Testimony

Posted on Tue Apr 21st, 2020 @ 3:50pm by Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant JG Gallia Norris

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Subspace to Gary's Quarters
Timeline: after Swimmy Swim and pis-schetti
2347 words - 4.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Danys Tarralin, though she couldn't handle the custody case for Gallia, was making calls, something a judge might still consider improper, but that she knew she had to do. The next person she would ring was one Cdr. Gary Taylor, the XO of the USS Elysium and Gallia's direct superior, if anyone was likely to know the situation it was him. She watched nervously as the console rang, waiting for him to pick up.

Gary was in his ready room when the call lit up on his console. It showed a Danys Tarralin was calling at it was from the Federal Court System. Curious as to the nature of the call. Gary accepted it and answered. "Cmdr Taylor, who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?"

"Yes, Commander Taylor, I'm Assistant Federation Attorney Danys Tarralin, and I'd like to ask you a few questions about Gallia Norris and Tayalas Cardille if you've got a moment." She answered, though she hated using that little girl's surname, it made her skin crawl to know the last thing Dolana did on the mortal coil would have her killer's name attached forever.

"Certainly Mz. Tarralin. I have the time." Gary replied evenly and catching the surname Danys used in regard to Tayalas. His blood boiled and his vision clouded at the name Cardille. He wanted to lash out but Danys was just doing her job. So he kept his mouth shut. "What would you like to know?"

"How is the current living situation for the minor child?" Danys asked, "And how, from what you can tell as a layperson and not a medical professional, is she developing?"

"The minor child has a name Mz Tarralin. It's Tayalas. " Gary said evenly but with some heat in his voice. She isn't an inanimate object. I can tell you as Gallia's superior officer that Tayalas could be no where better, Gallia loves Tayalas as Tayalas absolutely adores Gallia. As for Tayalas's development she is developing quite well, She's walking, talking, carrying on conversations. Tayalas is quite sociable and interacts with everyone she meets."

Danys quickly took down notes onto her PaDD, "And what is the condition of the home? Is it sanitary and comfortable?" She pressed, though she could tell he was already annoyed with her, "I apologize, Commander, if I offended, but these are questions the Cardille's attorneys are going to ask and I want to have every answer prepared before they do. Also, is Tayalas well nourished?"

Gary took a breath, " No, it is I who apologize Mz. Tarralin. I understand your doing your job. The house is clean as in sanitary and is quite comfortable. Tayalas has plenty of toys to play with. Tayalas is quite well nourished. She is a very healthy little girl."

"According to her physician of record, on Dr. Tallia Strode, you know her?" Danys continued, "She's large for her age and in, quote, stellar health in every aspect of development, unquote. Dr. Strode sent me electronic copies of everything, including a conversation recorded with the baby herself. This child is healthier than I am."

"I do know Dr. Strode. She is a staff physician on the Elysium. so she would be the one from a medical standpoint that would interact with Tayalas the most. I am quite confident Dr. Strode is correct in her assessment of Tayalas's health. As I said earlier, Tayalas is quite healthy and very well adjusted."

"Would you, in your experience as a veteran Starfleet officer, say that Tayalas Cardille is in a safe living situation?" Danys asked as she took down his last statement, simultaneously perusing the little girl's medical records, blown away by how healthy she was, even had perfect teeth, very few two year olds could claim that, Gallia's breaking her neck to make sure that child is well taken care of.

Gary didn't rush an answer not give one that could be picked apart by the defense attorney. " Danys." Gary said using her first name. "Tayalas is safe and protected. She is well cared for and loved. Gallia is a wonderful, caring, concerned and most of all a loving parent. She sees to Tayalas's every need. Nothing is ignored or overlooked. It's what every child should have but few get."

"I expected nothing less." Danys replied, "And would you be willing to answer these questions again on the record, Commander? If you would I would like you to give a statement during the upcoming custody hearing under oath, we can do it via subspace."

"I would be delighted to do so. I feel it part of my duty to let the court know. How well Tayalas is cared for and loved. Via subspace is fine and I look forward to giving my sworn statement."

"Thank you, Commander Taylor, but please understand, by doing this you open yourself up for cross-examination." Danys informed, "And there will be some very unpleasant questions, especially on the subject of Gallia's fiance, one Lt. Kara Hoffman, who I believe was once demoted for dereliction of duty. It might be a hard sell to get a family court judge to buy that she would be a responsible parent, especially to a child she has no biological connection to."

"I am fully aware what I am opening myself up to Danys. Let the questions come. I'll state right now that Lt. Kara Hoffman loves Tayalas as much as Gallia and Tayalas loves her. Are you aware that Lt. Hoffman has also been promoted both in rank and in position and is the Chief Engineer of the Elysium. That position is not given to one who is derelict in their duty." Gary replied forcefully.

"And, you are aware that plaintiff's counsel will want you to explain how someone with an upheld dereliction charge on their record got into that position, correct?" Danys asked, this was the part she had been dreading, "And you could also be asked, under subpeona, to explain any service time unaccounted for in your record, Commander." This guy's file had more black ink than the Parker pen factory, that might bite them in open court.

"Danys, I was under the impression that this was what was best for Tayalas. I have already stated and will state again that Gallia is the best for Tayalas. Lt. Hoffman was promoted because quite frankly she was the best for the position. I will answer any question put to me about Tayalas and what is best for her. If the defense thinks they can make a case by attacking me, I wish them luck."

"Commander, please understand, I'm on your side, but these people are ruthless." She explained, "Mrs. Cardille has almost unlimited resources and one son she wants to keep out of prison, where I intend to send him for as long as humanly possible. Rico Cardille murdered a decorated SFMC officer, a woman eight months pregnant with his child, while trying to murder her sister during a verbal altercation. I'm not just another civilian schyster, Commander, I served and continue to serve in the reserves with JAG. After I get Mr. Cardille a nice, stiff civilian sentence I intend to ask for JAG to prosecute him for murder of Starfleet personnel, so I can put him under a prison. A nice solid murder charge in front of a military tribunal, something better than that chicken shit involuntary manslaughter charge."

"And I am on yours counselor and I will do everything in my power to see this scumbag never sees the light of day again and in that regard I'm simply saying if the defense thinks they can win this case by attacking me. I wish them the best of luck." Gary replied.

He was confident, she had to give him that, and it wasn't confidence born of arrogance, but confidence clearly born of surety, he was protected from on high, how high she had no idea and knew she'd never get an answer, not from him anyway. But, that wasn't an issue she cared too much about, "Commander, just one more thing." She asked, hoping it wasn't too much, "Can you possibly convince Dr. Strode and, one of your counselors, Dr. Madelaine Masters, to testify on Cdr. Norris' behalf? Since they are her doctor and counselor of record, I feel their input would be exceptionally valuable to our cause."

"I don't see where that is a problem counselor. I am sure Dr. Strode and Ensign Masters would be delighted to offer testimony in this case." Gary assured her.

"How do you think they would hold up under cross examination, Commander?" Danys asked, this was important, "Especially Ens. Masters?"

"I think Dr. Strode is solid as a rock. She won't rattle or get nervous." Gary answered. "Ensign Masters is young and well meaning. her testimony would be true. She could get rattled if she didn't have strong counselor there to guide her along."

"The attorney I've referred to Cdr. Norris is one of the best." Danys smiled, Caroline Jackson was certainly one of the best, and most ferocious, "I can't handle the case myself, conflict of interests, but I'll be providing testimony against Mr. Cardille myself. I'm probably breaking some rules by talking to you about this, but I don't care. Rico Cardille can never get his hands on that precious baby. And if I have to get disbarred to prevent it, so be it."

"I admire your zeal Danys and hope Caroline Jackson is a good as you say. As far as Rico Cardille getting his hands on Tayalas. That will never happen." Gary answered with a quiet certainty.

His last remark made Danys shudder, that was the sound of a man with a plan, one that would end badly for Rico Cardille, not that she cared, but she didn't want to see this man take Rico's spot in New Zealand, "She's one of the best, Commander. And she'll fight until her last breath to keep Tayalas out of her sperm donor's hands, otherwise I wouldn't have even bothered introducing her to Gallia. Gallia and that little girl need each other, and the last thing she should have to grow up with is the man who murdered her birth mother and tore her from the only mommy she's ever known."

"I am glad to see that we are on the same page Danys and you are right Tayalas and Gallia need each other. They are truly a loving mother and her adorable daughter." Gary replied with a quiet firmness.

"Plus I would hate to see the outcome if Rico Cardille wass to somehow win custody." Danys laughed a little, "For him and for you."

Gary gave a humorless chuckle. "Your concern for me is misplaced Danys and your concern for Rico Cardille is wasted." Gary stated flatly.

"For the record, my concern for Rico Cardille is practically non-existent." Danys replied, in fact, it was completely non-existent, the closest she came to concern for that bastard was she didn't want to see anyone else get in trouble for taking the law into their own hands with him, though she'd fought the temptation herself.

"That is comforting to know." Gary replied. "It seems we share the same low opinion of Mr. Cardille and wish nothing but the worst for him. I'm also sure our wishes will be answered."

"If Starfleet grants my wish and prosecutes a civilian for the first time in over a hundred years, we might." Danys shrugged, "But not on this BS involuntary manslaughter charge."

"I leave that to you Danys and your power of persuasion." Gary replied evenly. "Let us just hope that others haven't talked to the powers that be and persuaded them to forego a murder charge."

"And can you, more than that would you, explain on the record the nature of your relationship with Tayalas." Danys asked, "I mean, you two are obviously very close, you seem to know her well, maybe you can help more by fleshing out the nature of your relationship with the child."

Gary was silent for a few seconds before answering, his voice soft as he spoke of Tayalas. "It's really very simple Danys. When Tayalas was one, no younger, we had a Christmas party here on the Elysium and I dressed up as Santa. It turned out that was her first word Sana. Talked to her, paid attention and listened to her and we hit it off. The bond as only gotten stronger with time. I love Tayalas as if she were my own daughter and when she sees me even now she calls me Sana, but I think I'm more of a father figure."

"Well, I'll have no problem passing you off as a better male influence on her than Rico Cardille." Danys said with a smile, she'd read Taylor's record three times, the parts that weren't covered in black ink were scrubbed in sunshine. He was the highly decorated Second in Command of one of Starfleet's best ships and Gallia was the youngest Lt. Commander in the fleet's history, they were both miles ahead of a man awaiting trial for a murder.

"I should hope so Danys." Gary quipped and then grew serious, "No thank you for your kind words of praise. They mean a lot to me. I just try to do my best when I'm around Tayalas. Give her another someone she can be proud of in addition to Gallia and Kara."

"Well, keep doing that and being the best father figure to her that you can. Tell Gallia to keep taking such good care of her, that looks good for our case." Danys began, "And I'll be in touch."

"I certainly will and I will also pass your words to Gallia as well as your perspective of the case. Feel free to contact me anytime Danys." Gary answered.

"Thank you, Commander, I'll be in touch." Danys smiled, "Tarralin out." With that she vanished from the screen, turning to her office window and smiling out at the New York City skyline.

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