"Getting One's House In Order"
(Previous Post: Matt's 'The Means...')
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Setting: Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section G, Level 1, Containment Area Alpha
Stardate: 60326.2000
After returning to his holding cell, David sat a little miffed as the words from Admiral Charles Koneki replayed in his head.
**After hearing all the evidence so far its is the ruling that Lieutenant David Dawson will be stand to be tried in a formal court-martial...**
David sat shaking his head.
"I guess it was meant to be" he finally said as Serenna looked at him.
"David... I'm..." the ExO started to say before David cut her off.
"Don't be" the CEO replied, "I'm looking forward to it."
That surprised Serenna. "David... if we had been better prepared we could have avoided this court-martial. You could be a free man right now."
"Serenna, there's something my Pops always told me: You have to know when to submit and you have to know when to stand your ground. I haven't done anything wrong and this will be the stage to prove it."
"Koneki wasn't impressed. So what if it goes the other way? What if we loose?"
David smiled at the ANUBIS' executive officer. "We won't. I know you Serenna and the word loose isn't in your vocabulary." and the CEO paused, "there is one thing I'd like for you to do."
"And that is?" she asked.
"Get me access to a computer terminal. I want to leave a message for my family in case this does go the opposite way."
Serenna nodded. "No promises, but I'll see what I can do."
The ExO turned to leave and left the CEO to his thoughts. He was at the end. The final confrontation with Richard was eminent. But David had one more ace up his sleeve...
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Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Simmons' Quarters
Stardate: 60326.2000
After arriving at her former COs quarters for dinner, Sabrina and Clora talked shop... mostly girl talk. Clora Sul knowing Sabrina's past life as a counselor she didn't want to befuddle the ANUBIS' CO with 'seeing if she was alright'... but a counselor is a counselor is a counselor.
"Sabrina, how are you holding up?" she asked as Sabrina helped in tossing a green Bajoran salad.
"As best as I can. Right now, my emphasis is being the best Mom I can be to Talia."
Clora nodded. "Still haven't decided on telling her the truth?"
Sabrina shook her head. "Now's not the time. With this pending hearing and possible court-martial..."
"That's another thing I wanted to ask you. Why are you so adamant on seeing this court-martial happen?"
"Because it needs to" the captain of the ANUBIS replied a little harshly, "David needs to be held responsible for what he's done and I'm going to see that he does."
"But it sounds like an act of revenge" and Sabrina glared at Sul, who held up her hands, "hear me out Sabrina. True, David defied your orders..."
"More than once" Sabrina said.
"But look at the outcome. For his defiance, he saved a lot of people's lives..."
"That the away team was more than capable of accomplishing." and Sabrina sighed, "look... let's drop this please. I'd just like for a moment not to be a starship captain or the say all end all to a officer's career..."
Just then, Commodore James Simmons entered. He had a long look on his face. He stopped to kiss his bride and nodded to his former first officer.
"Its official" he said gruffly, draping his blazer over Talia's sleeping form.
"What is love?" Clora asked.
"David's going to stand trial. Koneki said Serenna didn't provide enough proof to ward otherwise." James looked at Sabrina after making that statement. he saw a flare flash across her emerald green eyes.
"Penny for your thoughts number one?" James asked in his old addressing of Sabrina.
"As of right this moment, nothing. But in the back of my mind, building a case that will rid Starfleet of officers like David Dawson *permanently*" she said pressing past James to wake her daughter.
Clora nodded to James as they entered the kitchen area.
"James, this may be outside my range of observation, but I believe Sabrina *can not* prosecute this case."
James sighed. "As David's commanding officer, it is her duty to."
"Did you *not* hear her?" Clora asked, "she's looking to sacrifice David before you, Koneki, and Captain Harris."
James eyed Clora. "Honey, how did you know Captain Harris would be the third..."
"The SEKHMET pulled out of spacedock an hour ago" and she smiled sheepishly, "and here you are, a flag officer in charge of operations. Shame on you James Simmons. Admiral, whatever am I going to do with you?"
James took his wife into his arms, "Love me forever. And that's an order Lieutenant."
Clora looked into her husband's eyes. "Seriously, something needs to be done about Sabrina. I believe she won't be impartial to this court-martial."
James sighed, "She doesn't have to be impartial. She does have to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that David is guilty of the charges imposed to him."
Clora looked at Sabrina as she played with her daughter as she slowly woke up. She could only hope that Sabrina would look at the case objectively and not looking to take David's head off and serve it up on a platter.
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Sickbay
Stardate: 60326.2020
After a couple hours research into SDS, Doctor Lea Summers plopped the PADD onto her desk and sighed.
"God, why is this so difficult? Why can't I find an answer?!" she said standing up and stepping away from her desk.
"Because life's never an easy task" a voice said as Lea looked to the ceiling as Susan laughed.
"I always wanted to do that. Be the voice from manna on high." the counselor giggled.
"*Very* funny" Lea replied dryly as she went to her replicator, "hungry?"
"Let's get some *real* food" Susan suggested and Lea shook her head.
"I don't want to stray too far from this..." the CMO said as the CNS took her by the hand.
"Lea... the prelims are probably still going on. David isn't going anywhere so you have time..." as they were exiting they ran into Maya.
"We just ran out" the Shillian science officer said sadly.
"Ran out of what Maya?" Susan asked.
"Time" she replied looking at both officers, "what... you haven't heard?'
"Heard what?" Lea asked, "spit it out Maya."
"David's prelims... Admiral Koneki didn't believe there was sufficient evidence not to warrant a court-martial. So David's going to stand trial."
Susan gasped as Lea's head started shaking back and forth. She spun on her heels.
"No... I will *NOT* accept that!" she said as Maya took her by the arm.
"Lea... there's nothing we can do. The court-martial is eminent."
Lea frowned. "Suddenly I'm not very hungry" she said shrugging Maya off to return to her work. She promised David she'd find a way to rid his dead brother's spirit from him and help him to clear his name and she wasn't about to quit now."
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Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Level C, section 1 Corridor
Stardate: 60326.2030
After heading toward the arboretum, Pravat's thoughts fell back to the ANUBIS' science chief. There was so much potential there he thought, but there was always a brick wall in between them, especially as of late. Maya's determination to her work impressed the Enaran marine but to throw away time trying to save an insubordinate officer like David Dawson pissed the MCO off. His thoughts changed to the conversation he had with his friend Doctor Townsend and his comments about Enaii and David. Officers who broke the rules and abused the system for their own personal benefit didn't deserve to wear the uniform and would never make it as a marine. Prav shook his head.
**His brother had the right idea... the right discipline** Pravat thought to himself of 1st Lieutenant Jordan Dawson. Pravat remember the couple of times he met the younger Dawson sibling.
**How can brothers be so different? One hell bent on doing whatever the hell he saw fit, the other regulated to the rules that every Starfleet officer abides by?**
The Enaran marine commander was brought out of his reverie by two passing security officers. It was their conversation that got Prav's attention."
"...haven't heard when it'll start but Koneki didn't buy into that possession bullshit."
"As he shouldn't. I remember the hell he put us through on the AVALON when I served under Commander Serenna. The cat and mouse game he played. I hope they drum his ass all the way out."
"Excuse me Ensigns" Pravat said, "what are you talking about?"
"Oh... sir" one of the officers replied and Prav looked at him.
"Ensign Smiley... correct?" Pravat said and the security officer nodded, "just who's ass should be drummed all the way out?"
"You haven't heard sir?" Smiley asked.
"Humor me Ensign and say I have" Pravat growled.
"Lieutenant Dawson sir" Smiley replied, "he's going to stand trial. There's going to be a court-martial..."
Pravat nodded. "Dismissed" and both officers hurried away.
"So there *is* justice in the universe after all" Pravat said to himself as he continued on to the arboretum.
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Julian Knight (d_dawson_1@yahoo.com)
as
Lieutenant David Dawson
Chief Engineer
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
"A Starfleet officer... that's all I am and that's all I'll ever be." 2005 post #430
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko,
Commanding Officer of the Federation Spacestation Deep Space 9
