Chapter 28L - The Middle of the End

[Brie]

“Major Brie,” Pierce continued, “how did you chose people for the Pangara mission?”

“I held a squadron meeting,” Brie explained, “in which I gave everyone a piece of paper. They could either write that they weren’t interested, or that they were and why. I chose people based on their responses.”

“What type of responses were you looking for?” Pierce asked.

“Willingness, an understanding of the severity of the mission, few ties, few regrets. Some of the positions were filled by people with specific skills, but not all.”

“Few ties?” Pierce repeated. "As in family?”

“Yes, that was part of it,” Brie replied.

“Yet you chose Captain Amy, who has not one but both parents still living,” Pierce pointed out.

“In Amy’s response she said that knowing her parents were safe was good enough,” Brie replied.

“What about other ties?” Pierce asked. “For instance, Colonel Charybdis?”

“You’d have to ask him about that,” Brie replied.

“Believe me,” Pierce sneered, “I will. Before the mission, in the Gold Squadron Ready Room, you and Captain Amy were observed arguing. What was that about?”

“I protest!” Boleman said. “Where’s the proof?”

Pierce returned to his desk and sifted through some papers. “I have the depositions right here.”

“I’ll allow it,” Major Buellah said.

“I was giving Amy one last chance to stay behind,” Brie said.

“Why?”

“Because it looked to me like she and Charybdis were back together.”

“Were you having second thoughts about her coming along?” Pierce asked.

“Yes,” Brie replied, “but not because of what you think. Amy was so young, I wanted to give her a chance to live. I was feeling guilty about costing Amy her life!”

“So you DO admit that it was your fault that she died!” Pierce baited.

“I protest!” Boleman yelled.

“Withdrawn. On the Pangara mission,” Pierce continued, “you put Captain Amy in charge of the second group.”

“Yes,” Brie replied.

“Did that make sense?” Pierce asked. “Amy had so little ground experience.”

Brie shook her head. “How much ground experience does ANYONE have, living in ships?”

“Yes, but she was born in space,” Pierce argued, “while so many others of your party were born back on the colonies.”

“I was born in space,” Brie said, “even though it was well before the holocaust. I’ve never lived on a planet. It doesn’t matter where someone was born, that has nothing to do with what type of warrior they will be.”

“She was still lacking ground experience,” Pierce said.

“She had gained a lot the past few yahrens,” Brie said. “The conditions that she had to endure on the mission previously mentioned were a lot worse than inside the moon, and she did fine.”

“Tell me again why Amy was promoted, and made third officer, even though she was younger than just about everyone in Gold Squadron.”

“Amy worked hard,” Brie said. “She was dedicated and loyal.”

“Dedicated and loyal?” Pierce repeated. “Didn’t she make plans to retire more than once? She even had started the paperwork to be discharged.”

“Every warrior gets fed up and wants to quit from time to time,” Brie remarked.

“But they don’t all start the paperwork," Pierce remarked. “You and Amy were room-mates for a while, weren’t you? Why wasn’t she staying in the barracks?”

“We weren’t room-mates, exactly,” Brie clarified. “There had been a couple of attempts on her life, and we thought it safer if she stayed in a secure place like my quarters. The barracks are too open.”

“Who’s ‘we’?”

“Commander Sheba, Colonel Charybdis, Amy and myself,” Brie replied.

“This led to your own life being in danger,” Pierce said. “Your living quarters were destroyed.”

“And an internal problem was solved,” Brie added.

“That’s true,” Pierce agreed. “Was she trying to solve an internal problem when she snuck out of the med lab with Lieutenant Najinn? Or how about when she disregarded orders, stole a viper, and flew to Frodar Epsilon? She was never punished for it.”

“I was off the Callisto when that happened,” Brie pointed out.

“Yes, it was you that she went looking for. So what we have here is a woman who has a blatant disrespect for authority, and is promoted for it!”

“I protest!” Boleman shouted. “Opposer Pierce is baiting the witness.”

“I’ll allow it,” Major Buellah said. “I’m sure you’ve baited a few witnesses in your time, Protector Boleman.”

Brie took a deep breath. “Amy worked harder than just about anyone I’ve ever known, and deserved the promotion and any responsibilities that went with it.”

“Don’t you mean that everyone had to work harder around her?” Pierce asked. “Didn’t she disappear or need to be rescued on just about every mission she ever went on?”

“No,” Brie said coldly.

“Come on, now, Major,” Pierce continued. “She’s even disappeared on the Callisto!”

“Amy was one of the most capable warriors in Gold Squadron.”

“Capable? Didn’t she almost die because she couldn’t tell the difference between a turboflush and an airlock?”

“I protest!”

Pierce continued, ignoring the protest. “Why would you put someone so young and inexperienced, someone without the common sense to know that you DON’T just open an airlock, in charge?”

Boleman was angrier than he had been in a long time. “I protest!”

“Sit down, Protector Boleman,” Major Buellah said with authority. “I’d like to hear the answer to that question myself.”

Brie chose her words carefully. “Because I knew that Amy could do it.”

Pierce shook his head. “But you found the Pylos, and Captain Lazant rescued Lieutenant Martinzi. She DIDN’T do it, did she. I have no further questions.”

**

Having skimmed Amy’s file during the break, Boleman made an on the spot decision. He decided to not call Colonel Charybdis to the stand. With Brie still sitting in the witness chair he stood and quickly said, “If the tribunal pleases, I have no more witnesses.”

Brie looked surprised but didn’t say anything. Boleman motioned for her and she stepped down.

Pierce leaned forward against the table in front of him. “Then the opposition has one more witness to call.”

Major Buellah asked, "Major Pierce, whom do you call as your next witness?"

Pierce rose at his table and said, "I call Colonel Charybdis, your honor."

[Col. Charybdis]

I had been patiently waiting in a small lounge across the corridor from the main tribunal room. It was used as a secure area where witnesses would wait until called.

It seemed an interminable amount of time. I wonder what was going on in there?

Suddenly, a messenger opened the door and stepped in. "Colonel, they are calling for you in the tribunal." He said matter-of-factly.

The time had come. I got up and followed him across the corridor. The door opened into an antechamber where we stopped for a micron. As the man peered into a small monitor by the side of two doors, he got the signal and then pushed a button to open the doors. THey swung open and I entered the room.

At that time, I could see that Major Brie was just stepping off the witness chair and returning to her seat. I guess she had just testified!

Major Buellah announced, "Major Pierce, whom do you call as your next witness?"

Pierce rose at his table and said, "I call Colonel Charybdis, your honor."

Major Buellah looked toward me standing at the back of the room, "Colonel, would you please take the chair?"

I walked up in front of everyone and knew that this was going to be bad no matter what happened. I was ready to defend Amy and Brie to the bitter end if I had to.

Pierce stood up and walked toward me with his head held up in a cocky attitude, or so I thought. This was going to be interesting...

[Brie]

A peaceful calm came over Brie as she watched Charybdis take the stand. He had been Turner's best friend and the one bright spot during the dark times that followed his death. There was no one that she trusted more.

[Col. Charybdis]

Pierce began, "Colonel, what is your relationship to Major Brie?"

"We've known each other for yahrens. Ever since we were stationed together on the Galactica. I came to know her through one of my best friends at the time who eventually took the seal with her."

"I see. So you are a very dear friend?" Pierce replied.

"Yes. We are friends." I calmly stated.

Pierce paced in front of me. "Very well, Colonel. Now, if you could please tell the tribunal what was your relationship to Captain Amy?"

I started feeling a bit uneasy, but I was determined to tell the truth, up to a point. I wasn't going to give him everything after all. I thought I would make him work for it. "I had a good relationship with the Captain."

Pierce's eyebrow went up. "Now, Colonel. According to tribunal records held when you were charged with causing the death of Lt. Martinzi several yahrens ago, it was publicly stated that you were having a...personal relationship with then-Lieutenant Amy, wasn't that right?" He sneered.

Boleman stood up, "I protest! Relevance?"

Major Buellah sized up Pierce, "Get to the point, Major Pierce."

Pierce nodded quickly. "Tell me Colonel, did you ever influence Major Brie in any squadron decisions where Captain Amy was involved?"

That was an interesting question. I wonder where he was going with this line of questioning. But he had me over the barrel. I had tried a couple of times to influence Brie in leaving Amy off some missions.

"I had discussed some issues with the Major at times."

"Would you please tell this tribunal if you ever told or influenced Major Brie to leave Amy off of missions!" His voice started rising.

I hesitated, "Yes, I did." I could hear the slight commotion in the audience. THis was not good for Brie, nor for Amy's memory. I tried to clear it up as fast as I could. "But I only did that for selfish reasons on my part."

"Colonel, did you try to influence Major Brie to leave Amy behind on missions because you thought Amy was not prepared?" he kept on.

"No! I'm trying to tell you that it was my fault, not Amy's. She was a good warrior. She proved that!"

"I belive the record will show that Amy has gotten herself into some serious trouble that other good Warriors have not gotten into, Colonel!" Pierce snapped.

He continued, "Colonel, isn't it true that you had and continued a personal relationship with Captain Amy throughout all of these so-called troubles?"

"Yes, for the most part." I replied.

"Yet, for all of her troubles, she was never punished. Isn't that true, Colonel? Isn't is also true that she was never punished because she was your girlfriend, a high-ranking officer on the Callisto!?"

Boleman shot up, "I protest!"

Pierce continued fast, "Isn't it true Colonel that you tried to have Amy left off of important missions because she was your girlfriend! Isn't it a possibility that she was not ready and she was promoted because she was your girlfriend!!!" By this point Pierce was almost yelling.

Boleman was shouting in protest, the whole place erupted in calls and shouting from the audience.

"No, that's not it, that's not it at all!" I tried to yell back but it was of no use.

Buellah banged his gavel and tried to restore order as best he could. "Order. Or I'll have the room cleared!" he bellowed.

He turned to Major Pierce, "Major, if you try that again I'll have you thrown off this case right here and now!"

"I withdraw the outburst," he said curtly.

[Col. Charybdis]

After everyone had settled down, I looked over at Brie. She was sitting with her head down looking dejected...she was counting on me to make her look good, but things weren't going well.

Even if Amy was a good warrior, which she was, Pierce was making a mockery of her and her actions and he was doing it through me. Our relationship was coming back to haunt her and now...Brie.

Pierce continued, "Colonel, before the ill-fated mission, what was your status with Captain Amy?"

Uh-oh. This could be bad. I hesitated a bit. "We were on good terms before she left," I stated simply.

He wouldn't let that go. "Good terms? So, you were cordial to her as you are to many others aboard the ship?"

"Yes."

"Exactly how cordial, Colonel? Was your personal relationship with Captain Amy... 'on' again? I believe some have stated in sworn depositions that you two were having trouble recently?"

"She was going on a suicide mission. When I saw her name on the list, I had to make amends with her. We made peace, just in case."

"Peace? Is that all, Colonel? Please tell this court about the time you spent with Captain Amy before she left on the mission?"

This was it. This would ruin everything for Brie. I could not lie under oath. "We saw the end facing her in the eye. She didn't want to go without feeling needed. Without having loved...."

"Exactly what does that mean, Colonel? What did you two do?" Pierce was hissing.

I barely got the words out. "We made love." I dropped my head.

Gasps were heard in the room.

"So, right before a crucial mission, you and Captain Amy were frolicking about as if it was a cycle in the park! Did you consider what that would do to a young girl about to face death on a mission where others would be counting on her?"

"It wasn't like that." I yelled back. "We were saying goodbye. That was all."

"Colonel, you sent that poor girl to her death because she was in no state of mind to conduct a mission like that and Major Brie, being your friend, let her go!"

"I protest!!" yelled Boleman. "He's insinuating things of which he knows nothing about!"

"Sustained. Pierce, you better keep it line," scowled Buellah.

"If it may please the court, I am trying to show that Captain Amy's personal relationship was in a very tumultuous state immediately before she went on the mission. The Colonel has stated that they made love right before they left after troubled times with her. Her mental state going on a mission would be critical in her judgements made while on the mission. Therefore, Major Brie, who has already stated that she still allowed Amy on the mission even though she knew something was wrong with Amy, is at fault for not evaluating her crew well enough and by allowing Captain Amy on the mission endangered others and indeed, the entire mission! No further questions!"

The damage had been done. Amy was being dragged through the mud, and me along with her. And the end result is that Brie will be made to pay the price for our transgressions. I felt awful. I had hoped to help her, but I'm afraid that I just sealed her fate...

Protector Boleman got up and approached me. "Colonel, in your opinion, I ask you, do you think Captain Amy was prepared to go on this mission?"

"As I have always maintained, regardless of my personal relationship with her, she was a good warrior."

"Colonel, in your honest opinion, did Major Brie make a mistake by including Amy on the mission?"

"Brie did what she had to do, so...no, I do not believe that Brie made a mistake."

"Thank you, Colonel. I know that these times have been hard for you too, losing the Captain on the mission and others whom you worked so closely with. No further questions."

I stepped down from the chair and quickly left. I didn't even have the heart to look toward Brie. I left the room and went to my quarters immediately...

[Brie]

Boleman leaned over and whispered to Brie. “I thought you said we could trust him?” Brie just shook her head. How could things have looked so good after the opposition, but so bleak following the protection? The entire tribunal seemed backwards.

“Protector Boleman,” Major Buellah started, “do you have any more witnesses?”

“No,” Boleman said rather quietly.

“Opposer Pierce?” Buellah asked.

“No, if it pleases the tribunal, the opposition has concluded.”

“Well it doesn’t please the tribunal,” Major Buellah stated loudly. “Major Brie, I have a couple more questions for you.”

Boleman and Pierce both jumped to their feet. “I protest!” Boleman said first.

“As do I,” Pierce added. “This seems highly unusual to say the least.”

“Both of you, take your seats,” Buellah instructed. “It seems ‘highly unusual’ to me to bring charges against someone who survived an unsurvivable mission. Major Brie, is it all right with you?”

Boleman shook his head no. “Yes,” Brie replied.

“You can stay seated where you are,” Buellah said. “Tell me, right before the mission, were you aware that Colonel Charybdis and Captain Amy had just made love?”

Boleman quickly wrote, “Answer yes or no only” on a piece of paper but Brie ignored it. “I didn’t know for sure,” she replied, “but I suspected that they had.”

“I see.” Major Buellah scribbled something in his notes. “Just one more question, Major. If you could go back, still not knowing what you would be facing, would you change anything about the mission?”

Brie thought for several microns. “No,” she said at last. “I needed Curemode and Lazant with me, and I still would have put Amy in charge. I don’t regret that decision for a micron. The only thing that I might have done differently is look for Amy myself, but Lazant volunteered to go because I was injured. I had faith in Amy, not because of her relationship with Charybdis but because she was a good warrior. I would not have placed other people under her command if I didn’t think she could handle it.”

“Thank you, Major Brie,” Buellah said. He picked up the pile of papers in front of him. “Since there’s no further testimony the tribunal members will deliberate, and we’ll will reconvene once we’ve reached a decision. Security will accompany Major Brie back to the brig.”

[Amy81]

"Well Abby" Elmer said with a shake of his head, "I expect that's about as low as it can go." He'd sat in on Colonel Charybdis's testimony, and left feeling a mixture of rage and sadness.

"Charybdis didn't want to reveal all of that" Abby replied. "He was forced to. You saw the look on his face." She'd seen it all on the monitor, preferring not to join Elmer in the tribunal room itself.

"All the same" Elmer replied. "Fact is, he did. And he did what he said he did. Clouded my baby girl's head from the first moment he saw her till the last. He'll sleep fine now, knowing he finally got what he wanted."

"Elmer!" Abby shouted, rising up in shock and anger.

Elmer cut her off with a wave of his hand. "No cause for shouting. We're booked on the next shuttle out. And just as well, for if I ever see the Colonel again he'll be on the floor by the time I'm done with him."

He looked over at Abby. "Come along woman, not that there's a place left in the fleet we'll be able to hold our heads high..."

But Abby didn't move. Not right away. She supposed it might be stress making Elmer act so. He was always a private man. But...

"You planting roots or something?" Elmer asked. "Lets git." Reluctantly Abby started forward. Elmer kept on muttering as they walked into the hallway. "Pretty spineless for a colonel... saying all that then disappearing on us... I swear I'd drop him on sight... not getting an invite to any memorial services if I have a say..."

"Oh Elmer" Abby sighed, putting an arm through his. But as she walked she looked around, thinking about Amy, about Urdea, about herself and what life was going to be like now that things had changed so much...