Paul had no idea how his words were being received by the members of the court-martial or any of the spectators or even Wakeman himself. He kept his eyes locked on Lieutenant Commander Garrity, afraid his composure might be rattled beyond repair if he saw negative reactions too clearly displayed. "Yes, ma'am. That's what I said."
"Given that interpretation, did Captain Wakeman's actions fall within the parameters set by his orders?"
"Yes, ma'am, I would argue that they did in most cases." There was a rustling sound, as of people whispering and moving, but Paul stayed fixed on Garrity.
"You think Captain Wakeman did the right thing in every instance cited by the prosecution?"
Paul licked his lips, trying to wet his dry mouth and throat before answering. This one question could make or break my credibility. Careful. Careful. "No, ma'am. I do not think he did what I would personally consider the right thing in every instance."
"Then why are you defending the fact that he took such actions, Ensign Sinclair?"
"I'm not defending Captain Wakeman's actions. I'm not saying they were right. I'm saying that his orders could be interpreted by a reasonable person to have authorized Captain Wakeman to do much of what he did."
"You're saying he acted according to his orders."
"In most cases, yes, ma'am."
"Because those orders were worded broadly enough, vaguely enough, that they authorized Captain Wakeman tremendous freedom to act in carrying out a mission he was required to carry out."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Don't you believe Captain Wakeman should be held accountable for the errors in judgment he made as a result?"
Paul stared at her, perplexed. Why is she arguing against Wakeman? Or is she just trying to bring out stuff Wilkes is sure to bring out when he gets a shot at me? "Yes, ma'am. We all have to be held accountable when we make mistakes. But if you give me an order, and word it so vaguely that I'm not sure what it is I'm supposed to do or how, and I guess wrong, then I'm not the only one responsible for whatever happens. Whoever issued the orders shares responsibility."
"You're saying Captain Wakeman's errors occurred as a result of the orders he was operating under? That therefore holding him solely accountable for those errors would be… what?"
"Unjust, ma'am." Another rustle of sound. Paul hoped he wasn't sweating, at least not so anyone could tell.
Garrity came to stand directly before Paul, her face stern. "Let's establish something for the record, Ensign Sinclair. Do you like Captain Wakeman?"
"Ma'am?"
"Captain Wakeman. Do you like him? As an individual?"
"No, ma'am."
"Do you respect him? Do you think he was a good commanding officer?"
Paul licked his lips again. "No, ma'am."
"A good leader?"
"No, ma'am."
"Did you personally agree with most of the decisions made by Captain Wakeman during the period leading up and including the encounter with the SASAL ship?"
"No, ma'am."
"Then why are you here, Ensign Sinclair? Why did you volunteer to testify in his defense? For a man you neither like nor respect as a commanding officer?"
"Because… I thought it was my duty to do so."
"Your duty? To strive for what result?"
"A just result, ma'am."
"Thank you, Ensign Sinclair. No further questions."
Paul took several deep breaths as Garrity walked back to the defense table, then stopped, afraid of hyperventilating. He kept his eyes lowered and unfocused, not willing to scan the crowd of spectators.
"Trial counsel, you may cross-examine."
Commander Wilkes walked briskly up to the witness stand, then eyed Paul with just a trace of disdain apparent. "Ensign Sinclair, how long you have been a naval officer?"
Paul had expected a question along those lines. "Almost five years, sir."
Wilkes raised one skeptical eyebrow. "Five years? I'm not talking about time at the Academy, Ensign. I'm asking how long you've been a commissioned naval officer."
"Almost five years, sir."
Captain Nguyen broke into whatever Wilkes had been planning to say next. "Excuse me, Commander Wilkes, Captain Holmes. Midshipmen at the US Naval Academy are commissioned naval officers. Ensign Sinclair's answer is accurate."
Wilkes nodded, recovering quickly. "Thank you, Captain. Let me put it this way, Ensign Sinclair. Aside from periods spent in school or training, how much time have you spent in actual fleet operations?"
The question stung coming from Wilkes, someone Paul was certain had never spent a day in the fleet, but Paul kept his voice from betraying that emotion. "About six months, sir."
"Six months? That's all?"
"Yes, sir."
"Whereas Commander Garcia has over sixteen years of fleet experience?"
"Yes, sir."
"And whereas Lieutenant Sindh has six years of fleet experience? But you only have six months?"
Lieutenant Commander Garrity stood. "If it please the court, trial counsel is badgering the witness. The defense is prepared to stipulate that Ensign Sinclair has relatively less fleet experience than the other officers who have testified."
Judge Holmes nodded. "Very well. Let the record so stipulate. Move on, Commander Wilkes."
"Yes, Your Honor. Ensign Sinclair, how would you characterize your performance as a fleet officer?"
"Objection."
"Sustained. Commander Wilkes, copies of Ensign Sinclair's fitness evaluations to date have been entered in the court records. We don't need to go over that ground in your questioning."
"Yes, Your Honor. Ensign Sinclair, your legal experience is limited to four weeks, isn't that correct?"
"No, sir. My legal training is limited to four weeks. Since reporting to the Michaelson and being designated the ship's legal officer, I have been involved in legal issues on almost a daily basis."
"I see. Do you think this qualifies you as a lawyer?"
"No, sir."
"Do you aspire to be a lawyer?"
" No, sir."
Wilkes indicated his data link. "I have a supplemental statement from Commander Garcia which I'd like to enter into the record. Commander Garcia states in it that Ensign Sinclair used his legal duties as an excuse to avoid carrying out his line officer duties."
Judge Holmes looked over at Garrity. "You're not objecting?"
Garrity stood and smiled. "No, your honor. The defense would also like to enter a supplemental statement into the record. A statement from Commander Herdez, Commander Garcia's superior officer, to the effect that Ensign Sinclair spent time on ship's legal officer duties only in direct response to tasking from her and Captain Wakeman."
"I see. This appears to come down to a personnel management issue. What would the members recommend?"
Admiral Fowler grinned. "Let's junk both of them."
Wilkes actually looked rattled for a moment. "Admiral?"
"You heard me. I don't see where entering these statements into the record will prove anything. I'm sympathetic to the feelings of a department head that one of his subordinates is being diverted from his primary duties by a collateral duty. But I am also sympathetic to the demands made upon the time of a junior officer and the need to devote time to responding to appropriate collateral duty tasking from his superiors. Unless Commander Garcia's statement contains an itemized list of incidents and times where Ensign Sinclair failed to carry out his primary duties as a result of lower-priority tasks related to his job as ship's legal officer, I don't regard it as proving anything. Captain Nguyen? Captain Feres?"
Nguyen nodded. "I agree, Admiral."
Feres frowned, then nodded as well. "I can see grounds for complaint on Garcia's part but… yes, Admiral. There's no point in introducing these statements."
"Captain Valdez? Captain Bolton? Do you also agree? It's unanimous, Captain Holmes."