1058: Sidestep

By Zander Blakeslee and Salvek
100309.1600
After Plan of Attack

-=Vulcan=-

The transporter beam shimmered in the middle of the courtyard of the Ministry of Justice as Zander and Salvek materialized.

Zander looked around at the impressive structure that surrounded them. Red stone columns rose up to support a stone roof over the courtyard. Simple mosaic like stones adorned the ground near the center piece. A large three-story statue of a Vulcan male dressed in what Zander took as normal Vulcan regalia. A book was cradled in his arms protectively.

Zander took notice that there was no face on the statue. The prominent Vulcan pointed ears adorned the head but no face had been chiseled into the stone. Zander was about to ask Salvek who the statue was supposed to be when a group approached them.

Leading the way was a Starfleet officer and a very tall Vulcan male. Zander assumed that they were about to meet those who had summoned them here. Behind them were four Vulcan males and one female all dressed in ceremonial garb.

The Starfleet officer extended his hand to Zander. “Commander Blakeslee…” He shook Zander’s hand. “…Commander Salvek.” He shook Salvek’s hand.

He smiled as he withdrew his hand and laced his fingers together in front of his chest. “Thank you both for coming. I am Commander Jars and this is Senior Investigator Savol.”

Savol simply nodded slightly in greeting while keeping his eyes locked onto Salvek, something that did not escape Zander’s notice.

“I apologize for this inconvien…” Jars began.

Savol interrupted him. “We are ready to receive T’Dara. It is time for her to come home.”

A group of Vulcan men, dressed in black, emerged from the building as if on cue and approached Savol, flanking him.

“I believe there is some misunderstanding,” Salvek began. “I was told that T’Dara was to be turned over directly to her family.”

“Soon enough. She is a part of this investigation, and as such we will need to examine her remains. I had a feeling you may object, so I’ve already taken the liberty of obtaining her family’s permission.” Savol presented Salvek with a PADD to back up his claims.

Salvek could understand the family’s wishes, even if he did not agree with them. It was much easier from his vantage point however, knowing that T’Dara’s death had not been the result of any wrongdoing.

Salvek returned the PADD to Savol, and hailed the Alchemy. He ordered Paxton Briggs to proceed with transporting T’Dara to his location, stasis chamber and all. When she arrived, T’Dara was quickly whisked into the building by Savol’s men.

The entire exchange made Zander Blakeslee uncomfortable. Every instinct in him seemed to be screaming they should not have let her be taken from them so easily.

“What exactly do you plan on doing with her, and when will you be returning her to her family?” Zander blurted out.

“I must be misinformed. I was told you were Commander Salvek’s Advocate, not T’Dara’s.” Savol sniped, in a clearly condescending tone.

“I protect any shipmate I feel may be endangered.” Zander shot right back, squaring himself towards Savol.

“Gentlemen.” Jars interrupted, stepping gently between Blakeslee and Savol. “We have some paperwork to do, and formal charges to be read before proceedings get underway. So let’s not get off on the wrong foot.”

“Let’s not get off on the wrong foot?” Zander snapped. “Are you serious?”

The notion that this whole ordeal could be perceived as anything but just that, was insulting to Zander. Having always been a man to wear his emotions on his sleeve, he intended to let Jars and Savol know exactly what he thought about it.

However Salvek calmly rested his hand on Zander’s shoulder as a gentle silent warning to the Security Chief not to let his emotions run over, especially considering the current environment. Zander inhaled deeply and bit back his not overly well thought out description of where they could shove their charges although it would be physically impossible.

“Fine.” He turned back to Savol. “You’re not doing anything to T’Dara without a representative for Salvek there.”

“Our medical examiner is more then qualified to perform this task.” Savol calmly responded. “I am unsure if the family would…”

“Hogwash!” Zander retorted. “If you are going to take T’Dara under the notion that she is evidence that may be used as a prescript to the bogus charges being filed against Commander Salvek, then we have a legal right to have our own medical council present during your examination.”

“You already had the opportunity to examine the remains, in fact your Chief Medical Officer filed the death certificate.” Savol calmly responded.

Zander stepped forward to stand closer to the Vulcan, which forced him to peer upwards to look into his eyes. “That was before someone made this a criminal investigation. Our CMO did not make a criminal post-mortem examination so therefore under Starfleet law we have a right to fair and equal access to her.”

Savol glanced at Jars, who slightly tilted his head to indicate that Zander was correct.

“Very well. You may assign you own medical expert to examine the remains.” Savol responded.

“They are not remains! That is T’Dara, a medical officer from the USS Serendipity.” Zander thundered now, ignoring Salvek’s hand on his shoulder. “Stop referring to her as an object. Show some respect!”

There was a short pause as Savol simply stared down at Zander. He finally spoke. “Even though I do not understand the Human emotional attachment to a deceased…body, I do offer my apologies. It was not my intention to insult you or diminish T’Dara in any way.”

“Great then it is all settled.” Jars once again interceded between the Human and Vulcan. “We will make sure that not examination takes place with out your medical expert present. Now we have a room reserved that we can use to go over the charges.”

Savol spun on his heel to lead the Starfleet officers, who were flanked on both sides by the Vulcans in ceremonial dress. Once out of Blakeslee’s earshot, Savol spoke in private to Salvek.

“I realize he is your council, but you are his commanding officer. Is it not your duty to keep him under more strict control?”

Salvek raised his own voice, enough to allow Zander to hear exactly what he was saying. “If the Lieutenant Commander was out of line, I would have reprimanded him. However, I happen to agree with everything he said. You were disrespectful. You are not a member of Starfleet, however, so I would not expect you to understand the nature of the relationship between fellow crewmembers.”

If the comment sounded like an insult, it was because it was intended to be one.

“And you are out of line Commander Salvek.” Jars interjected. There were no further comments for several moments, before Jars asked, “How long have you been Zanh Liis’ First Officer now?”

“Years.” Salvek answered.

“Tsst.” Jars snickered, and grinned.

They proceeded into the building, winding their way down long ornate corridors, before entering the hearing room. There were no chairs for the accused or his council. Jars and Savol however both ascended to a dais that allowed them a view out over the hearing room. From Salvek’s vantage point, he could see little more than their heads and shoulders rising above the top of the dais.

Wasting no time, Savol began to read the charges. “You are charged by the Vulcan Government with gross incompetence and negligence, leading to the death of T’Dara, daughter of Savel. Lieutenant Commander Blakeslee, you represent Commander Salvek. On behalf of your client, what plea do you enter?”

“Not guilty. Further more we add that all charges should be dropped.” He turned to Commander Jars. “Unless of course Starfleet is willing to charge the Commander.”

Jars took a sip of water from a glass in the table before replying. “Starfleet is currently reviewing the case.”

Zander frowned. That was at best an open-ended answer. “Of course you realize that the Vulcan government has no jurisdiction to charge the Commander with any crime.” He turned back to Savol. “So why are we here?”

Savol shot Commander Jars a look as if waiting for the Commander to speak up, which he did.

“While we are investigating we have exercised the option to allow the Vulcan government to pursue the charges.”

Zander sat back in his chair, absolutely stunned. “This is unheard of, Commander. I can’t recall this ever being done outside of war crimes trials.”

He stared at Jars for a long period before Savol spoke up again.

“In light of this new information, would you like to change your plea?”

Zander looked at Salvek.

“No.” Salvek answered flatly, without a moment’s thought.

“Very well,” Savol said. “We stand in recess until seven tomorrow morning.” He sounded a chime on the dais before him, and stood to leave. Zander waited until both Savol and Jars were clear of the room before speaking again.

“A nice trick. They just sidestepped Starfleet’s responsibility in the manner.”

“Then we have little choice but to proceed with my defense.” Salvek turned towards the exit, with Zander following him.

“If Samthia were here, she’d remind me that only a fool attends a morning hearing without having a steak the night before.”

“She would say that?” Salvek raised a brow skeptically.

“Well, something like that. I know Vulcans are vegetarians. Do you think…” Zander’s voice trailed off.

“Do not worry Commander. There are a number of establishments that cater to the palates of off-worlders.” They stepped outside and Salvek looked up towards the blazing sun. Zander, with Alaskan ice water in his veins, appeared anxious to get indoors as soon as possible.

“Perhaps you could introduce me to one then?” he asked.

“I will meet you for dinner in two hours. I have another matter to attend to. Might I suggest the Natural History Museum during your spare time? It is only a five minute walk from here.”

Zander nodded, content to accept Salvek’s answer and not pry any further. “I’ll meet you there in two hours?”

“Agreed.”

****************

Lieutenant Commander Zander Blakeslee
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012

&

Commander Salvek
First Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012