|
|
Post by Col. Charybdis on Nov 5, 2004 11:05:02 GMT -6
I finished the report. My stomach felt like it had been kicked by a Warrior's combat boot. Lazant had been sent to find Amy when she did not return on time and then they both had been left to die.
Some things made sense, but there was something nagging in my mind. They had been left there. Brie didn't wait for them to return...she just...left them there to die!
Why? Couldn't she have done something else? Was that all there was to it? They died because they were late?
I had to talk to Brie. I had to get the straight story from her, but since she was in the brig and Boleman had caught me there before, I was jeopardizing Brie's case. I stood up and returned to the bridge. I would wait until the tribunal to find out what really happened.
|
|
|
|
Post by Brie on Nov 7, 2004 15:25:25 GMT -6
As the start of the tribunal approached Brie was surprised to see Trula. “I didn’t think I was allowed visitors,” Brie commented.
Trula smiled. “I’m not a visitor, I’m working for the protection. It’s about time that we started getting you ready, don’t you think?”
Brie looked at her blankly. “What do I need to do to get ready? Don’t I just go?”
“Oh, no,” Trula replied. “Presentation is a big part of your protection. Come sit over here. Let’s see what we can do about that hair of yours.” Trula pulled out a brush and started pulling Brie’s hair badly. “Have you ever considered cutting it?”
“Not seriously,” Brie said, biting her tongue.
Trula continued to talk as she worked on Brie’s hair. Somehow Brie had never pictured herself having her hair done by the Galactica’s head chef. Then again, she had never pictured that she would be brought up on charges for surviving a mission. After several centons and several hard pulls Trula was finally finished. “There!” she exclaimed.
Even without a mirror Brie knew how it looked. It was the same way she usually wore it, pulled back in a tight ponytail. “Can’t I just wear it down?” she suggested. “That way I can cover the cut on my temple.”
Trula shook her head. “We don’t WANT to cover the cut. Your injuries are part of your defense, we need to let them show.” Brie didn’t like this idea but decided not to argue. “So,” Trula said, “how long have you been running Gold Squadron?”
“Five yarhens,” Brie told her.
“It’s about to be six,” Trula said. “I’ve heard rumors that you’ve been nominated, and most of the members of Gold Squadron are standing behind you.”
“I’m going to withdraw my name,” Brie said with a great amount of sadness.
Trula was shocked. “You can’t do that! Being reelected in the middle of your tribunal would be a great thing to happen. It would show that the people who know you best are standing behind you.”
“My mind is made up,” Brie said. “My decision isn’t about the tribunal, it’s about the lives of the squadron members. If there was no one doubting my actions it would be one thing, but I know that not everyone is behind me. If not everyone has faith in their leader the results could be disastrous. That’s a risk that I’m not willing to take. If I were to run again I wouldn’t deserve to be reelected. Running to beat the charges would make me the type of leader I’ve always strived NOT to be.”
“Okay,” Trula said, softening her tone. “I understand. I’ll let Boleman know.” She walked to the door. “It’s not going to be too much longer, Brie. The tribunal will be starting soon. Just sit tight.”
“Like I have a choice,” Brie mumbled after Trula had left.
|
|
|
|
Post by Col. Charybdis on Nov 10, 2004 11:44:21 GMT -6
Just a couple of more centars and Brie's tribunal will be starting. I remember back several yahrens ago when I was brought up on charges for Lt. Martinzi's death.
Lazant had reacted hastily and blamed me for his death which was proved unfounded. In a way, I felt sorry for Brie since she was being railroaded in the same way.
I had not been contacted about testifying though. I was beginning to wonder. I wanted to testify on Brie's behalf. Perhaps Boleman was unsure of me in that I was a total partisan toward Brie. Why testify when they know what I would say about her?
And there's the plain fact that I was not on the mission. So how could I know anything about what she did or did not do?
I would have to wait it out until the tribunal began...
|
|
|
|
Post by Brie on Nov 12, 2004 12:28:57 GMT -6
“I have good news, Major.” Boleman had come to the brig for the first time in centars.
“What, we’re almost ready to start?” Brie replied.
“That too. But this is something that could really help your case.”
“What?” Brie asked, curiously.
“You’ve been reelected as Commanding Officer of Gold Squadron,” Boleman informed her.
Brie stared at him. “That’s impossible! I withdrew my name.”
“And they voted you back anyway. That shows that Gold Squadron has faith in you, even though you tried to pull out.”
“Wow.” Brie stated. “It’s going to be hard running the squadron from the Prison Barge.”
“Don’t talk that way,” Boleman instructed, “even as a joke. I have no sense of humor at the micron. There’s too much that you don’t know about that’s going on.”
“Like what?” Brie asked, slightly worried. She couldn't help but wonder when Boleman EVER had a sense of humor.
“Commander Apollo hasn’t arrived on the Callisto as he had promised,” Boleman informed her. “I had also wanted Commander Sheba to testify, but she’s not returning my messages. Same thing with your good buddy Colonel Charybdis. Are you sure we can count on him?”
“Positive,” Brie replied. “If there’s one thing in my whole life that I’m certain about, it’s that Charybdis will watch my back.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Brie on Nov 13, 2004 12:43:19 GMT -6
“Are you ready with your testimony?” Boleman asked Brie. “You know exactly what I want you to say.”
“Yeah,” she replied. “Keep it short, simple, and just the facts. Don’t offer any information that they don’t need to know.”
“Right. I can’t force you to testify,” Boleman reminded her, “but I think it will be best if what happened is explained in your own words. Plus you’re the only one who can prove Pierce’s bias.”
“I understand.” Brie paused. “I can’t help but wonder if the outcome of the election would have been different if it had been held AFTER my file has been opened.”
“There would have been no difference,” Boleman assured her with confidence. “You’ve led these people for over five yahrens, they have faith in you. They reelected you even though you withdrew! An incident in your past isn’t going to matter.”
“I hope you’re right,” Brie said.
Boleman looked at his chrono. “It should be any centon now. Captain Urdea will be joining us as part of your escort. The viewers should be gathering already. I’ve managed to keep this off of IFB, although Zerra has been given permission to give updates.” He put a hand on Brie’s good shoulder. “This will all be over very soon, and you’ll be back at your rightful place, leading Gold Squadron.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Brie on Nov 14, 2004 11:43:30 GMT -6
Captain Urdea arrived at the brig, along with three other security officers. Brie thought that there was an awful amount of fuss over nothing, she hadn’t resisted or even argued since the moment she had discovered that she was going to be charged. They could have opened the door and just let her out and she still would have shown up for the tribunal.
The group headed down the hall in almost total silence. It was broken by a shrill voice. “A warrior will NEVER survive the Prison Barge!” followed by an even more annoying laugh. Descara had been held in the Callisto brig for a long time, why she hadn’t been transferred was a mystery to Brie, in fact, until that moment Brie hadn’t even realized that Descara was there. She decided to ignore her words.
The walk to the meeting room was incredibly long. Brie noticed that something seemed to be bothering Captain Urdea. He was looking around, almost as if he was watching for someone. She had known him for yahrens, but realized for the first time that she knew nothing of his personal life. She couldn’t even say for sure if he was sealed.
In the original battlestar design the room where the tribunal was to be held was used mostly for occasions such as this one, but on the Callisto that wasn’t the case. Most tribunals took place on the Galactica or even the Rising Star, this was more of a meeting room than anything. The necessary furniture and equipment to make it look like a courtroom was stored not far away. Brie knew exactly how it was going to look, she still pictured it clearly from Charybdis’ tribunal.
That seemed so long ago. Captain Lazant was so devastated over his friend Lieutenant Martinzi’s death that he had Charybdis brought up on charges. That was when the relationship between Charybdis and Amy was first brought out in the open. Brie had been so furious with Charybdis that she thought their friendship was unrepairable. Funny how things change. The friendship somehow grew stronger, Amy and Charybdis briefly entertained the idea of taking the seal, and Martinzi was alive. Now Amy and Lazant were both dead. The ironic part about that was that Lazant had actually rescued Martinzi, but would never know that it was his friend that he had rescued.
As Brie and her escort entered the now-courtroom a hush fell over the spectators. She tried not to look at them, Boleman had advised her not to, but she knew who would be there. She took her seat with her Protector to her left and waited for the proceedings to begin.
|
|
|
|
Post by Col. Charybdis on Nov 15, 2004 7:54:54 GMT -6
The time had come...I headed over for the tribunal. It was a room I had not gone into since...well, that was then and this is now...
I entered the room and quickly scanned it. I saw Brie sitting over by herself for the moment just looking down into her lap. How did she get herself into this?
I walked up and took a seat in the first row reserved for senior officers. I looked over at Brie and she just took a quick look at me. Our eyes met but she quickly looked back down.
Unfortunately, I just about knew how she felt since I was sitting in that same seat just a few yahrens ago...
|
|
|
|
Post by Brie on Nov 15, 2004 11:47:31 GMT -6
Just before the start of the tribunal Boleman took one last look around. Much to his surprise he saw one person there who wasn’t supposed to be, Charybdis. He quickly approached him. “Excuse me, Colonel, but you’re going to have to leave.”
Charybdis looked both surprised and upset. “Why?”
“Because you’re on the witness list, and witnesses aren’t allowed in the tribunal until AFTER they testify.” Boleman was slightly annoyed. “Honestly, don’t you ever check your messages?”
“Of course I...”
Boleman cut him off. “Here comes Major Buellah. You HAVE to leave now, or Brie’s entire case is going to be jeopardized!” Boleman returned to his seat, but kept one eye on Charybdis.
|
|
|
|
Post by Col. Charybdis on Nov 16, 2004 9:00:09 GMT -6
I would have to leave since I was on the witness list? I was about to utter an expletive directed toward Boleman but that would be unbecoming of a superior officer. If this was the way he runs his legal cases, I almost felt sorry for Brie.
I managed to stammer out, "Since I was on duty, I had very little time to check my messages, Protector."
I got up and left the room to await my call to the stand. Funny, now I would be testifying to try and save someone else instead of my own career...
|
|
