The Trial - part 2
Posted on Tue Jun 2nd, 2026 @ 9:13am by Lieutenant Commander Serenity Triannth & Petty Officer 1st Class Kara DeSotto & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Commander Rin & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant Anna Esquivias & Lieutenant JG Caden Tharos & Lieutenant JG Calista Haelant & Cadet Junior Grade Elaria Carlyle
Mission:
Interlude
Location: Court Room- Deck 5
Timeline: MD9
2581 words - 5.2 OF Standard Post Measure
After Elaria stepped down, the next witness was called to the stand. Lieutenant Commander Serenity Triannth rose once more, turning toward the next witness as the court officer indicated him forward. She waited until Cadet Davidson was seated and composed before stepping into the open floor.
“Cadet, for the record, please state your name, year, and division.”
The young man straightened slightly in his seat.
“Cadet Davidson. First Year. Science division.”
Serenity inclined her head.
“Cadet Davidson, were you present on Deck Fifteen during the boarding action?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Were you part of the group that encountered Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen and Lieutenant Junior Grade Heather De La Rosa?”
“Yes.”
Serenity took a measured step.
“Describe the condition of your group at that time.”
Davidson’s jaw tightened slightly.
“We were retreating… we had already taken casualties. Some of us were injured.”
“Were you under active pursuit?”
“Yes.”
“And when you reached the corridor, did you observe Cadet Henderson?”
“Yes.”
“What happened to her?”
His voice steadied, but only just.
“She tried to warn them… and then she was shot. It went straight through her chest.”
A quiet stillness settled across the chamber.
Serenity allowed it to linger for only a moment.
“After Cadet Henderson was killed… what did you see Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen do?”
Davidson answered clearly.
“He moved Lieutenant De La Rosa and the children toward the Jeffries tube.”
“Did he address your group?”
“No.”
“Did he give any orders?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Did he attempt to organize your retreat?”
“No.”
“Did he remain with your group?”
“No.”
Serenity’s tone remained even. “What happened next?”
“He went into the tube with them… and the hatch closed.”
“Was your group inside that tube?”
“No.”
“Where were you?”
“In the corridor.”
“With the hostile creatures?”
“Yes.”
A brief pause. “Cadet Davidson… at the moment that hatch closed, what did you believe was happening?”
Davidson hesitated, then answered plainly. “That we’d been left behind.”
“Was that your understanding at the time?”
“Yes.”
Serenity nodded once. “You later reported this to Captain Tonelly, correct?”
“Yes.”
“What did you tell him?”
“That two officers had been there… and they went into the tube after Henderson was killed and left us there.”
“How close were the hostile creatures when the hatch closed?”
“Very close.”
“How much time did you believe you had?”
“Almost none.”
“What happened next?”
“Captain Tonelly and the others came through the cross-corridor and engaged them.”
“Did Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen return to assist your group?”
“No, ma’am.”
Serenity held his gaze. “Cadet Davidson… at that moment, did you believe a senior Starfleet officer had chosen to leave your group behind?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
A quiet beat. “No further questions.”
Lieutenant Junior Grade Caden Tharos rose from the defense table, smoothing the front of his uniform before approaching the stand. His tone, when he spoke, was calm and measured.
“Cadet Davidson.”
“Sir.”
“I won’t keep you long.”
He clasped his hands lightly behind his back.
“You had been under attack before entering that corridor, correct?”
“Yes.”
“You had already seen injuries… casualties.”
“Yes.”
“And you witnessed Cadet Henderson’s death at close range.”
“Yes.”
“So at that moment… you were under significant stress.”
“Yes, sir.”
Tharos nodded once. “How quickly did everything happen after she was killed?”
“Very quickly.”
“Seconds?”
“Yes.”
He took a slow step. “You also observed that there were two small children present.”
“Yes.”
“They were unarmed.”
“Yes.”
“They could not defend themselves.”
“No.”
Tharos let that settle. “When Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen moved toward the Jeffries tube… your attention was divided between him and the approaching threat, correct?”
“Yes.”
“So you were not observing every action continuously.”
“No.”
“You testified that you believed you had been left behind.”
“Yes.”
“That was your perception in that moment.”
“Yes.”
“You cannot testify as to what Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen intended, can you?”
“No, sir.”
“You cannot say what options he believed were available to him in those seconds.”
“No.”
Tharos inclined his head slightly. “You and the others were armed?”
“Yes.”
“You were already engaged in defending yourselves?”
“Yes.”
“And you survived.”
“Yes.”
“Reinforcements arrived shortly after.”
“Yes.”
A small pause. “Cadet Davidson… is it fair to say that in that moment, everyone present was making decisions with incomplete information?”
“Yes.”
His final question came steady and clear. “Your belief that you were left behind—while completely understandable—was based on what you saw in a matter of seconds under extreme stress, correct?”
Davidson hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Tharos inclined his head. “No further questions.”
"No rebuttal." Serenity said. She looked at the Panel. "Does the panel have questions?"
"I do," Rin replied. "Cadet Davidson, you have testified that the defendant did not provide orders or offer any assistance. Did the defendant say anything at all? Did he acknowledge your presence?"
"No Ma'am. I know they saw us because Clary attempted to report to them before she died." Davidson said.
"Did Lieutenant de la Rosa acknowledge your presence?" Rin asked.
"Yes she saw Clary die."
"In your opinion, would you and the other cadets have acted differently if the hatch had remained open?" Rin asked.
"Yes - I believe we would have made for the hatch Commander." the Cadet replied calmly.
"Why did you not open the hatch yourself?" Rin asked.
"We didn't get the chance to before Captain Tonelly's group arrived." Davidson said. "I cannot say what would have happened had they not."
tags
TAGS PANEL==TAGS ANYONE FOR REACTIONS? PANEL QUESTIONS?==
After Davidson was dismissed the next witness was called.
Lieutenant Commander Serenity Triannth rose once more, turning toward the next witness as he approached the stand.
The man moved with the quiet confidence of someone who had seen far worse than a courtroom. His uniform bore the marks of hard service rather than polish.
“State your name and assignment for the record.”
“Gunnery Sergeant Kade Rix. Marine Detachment, USS Elysium.”
Serenity inclined her head. “Gunnery Sergeant, were you part of the unit that responded to the Deck Fifteen engagement?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Describe your approach to the corridor.”
Rix folded his hands loosely behind his back. “We were sweeping the deck. Heard weapons fire ahead, turned into a cross-corridor, and engaged from the flank.”
“How many hostiles did you encounter?”
“Three or four still active when we came in.”
“How close were they to the cadets?”
Rix didn’t hesitate. “Too close.”
Serenity’s tone remained even. “Define that for the tribunal.”
“Within lethal range. Seconds from overrun.”
A subtle shift moved through the room. “What was the condition of the cadets when you arrived?”
“They were holding… but just. Some wounded. Formation was starting to break.”
“Did you observe Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen in that corridor?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Based on your experience, Gunnery Sergeant… what would have happened if your unit had arrived later?”
Rix’s answer came flat and certain. “They’d be dead.” The words landed heavily.
Serenity did not press the moment. “In your professional experience… does the presence of civilians prevent an officer from issuing orders to armed personnel?”
“No.”
“Does it prevent them from providing covering fire?”
“No.”
“Would even a few seconds of leadership or suppression fire make a difference in a situation like that?”
“Yes.”
“How much of a difference?”
Rix shrugged slightly. “Could mean the line holds. Could mean it breaks.”
A quiet beat. “No further questions.” Serenity swept back to her table. Her face was set.
Lieutenant Junior Grade Caden Tharos rose from the defense table. “Gunnery Sergeant.”
“Sir.”
“I’ll be brief.” He stepped forward, measured. “You and your unit entered that corridor from a cross-corridor, correct?”
“Yes.”
“So you were not present for the initial encounter between Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen and the cadets.”
“No.”
“You did not see the moment Cadet Henderson was killed.”
“No.”
“You did not see the decision point.”
“No.”
Tharos nodded. “You testified the cadets were seconds from being overrun.”
“Yes.”
“That was your assessment based on what you saw upon arrival.”
“Yes.”
“In those final seconds… was the situation already critical?”
Rix gave a short nod. “Yeah.”
“Possibly beyond full recovery?”
“Close.”
Tharos let that settle. “In your experience, Gunnery Sergeant… are there situations in combat where no action can fully stabilize the field?”
“Yes.”
“And decisions made in those moments are often reactive rather than planned.”
“Yes.”
Tharos shifted slightly. “You also testified that civilians do not prevent an officer from giving orders.”
“Yes.”
“But would you agree that protecting unarmed civilians—especially children—can become an immediate priority?”
Rix answered without hesitation. “Yes.”
“And if those civilians are within immediate reach of the threat… time becomes extremely limited.”
“Yes.”
Tharos paused. “You did not observe Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen’s perception of that threat.”
“No.”
“You cannot say how many seconds he believed he had.”
“No.”
“You cannot say what he believed would happen if he delayed.”
“No.”
Tharos inclined his head slightly. “One final question.”
“In your experience… are there moments in combat where an officer must choose who they can save… because saving everyone is no longer possible?”
A beat. Rix answered plainly. "Yes.”
Tharos gave a small nod. “No further questions.”
Serenity declined to redirect and asked the panel if they had questions.
Naxea nodded at Gunnery Sergeant Rix's answers as he was a good Marine
Anna opened her mouth and then seemed to think better of it. She was letting counsel do its job and she was listening intently. Her brow furrowed. It was not an easy case and she certainly felt the weight of it.
TAGS Panel
==TAGS ANYONE FOR REACTIONS? PANEL QUESTIONS?==
The next witness was called to the stand. Lieutenant Commander Serenity Triannth rose once more, though this time her pace slowed slightly as she approached the stand.
The cadet already seated there looked different from the others. Not less disciplined. Just… more worn. A faint medical bandage was still visible beneath the collar of their uniform. Their hands were clasped tightly together, knuckles pale.
Serenity did not soften—but she did not press. “Cadet, for the record, please state your name, year, and division.”
The cadet swallowed once. “Cadet Jasper Tillman. First Year… Tactical.”
Serenity inclined her head. “Cadet Tillman, were you present on Deck Fifteen during the boarding action?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Were you part of the group that encountered Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen and Lieutenant Junior Grade Heather De La Rosa?”
“Yes.”
Serenity took one measured step. “Can you describe what you remember about that moment?”
Tillman exhaled slowly. “We were already running. People were hurt… some couldn’t keep up. We knew they were behind us.”
“The hostile creatures?”
“Yes.”
“And when you reached the corridor?”
Tillman’s gaze flickered, just slightly. “We saw them. The officers. The kids.” A pause. “Then Clary tried to warn them.”
Serenity did not interrupt. “What happened next?”
Tillman’s voice tightened. “She got hit. Just—” they gestured faintly, “—gone. Right in front of us.”
A heavy silence filled the room. Serenity let it sit—just long enough. “What did you see Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen do?”
Tillman answered quickly now, like it had been waiting. “He grabbed the kids. Pulled the lieutenant toward the tube.”
“Did he speak to your group?”
“No.”
“Did he give you any orders?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Did he tell you what to do?”
“No.”
Serenity’s voice remained steady. “What happened next?”
Tillman’s hands tightened. “They went into the tube. He shut it.” A beat.
“Where were you?”
“In the corridor.”
“With the hostiles?”
“Yes.”
Serenity took a step closer—but her tone remained controlled. “Cadet Tillman… what did you think in that moment?”
Tillman hesitated. Then— “That we were dead.” The words landed flat. Honest. Unadorned.
Serenity held eye contact. “Did you say anything?”
Tillman’s jaw tightened. “Yes.”
“What did you say?”
A breath. “I said… ‘They left us.’” Their voice dropped. “I thought that was it.”
A quiet ripple moved through the gallery. Serenity did not look away. “What was the condition of your group at that moment?”
“Breaking. People were panicking. Some were hurt. We were trying to hold but—” they stopped.
“But?”
“We didn’t think we could.”
Serenity gave a small nod. “What happened next?”
“Phaser fire from the side. Captain Tonelly and the others came in. Hit them from the flank.”
“Did Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen return to assist you?”
“No.”
A pause.
“Cadet Tillman… did you believe you were going to survive that encounter?”
Tillman shook their head. “No.”
Serenity inclined her head. “No further questions.”
Lieutenant Junior Grade Caden Tharos rose slowly. Unlike with Davidson, he didn’t move immediately. He gave Tillman a moment. Then stepped forward. “Cadet Tillman.”
Tillman straightened slightly. “Sir.”
Caden’s tone was quieter now. “I’m not here to challenge what you felt.” A small pause. “But I do need to ask you a few questions about what you experienced.”
Tillman nodded.
“You had been under attack before reaching that corridor?”
“Yes.”
“You had seen casualties.”
“Yes.”
“You had just witnessed Cadet Henderson killed at close range.”
“Yes.”
“So in that moment… you were under extreme stress.”
Tillman hesitated, then nodded. “Yes.”
Caden took a slow step. “You said you believed you were going to die.”
“Yes.”
“That belief came immediately after the hatch closed.”
“Yes.”
“That was your perception of the situation.”
“Yes.”
Caden kept his tone steady. “In that moment… were you aware of all possible avenues of support on the deck?”
“No.”
“Were you aware of Captain Tonelly’s unit approaching?”
“No.”
“You did not know help was seconds away.”
“No.”
He nodded once. “You testified that no orders were given.”
“Yes.”
“But you and the other cadets were already armed.”
“Yes.”
“You had already been engaging the enemy prior to that moment.”
“Yes.”
“So even without new orders… you understood the situation you were in.”
“Yes.”
Caden let that settle. “You saw two children present in that corridor.”
“Yes.”
“They were not armed.”
“No.”
“They could not defend themselves.”
“No.”
He paused. “Cadet Tillman… is it fair to say that in that moment, your focus was on survival?”
“Yes.”
“And that your perception—that you had been left behind—came from that fear?”
Tillman hesitated. “…Yes.”
Caden nodded slightly. “You cannot testify as to what Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen intended, can you?”
“No.”
“You cannot say what he believed would happen if he stayed.”
“No.”
“You cannot say what he perceived as the most immediate threat.”
“No.”
Caden took a final step back. “One last question. Looking back now… knowing that you survived… is it possible that what you experienced in that moment felt final… even if the situation was still changing?”
Tillman took a breath. “…Yes.”
Caden inclined his head. “No further questions.”
Naxea stood. "Cadet Tillman. Exactly how close was the nearest enemy when the hatch closed and were they moving at full speed?" Naxea asked as she looked at the cadet.
"Meters, and yes. You know how fast they can move Sir and they were heading towards us at a very fast rate." the cadet replied.
Naxea gave a curt nod. "I do. Thank you , cadet." Naxea sat back down. In her mind, the answer gave her the answer she needed on the matter
TBC
