was so derelict, why was he not relieved of duty earlier? If Lieutenant Silver couldn't be trusted to carry out his responsibilities, why did he continue to serve in such vitally important positions as officer of the deck underway and command duty officer in port? What commanding officer would risk his or her ship in the hands of an officer they truly did not trust? If they did so, wouldn't they themselves be guilty of dereliction of duty?
'There was a tragedy on the USS Michaelson. No one denies that. I ask you not to compound that tragedy by convicting an innocent man, a dedicated and caring officer, because a scapegoat is being sought. A conviction on any charge requires proof that Lieutenant Silver did commit such an act, not just an unsupported assertion that he could have done something improper. Such proof was not presented during the course of this trial, because such proof does not exist.'
'I ask you to acquit Lieutenant Silver of all charges. He has done his duty in trying circumstances. He does not deserve to be the victim of a process aimed at finding a warm body to blame for a tragedy. No officer deserves that. Thank you.'
Commander Jones returned to his seat as the courtroom stayed silent. Paul looked toward the members of the court. That's it. All the evidence has been presented, all the arguments made. Now it's up to those officers to decide Silver's fate.
Judge Halstead gazed around the courtroom. 'Captain Mashiko, the members may begin their deliberations. The court-martial is closed, and will reconvene tomorrow morning at 1000 in this courtroom.'
Paul stood in the wardroom of the Michaelson, hastily gulping down some bitter coffee. Commander Sykes nodded to Paul from his customary seat. 'Good luck, Mr. Sinclair.'
'Thank you, sir.'
'You seem a bit uneasy.'
'The coffee sucks, Suppo.'
Sykes grinned. 'I'm wounded. You're really worried about the verdict, aren't you?'
Kris Denaldo, entering the wardroom at that moment, nodded as well. 'That's it, right, Paul?'
'Yeah, that's right. No matter how strongly I believe in Silver's guilt, the evidence is overwhelmingly circumstantial. If we'd had Chief Asher to testify, there wouldn't be any problem. But since Asher's dead, Silver's able to avoid that.'
Kris shuddered as she tasted some coffee. 'Suppo, this stuff really reeks. That's ironic, isn't it, Paul? If Silver did cause Asher's death, then Asher's death helps protect Silver.'
'Ironic isn't the word I'd use.'
'Have you heard about the snipes? They say Chief Asher's been playing games with them in Forward Engineering.'
Paul felt a sudden chill. 'Playing games?'
'Yeah. The snipes claim he's still supervising them.'
'I guess Davidas' ghost has some company now.' Paul sighed and disposed of his empty coffee container. 'Have you seen Gabriel? I've got duty today, but she's standing it for me until I can get back to the ship.'
'Oh, yeah. She had a departmental meeting, but she asked me to tell you not to worry. As long as you're back before the end of the day it's no problem. If you're going to be delayed past that, Gabriel wants you to give her a call.'
'No problem. Thank her for me.' Paul sketched a salute toward Commander Sykes. 'By your leave, sir.'
Sykes hoisted his own coffee in reply. 'I'm certain you will perform ably, Mr. Sinclair.'
'It's out of my hands, Suppo. See ya, Kris.'
Paul stepped out onto the quarterdeck, adjusting his uniform to ensure he looked his best. Lieutenant Sindh came by and inclined her head gravely. 'May justice be done this day.'
'So I hope.' There's one of my greatest fears resolved. No one's treating me like an outcast because I helped bring Silver to a court-martial. Well, Smiling Sam Yarrow's been avoiding me like the plague, but that's not exactly a bad thing from my perspective. No matter what the members of the court decide, the good officers of the Merry Mike think I was right to do what I did. Even Commander Garcia, something I never expected. Paul saluted Chief Imari, the officer of the deck. 'Ensign Gabriel's filling in for me in the duty section until I get back. Let me know if anything — ' Paul bit his tongue. He'd been about to say 'blows up,' using the standard slang for a sudden emergency. In this context, with Chief Imari who'd been on the quarterdeck when something did blow up, it wouldn't sound right at all. 'If any emergencies arise. Request permission to go ashore.'
'Yes, sir.' Chief Imari returned his salute. 'Permission granted.'
Paul strode across the brow, pausing to turn and salute the national flag aft, then headed for the courtroom.
Commander Carr raised one hand in brief greeting, then focused back on the front of the courtroom, her tension revealed only by one thumb tapping quickly against her index finger. Lieutenant Commander Jones sat with Lieutenant Silver at the defense table, neither one speaking as Jones read something on his data pad and Silver looked straight ahead.
'All rise.' A shuffle of feet as everyone came to attention. Judge Halstead looked around, then seated himself. 'Bailiff, please ask the members of the court-martial to enter.'
The members entered the courtroom, their faces revealing nothing.
'Captain Mashiko, have the members reached findings?'
Mashiko nodded. 'They have.'
'Are the findings on Appellate Exhibit Six?'
'Yes.'
'Would the trial counsel, without examining it, please bring me Appellate Exhibit Six?' A long minute passed while Judge Halstead studied the exhibit dispassionately. 'I have examined Appellate Exhibit Six. It appears to be in proper form. Please return it to the president. Lieutenant Silver, would you and your counsel stand up, please. Captain Mashiko, announce the findings, please.'
Captain Mashiko cleared his throat. 'Lieutenant Scott Silver, this court-martial finds you guilty of violating
