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Episode 121. The Trial of Tarsi

Book 1 - 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 Agnes V. Rodriguez (Deceased) T'Met (Young)
First Officer Angie Chen (Deceased) Zaneth-Myra Lysana (Older Tarsi)
Artificial Intelligence Lingua (Destroyed) Lingua (Initial Version)
Pilot Eric Corda N/A
Communications Emilie Flores T'Killa
Operations Charlene Savea T'Less-Cop
Tactical Angie Chen (Deceased) 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 up early on Monday morning. 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 had bothered to clean up during those two days off.

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 thoroughly enjoys.

Capt. T'Met

Keep in step!

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 at the San Francisco courthouse, 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. There's a distinct Vulcan quality to it...

Hmm...

Capt. T'Met

Correct.

Counsel Touit'Air Lawyer

Telepathically

If memory serves, you are Captain T'Met of VSS Schak'Irra.

Capt. T'Met

Telepathically

That is correct, Counsel. We have worked together before. Do you remember?

Counsel Touit'Air Lawyer

Telepathically

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

Telepathically

My accelerated aging is a long story. What are you doing here? Are you attending Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi's trial?

Counsel Touit'Air Lawyer

Telepathically

I represent Miss Tarsi's interests.

Capt. T'Met

Telepathically

A few friends and I have come to the hearing to see what this is about.

Counsel Touit'Air Lawyer

Telepathically

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

Telepathically

Strange. Nothing of the kind was mentioned on the JAG information feed.

Counsel Touit'Air Lawyer

Telepathically

It was a request from the Prosecution, approved just a few minutes ago by the President of the Tribunal, Admiral Jora Tannel.

Capt. T'Met

Telepathically

Do you know who the prosecutor is?

Counsel Touit'Air Lawyer

Telepathically

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, had no idea a telepathic conversation had just taken place.

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... We went through all that trouble just to find civilian clothes for nothing. 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 catch a glimpse of Tarsi inside, her wrists cuffed, as she is 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 better qualified than him.

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 PM, 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 create three-dimensional virtual environments, including landscapes, buildings, and interactive characters.

Col. Robert Gomard Army

Bah, it's just an upgraded V.R. system. I don't see what that has to do with our case.

Ens. Emilie Flores Communications

It's obvious, Robert! It's an appointment set for 6:00 PM 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 no running this time.

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