Judgement – What the Papers Say
by Commander Isha t'Vaurek & Arrival Thomas Whitlock
Post Details
Thomas paused outside the door and looked over his inventory again. He had the feeling he was forgetting something but he couldn't figure out what. Sighing softly, he stepped into the reception area and walked straight to the desk. "Thomas Whitlock to see Ambassador t'Khellian." he said to the receptionist.
"The Ambassador is at the court facility this afternoon, taking representations," i-Orinwen said with a slight smile, "Deck 56," she informed him.
Thomas looked at her for a moment then nodded as he realized that that's what he'd forgotten. "Thank you," he said to the woman before turning and quickly making his way to Deck 56. Several minutes later, he stepped into the court facility and paused to look around.
Leuitenant Stallingborough, a stack of padds in the crook of his arm was just passing by. He paused for a moment, "Are you looking for someone in particular or one of the courts in session?" he asked helpfully.
"I'm trying to locate Ambassador t'Khellian," Thomas replied, continuing to scan the area.
"Ah," Stallingborough said sucking a breath through his teeth. This one was not the first and probably would not be the last person coming to see the Romulan. "Corridor to the left, follow the curve for about fifty meters. She's in room 386 on the right, the door to the waiting room is open but if the inner door is closed you'll need to wait until she's finished with her interview," he told him.
"Thank you," Thomas said with a nod as he turned and walked down the corridor looking for the correct room. He almost passed it but halted himself in time and turned to walk inside. The room appeared to be empty and he noticed that the inner door was closed so he moved to one of the chairs and sat down to wait.
About ten minutes later the door opened and a Bolian emerged. He glanced briefly at the person waiting then left.
---
That one had a grudge, Isha thought mentally striking his 'evidence' unless corroborated by additional information. She sighed then shook off the weary feeling; if she was lucky no-one would enter and this unbooked slot would be free.
Thomas watched the Bolian leave and tried to remember if he'd seen him before. Shrugging to himself, he stood and walked to the door. "Am I interrupting anything?" he asked, standing just inside the room.
"Nothing, Mister Whitlock," Isha said. She wondered if this was journalist business or if he too had had some 'interesting' encounter with Gabriel. "Please close the door behind you, and do take a seat," she said. "Then you can tell me what brings you here."
Thomas complied with her request and sat down. "I'm here to see if you would be willing to make an official statement regarding the proceedings to this point."
"I see," she said linked her fingers together on the desktop, "then you must cal me t'Khellian rather than Ambassador. I cannot wear both cloaks under the circumstances. I would be quite willing," she added. "Do you wish to ask me about the case?"
"How is it coming along?" Thomas asked her. "Are the charges going to stick?"
"My government would not have asked me to bring the case if they did not think it would 'stick'." Isha told him, "We could have had him removed for trial, but we chose to follow Federation procedure," she added, "I think that says a great deal both about our intentions for future relations and for the case, don't you?"
"I agree," Thomas said with a nod. "What kind of evidence do you have against him?"
"The convincing kind," Isha replied with a slight smile. "Information that was kept confidential at the time of the earlier investigation into the murder has been provided by the research facility where it took place. It seems that nine years ago the research project was at a very crucial stage and it was agreed that the evidence could be withheld; the case never even made it to court. This time ... well, I cannot give you the details as that might prejudice the trial. What I can say is that had it been made available then it would have come to trial."
"I see," Thomas said thoughtfully. He made a quick note in his PADD then asked, "What ramifications do you think this trial will have on the starbase?"
"An entire Security Department under the control of an alleged murderer," Isha said in a tone both soft and thoughtful. "If the allegations are proven I'm sure that all sorts of questions will be asked, not least around the decision of the previous holder of the role to leave the station, she was Nausicaan, you know," Isha mentioned, sure that Whitlock was aware that one of Gabriel's alleged victims had also been Nausicaan.
"It could be utter chaos," Thomas replied, more to himself than to her. "Is it worth throwing the base into upheaval to punish one man?"
"Mister Whitlock," Isha said, an undertone of surprise in her voice, "Is it just to be so timid that we allow one man to escape answering for his crimes because we are afraid of a little disruption? Equally, is it just to deny an innocent so accused of the chance to answer charges and to clear his name?"
"I believe someone should be punished for committing a crime, just as I believe an innocent man should have the opportunity to prove his innocence," Thomas replied. "I'm just thinking of the chaos that will ensue if he's found guilty. No one will trust the Security department." He paused for a moment then said, "What about the people he arrested and helped convict? They'll be clamoring for appeals and saying they were victims of his corruption."
"It is a risk, of course," Isha agreed with a nod. "An investigation would be necessary I suppose," she mused. "The courts will no doubt be very busy handling those appeals in an equitable manner."
"If convicted, what type of sentence will the courts seek for him?" Thomas asked.
"We, we being my Government have agreed to abide by the ruling of the court. If he is pronounced guilty under Federation law we will request extradition, we may even commute his sentence to something less ... terminal than would normally be required for murder. We view this case as an opportunity for both sides to understand one another better, to draw something positive from such a bloody crime," she said.
"I see," Thomas said with a nod. "When is the actual trial set to begin?" He had the data in his office but he saw no reason not to ask since he was here.
"Tomorrow morning, at ten," Isha replied. "Its a civilian court. If a courts martial is deemed necessary it will be convened after the verdict has been settled."
Thomas nodded and looked down at his PADD, feeling foolish for not remembering when the trial would start. "I believe that's enough for now," he said as he put his PADD away. "Unless, of course, there's anything else you'd like to discuss."
Isha rested the tips of her fingers on the edge of the desk. "I understand that my niece has requested that you join the Dhelan when she departs on a joint operation with the Federation," she said. "I hope that too leads to a better understanding between our powers."
Thomas looked surprised for a moment but realized he shouldn't feel that way. "I hope to show that Romulans and humans can co-exist peacefully on the same ship for an extended period of time."
"The same intention that motivated us to take a step back, and with a bow, accept the verdict of the Federation justice system on the evidence against Dorian Gabriel," she said.
Thomas nodded as he stood up. "Thank you for your time. I'll let you get back to your investigation. If you need me for anything you know how to contact me," he added as he walked to the door.
:OFF:
Thomas Whitlock
FNS Reporter
Isha t'Khellian
by Commander Isha t'Vaurek & Arrival Thomas Whitlock
Post Details
| Title | What the Papers Say | |
| Mission | Judgement | |
| Author(s) | Commander Isha t'Vaurek & Arrival Thomas Whitlock | |
| Posted | Mon Nov 01, 2010 @ 10:21pm | |
| Location | Deck 56. Court Complex | |
| Timeline | SD35. 14:40 |
"The Ambassador is at the court facility this afternoon, taking representations," i-Orinwen said with a slight smile, "Deck 56," she informed him.
Thomas looked at her for a moment then nodded as he realized that that's what he'd forgotten. "Thank you," he said to the woman before turning and quickly making his way to Deck 56. Several minutes later, he stepped into the court facility and paused to look around.
Leuitenant Stallingborough, a stack of padds in the crook of his arm was just passing by. He paused for a moment, "Are you looking for someone in particular or one of the courts in session?" he asked helpfully.
"I'm trying to locate Ambassador t'Khellian," Thomas replied, continuing to scan the area.
"Ah," Stallingborough said sucking a breath through his teeth. This one was not the first and probably would not be the last person coming to see the Romulan. "Corridor to the left, follow the curve for about fifty meters. She's in room 386 on the right, the door to the waiting room is open but if the inner door is closed you'll need to wait until she's finished with her interview," he told him.
"Thank you," Thomas said with a nod as he turned and walked down the corridor looking for the correct room. He almost passed it but halted himself in time and turned to walk inside. The room appeared to be empty and he noticed that the inner door was closed so he moved to one of the chairs and sat down to wait.
About ten minutes later the door opened and a Bolian emerged. He glanced briefly at the person waiting then left.
---
That one had a grudge, Isha thought mentally striking his 'evidence' unless corroborated by additional information. She sighed then shook off the weary feeling; if she was lucky no-one would enter and this unbooked slot would be free.
Thomas watched the Bolian leave and tried to remember if he'd seen him before. Shrugging to himself, he stood and walked to the door. "Am I interrupting anything?" he asked, standing just inside the room.
"Nothing, Mister Whitlock," Isha said. She wondered if this was journalist business or if he too had had some 'interesting' encounter with Gabriel. "Please close the door behind you, and do take a seat," she said. "Then you can tell me what brings you here."
Thomas complied with her request and sat down. "I'm here to see if you would be willing to make an official statement regarding the proceedings to this point."
"I see," she said linked her fingers together on the desktop, "then you must cal me t'Khellian rather than Ambassador. I cannot wear both cloaks under the circumstances. I would be quite willing," she added. "Do you wish to ask me about the case?"
"How is it coming along?" Thomas asked her. "Are the charges going to stick?"
"My government would not have asked me to bring the case if they did not think it would 'stick'." Isha told him, "We could have had him removed for trial, but we chose to follow Federation procedure," she added, "I think that says a great deal both about our intentions for future relations and for the case, don't you?"
"I agree," Thomas said with a nod. "What kind of evidence do you have against him?"
"The convincing kind," Isha replied with a slight smile. "Information that was kept confidential at the time of the earlier investigation into the murder has been provided by the research facility where it took place. It seems that nine years ago the research project was at a very crucial stage and it was agreed that the evidence could be withheld; the case never even made it to court. This time ... well, I cannot give you the details as that might prejudice the trial. What I can say is that had it been made available then it would have come to trial."
"I see," Thomas said thoughtfully. He made a quick note in his PADD then asked, "What ramifications do you think this trial will have on the starbase?"
"An entire Security Department under the control of an alleged murderer," Isha said in a tone both soft and thoughtful. "If the allegations are proven I'm sure that all sorts of questions will be asked, not least around the decision of the previous holder of the role to leave the station, she was Nausicaan, you know," Isha mentioned, sure that Whitlock was aware that one of Gabriel's alleged victims had also been Nausicaan.
"It could be utter chaos," Thomas replied, more to himself than to her. "Is it worth throwing the base into upheaval to punish one man?"
"Mister Whitlock," Isha said, an undertone of surprise in her voice, "Is it just to be so timid that we allow one man to escape answering for his crimes because we are afraid of a little disruption? Equally, is it just to deny an innocent so accused of the chance to answer charges and to clear his name?"
"I believe someone should be punished for committing a crime, just as I believe an innocent man should have the opportunity to prove his innocence," Thomas replied. "I'm just thinking of the chaos that will ensue if he's found guilty. No one will trust the Security department." He paused for a moment then said, "What about the people he arrested and helped convict? They'll be clamoring for appeals and saying they were victims of his corruption."
"It is a risk, of course," Isha agreed with a nod. "An investigation would be necessary I suppose," she mused. "The courts will no doubt be very busy handling those appeals in an equitable manner."
"If convicted, what type of sentence will the courts seek for him?" Thomas asked.
"We, we being my Government have agreed to abide by the ruling of the court. If he is pronounced guilty under Federation law we will request extradition, we may even commute his sentence to something less ... terminal than would normally be required for murder. We view this case as an opportunity for both sides to understand one another better, to draw something positive from such a bloody crime," she said.
"I see," Thomas said with a nod. "When is the actual trial set to begin?" He had the data in his office but he saw no reason not to ask since he was here.
"Tomorrow morning, at ten," Isha replied. "Its a civilian court. If a courts martial is deemed necessary it will be convened after the verdict has been settled."
Thomas nodded and looked down at his PADD, feeling foolish for not remembering when the trial would start. "I believe that's enough for now," he said as he put his PADD away. "Unless, of course, there's anything else you'd like to discuss."
Isha rested the tips of her fingers on the edge of the desk. "I understand that my niece has requested that you join the Dhelan when she departs on a joint operation with the Federation," she said. "I hope that too leads to a better understanding between our powers."
Thomas looked surprised for a moment but realized he shouldn't feel that way. "I hope to show that Romulans and humans can co-exist peacefully on the same ship for an extended period of time."
"The same intention that motivated us to take a step back, and with a bow, accept the verdict of the Federation justice system on the evidence against Dorian Gabriel," she said.
Thomas nodded as he stood up. "Thank you for your time. I'll let you get back to your investigation. If you need me for anything you know how to contact me," he added as he walked to the door.
:OFF:
Thomas Whitlock
FNS Reporter
Isha t'Khellian