"The Ordinary"
Posted on Tue Aug 20th, 2024 @ 9:37am by Captain Samuel Woolheater
Mission:
MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: TITAN - Marine FOB
Timeline: Last Week
1279 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure
[ON:]
LAST WEEK ON TITAN – SOL SECTOR – MARINE FOB - CAMP MARGRAVE - ADMIRAL CHARLES R. LARSON COURTROOM
For the past eleven months, Federation lawyers argued against a force of immeasurable scope and nearly unlimited power. Perhaps the Federation’s single largest private contractor. A conglomerate that started as a small design studio for the then nation state of the United States. And today has a monopoly on starship design and production. An employer of 1.1 million employees, Federation wide. Offices on every planet in the Federation and shipyards spread throughout the most important, most influential voting sectors of the Federation. A move of brilliance and tactical and procedural awareness. Should any member world or uppity senator get it into their heads to vote in a manner against the interests of Universal Spacecraft Systems, the massive builder can threaten to close yards and machine works and take away jobs and contracts. With Universal’s HQ at Utopia Planitia and a reach across the Federation, they are an impressive…and dangerous entity.
Dangerous because of what they did. What they have done and what they are doing. Today, in a corner of the Federation and inside a rather non-descript, even ‘plain’ looking courtroom, a bit of the founding principles was salvaged from the dustbin of history. And a word of truth was spoken to power. This power was challenged, and a verdict rendered. Speaking the truth to power is always dangerous. And as the case docket’s title page read:
UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS, THE
“The People”
v.
UNIVERSAL SPACECRAFT SYSTEMS
It was even more so. The designer and maker, builder and sole source for modern Starship design, Universal holds a unique position in that it can control the flow of technology, innovation, new design, production and build schedules and deployment of such powerful hardware, that Universal has the power, the influence, practical and applied, to change the course of history and make or break a system.
In this case, it is alleged that Universal clandestinely manipulated and coerced the Starfleet Marine Corps to adopt, deploy and then order plans and production build orders for five new starships for the special tactical advantage unit. With the intent of stirring hostilities between the people of the Rhua and new Cardassian settlements near Bajor. The complaint further details that the result would be catastrophic losses to Federation assets that would, overall, require swift replacement and redress. The brief goes on to detail the projections of losses and the required replacements.
Over eleven months it was proven in the Judge Advocate General’s Office that Universal colluded with Generals of the SFMC in exchange for prestigious postings to far away places with positions on the Board that would guarantee these Generals a quiet and well off, if not comfortable, rest of their lives.
JAG Officer Lieutenant Colonel Maxine Raley heard the case in her courtroom. And today, the verdict from the jury came in. Universal Spacecraft Systems “Universal” was found guilty on charges of criminal collusion, negligence and traitorous acts. They tried to start a war in the Rhua and they had plans to also start a war with fresh hostilities with the Breen. She read her opinion in open court, for all the Federation to hear.
She read, “Of all the enemies of true liberty, war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; not simply financial in nature, but taxes on the minds and spirit of our society. The United Federation of Planets is an organization of peace and the search for knowledge, not an instrument of domination and exploitation. These fleets of starships and armies of Marines added to the ingenuity of our people, are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few.
The checks and balances of the Federation have been weakened and exploited. The defendant has shown contempt for the Law and disregard, in an appalling manner, for the lives of people. In war, too, the discretionary power of the President is extended; his influence in dealing out offices, honors and emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the force, of the people. This guilty verdict is but one of many indictments for crimes against the Federation. The same malignant aspect alive and well in our United Federation may be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of never-ending war and endless hostilities. By building and conceiving of the weapons of war and in the degeneracy of manner and of morals, engendered in both. No people, no Federation like ours can preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.... War is in fact the true nurse of Presidential aggrandizement. In war, a physical force is to be created; and it is the executive will, which is to direct it. In war, the public treasuries are to be unlocked; and it is the executive hand which is to dispense them. In war, the honors and emoluments of office are to be multiplied; and it is the executive patronage under which they are to be enjoyed; and it is the executive brow they are to encircle. The defendant, using the virtues of their place in our society, has demonstrated an insatiable appetite for war. The strongest passions and most dangerous weaknesses of our hearts; ambition, avarice, vanity, the honorable or venal love of fame, are all in conspiracy against the desire and duty of peace.
Therefore, having been found guilty of such treachery, I am referring this case to the Federation Council with the recommendation that the United Federation of Planets, Starfleet Command and the Starfleet Marine Corp immediately stop contracting with Universal. And that the Federation Council open starship design, research, and construction to all bidders. Further, that a review board be established to prevent a monopoly from forming again on such an opportunity.
The defendant is ordered to appear before this court in two week’s time for sentencing.”
And with a round of applause, the court was adjourned.
=====
Two days later, JAG Lieutenant Colonel Maxine Raley was killed in a transporter accident. A very painful way to die. No one knows for sure how the transporter’s Heisenberg compensators all failed in a cascade. Having your molecules blown apart would have been excruciating.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice allows that if s presiding judge should be unable to finish a trial, another judge from the Court may be appointed to finish the trial and carry out the sentencing.
A new judge was appointed and, after careful review, including the review of the SFMC judicial review board, a new conclusion was made. A new…justice was served.
The trial was thrown out and a mistrial was declared. Evidence was found that implicated the JAG officer Lieutenant Colonel Maxine Raley was on the payroll of Xisson Starcraft. The whole matter was rather sudden and extraordinarily convenient. Objections were raised, there was great consternation in the courtroom and no one seemed to notice a middle-aged man, quietly observing the proceedings. He got up, left his seat and exited the chamber.
He had a very nice suit. A good-looking suit. It fit him to the nine’s. A deep, dark color. And he walked down the corridor and into the crowd and was gone.
[OFF:]
Captain Samuel Woolheater
“Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas”
Division VI, MARDET 62nd Company "Spartans"
Marine XO, 1st Platoon CO
=/\= USS ELYSIUM - NCC-89000 =/\=
