Star Trek: Fall and Rise by Jureth
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 3:01 pmAuthor's Note: I will be posting this story in segments. This is my first Star Trek fan fiction that has actually gone past initial writing, but it is still a work in progress and constructive feedback is appreciated!
Prolouge:
[i]Two months after the Battle of Vega Colony Starfleet is still licking its wounds and facing multiple threats across the galaxy. In the middle of all this a young flag officer Admiral Loren McCloud is dealing with her own demons.
***
“Captain Loren McCloud, by the authority invested in me by Starfleet Command and the United Federation of Planets I hereby promote you to the rank of Rear Admiral with all the rights, privileges, duties and responsibilities of that rank. Congratulations Admiral.”
Applause rang throughout the room and Loren, surrounded by family, friends, and her fellow Starfleet officers shook the hand of Vice Admiral William Ross. Ross fastened the new rank pips to the collar of Loren’s dress uniform and then stepped back. Loren smiled broadly as she stepped to the podium and proceeded to address the assembled men and women thanking them for their support and thanking Starfleet for its faith in her. It was one of the proudest days of Starfleet career[/i]…
That had been four years ago, and now Loren stood in the same room, but this time it was not for a promotion, it was for a sentence. This time the only people in the room were Loren, Captain T’Proll; her defense counsel, Captain Cole; the prosecutor from the Judge Advocate General’s office; and the inquiry board consisting of six admirals from Starfleet Command who were in an adjacent room deciding the fate of Loren’s Starfleet career.
Loren sat back in silence and wondered how it had all come to this. Her Starfleet career had been exemplary, and in her mind the only thing she had done was try to right an egregious wrong and take care of those people with whose well being she had been entrusted. After her promotion she had been assigned as the commanding officer of Starbase 355, a small, isolated outpost on the fringes of charted space near the beta quadrant border. It hadn’t been her choice, but she had been told the base needed a fresh face in the CO’s office, and when Loren arrived she discovered why.
Starbase 355 was in disrepair. The maintenance on the primary systems was poorly executed, primarily because the engineers were unable to get the tools and materials they needed. The computer and replicator software was years behind Starfleet standard, and all the upgrades the base needed were being provided to stations in more vital areas with higher visibility. Loren had tried going through the system at first, but it seemed every time she tried to get the things her command desperately needed she was stonewalled because some higher priority base, or higher ranking base commander needed it more than she did.
Finally, Loren had become fed up. She began circumventing the Starfleet supply chain anyway she could. She diverted shipments, she traded with traders passing through her area, and she called in favors to anyone she could think of that owed her one. Gradually Starbase 355 began to improve. Everything seemed to be going fine until a lieutenant at the Starfleet Supply Corps got curious as to why some of his shipments were being diverted. The resulting investigation is what landed Loren in the chair she was in today. It didn’t matter that her base needed the shipments more than their destination, what mattered was that Loren had gone outside the chain of command, and outside the system.
“All rise,”
Loren stood along with the two counselors as the group of admirals returned to the room. They walked in in silence and took up their positions on the dais facing the two opposing sides, and sat down. It was silent for only a moment and then Admiral Nellis, a human male with graying brown hair, with alert brown eyes that said his age had not caught up to him just yet, began to speak.
“Admiral McCloud, in the inquiry into your actions while assigned as commanding officer of Starbase Three Five Five this board finds as follows. On the charge willfully disobeying direct orders: guilty. On the charge of misuse of Starfleet resources: guilty. On the charge of willfully violating Starfleet regulations concerning involvement with outlaws: guilty. On the charge of conduct unbecoming a Starfleet officer…”
Nellis paused and leveled his gaze at Loren. She glared back at the admiral with intensity flaring in her deep emerald green eyes. Loren knew that Nellis knew his next words would determine whether her career died here and now.
“not guilty.”
Loren let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, and had to force herself not to smile. A guilty verdict on the unbecoming charge would have meant she would have been forced out of Starfleet for good, but now she might have a chance of remaining in the service she loved.
“Admiral McCloud,” Nellis continued “It is the judgment of this inquiry that you be reduced in rank to commander, and be relieved of your command effective immediately. Furthermore you will be assigned to Starfleet Command until such time as a permanent assignment can be found for you. Commander McCloud, if you choose not to accept the judgment of this inquiry you do have the right to a court martial trial.”
Captain T’Proll had already told Loren that the chances of a court martial being more lenient than the inquiry board were very slim. The double rank demotion was painful for Loren, but she felt confident that she could earn at least her captain’s pips back though she knew it was unlikely she would ever be a flag officer again.
“A court martial will not be necessary Sir,” Loren said in her light Scottish brogue. “I accept the judgment as decided by this board of inquiry.”
Nellis nodded “In closing Commander McCloud I would like to say that having to pass this sentence on you is distasteful to all of us. We have all been in command at one time or another and we understand why you did the things you did. However, Starfleet has rules and those rules exist for the good of all Starfleet officers everywhere. I do not doubt that Starbase Three Five Five is a better place than it was when you arrived, but the example you have set for the men and women underneath you is unacceptable. On that note, this inquiry is concluded, you are dismissed.”
The admiralty panel rose in unison and exited the room. Loren turned to Captain T’Proll who had not broken his typical stoic Vulcan demeanor.
“This outcome is regrettable Commander,” T’Proll said
Loren offered him a small smile “It’s okay Sir, I’m sure that you did your best.”
T’Proll offered her the Vulcan salute “Live long, and prosper Commander.”
Loren returned the gesture “Thank you Sir.”
From her dress uniform Loren unfastened the admiral’s pips and with only a little hesitation laid them on the table in front of her. Then, holding her head high, she left the conference room.
Prolouge:
[i]Two months after the Battle of Vega Colony Starfleet is still licking its wounds and facing multiple threats across the galaxy. In the middle of all this a young flag officer Admiral Loren McCloud is dealing with her own demons.
***
“Captain Loren McCloud, by the authority invested in me by Starfleet Command and the United Federation of Planets I hereby promote you to the rank of Rear Admiral with all the rights, privileges, duties and responsibilities of that rank. Congratulations Admiral.”
Applause rang throughout the room and Loren, surrounded by family, friends, and her fellow Starfleet officers shook the hand of Vice Admiral William Ross. Ross fastened the new rank pips to the collar of Loren’s dress uniform and then stepped back. Loren smiled broadly as she stepped to the podium and proceeded to address the assembled men and women thanking them for their support and thanking Starfleet for its faith in her. It was one of the proudest days of Starfleet career[/i]…
That had been four years ago, and now Loren stood in the same room, but this time it was not for a promotion, it was for a sentence. This time the only people in the room were Loren, Captain T’Proll; her defense counsel, Captain Cole; the prosecutor from the Judge Advocate General’s office; and the inquiry board consisting of six admirals from Starfleet Command who were in an adjacent room deciding the fate of Loren’s Starfleet career.
Loren sat back in silence and wondered how it had all come to this. Her Starfleet career had been exemplary, and in her mind the only thing she had done was try to right an egregious wrong and take care of those people with whose well being she had been entrusted. After her promotion she had been assigned as the commanding officer of Starbase 355, a small, isolated outpost on the fringes of charted space near the beta quadrant border. It hadn’t been her choice, but she had been told the base needed a fresh face in the CO’s office, and when Loren arrived she discovered why.
Starbase 355 was in disrepair. The maintenance on the primary systems was poorly executed, primarily because the engineers were unable to get the tools and materials they needed. The computer and replicator software was years behind Starfleet standard, and all the upgrades the base needed were being provided to stations in more vital areas with higher visibility. Loren had tried going through the system at first, but it seemed every time she tried to get the things her command desperately needed she was stonewalled because some higher priority base, or higher ranking base commander needed it more than she did.
Finally, Loren had become fed up. She began circumventing the Starfleet supply chain anyway she could. She diverted shipments, she traded with traders passing through her area, and she called in favors to anyone she could think of that owed her one. Gradually Starbase 355 began to improve. Everything seemed to be going fine until a lieutenant at the Starfleet Supply Corps got curious as to why some of his shipments were being diverted. The resulting investigation is what landed Loren in the chair she was in today. It didn’t matter that her base needed the shipments more than their destination, what mattered was that Loren had gone outside the chain of command, and outside the system.
“All rise,”
Loren stood along with the two counselors as the group of admirals returned to the room. They walked in in silence and took up their positions on the dais facing the two opposing sides, and sat down. It was silent for only a moment and then Admiral Nellis, a human male with graying brown hair, with alert brown eyes that said his age had not caught up to him just yet, began to speak.
“Admiral McCloud, in the inquiry into your actions while assigned as commanding officer of Starbase Three Five Five this board finds as follows. On the charge willfully disobeying direct orders: guilty. On the charge of misuse of Starfleet resources: guilty. On the charge of willfully violating Starfleet regulations concerning involvement with outlaws: guilty. On the charge of conduct unbecoming a Starfleet officer…”
Nellis paused and leveled his gaze at Loren. She glared back at the admiral with intensity flaring in her deep emerald green eyes. Loren knew that Nellis knew his next words would determine whether her career died here and now.
“not guilty.”
Loren let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, and had to force herself not to smile. A guilty verdict on the unbecoming charge would have meant she would have been forced out of Starfleet for good, but now she might have a chance of remaining in the service she loved.
“Admiral McCloud,” Nellis continued “It is the judgment of this inquiry that you be reduced in rank to commander, and be relieved of your command effective immediately. Furthermore you will be assigned to Starfleet Command until such time as a permanent assignment can be found for you. Commander McCloud, if you choose not to accept the judgment of this inquiry you do have the right to a court martial trial.”
Captain T’Proll had already told Loren that the chances of a court martial being more lenient than the inquiry board were very slim. The double rank demotion was painful for Loren, but she felt confident that she could earn at least her captain’s pips back though she knew it was unlikely she would ever be a flag officer again.
“A court martial will not be necessary Sir,” Loren said in her light Scottish brogue. “I accept the judgment as decided by this board of inquiry.”
Nellis nodded “In closing Commander McCloud I would like to say that having to pass this sentence on you is distasteful to all of us. We have all been in command at one time or another and we understand why you did the things you did. However, Starfleet has rules and those rules exist for the good of all Starfleet officers everywhere. I do not doubt that Starbase Three Five Five is a better place than it was when you arrived, but the example you have set for the men and women underneath you is unacceptable. On that note, this inquiry is concluded, you are dismissed.”
The admiralty panel rose in unison and exited the room. Loren turned to Captain T’Proll who had not broken his typical stoic Vulcan demeanor.
“This outcome is regrettable Commander,” T’Proll said
Loren offered him a small smile “It’s okay Sir, I’m sure that you did your best.”
T’Proll offered her the Vulcan salute “Live long, and prosper Commander.”
Loren returned the gesture “Thank you Sir.”
From her dress uniform Loren unfastened the admiral’s pips and with only a little hesitation laid them on the table in front of her. Then, holding her head high, she left the conference room.