Chapter 28L - The Middle of the End

[Brie]

The last of the Infantry members from Amy’s team called to the stand was Sergeant Kale. Brie could tell just by looking at him that he could be more damaging to her case than the two previous women. He had a determined look about him, as if he was there to make a difference. But Brie’s confidence in Boleman was growing, he seemed to know exactly what to do, even if he had underestimated Pierce’s strategy.

Kale was sworn in and Pierce started to question him. “Sergeant Kale, what can you tell us about Private Stew?”

“He was a good man,” Kale replied. “He would do just about anything for anybody. I wasn’t surprised when he volunteered. He always said he’d give his life for the cause. I guess he was right.”

“How about Corporals Rim and Perkins?” Pierce asked. “They were brothers, weren’t they?”

“More than that, they were twins. Identical. They loved to play jokes on people, switching places all the time.” Kale paused. “They were the first two to go. They were born at the same time, and they died at the same time.”

“How did Captain Amy react when they died?” Pierce asked.

“She didn’t seem to care,” Kale answered.

“I protest,” Boleman said. “The witness wouldn’t know what Captain Amy was thinking or feeling.”

“Upheld,” Major Buellah said. “Please, Sergeant, rephrase your answer.”

“Captain Amy didn’t outwardly show any emotion,” Kale said.

“What did you and Amy talk about?” Pierce asked, seeming to change gears in midair.

“Talk?” Kale repeated.

“Talk. Not just you, but what did Amy talk to any of the Infantry members about?”

“Captain Amy didn’t talk to any of us,” Kale said. “Not outside of asking for suggestions or giving orders. The only person she talked to was Lieutenant Deke.”

“I see,” Pierce said slowly. “How did that make you feel?”

“I protest,” Boleman said with a sigh. “What is the point?”

“I’m getting to it,” Pierce said.

“Allowed,” Major Buellah said, “but Opposer Pierce, don’t take all cycle.”

“Thank you,” Pierce said. “Sergeant, I’ll rephrase. Amy only talked to Deke, and ignored the rest of you. How did that make you feel about being under her command?”

“Uneasy,” Kale replied. “It made me feel like we didn’t matter as people, like we were machines, almost like Cylons to her.”

“I protest!”

“Upheld. Sergeant, stick to the facts, don’t speculate.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“I have no more questions,” Pierce said.

Boleman walked slowly towards the witness chair. “Sergeant, you’re how old?”

“I don’t really know, Sir,” Kale replied. “I was orphaned at a young age. They estimate that I would be in my mid-thirties.”

“How about Rim and Perkins?” Boleman asked. “Do you know how old they were?”

“I think they were twenty-eight. And before you ask, Private Stew was thirty-two. I know that one for sure, because he had just celebrated his nova-yarhen.”

“How old was Captain Amy?” Boleman asked.

“I don’t know,” Kale replied. “Early twenties I would guess.”

Boleman smiled. “She was awfully pretty, wasn’t she?”

Kale smiled and sighed. “She sure was.”

Boleman walked close to the witness chair and lowered his voice. “Did you ever see her in that tight dress? You know, the red one?” Kale nodded. Boleman continued. “She was hard to ignore when she dressed like that!”

“I know what you’re saying,” Kale replied, oblivious for a moment to the fact that he was still testifying. He just kept talking. “The Lords of Kobol don’t make many women like that! In fact on the tanker ride Stew was saying that he...” He stopped.

Boleman looked seriously at Kale. “What was Private Stew saying about Captain Amy on the tanker ride?” Kale remained silent.

“The witness will answer the question,” Major Buellah ordered.

Kale took a deep breath, obviously mad at himself. “Stew said that he wanted to get Amy alone for just a centar, to get Charybdis out of her head and show her what a real man was like.”

“I’ve been looking over your record, Sergeant,” Boleman informed him. “There’s a pattern of disrespect every time a woman has been your superior.”

“I protest!” Pierce yelled.

“I have his file right here,” Boleman said, “and respectfully submit it to the tribunal as my next piece of documentation.”

“I’ll allow it,” Major Buellah said.

“I have no problem with women!” Kale was almost shouting. “It’s just that some women, like Captain Amy or Major Brie, don’t seem to realize that their primary purpose is to reproduce, to build up the human race again!” He turned red as it dawned on him what he had just said.

“How about Commander Sheba?” Boleman asked. “Is that her primary purpose?”

“I protest!”

“Withdrawn,” Boleman said. “Just one more question, Sergeant. As you pointed out, Captain Amy was quite a bit younger than you or your friends. How did that make you feel?”

“Terrible,” Kale said. “Being under the command of an inexperienced young bitc...”

Boleman cut him off. “No further questions, Sergeant.” He took his seat.

Brie leaned over to Boleman and whispered, “How did you know about Amy’s red dress?”

“Lucky guess,” he whispered back.

[Agelastus]

I was still taking notes.

Kale's credibility had been fairly efficiently destroyed. I was surprised by his words, actually. I hadn't realised he was quite so "traditionally" minded, despite the reputation of his tribe.

Janneche, however...I remembered her training Briseis alongside Hecate and Lannis. She'd seemed...alright. Yet her testimony was puzzling me, almost as much as Pierce's line of questioning. What had happened on that part of the mission? It was almost as if something was missing...

The monitor bleeped, breaking my reverie. One of the other taps had been traced, and I hadn't triggered any countermeasures...yet.

Well, that was interesting...and surprising...I hadn't expected the trace to lead there.

[Brie]

“If it pleases the tribunal,” Pierce said, “I have one final witness. I would like to call Corporal Straves.” He took the stand and was sworn in. “Corporal, you weren’t originally with Captain Amy’s party.”

“No, Sir,” Straves replied. “I was with Major Brie, helping hold down cover while she blew the reactor core.”

“So you were there when the Pylos was discovered,” Pierce stated.

“Yes.”

“How did you end up with Captain Amy’s team?”

“Captain Lazant was looking for volunteers to go find Amy,” Straves explained. “I never expected to survive this one, so I volunteered, along with a couple of others.”

“Tell me about Captain Lazant,” Pierce said. “What did you talk about?”

“Captain Lazant did most of the talking,” Straves said. “He complained an awful lot about Captain Amy. We were supposed to find her, but Lazant first went to the holding cells.”

“Why?”

“He said that if Amy was in charge of freeing the prisoner, the prisoner wouldn’t have been freed,” Straves said. “In fact we even bet on it.”

“Was the human prisoner, Lieutenant Martinzi, still in his cell when you arrived?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“So I guess Captain Lazant was right,” Pierce remarked. “After freeing Martinzi what did you do?”

“Captain Lazant sent the other men back with Martinzi, and he and I continued to look for Amy’s team.”

“Did you continue to talk?”

“Yes,” Straves answered. “Lazant called Captain Amy incompetent, said that’s why he had won the bet.”

“And then what happened?” Pierce asked.

“We ran into Amy,” Straves said. “Literally. Captain Lazant walked right into her.”

“What was the situation?” Pierce wanted to know.

“Captain Amy was wounded, Lieutenant Deke was bleeding badly, and a couple of the guys had died. We ran into more Cylons, these strange, purple ones with deadly accuracy.”

“Earlier, when you had been with Major Brie,” Pierce started, “you undoubtedly ran into Cylons. But your team didn’t suffer great losses. How come?”

Straves looked at Brie and smiled. “She came up with a BRILLIANT idea and was able to actually get the Cylons to obey her orders. You see, she...”

Pierce interrupted. “No need to explain any further, Corporal. Are you saying that Major Brie’s experience actually saved many lives?”

Straves smiled at Brie again. “Yes, Sir.”

“So Captain Amy’s INEXPERIENCE cost lives?” Pierce glanced at Boleman as the words came out of his mouth.

“I protest.”

“Upheld. Opposer Pierce, you know better than that.”

“I apologize to the tribunal. I have no more questions, Corporal Straves.”

Boleman waited several microns before standing yet again. “Corporal Straves, are you aware of the long-standing animosity between Captain Amy and Captain Lazant?”

“At first I thought that they were, you know, involved, because they were holding hands on the tanker,” Straves said truthfully. “Then when I started talking to him, I could tell that he didn’t like her.” He paused for a micron. “But Lazant volunteered without hesitation to go look for her.”

“Thank you, Corporal.”

[Brie]

“Opposer Pierce,” Major Buellah said, “please call your next witness or submit your next pierce of documentation.”

“If the tribunal pleases, that concludes the opposition,” Pierce said.

“Very well,” Major Buellah remarked. “Would either the Protector or the Opposer protest a break?” Both Boleman and Pierce shook their heads. “Very well,” he repeated, “this tribunal will reconvene in one centar. The accused does not need to return to the brig, but can wait in that room over there,” Major Buellah pointed, “under guard, of course.”

Boleman wasted no time in ushering Brie to the appointed room. The door was closed behind them, and the security officer waited outside. “I think it’s going well,” Boleman remarked, pleased with himself.

Brie couldn’t help but agree. “I can only imagine what would have happened if you had realized what Pierce’s strategy was going to be!”

“Straves testimony hurt a little bit, but I don’t think enough to prove Pierce’s case.” He paused. “Since it’s because of Amy that Pierce is going after you, Charybdis’ testimony is that much more important. Speaking of Amy, I need to take a quick look at her file. You’ll be okay here by yourself?”

“I’m never alone anymore,” Brie remarked.

“I’ll tell the guard that you can have visitors, one at a time,” Boleman said. “Only...”

“I know. No witnesses.”

“Good.” Boleman knocked on the door and the guard opened it. “See you in a centar!”

[Brie]

Brie sat alone in the room that was appointed to her, tapping her fingers on the table. She was bored. She considered taking off the sling because of the simple fact that she was sick of wearing it, but she reconsidered. She tapped her fingers again. She wasn’t looking forward to testifying, but she knew that was the best way to prove that Pierce was biased. She tapped her fingers a few more times.

There was a knock on the door. It wasn’t very loud, but it startled her. “Major Brie?” the guard called without opening the door. “There’s someone here who wants to talk to you. Says it’s important.”

“Who?” Brie asked the still closed door.

“Me.” The door opened and Major JustinB walked in. Without saying another word he entered the room and took a seat close to her. The door was closed behind him. “We need to talk.”

Brie sat back and sighed. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Justin. “You’re right, but not about what you think we should talk about. There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Let me go first,” Justin said. “Brie, I really want to testify. I think I can help you.”

Brie looked up and stared at him for a micron. “Justin, Pierce has pictures. Pictures of...” Her voice trailed off.

“Oh.”

“Listen,” Brie said, changing the subject, “I don’t have a whole lot of time, and there’s something that’s going to come out during my testimony, and I want you first to hear it from me. It has to do with when Turner died.” Without looking in his eyes Brie told Justin what was in the classified section of her file. There were several microns of silence, then he reached over and wiped the tears from Brie’s face. He moved closer and kissed her. She was taken by surprise, and after a few microns slowly pulled away. “What was that for?” she asked, moving her chair just a little in the other direction.

“For your honesty,” Justin explained. “I can only imagine how hard that was for you to tell me. Also, I wanted to let you know that what happened...before...well, it wasn’t just because of the grog.”

Brie looked at him, puzzled. “Don’t you have a girlfriend?”

“It’s, um, complicated,” he replied.

There was another knock on the door, then Boleman walked in. “Time to reconvene,” he said. “You ready, Brie?”

She nodded and walked with her protector back into the chamber.

[Skyler]

Skyler sat in his office staring at the monitor with updates from the tribunal scrolling across the screen. He wanted nothing more that to charge to Brie’s rescue, to stuff Pierce into a tiny box and drop kick it off the flight deck into the blackness of space. It amazed him to no end that a bottom feeding daggit like Pierce could file charges against a line Officer at all, let alone someone with a record like Brie. The closest Pierce has ever been to combat was a sim in the academy. How could he judge what anyone does under fire? ‘Oh, when this felgercarb is over, Pierce has a date with an accident before he can crawl back under his rock on the Galactica, that’s for sure’ Skyler was thinking to himself… ‘nasty fall down the stairs, maybe he could even run in to a bulkhead and loosen a few teeth’…. ‘ what I would really love to do is rip his head off and ……’ Skyler train of thought was interrupted by Zerra on the IFB giving an update that the trail was being called back into session…… What was that…. On the monitor was Major JustinB leaving the chamber with Brie……

[Brie]

Everyone returned to their seats in the tribunal chamber and Major Buellah wasted no time. “Is the protector ready to defend?”

“I am,” Boleman replied.

“Then proceed,” Buellah instructed.

“Esteemed members of the tribunal, I call as my first witness Major Jorlan, Commanding Officer of Bronze Squadron.” Major Jorlan took the seat in the center of the room. Brie still couldn’t believe that he was testifying for her instead of against her. “Major Jorlan, how long have you known Major Brie?”

Jorlan thought for a moment. “About three and a half yahrens.”

“In those three and a half yahrens, have you ever seen Major Brie make a seriously bad decision?” It wasn’t really the line of questioning that Boleman had originally planned, but since Pierce wasn’t even mentioning leaving Amy and Lazant behind bringing up how Brie and Jorlan first met seemed pointless.

Jorlan looked slightly confused. Since witnesses weren’t allowed in the chamber before their testimony he hadn’t known what Pierce had been doing. “Everyone makes mistakes, but no, I haven’t. If Major Brie does something it’s for a good reason.

Boleman had no idea what Jorlan’s next answer would be. “What did you think of Captain Amy?”

Poor Jorlan looked even more confused. “I didn’t really know her personally, but I’m sure she was a good warrior since she was made Third Officer of Gold Squadron.”

“Thank you, Major.”

Pierce stood and walked towards Jorlan. “Major Jorlan, Major Brie saved the lives of hundreds of your people, did she not?”

“Yes, she did.” It was the type of question that he had expected from Boleman, not the opposition.

“So you must think an awful lot of her,” Pierce continued. “You’re both squadron leaders, you must also be close friends.”

Jorlan and Brie looked at each other, both almost laughing out loud. “No, Sir,” Jorlan replied, still grinning. “One thing that Major Brie and I AREN’T is friends. Quite honestly I find her insufferable and can barely stand to be in the same room with her. But liking someone and respecting their work are two totally different things. I have a lot of respect for her.”

Pierce’s face grew red, he was obviously upset. “No further questions.”

As Jorlan left the witness chair Brie mouthed the words, “Thank you.” He turned away without looking at her.

[Brie]

“For my next witness I would like to call Major Brie, Commanding Officer of Gold Squadron.” Brie stood and walked to the chair, a lump forming in the pit of her stomach. Suddenly she had a feeling that testifying was a very bad idea. “Major Brie, please tell me a little bit about Captain Amy.”

“Well,” Brie started slowly, “she was a good person. She worked hard, tried hard, and wanted more than anything to be accepted.”

“Was she a good warrior?”

“Yes,” Brie said with confidence.

“Why was she promoted to Captain?” Boleman asked. “She was awfully young.”

“I try to reward people for having the right attitude,” Brie stated. “Amy would do ANYTHING that I asked her to. She started in the squadron by doing laundry, which she never complained about. Most people in Gold, if I asked them to do laundry would do it, but I’d never hear the end of the complaining. But Amy was happy to have the responsibility. So I gave her more and more responsibilities. Then when I was able, I put in the request for her promotion, and it was finalized by Commander Sheba.”

“How did she become Third Officer?” Boleman asked. “There were others who had been captain longer.”

“Same thing,” Brie replied. “Besides Skyler, there’s no one in Gold Squadron who I trusted more.”

“Why did you give her command of the second team on the Pangara Moon Mission?”

“I needed Major Curemode and Captain Lazant with me,” Brie explained, “and Amy was the next highest ranking officer.”

“Did you have faith in her command?”

“Of course!” Brie replied. “The whole situation was unlike anything that any of us had ever been in before. We all made mistakes. I myself was led to the wrong room by none other than Baltar.”

“Why did you feel the need to break into two teams?”

“We weren’t given viable transport off the base,” Brie told him. “The plan didn’t really call for any survivors. That wasn’t acceptable to me, so I broke us up into two teams, so one team could blow the core and the other find transport.”

“Your team obtained its objective, Amy’s did not. Any idea why?”

Brie thought for a micron. “I got lucky. It had nothing to do with leadership capabilities or experience. It was just luck.”

[Brie]

“Major Brie,” Boleman continued, “this isn’t your first experience with Major Pierce, is it?”

“No,” Brie said. She hated this part already.

Pierce was quickly on his feet. “I protest! This has NOTHING to do with the matter at hand!”

“That’s for us to decide, Opposer Pierce,” Major Buellah said. “I’ll allow it, but Protector Boleman, you’ll need to show relevance quickly.”

“It will all be clear soon enough,” Boleman said. He gave Brie a micron. “What you’re about to tell us is classified in your file. Do you willingly share this information?”

“Yes,” Brie said.

“Please, Major,” Boleman said slowly and with sympathy, “tell us what happened that led to your previous encounter with Major Pierce.”

Brie took a deep breath. “When Turner, my husband, died several yahrens ago, I had a nervous breakdown.” A mumble ran through the spectators. “I attempted suicide, and was treated for paranoid and delusional behavior.”

“In-patient or out?” Boleman asked.

“Four sectars in the Catharsis Center,” Brie replied, “then two more out.”

“What happened then?”

“I had been officially placed on ‘Medical Leave’ while I was under treatment,” Brie said. “After I was declared sane I applied to be reinstated. Major Pierce reviewed my case and his recommendation to Military Inquiries was that I not be reinstated. Commander Adama spoke up on my behalf, and I returned to my former position. Soon after I was transferred to the Callisto.”

Boleman held up several files. “I would like to submit to the tribunal Major Brie’s medical records, her first case before Military Inquiries, AND a document showing the outcome of every case that Major Pierce has been placed on for Military Inquiries.”

“I protest!” Pierce was almost screaming.

“You’re reasoning, Opposer Pierce?” Major Buellah asked.

“This tribunal is not about my record,” Pierce yelled. “It’s about Major Brie and her giving command to someone who wasn’t ready for it!”

“If I may,” Boleman said calmly, “I would like to point out that Military Inquiries has followed Major Pierce’s recommendation for all the yahrens that he’s been with them in every case except one. I think that this document shows his bias.”

“I protest!” Pierce shouted.

“Protector Boleman,” Major Buellah admonished, “please refrain from speculating. But I WILL allow the document.”

“Thank you,” Boleman said. “I have no further questions for Major Brie.”

[Brie]

Pierce sat in his seat for several microns. “Opposer Pierce, do you have any questions for this witness?” Major Buellah asked.

“Oh, you BET I have questions!” He stood and walked to the center of the room. Although he was standing right next to the witness chair he spoke in a very loud voice. “Major Brie, you mentioned your history of mental instability.”

“No,” Brie corrected immediately. “I mentioned that I had a nervous breakdown. One. I do NOT have a history of mental instability.”

“Okay,” Pierce said, unfazed. “You mentioned your nervous breakdown, your paranoia, and that you were delusional. Let me ask you this...how did your husband die?”

“I protest!” Boleman said. “Relevance?”

“I’ll allow it,” Major Buellah said.

“His heart stopped beating,” Brie said with a great amount of sarcasm.

“Major...” Buellah warned.

“His viper exploded,” Brie said.

“Who fired the shot?” Pierce asked.

“I don’t know, I wasn’t there,” Brie replied.

Pierce looked at Major Buellah. “Would you kindly instruct the witness to lose the attitude and answer the question?”

“I’ll accept her answer,” Buellah replied. “She wouldn’t know for sure if she wasn’t there, and we need to base things on facts.”

“Do you think that Captain Turner, your late husband, was murdered?” Pierce asked.

“Of course,” Brie replied. “The Cylons have murdered billions of people. They’re programmed to destroy all human life.”

“So you’re saying your husband was murdered by the Cylons,” Pierce said.

“I protest!” Boleman was shaking his head. “I ask once again, relevance?”

“Upheld,” Major Buellah said. “Opposer Pierce, do you have any questions about anything else?”

“I have plenty,” Pierce said.