“There are occasions when Commodore Reyes or Commander Cooper has been handling some urgent matter and wishes to oversee communications directly. There have also been instances when one of them has to provide an eyes-only decryption key for an encoded message from Starfleet Command. Things like that.”
Sereb, pacing again, waved his right arm. “So, suffice it to say that such visits are not the norm.”
Oh, for God’s sake, just get on with it, already.Despite the exasperation he was beginning to feel at this latest example of Sereb’s courtroom drama, Reyes forced himself to remain still, his hands clasped before him on the table while maintaining a stoic expression, just as Desai also was doing.
“Walk us through the events of stardate 1528.4, Ensign,” Sereb said. “You were on duty in the communications center. At approximately oh-three-hundred hours, who else was present?”
Knowing where this was going, Ribiero faltered for a moment and even cast a glance over her shoulder toward Reyes, which earned her a stern glare from Sereb before she answered, “I was alone, sir. It was my turn to stand watch while the others were taking their mid-shift meal break. The first one back would relieve me so I could go and eat. It’s standard practice, sir.”
“So, you were alone at oh-three-hundred hours,” Sereb said, continuing to pace. Looking toward Reyes again, he continued, “And did you receive a visit on this evening?”
Ribiero nodded. “Yes, sir. Commodore Reyes entered the center and asked me how things were going.”
“And how werethings going?”
Even from his angle behind and to the left of her, Reyes saw Ribiero’s jaw tighten. She did not appreciate this game, either. “They were fine, sir. They’re always fine at that time of night.”
Sereb grunted. “What happened next?”
“The commodore ordered me to take my meal break, sir.”
Pausing before the trial board, Sereb directed an expression of feigned astonishment to the board members before turning toward Reyes and Desai. “He ordered you away from your post?”
“Not exactly, sir,” Ribiero replied. “He said that he had a classified message to transmit and that it was urgent and eyes-only and that it would be recorded in the official log as such. It’s happened before, sir.”
“So, you’re saying the commodore makes a habit of circumventing security protocols with regard to classified communications?”
That brought Desai out of her chair again. “Objection, Your Honor. Calls for speculation.”
“Sustained,” Moratino replied. “Captain Sereb, watch your footing here.”
“I apologize, Your Honor,” Sereb said before returning his attention to Ribiero. “Ensign, Commodore Reyes ordered you away from the communications center so that he might transmit a classified message. Did he offer any clues to the nature of the message, the receiving party, or whether he might require assistance?”
Ribiero shook her head. “No, sir. The commodore is familiar with our equipment.”
“Did you take this opportunity to remind him of station security procedures with respect to communications?”
“Yes, sir, I did, but Commodore Reyes provided an authorized override code that allows him to bypass such restrictions.”
Again, Sereb paused, this time holding up one pudgy finger. “Ah, his command override authority. As I understand such protocols, they’re normally reserved for emergencies, are they not?”
“That’s correct, sir.” The ensign now was visibly nervous, doing her best to maintain her bearing. Reyes felt nothing but sympathy for her. It was not her fault that she sat before these officers in this way. She had done her duty in every measurable respect. He wanted to stand and shout that to the board members, wanted to cram the words down Sereb’s throat, but even as the thoughts festered in his mind, he felt the gentle touch of Desai’s hand on his arm, warning him to stay seated and keep his mouth shut.
“Yes, sir, and the commodore informed me that there was such an emergency.”
Sereb glared at her. “And you took him at his word?”
The question seemed to take Ribiero off guard, but for the first time, she seemed willing to push back, if only a little. “Of course I did,” she said, a slight edge creeping into her voice. “I had no reason to suspect he’d be lying.”
“No, of course not,” the Tellarite replied. “You were carrying out your duties, as was expected of you. You had every reason to trust that your commanding officer was doing the same, rather than using his rank and position to carry out illegal acts under cover of official business.”
“Objection,” Desai snapped, pushing herself to her feet. “Your Honor, is the prosecution asking a question or providing editorial commentary?”
“Sustained,” Moratino said, and this time, there was no mistaking the irritation in the admiral’s voice. “Captain Sereb, my patience is beginning to wear thin.”
The prosecutor nodded. “Understood, Your Honor.” To Ribiero, he said, “Ensign, as of this moment, do you know the contents of the message Commodore Reyes sent from the communications center?”
“No, sir,” Ribiero replied.
“Isn’t there a record of the message in the comm center log?”
The ensign shook her head. “Not of the message itself, sir. Just a record that the message was transmitted, the time and date of the transmission, and the sending and receiving parties.”
Sereb asked, “And who were the sending and receiving parties?”
When Ribiero paused this time, Reyes knew she did not want to answer and why. She drew a deep breath before replying, “The sender is listed as Timothy Pennington, and the recipient was the Federation News Service.” Even though Reyes knew what the response would be, the words spoken aloud were like kicks to his gut.
Seemingly satisfied with that answer, and perhaps desiring to quit while he was ahead, Sereb turned to the board members. “Your Honor, I have no further questions for this witness.”
“Very well.” Moratino looked to Desai. “Does defense wish to cross-examine?”
Rising once more from her chair, Desai replied, “No, Your Honor.” Reyes thought he sensed a hint of resignation lacing the words.
“You may step down, Ensign,” the admiral said. She spent a moment writing something before reaching for the striker. “We’ll stand in recess until ten hundred hours tomorrow. Court is adjourned.” She rapped the ship’s bell, and Lieutenant T’Nir rose from her place just in front of the bench.
“All rise,” called the Vulcan as everyone stood and waited for Moratino and the rest of the board to file out of the room. Once they were gone, T’Nir deactivated the computer terminal next to her chair before leaving the room.
Reyes stood silent, staring straight ahead and waiting until Sereb left the courtroom before even turning to Desai. “I really hate this, you know.”
“I know,” Desai replied, gathering her materials. “But it’s necessary if you want your chance on the stand.”
“My people don’t deserve to be dragged through this,” Reyes said. “They don’t even know what most of this is about, and I made sure none of them was put in a position to have to do or say anything against regs. Sereb knows that.”
Desai sighed. “Of course, he knows that. Remember, the facts aren’t in dispute here. All he can do is attempt to demonstrate the scope of what you’ve done. Since you took steps to protect everyone, all he can do is illustrate that by having all of the witnesses testify that they don’t know anything. He’s marking time until we switch to the defense phase. That’s when he’ll cut loose, and you know he’s just drooling at the chance to come after you.”
“I have that effect on people.” Reyes said as the pair of security guards assigned to escort him back to his quarters stepped forward from where they had been standing at the courtroom’s rear wall. With them falling into step behind him, Reyes and Desai exited the room, and he paused as he saw Jetanien and Fisher waiting in the corridor.