NEW Truth [PG] VOY AU (P, Picard)
Title: Truth
Author: Dave Rogers (daverogers@geocities.com)
Series: VOY AU
Part: NEW 1/1
Date: 29/6/99
Rating: [PG]
Codes: P, Picard
Summary: Sequel to "Honour", third in the series beginning with
"Father to Son". The Caldik Prime enquiry; can Tom find honour in
Starfleet?
Disclaimer: Paramount owns the characters and situations in this
world; I've just borrowed them and put them in mine.
Acknowledgements: Some of the dialogue in this story is adapted
from passages in Jeri Taylor's novel "Pathways", which is also
the source of background material.
Truth
Tom Paris entered the small, windowless room and walked slowly to the
chair in the middle. Turning, he fixed his stare directly in front of
him, avoiding the eyes of the three who sat in judgement before him.
"Cadet Paris," an aide began beside him, "this is a formal hearing,
and any and all statements made here may be presumed to be under oath.
Are you aware of the implications of this?"
Tom nodded.
"Let the record show that Cadet Paris indicated assent. This court is
now in session."
His father sat behind him, giving the outward appearance of a loving,
supportive father; an appearance that Tom could no longer believe
after his interview two weeks earlier. And before him sat three
legends. Admiral Finnegan, hero of the Ferengi wars of many years ago.
Admiral Brand, who had made First Contact with more civilisations than
any other Starfleet officer - excepting, of course, the inimitable
James Kirk. And finally, perhaps the greatest of them all, though the
most junior. Ironic that the man he had so wanted to serve might now
be his judge and the source of his condemnation; Captain Jean-Luc
Picard, Starfleet's finest and a worthy Captain of the ship with the
proudest tradition in the history of the Federation.
Tom thought back to Picard's previous visit to the Academy, a few
short months earlier. Then, as now, a court had sat in judgement over
the death of a Starfleet cadet; then, as now, the guilty man had lied
to save his career; and, Tom remembered only too clearly, it was the
lie and not the deed that had been the unforgivable crime. But more
had been whispered between friends; that Picard, himself not a member
of the court, had exposed the lie, and that Picard himself had stated
his belief that the first duty of a Starfleet officer was to uphold
the truth. Clearly, thought Tom, this was not a view shared by Admiral
Owen Paris; but if there was ever a time to defy his father, Picard
might be the one man who would support him.
He thought back over his written disposition. Was it already too late?
And then, even as he wondered, Picard threw him a lifeline.
"Mr. Paris, the court has received an informal deposition from you
regarding the incident at Caldik Prime. However, in the absence of any
recorded oath associated with the document, the court has decided only
to accept its contents to the extent that they are confirmed by you in
this session. Do you, therefore, wish to swear that the contents of
this deposition are the entire truth concerning the incident of the
seventeenth of June?"
"No, sir," replied Paris. At Picard's raised eyebrow, he continued,
"I would prefer to go over the events in detail before the court, in
case there are any parts that need clarifying." The words sounded
false to him, but this way his father would suspect nothing until he
had actually spoken the truth. Any more warning than that, he feared,
and his father would find a way to change his mind for him, as he
somehow always did. No, it had to be done quickly if at all.
The questions concerning the events prior to takeoff went smoothly; no
need to lie there, although he had omitted any mention of his feelings
at the time. But then came the question he had hoped for and feared,
and the decision was upon him.
"If you were the team leader," asked Admiral Finnegan, "Why was Cadet
Katajavuori leading the strafing run?"
Tom took a deep breath, and tried to forget the feeling that his
father's eyes were boring a hole into the back of his neck.
"At that point, sir, my deposition is no longer an accurate report of
the events of the seventeenth."
Admirals Finnegan and Brand looked at each other briefly. Picard
frowned, and looked intently at Tom. And from behind him, he heard his
father's quiet exclamation, "What?"
"Sir, I led the strafing run." He spoke quickly before anyone could
interrupt. "I held the dive too long, and pulled out too late. The
others were in stepped formation below me, and never had a chance to
pull out. Then afterwards, I panicked, and..."
His testimony was lost in the rising voices. Admiral Paris was saying
something to Tom, he wasn't sure what. Admiral Brand was telling Owen
Paris to be quiet in court. Admiral Finnegan seemed to be asking Tom
whether he had lied in a sworn deposition. Only Picard was silent,
staring intently at Tom with a gaze that seemed to look into his soul.
And then, suddenly, the noise stopped, and Admiral Paris was heard to
say, "Young fool, I told you to tell them..."
He stopped in confusion. Tom slumped in his seat, exhausted by this
single act of defiance; but the words had been spoken, and nothing
could now unsay them. He sensed, though, that for some reason he was
no longer the centre of attention in the room, and a moment later the
reason became clear.
"Admiral Paris," said Picard in a grave voice, "You are present as an
observer at this hearing, and your testimony is not being recorded.
However, I must warn you, sir, that the court has the right to record
your remarks should it so choose, and that any further remarks from
you will be so recorded."
There was an awkward silence. Admiral Paris rose to his feet, and
seemed for a moment to be about to say something; but then he turned to
the door and left the room. Then Picard spoke again, this time to Tom.
"Mr. Paris, is it your sworn testimony before this court that you were
solely responsible for the deaths of Cadets Day, Launay and Katajavuori
on the seventeenth of June?"
"Yes, sir, it is."
"And what was the specific cause of the accident?"
"Pilot error on my part, sir. I held the dive for too long, and the
others - the others - " Tom's voice faltered, then failed him
completely.
"Were unable to pull out in time." Picard finished the sentence for
him, and Tom simply nodded.
"Have you any further statement that you wish to make to this court?"
added Admiral Brand.
"Yes, sir." Tom found his voice again. He had rehearsed this final
part of his testimony, and could use it honestly now. "I would like to
say, for the record, that Cadets Day, Katajavuori, and Launay were
three of the best that Starfleet will ever encounter. It was my honour
to be their friend, and all three were completely blameless."
Brand looked at the officers on either side, and the three conferred
quietly. Finally, Brand announced, "This court is adjourned for
consideration of this witness' testimony. We will re-convene in two
hours." A gavel rapped on the desk, and it was done.
Two days later, after hearing character witnesses and medical reports,
the verdict was delivered by Admiral Brand.
"This court finds that the deaths of Cadets Day, Launay and Katajavuori
were caused by human error on the part of Cadet Paris. A formal
reprimand is attached to the Cadet's service record. While it is within
the power of the court to pass a more severe sentence for this offence,
we have chosen clemency in this case on the grounds that Cadet Paris
has assisted the court in all its enquiries and has made no attempt to
exculpate himself. Cadet Paris, this has been a tragedy of terrible
proportions. The loss of three young lives, lives with such great
potential, has left their families bereft and all of us at Starfleet
sobered. But we are aware that it has been a terrible loss for you, as
well. It is not our desire to make you suffer any more than you have
already. You come of a long line of Starfleet luminaries. Any one of
them would tell you that losing those you've worked with closely is
devastating. But we've all been through it. If there is any good to
come of this catastrophe, it might be in serving to help you become a
better officer in the future, knowing as you do the awful penalty for
error. Dismissed."
Time seemed to stand still as Tom considered the implications of these
words. He had lied in his deposition, he knew, and he knew that Brand,
Finnegan and Picard knew; yet they had chosen to cover it up in their
summation. With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he
realised that his father's influence must reach even further than he
realised, and that even the brightest and the best in Starfleet were
tainted.
Then he saw that maybe there was one good man left. Picard, as Brand
spoke, was regarding Paris with a look of cold, hard hatred. He must
have voted for Tom's dismissal, and been overruled. Somehow, keeping
his precious Starfleet career in such a manner seemed worse to Tom
than losing it; and he knew he would never be welcome aboard the
Enterprise with this man in the Captain's chair. But the sole crumb
of comfort he could find was that somewhere, at least, there was
still honour in Starfleet.
--------
The Enterprise's visits to Earth were rare, and Captain Picard and
Commander Riker moved in very different social circles on those visits.
Briefly, however, their calendars had converged to the point where they
could find time for lunch together.
"Strange, Number One," mused Picard as he sipped his tea. "There were
times during Admiral Brand's summing up when I felt like I was looking
at Wesley's friend Locarno." He'd felt some of the anger and dislike
that Wesley's squadron leader had evoked in him too; he hoped nobody
in the courtroom had seen his face slip.
"They're supposed to be nearly identical, aren't they?" replied Riker
with his characteristic half-smile.
"There is a superficial resemblance, I'll grant you that," admitted
Picard. "And, I suppose, there's quite a similarity between the cases.
On the surface, at least."
Riker's smile faded. "At least Locarno tried to be loyal to the squad.
From what I heard, Paris was just lying to save his own skin." He tried
not to show the contempt he felt, but suspected he needn't have
bothered; his old friend and Captain knew him too well.
"So I thought myself," replied Picard, "until I had a word with his
father."
"He's Owen Paris' son?" Riker knew that the Admiral was involved, but
hadn't realised it was that close a connection. "That makes it even
worse."
"I don't know, Will; maybe, maybe not." Picard decided it was better
not to say too much. The story that a Starfleet Admiral had ordered his
son to lie in court, however tortuous the misunderstanding and however
innocent the circumstances, was one best kept between himself and the
other two officers who already knew. "Let's just say that Admiral Paris
is rather better at talking than at listening."
"There's something you're not telling me, Jean-Luc!" It wasn't often,
and never on board the Enterprise, that Riker dropped the formality in
addressing Picard, but as he did so there was an inquisitive gleam in
his eye.
Picard smiled. "They say the boy's the best pilot Starfleet Academy's
ever seen. The Enterprise needs the best."
Riker raised an eyebrow. "He's just been found guilty of pilot error,
he hasn't graduated from the Academy yet, and you want him for the
Enterprise?"
Picard smiled, shaking his head. "I'm not that impetuous, Will. No, the
boy's got some growing up to do before he's ready for us. Keep an eye
on him, though; let's see where he is in a year or two."
Riker shook his own head, then laughed. "You're the Captain." Picard
found good people in the strangest places, he had to admit; and,
frankly, he also had to admit that his Captain's choices had always
turned out for the best in the end.
THE END
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