espionage by emplacing covert taps within selected compartments onboard his ship with the aim of covertly collecting information.
'Article 133 — Conduct unbecoming an officer. In that Lieutenant Bradley Fielder Pullman, United States Navy, did onboard USS Michaelson, CLE(S)-3… wrongfully and dishonorably engage in conduct unbecoming an officer, to wit: misappropriating classified information for personal gain.'
'Article 134 — False or unauthorized pass offenses. In that Lieutenant Bradley Fielder Pullman, United States Navy, did… have in his possession a station access pass which had been improperly tampered with to allow Lieutenant Pullman to access areas of the station without leaving any record on the station personnel tracking and security system.'
'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.'
As far as Paul could tell, Brad Pullman hadn't flinched from the charges at all, but had kept his expression cool and confident throughout the reading. If they'd been in a card game, Paul would've assumed Pullman had a very good hand.
Judge Campbell kept looking at Commander Carr for a moment after she finished speaking, then looked at Pullman. 'Lieutenant Pullman, how do you plead? Before receiving your pleas, I advise you that any motions to dismiss any charge or grant other relief should be made at this time.'
David Sinclair stood up, his expression respectful. 'Your Honor, the defense would like to move for the dismissal of the violation of Article 133 on the grounds that it is duplicative and nonspecific as to the nature of the requirements which Lieutenant Pullman is alleged to have violated.'
Judge Campbell shook her head. 'The motion is denied. The Uniform Code specifically states that violations of Article 133 can be brought in addition to charges for specific actions if those actions substantiate a charge of conduct unbecoming an officer. As to the 'nonspecific' nature alleging conduct unbecoming an officer, the law presumes that all officers are aware of the special requirements placed upon by virtue of their holding a commission as an officer. Does the defense have any other motions at this time?'
'No, Your Honor.' David Sinclair sat down again.
Brad Pullman stood at attention, speaking in a firm, clear voice. 'I plead not guilty to all charges and specifications, ma'am.'
'Very well. Does the prosecution have an opening statement?'
'Yes, Your Honor.' Commander Carr took another two steps, placing herself in front of the judge's bench, but still partially facing the judge and the members. The members were watching attentively, no expressions betraying their feelings. As far as Paul had been able to tell, none of them had reacted when the charges were read, either. 'The prosecution intends to prove that Lieutenant Pullman has engaged in multiple cases of espionage against the United States, that in the furthering of this espionage he has willfully and repeatedly violated United States Navy regulations and instructions governing the handling of classified materials, and that he has received monetary compensation from a foreign country in exchange for these acts of espionage. Lieutenant Pullman should be found guilty as to all charges and specifications, because by his actions he not only disgraced himself, he intentionally caused grave injury to the United States.'
Commander Carr walked back to her table. Judge Campbell motioned toward David Sinclair. 'Will the defense make an opening statement?'
'Yes, Your Honor.' David Sinclair remained standing at his table as he spoke, his voice carrying easily across the courtroom. 'The defense intends to prove that Lieutenant Bradley Pullman is innocent of the most serious charges against him, and that any mishandling of classified material which may have taken place was both inadvertent and not done with any intent to cause injury to the United States. Since Lieutenant Pullman will be proven innocent of any intent to commit espionage or mishandle classified material, he should be found not guilty as to all charges and specifications.'
David Sinclair sat down. Silence fell for a moment. Captain Campbell pointed her gavel at Commander Carr again. 'Proceed.'
'Thank you. The United States calls as its first witness Ensign Akesha Taylor, United States Navy.'
Ensign Taylor came down the aisle moving purposefully. As she sat down and looked Paul's way, one eye twitched in what might have been surreptitious wink. Taylor seemed no more intimidated by a military courtroom than she was by any other aspect of the Navy.
Commander Carr stood before Ensign Taylor. 'Do you swear that the evidence you give in the case now in hearing shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?'
'I do, ma'am.'
'Are you Ensign Akesha Taylor, currently assigned as Electronic Systems Officer onboard the USS Michaelson?'
'Yes, ma'am.'
'Briefly describe your duties, please.'
'Yes, ma'am.' Taylor hitched herself over slightly so she partially faced the members' table. 'In laymen's terms, I'm responsible for making sure all the electronic systems and linkages talk to each other properly. I handle the interfaces.'
'Do you have much experience with electronic system interfaces?'
'Only about twenty-two years, ma'am.'
Paul caught a glimpse of smiles flickering on the faces of the members of the court-martial.
Commander Carr gave a small smile as well. 'Do you also oversee the software safeguards and hardware cut-outs designed to prevent unauthorized actions?'
'Yes, ma'am.'
'Were all of those safeguards and cut-outs operational on the evening of 20 August?'
Taylor nodded several times. 'Yes, ma'am, they were.'
David Sinclair rose to his feet, looking serious. 'Objection, Your Honor. How can the witness be certain none of the referenced safeguards and cut-outs malfunctioned for even a very brief time on the evening in question?'
Commander Carr gestured toward Ensign Taylor. 'Perhaps we should ask the witness.'
Judge Campbell nodded. 'Perhaps we should. Ensign Taylor?'
Taylor shook her head just as firmly as she'd earlier nodded. 'That couldn't have happened, ma'am. The system maintains a continuous track of the interfaces, the safeguards and cut-outs and everything else. Any failure, and lapse, even for a microsecond, gets tagged. I check the system reports every morning and they were clean.'
'Ensign Taylor,' Captain Nguyen spoke up. 'What if the systems doing the monitoring fail?'
Paul looked at his brother, who seemed torn between distress that the senior member of the court was questioning the witness directly and happiness that a potential flaw in the prosecution's argument had been brought out.
But Taylor shook her head again. 'Ma'am, if I had that kind of failure it'd mean the primaries and two back- ups had all failed simultaneously. I don't know the odds of that happening, but they're awful long. And if somehow it did happen, everything would start locking up and I'd get sparks spitting out here, there and everywhere. It'd be impossible to miss, as well as one tremendous mess to fix.'
'Then,' Captain Nguyen pressed, 'in your expert opinion, it is virtually impossible that there could have been failures of not only the safeguards and cut-outs, but also simultaneous failures of the systems monitoring the working status of those safeguards and cut-outs?'
'Captain, the only way I could see that happening is if we'd sustained major battle damage and been totally knocked out of commission.' Taylor looked from Carr to the judge to David Sinclair. 'Can't happen, otherwise.'
Captain Nguyen sat back, clearly satisfied. Commander Carr looked up at Judge Campbell, who looked over at David Sinclair. 'Objection overruled.'
David Sinclair nodded and sat down. Paul thought he might be the only one in the courtroom who could spot the tiny but tell-tail signs that his brother was seriously ticked-off. Didn't you think Commander Carr would be prepared to handle such an issue? Maybe after this David will stop assuming he's head and shoulders a better
