Chapter 28N - The End

[JustinB]

"They should be delivering the verdict any time now." She paused. "And sorry for this whole mess that I've dragged you into."
I didn't know what to say. I should have just testified and gotten it over with. But now, Brie was going to pay for my indecision.

"Brie, you didn't drag me into anything," I said as I sat next to her. As I did, she moved away. "I am hell sorry I didn't do something to Pierce when I found out about the pictures he took. I am also sorry I haven't spent much time at your tribunal. I want you to know from one warrior to another, I will stand by your side whatever verdict is returned."

I went up to Brie who had just stood up and pinned her against the cell wall gently. "Brie, when you are ready and have gotten over your grief, I would like to get to know you better. If there is anything you need ever, even if it is to bust you out of the prison barge should Pierce gets way, I will do it for you."
**************
Meanwhile two Blackshirts watched as JustinB entered the Brig on the security cameras.

"Man, I wish we had sound as well as the cameras. It would be interesting to hear what they are talking about," said the senior Blackshirt.

They both watched as JustinB sat down next to Brie. When he sat down next to her and Brie and she moved away they laughed. They then played close attention as JustinB pinned Brie to the wall. Maybe they would get to see some action after all.

[Brie]

Brie almost felt like she was playing a game of Follow the Leader with Justin. She would move, and he would follow. She wasn’t sure what he meant by “getting to know her better” but given the fact that he had made a point of mentioning that his relationship with Rose had ended she had a good idea. Pinned against the cell wall he talked about breaking her out of the Prison Barge. She shook her head. “Not a good idea, Justin,” she said. “Don’t even mention something like that. I’ve said all along that if I’m found guilty I’ll accept the consequences.”

“So what do you want me to do for you?” Justin asked.

Brie easily pushed past Justin since he hadn’t been holding her that hard. “I want you to stay away from me.” Justin looked surprised and slightly hurt. “I’m poison right now, Justin. I don’t want you to get caught in my felgercarb. I’ll tell you what you can do for me. Go, live your life. Lead your squadron, defend the fleet, have fun with your friends, find some nice woman to settle down with. Just leave me alone.”

Before Justin had a chance to respond Boleman returned. “Brie, they’ve reached a verdict.” She didn’t even look back at Justin as she followed her Protector out of the cell.

[Col. Charybdis]

I had gone back to my quarters once my testimony had ended. I didn't want to see anyone at all...

A buzzer went off and I knew that something was happening with Brie's trial. I switched on the IFB monitor and the newscasters were saying something about a verdict coming back in. This was it!

I sat glued to the screen...

[Agelastus]

I was waiting for the verdict in a more public location. No point risking arrest whilst waiting for something that would be broadcast live on IFB.

Besides, I needed a break. I had a lot of recorded data to go over, looking for inconsistencies, for incongruities.

Looking for the not so obvious. Something was definitely wrong.

For the moment though, I was just fading into a corner. Pretending to relax as I awaited the verdict.

[JustinB]

".....Just leave me alone.”

For the first time in my life I didn't know what to say. As Brie walked out, I just stood there like a daggit who was told to sit and stay. After a centon I made my way out of the brig and walked as fast as I could to the tribunal. As I reached where the tribunal was being held I found out it was standing room only in some places. I found a corner where I could hear the verdict but not be seen by Brie. I waited with baited breath to hear the outcome.

[Brie]

The room was already crowded when Brie, with her guards, and Boleman entered. Although only updates from the Tribunal had been broadcast on IFB, permission had been granted for the verdict to be broadcast live. Brie tried not to give it too much thought as she took her seat, there were too many other things on her mind. She purposely didn’t look at Pierce. Major Buellah and the other members of the Tribunal came in, and everyone took their seats. Buellah cleared his throat. “Before I give our verdict,” he started, “there are a few things that I want to say. First and foremost, Major Brie, I want to thank you for putting your life on the line once again on the Pangara Moon Mission, which most considered a one-way mission. You and your team allowed the fleet to escape the system, and we all owe you a debt of gratitude. We’ve read the debriefings from the mission and, although it never came up here, want you to know that it’s our conclusion that there was nothing you could have done about leaving Captain Lazant, Captain Amy and Lieutenant Deke behind. If you hadn’t left when you did the results would have been disastrous for the rest of your team. Returning with anyone alive at all was a miracle, returning with as many living members of your team as you did shows your tremendous skills as a leader.

“That said, somehow Major Pierce was able to talk Major Curemode, who has been mysteriously absent from these proceedings, to bring charges against you. I personally think that court-martialing someone after such a mission is an abomination, but I have had to put my personal feelings aside to do the job asked of me now. We have extensively looked over Major Pierce’s record with Military Inquiries and do believe that Pierce is biased against you. If your paths hadn’t crossed in the past, I doubt very much that we would be here right now.

“But charges HAVE been brought, and we have to base our decision on the evidence provided. We have spent a great deal of time reviewing Captain Amy’s record. In my opinion that was the most important piece of evidence. Captain Amy was young, emotional, very human, and seemingly had the potential for greatness. She was promoted to a higher rank at a younger age than just about anybody that I’ve seen. Whether or not this had in part to do with her relationship with Colonel Charybdis or pure talent I’m not sure, but I do know that Commander Sheba would not have approved a promotion that she didn’t think deserving. Leadership experience is another thing entirely. It takes time to become a good leader. Our decision is based on whether or not Captain Amy had the time to grow into a leader, or if she was forced into a position that she wasn’t ready for, thereby costing not only her life but Captain Lazant’s as well.

“Major Brie, would you please stand?” Brie stood, with Boleman next to her. Pierce, at the Opposer’s table, stood as well. “Major Brie, on the charges of Gross Negligence in the Deaths of Captain Lazant and Captain Amy of the Battlestar Callisto, this Tribunal finds you...”

[Brie]

“...guilty as charged. It is our unanimous decision that Captain Amy was not ready for the responsibilities that you gave her, and knowing that her emotions ran deep, she should have been pulled from the mission after her ‘time’ with Charybdis. You yourself admitted that you thought something had happened between them. Major Brie, you will be immediately stripped of your rank and responsibilities, and will be discharged with dishonor. You may be seated.” Brie sat down, feeling like all the air had been sucked out of her lungs. Boleman remained standing. “We will now listen to recommendations for sentencing. Protector Boleman, the floor is yours.”

Boleman waited a few microns before speaking. He was visibly shaken by the verdict. “If it pleases the Tribunal,” he started slowly, “I would like to recommend community service. As you yourself said, Brie has just returned from a suicide mission. She has put her life on the line countless times for the military and the people of the fleet, and her only crime here was having faith in her friend.” Boleman sat down.

“Opposer Pierce?” Buellah said.

Pierce smiled at Brie and rubbed his neck before speaking. “Having faith in her friend cost at least two lives. We need to hold our leaders accountable. I recommend life on the Prison Barge.” He sat as well.

Major Buellah spent a centon huddled with Senior Science Officer Solon and Captain Swensson, the other two members of the Tribunal. He returned to his post. “Brie, you are hereby sentenced to ten yahrens. The time will be served not on the Prison Barge, but in the Callisto brig.” Pierce stood but Buellah held up a hand. “The time for protesting is over, Opposer Pierce. Commander Sheba herself, having been informed of the verdict a few centons ago, has asked that time be served here on the Callisto. During this last battle with the Cylons we had to call into service people who hadn’t flown in decades. Commander Sheba would like to keep Brie close, in case her skills as a pilot are needed.”

“Excuse me, Sir,” Brie said, standing again. It was the first time she had spoken since the verdict, and was almost surprised that her voice worked, she had such a lump in her throat. Buellah acknowledged her. “So you’re saying that I lose my rank, my position, my freedom, basically everything I’ve worked my whole life for, but if things get SO DIRE that there aren’t any qualified pilots still alive, I’ll be called into action and asked once again to die for the fleet?”

“Yes,” Buellah said plainly.

“Okay,” Brie said. “But that’s not really fair to anyone flying with me. I’d be rusty...”

“You’ll be allowed one sim session her secton,” Major Buellah informed her. “That should keep you in top form.”

“Thank you,” was the only thing Brie could think of to say. She took her seat again.

“Are there any more questions?” Major Buellah asked. No one said anything. “Then this Tribunal is officially closed.” He and the two others stood up and walked away, leaving the room eerily quiet.

[Agelastus]

I'd suspected that the world was not completely sane for a long time. Now I knew it.

Guilty! And ten yahrens in the Callisto brig to boot.

Still, I couldn't help feeling a little relieved that it wasn't the Prison Barge. I'd never wish anyone there, particularly not a well known figure such as the Major. The borays would be all over her. She'd have been lucky to survive a centon.

Moreover, I knew it was a lot easier to make an unauthorised visit to the Callisto Brig should it become neccessary than it was to sneak aboard the Prison Barge. Although neither task was impossible, as I well knew.

I stood up and left the room. I needed somewhere private to think...and then I needed to get back to my illicit recordings...

[Skyler]

Guilty.......

The word stuck in Skyler's mind.... How in hades did those idiots come to that..... The initial shock wore off and anger begin to set in.... The first thing to feel Skyler's fury was a metal plate on the corner of his desk that held the majority of his sandwich that had been lunch, two cycles ago, which was the last time he had eaten... he snatched up the plate and set it flying across the room, striking a metal wall locker and lodging about 4 inches into the side of it.

The next words that caught Skylers attention were "dishonorable discharge" and "Ten Yarhens" ..... Why the bastard Peirce.... I am going to rip him apart..... Skyler turned and kicked a chair out of his way and sent it flying across the room where it shattered against the bulkhead. He unfastened his blaster rig and threw it on his desk, reached up and pulled the major insignia off his collar and then ripped the Callisto patch from his jacket sleeve.... I will dictate my resignation letter to someone while I am waiting for tribunal he thought as he stormed out of the office, nearly knocking Ike and Brik down as they approached the door.....

[Brie]

Major Pierce wasted no time approaching Brie and Boleman. “Security!” he called loudly, breaking the silence. “Get the prisoner ready for transport back to her new home in the brig.” There were no suggestions for waiting until the crowd died down like last time.

The same two blackshirts as earlier joined them. “Ready, Maj...um, Brie?” one of them asked.

“Just a centon,” Pierce said quickly. “This woman has just been convicted of a serious crime. She’s no longer wearing a sling, she needs to be shackled.” Boleman just shook his head in disbelief, he seemed to still be surprised that he had lost. One of the blackshirts pulled out his shackles. “Behind her back, Officer,” Pierce insisted. “She’s trained in hand to hand combat, there’s no telling what she’s capable of.”

The visit from Doc Bkj suddenly made sense to Brie. She couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, we all know what a danger to society I am.” She didn’t resist as the shackles were applied. One of the blackshirts pulled gently on Brie’s arm and she, Boleman and Pierce went with them, right into the crowd that was waiting outside meeting the room.

Zerra, who had been allowed to broadcast reports on the Tribunal for the IFB, was waiting with a microphone. “Brie, is there anything you would like to say to our viewers?”

Brie stopped. “Yes,” she said. Boleman shook his head again, this time trying to stop Brie from what she was about to do. “I’d like to say to the people of the fleet that it’s been my pleasure serving you, putting my life on the line for you, for the past several yahrens. And to any warriors out there who are watching, I just want to say be careful what you volunteer for! See what can happen if you survive a mission that you weren’t supposed to return from? That’s all I have to say.”

“Protector Boleman?” Zerra said. “Any comments?” She held the microphone towards him.

“Get that fracking thing out of my face,” Boleman mumbled. He motioned to the blackshirts, who once again started to lead Brie to the brig.

Zerra stopped Pierce. “Major Pierce? Is there anything that you would like to say?”

Pierce stopped and smiled for the camera. “Today justice was served. These warriors seem to think that they’re above the law, but hopefully this will serve as a wake up call. Their actions have consequences, and in this case two people needlessly died. Our warriors need to be held accountable just like everyone else in the fleet. I’m glad that I could have a small part of that.”

“What about Major Buellah’s assertion that you were biased against Major Brie?” Zerra asked.

“I’m not biased,” Pierce said into the microphone. “While it’s true that I didn’t think that a woman who has been treated for serious mental illness should be allowed in a viper or issued a laser, I would have prosecuted anyone in this case. As I said, our warriors need to be held accountable.”

“Thank you, Major,” Zerra said.

Pierce pushed his way through the crowd and caught up to Brie’s group. There was no way that he was going to miss seeing her locked in that cell.