Episode 121. The Trial of Tarsi
Context
- Stardate
- 231735.284
- Location
-
- Earth
- USA
- San Francisco
- Tribunal
- Timeline
- Prime Timeline
- Previously
-
Settled in Vista Ridge, the survivors of Enterprise have begun adapting to the 26th century. Under T'Met's supervision, each of them discovers a society without money or war, a world perfect on the surface, but where freedom seems... supervised. While her companions finally taste rest, T'Met meditates alone, haunted by memories of her captivity and the decisions imposed by Admiral Quihoui. For the hour is approaching: Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi must appear before the San Francisco tribunal for temporal terrorism.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank | Species | Original Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T'Met | Starfleet / Temporal Division | Captain | Vulcan | Prime Timeline |
| Touit'Air | United Federation of Planets | Counsel | Aenar | Prime Timeline |
| Emilie Flores | NATO / Special Fleet | Ensign | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Charlene Savea | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Robert Gomard | NATO / Army | Colonel | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
Manifests
| USS Enterprise Destroyed in 1954 Last known manifest | VSS Schak'Irra | |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO | Starfleet / Ni'Var |
| Location | 1954, near Earth | 2554, docked at the Starfleet Starbase |
| Captain | T'Met (Young) | |
| First Officer | Zaneth-Myra Lysana (Older Tarsi) | |
| Artificial Intelligence | Lingua (Initial Version) | |
| Pilot | Eric Corda | N/A |
| Communications | Emilie Flores | T'Killa |
| Operations | Charlene Savea | T'Less-Cop |
| Tactical | N/A | |
| Science | Manu | N/A |
| Engineering | Gornok (Unofficial) | N/A |
| Advanced Weaponry | Eros Vitos | N/A |
| Security | Robert Gomard (Unofficial) | N/A |
| Sickbay | Victor S. Calpel K'hoka Khol'a (assistant) |
N/A |
| Counselor/Consultant | Manu | N/A |
| Custodial Technician | Manu | N/A |
TL;DR
Tarsi's trial opens in solemn silence. Before the San Francisco tribunal, T'Met, Charlene, Emilie, and Gomard hope to attend the hearing, but discover that it will be held behind closed doors, a last-minute decision made by Admiral Jora Tannel, president of the tribunal. An Aenar lawyer, Counsel Touit'Air, enters the room alone: he represents Tarsi, but refuses to say more. The hearing unfolds in total mystery, and when the doors finally open, Tarsi emerges in handcuffs, staring straight ahead, escorted away without a word. Before disappearing, Touit'Air slips T'Met a scribbled note: "Holosuite No. 427 - 6:00 p.m. - San Francisco." A clandestine appointment that may well reveal what the trial is trying to conceal...
Story
After a festive and restful weekend, the team wakes early for this first weekday. T'Met, Charlene, Emilie, and Colonel Gomard synthesize new civilian clothes to attend the preliminary hearing of Tarsi's trial at the San Francisco tribunal. Meanwhile, Manu, Eric, Eros, K'hoka, and Gornok volunteer to put the apartment back in order, admitting that none of them bothered with the mess accumulated during those two days of rest.
The San Francisco tribunal is located downtown, less than two kilometers from their residence. For T'Met, it is the perfect opportunity to impose a little morning jog, an activity she adores.
Capt. T'Met
Synchronize yourselves! One, two... One, two... One, two... Lift your knees higher, Miss Savea.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Phew... I'd like to see you try, Captain T'Met. This dress was not made for that kind of exercise.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
I told you to wear shorts. You never listen.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Sure. We said we were going to court, so I chose what seemed most appropriate. It's not my fault T'Met decided to sprint.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Stop yapping like two little old ladies. You're losing efficiency. Iiiiiinhale, exhaaaaale...
Capt. T'Met
Here we are. Catch your breath.
The team arrives in front of the San Francisco tribunal, an imposing building with clean lines, all glass and steel. Massive white marble steps lead to an entrance framed by monumental columns. Floating holograms display hearing schedules and the names of current cases. Starfleet officers, as well as representatives of various species, enter and leave the building, each absorbed in thought.
Once inside, in the great hall bathed in natural light, they cross paths with an Aenar heading toward the courtroom. T'Met recognizes him immediately and intercepts him.
Capt. T'Met
Excuse me, you are Counsel Touit'Air, are you not?
Counsel Touit'Air (Lawyer)
Hmm. Your voice is familiar to me, and your timbre has a Vulcan connotation... Hmm...
Capt. T'Met
Correct.
Counsel Touit'Air (Lawyer)
If memory serves, you are Captain T'Met of VSS Schak'Irra.
Capt. T'Met
That is correct, Counsel. We have worked together before. Do you remember?
Counsel Touit'Air (Lawyer)
Oh yes, I remember. You were a first-class pain in the neck, and above all I know that your gray hair is an inconsistency despite your young age.
Capt. T'Met
The acceleration of my aging is a long story. What are you doing here? Are you attending Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi's trial?
Counsel Touit'Air (Lawyer)
I represent Miss Tarsi's interests.
Capt. T'Met
A few friends and I have come to the hearing to see what this is about.
Counsel Touit'Air (Lawyer)
You? With friends? Ha ha ha. Since I have known you, I have never seen you with anyone except Miss Tarsi. I fear you have come for nothing. The hearing is being held behind closed doors.
Capt. T'Met
Strange. Nothing of the kind was mentioned on the JAG information feed.
Counsel Touit'Air (Lawyer)
It was a request from the Prosecution, approved barely a few minutes ago by the President of the Tribunal, Admiral Jora Tannel.
Capt. T'Met
Do you know who the prosecutor is?
Counsel Touit'Air (Lawyer)
Sorry, Captain T'Met. I am bound by confidentiality, and I can only advise you to wait until the end of the session. By then, you may obtain more information. I must leave you, as the hearing is about to begin.
Tarsi's lawyer continues on and enters the great room, leaving T'Met behind. Robert, Charlene, and Emilie, completely bewildered by what has just happened, did not notice the telepathic exchange.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Who's that albino Andorian?
Capt. T'Met
Counsel Touit'Air is Vexoriana-Lyss'ra's lawyer.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
How do you know? He didn't say a single word.
Capt. T'Met
We communicated telepathically.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Telepathically?! Now I've seen everything...
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
What did he tell you?
Capt. T'Met
Not much, except that the hearing is being held behind closed doors.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Oh come on... So much for busting our heads trying to find civilian clothes. What do we do now? Go back to the apartment?
Capt. T'Met
No. We will wait in the hall until the session ends.
They all remain perplexed by the situation. They spend long hours outside the courtroom, impatient to learn the details of the charges. Finally, the doors open, and they glimpse Tarsi inside, wrists cuffed, being led toward another exit.
Counsel Touit'Air eventually leaves the courtroom. T'Met hastens to intercept him and asks him for details about what happened. However, the lawyer remains silent, merely handing her a piece of paper before slipping away quickly.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
That guy gets stranger and stranger. Do you really trust him to defend Tarsi, Captain T'Met?
Capt. T'Met
Counsel Touit'Air is a long-standing acquaintance, and there is no one more qualified than him in this field.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
What did he give you? It looks like a business card with a handwritten message.
Capt. T'Met
Hmm... Let us see... It says: "Holosuite No. 427, 6:00 p.m., San Francisco."
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
What does "holosuite" mean?
Capt. T'Met
A holosuite is a room equipped with holographic projectors and sensors that can generate three-dimensional virtual environments, including landscapes, buildings, and interactive characters.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Bah, it's just improved V.R. I don't see what it has to do with our case.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
It's obvious, Robert! It's an appointment set for 6:00 p.m. at a place called Holosuite 427, located in San Francisco. Do you know it, Captain T'Met?
Capt. T'Met
Tarsi and I went there regularly when we were on leave. It is a few blocks from here. We can walk there.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Let's go, but I forbid you to run.