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Marla Gilmore's condition was still being evaluated. Janeway and Novozhilov had a heart to heart discussion without Tom. The lieutenant was attending to his newest challenge, the Academy.
As part of the agreement with Starfleet and the review board, Paris was reentering the Academy as, what was referred to, a graduate student with a non-academy undergraduate degree. It was a bit of a stretch, but the Academy admission committee granted the recently reinstated officer a special undergraduate degree based on seven plus years of 'on-the-job' training. Considering what the ship had been through, maybe it wasn't such a stretch after all. Ultimately, it meant that Paris would be able to finish his course work in time to rejoin Voyager, before it left on its next assignment.
The two senior officers were concerned about their current work, how to handle Noah Lessing. His case was difficult at best. While the man had performed reasonably well while aboard Voyager, Janeway wasn't sure that if that was a realistic picture of the man. This came partially from the evaluation from Novozhilov.
He maintained that Lessing was not all he appeared to be. It wasn't a scientific assessment, but rather one that came from years of dealing with people of all types and in all types of situations.
Janeway was a bit uneasy with the Russian's assessment and wanted to be absolutely sure about Lessing. The problem was how to do it. She didn't want to make the defendant into a proverbial sacrificial lamb.
Ultimately, it was decided to use the other defendants as a means of evaluating Lessing. All except of course, Gilmore.
Questioning the witnesses would be divided between the two officers. The JAG captain had the experience to elicit the truth, for good or bad and would question Lessing. This way, Janeway could concentrate on Tassoni, Sofin and Morrow.
Entering the court martial setting, Janeway felt more uneasy than usual. She wasn't sure why, but it could have been for any number of reasons. First, the absence of Tom Paris. The two had been side by side for almost all of Voyager's 'legal battles.' Also, the situation itself lent to uncertainty. There was the uncertainty of Gilmore's fate, even though Janeway was relatively certain the young lady would be exonerated for her actions due to PTSD. Also, she would have to be on top form while performing her task regarding the questioning of the Equinox crewpersons. That uncertainty weighed heavily on her, but Novozhilov had given her a few pointers and suggestions that might help. She also reviewed the prior testimony and court records. All this was done during the forty-eight hour recess and Janeway considered it a good use of time. They also met with the defendants and let them know of their plans, at least to a point. The JAG captain was counting on a bit of surprise to help him make his point. However, he emphasized that they needed to be completely honest and open. This would be their chance to explain their position. Novozhilov told Tassoni, Sofin and Morrow in personal and private conversations that he wanted to show the court their reasoning behind their actions. With Lessing, he gave the young man a stern lecture. His chance to be exonerated was doubtful but he might get off with a lighter sentence than expected if he showed more remorse and less defiance. Somehow though, the Russian felt he never got through, no matter how hard he tried.
With the court now back in session, Novozhilov rose from his seat and called Tassoni to the stand. This time Bass was surprised.
Slowly, the former Equinox crewman returned to the witness chair. No doubt this was due to remembering his encounter with Bass. This time it would be a little different, with a more friendly face, Janeway. He had been told he would be reexamined but did not know exactly how that would be done, only to be sure to tell the truth, no matter what. Novozhilov had told Janeway that he wanted to see that all four defendants got a 'fair shake.' However, he feared they might be forced to 'sacrifice' Lessing to save the others.
Janeway was surprised by the statement but yielded to the Russian's experience and knowledge of courtroom procedure and tactics. Still, she protested and convinced her colleague to do so only as a last resort.
Using a friendly but not cheerful manner, Janeway got right to it. "Mister Tassoni, in previous questioning you told this court that you initially shared your misgivings regarding the killing of aliens with many crewpersons."
"Yes, Ma'am, that is true."
"Did you do so with all your co-defendants?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"How did they react? Let's start with Mister Morrow."
"He felt the same way I did. He was shocked."
"And Mister Sofin?"
"Same thing, Sir, he was shocked and very distressed."
"What about Gilmore?"
"She was... affected but had already built the new drive system. I believe her way of dealing with the... 'situation' was to keep busy with her work and tried not to think about it."
Bass stood quickly, "If this is an attempt to influence the court's decision regarding Miss Gilmore's mental condition --"
Janeway turned to address the accusation from Bass without waiting for Novozhilov's assistance. "Not at all, I am attempting to determine how the crew reacted. We only have five crewpersons left, so I am trying to determine if there was a consensus with those still alive."
All three members of the court nodded in agreement and Zafy echoed that sentiment. "Prosecution is overruled."
Defeated, Bass sat down.
Refocused, Janeway continued her questioning. "Last of all, how did Mister Lessing respond?"
Tassoni looked nervous and glanced at Lessing. Janeway noticed and was not too subtle about her feelings. "I remind you that you are still obligated to tell the truth, mister!"
Not entirely enthusiastic, Tassoni responded nevertheless. "He seemed to be more concerned with getting out of the Delta Quadrant and returning home as soon as possible."
"Did he voice any concern about the alien deaths at all?"
"I'm not sure, at least, not with me. Lessing did voice concern over our reduced crew, limited resources and options."
"Such as?"
"He said we couldn't afford to fight amongst ourselves and that we should follow the captain's orders." Tassoni acted sorry for saying so as soon as he did it.
Bass jumped up again. "I'd like to cross examine."
Zafy nodded her approval and Bass went to work without pausing.
"Was that the general feeling of the crew?"
"Not entirely, no, sir. It's just that there were too few to oppose those who agreed with the captain. We had no security people, only one engineer, Gilmore and we were losing additional crew all the time due to continued alien attacks. When Voyager found us, we only had twenty-one people left..."
"So the crew just went along with killing the aliens?"
Tassoni became emotional and defensive. "No, but we just didn't have many options either. Putting crewpersons in the brig meant fewer people for keeping the ship going, regardless what the fuel was!"
Still not convinced, Bass pressed the issue. "So you did not contest the captain's decision in any way?"
"Not after he quoted the Starfleet regulation to us. That ended the debate, captain's orders."
The prosecution was about to start again when Novozhilov cut him off. "This has all been covered by the prosecution before!"
"Court agrees," Zafy turned to face Janeway, "Any more questions, Admiral?
"No, Ma'am."
"You are excused," Zafy said quietly to Tassoni.
Relieved, the man nearly bolted out of his seat.
Janeway's questioning of Morrow and Sofin followed similar lines, although this time Bass remained quiet. While not actually pointing a finger of accusation at Lessing, the two gave indications that confirmed what Tassoni had said.
During this time, Lessing remained stoic and passive. Janeway wasn't sure what he was thinking, but she was sure it wasn't going well for him.
Soon it was Novozhilov's turn and he acted as if he wanted to get it over as soon as possible.
Arriving at the witness stand, Lessing looked at Janeway, expecting her to conduct the questioning. Instead, the Russian approached him and started questioning while he was still moving.
"Mister Lessing, you've heard what the other witnesses have said. What I want to know is how you felt and the reason for your actions."
More than a little irritated, Lessing spoke, "I followed captain's orders as did the rest of the crew."
"Anything else?"
"No, sir, my opinion didn't matter. Once the captain gave his orders; that was it."
The Russian was taken aback by the terse and nearly hostile reply. "You never questioned orders?"
"Never, Sir!"
Novozhilov tried a different approach and softened his voice. "You do realize that this is a chance to help exonerate yourself."
"Sir, I did my duty as proscribed by Starfleet regulations. I did not think a mutiny would improve our situation, nor did I think that fighting amongst ourselves would do anything other than weaken our position further!" Lessing was defiant and non-penitent.
"Is there anything you wish to say regarding your... situation on the Equinox?" 'Mike' was trying hard to give the man a chance.
"No, Sir."
Turning to Bass, the captain nodded to indicate he was through, but the prosecutor passed. Evidently he was content with Lessing's previous testimony. No need to press further.
Just to be sure, Zafy asked, "Does prosecution have any questions for this witness?"
"No, Ma'am," Bass said quietly.
Even the members of the court were surprised by the answer. Zafy looked at Lessing, "Witness is dismissed."
As soon as the man stood up, a court yeoman handed Admiral Tal a data padd. The board members spoke with each other in hushed tones. Wainwright stood and amazed everyone by his announcement. "This court will be in recess until oh nine hundred tomorrow."
Zafy chimed the bell to close the session and moved quickly to exit.
To the last person in the room, all were unsure what had happened. A very curious Novozhilov approached the court's legal yeoman.
Meanwhile, Janeway talked to the defendants, particularly Lessing. "I'm not sure why you refused to defend yourself. Captain Novozhilov gave you every chance."
Lessing was still defiant and stubborn. "This court martial has already made up its mind about us. We don't really have a chance. You can see it in their eyes. Prosecutor Bass has made his point, we're all killers and a disgrace to Starfleet."
"Not at all, you're not being --"
"What? Fair? Nobody in the Alpha Quadrant, no one who wasn't on board Equinox, can know what we were up against! You can't imagine how bad things were!"
At this point in the discussion, the JAG captain reappeared, but held back until Lessing finished.
The Russian's appearance seemed to close Lessing's rant and he moved off with the other defendants following at a 'safe' distance.
Janeway waited until they left, before looking at Novozhilov. Some of the Voyager crew was gathered as well. They wanted to know what was going on.
Sighing, the man nodded towards the recently exited Equinox people. "Guess I didn't do so well. I thought he might open up."
"He's convinced there's no hope," Janeway offered. Discouraged, she added, "What happened to the court members?"
"They received word on Marla Gilmore."
He was unusually quiet, prompting Janeway to question him again. "And?" She sounded hopeful.
"I'm sorry, Admiral; she committed suicide."
"What? When?"
"Less than an hour ago," the Russian looked devastated. "Sad part is, her evaluation came out in her favor... she would have been cleared."
Slumping visibly, the admiral spoke quietly to 'Mike,' "So you were right about her after all."
He replied sarcastically, "You mean about her being... crazy?"
She put her hands on her hips and confronted him a stern manner, "Now see here, Captain. You did your best to keep her from being convicted for something she evidently really wasn't responsible for."
"Doesn't help much."
"Maybe not, but don't take all that guilt on yourself. After all, I had a hand in it, too. I even offered her a future. All she had to do was wait another few hours and she would have been fine." She continued to study the man and added, "Perhaps her problems went much deeper than anyone realized... including you!"
The admiral noticed her crewmates were hanging on every word and turned to address them. "I know this will affect all of you. We came to know Marla fairly well and we will miss her. I think she would have made a good, permanent addition to the crew on our next mission. For now, let's try to remember she was under a tremendous amount of stress. She did have underlying problems that we never really knew about until just recently and no one had a chance to remedy."
The doctor approached the admiral, "Well said, sir. I must admit that I missed the indications myself. If that's the case, then I don't see how you, the captain or anyone else could have known either."
"Thank you very much for that." Novozhilov said quietly.
A very long silent pause was broken by Harry Kim's suggestion. "Should we make plans for a service of some type?"
"Officer's thinking, Mister Kim," Chakotay said. Then he turned to Janeway, "How about letting Harry and I take care of that?"
"Very well." Janeway wasn't her usual 'take command' self, still thinking about the news. "I don't think she had any family..."
"No, Ma'am," Tuvok agreed, "Her official service record indicated a lack of immediate family. However, I shall endeavor to locate more distant relatives."
"Thank you, Mister Tuvok, I would appreciate that."
After another extended silent moment, the admiral spoke, "I think we all need to return to our assigned work... and special duties; dismissed."
Quietly, everybody left, leaving only Novozhilov and Janeway. The two remained silent for another moment and then she spoke. "Do we need to plan for tomorrow?"
"Not really, Admiral. I think we could both use a rest."
"Agreed, let's go."
They left the room and the building in silence, maybe reluctant to say anything else for fear it being inadequate to express their true feelings.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please get help. In the US, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1.800.273.8255 (English and En Español) or visit their website. Outside the US, check this international list for your country's hotline.
The next day in the courtroom, Janeway noticed a very different feeling, like a graveyard. She admonished herself for the comparison given Gilmore's fate. Evidently everyone had heard and, regardless of the reason for their being at the hearing, they all seemed to be affected.
There were some absentees. Other than the obvious empty chair where the defendants sat, part of Voyager's contingency was missing: Tuvok, Kim and Chakotay. They were tending to tasks related to Gilmore's funeral and such.
In the back of the room were several new faces. Almost all were senior Starfleet officers, the rest were Federation officials. Hopefully they were not present simply because of Gilmore's fate.
Trying to focus on the business at hand, she watched as the members of the court entered the room. They too seemed more somber and looked as if they wanted to be somewhere else. Very quickly, they settled in and Zafy sounded the bell a single time to bring the room to order, although it wasn't needed except for tradition. She motioned for the defense and judge advocate to approach the bench.
Out of curiosity, more than anything else, the JAG defense captain was motivated to go. He indicated that Janeway should remain seated.
At the bench, Novozhilov and Bass stood silent, waiting.
Looking at both men as if an inspection were in progress, the Malagasky admiral spoke quietly but firmly. "I believe everyone present is keenly aware of the unfortunate passing of Miss Gilmore. It is noted in the record that her exams indicated the defense was essentially correct in the diagnosis of the defendant having underlying problems.
"For today, I want it clearly understood this court will maintain a close rein on both prosecution and defense. Also, it will not tolerate any more theatrics, outbursts, or any other such behavior. The court is interested in concluding these proceedings as soon as possible. If there are any new developments, I want to hear about them now."
Neither man spoke. Bass actually looked humble, a real change for the man.
With no response forthcoming, she continued, "There are many reasons for a quick closure, but primarily this is due to a perception by the general public and Command that Voyager's legal issues seem to be going on forever. There's a sense that the 'heroes' have been chastised long enough. This is especially true, given Miss Gilmore's fate. I must admit I find myself in agreement, at least to a point. I trust I can count on your cooperation regarding and respecting these concerns. For now, let's return the matters at hand," she then dismissed them with a curt nod.
As the Russian returned to his seat, he was struck by the impression that Zafy had actually softened her manner. It was difficult to believe, but undeniable.
A quick conversation with Janeway brought her up to speed. Bass was doing the same with Captain T'Chan.
Zafy now spoke with authority and almost finality. "We shall now proceed. Are there any motions before this court?"
When none were voiced, she continued. "Does defense wish to call any additional witnesses?"
'Mike' stood up quickly, "No, Ma'am; defense rests at this time."
The justice seemed pleased with the answer and turned to Bass. "Does the prosecution wish to call any additional witnesses?"
Bass rose and spoke very quietly, "None, Sir."
"Very well, are councils ready for final summaries?"
Again, Novozhilov responded quickly, "Defense is ready."
Bass was still standing, "As is the prosecution."
"We shall start with the judge advocate."
The president of the court wasn't kidding about moving things along. At this rate, a verdict might come in before lunch.
In an unbelievable turn, Bass spoke quietly and without his usual swagger. Perhaps it was Zafy's warning or Gilmore's death, maybe even a new strategy of some type, but the man actually seemed changed.
"This court has been charged with determining the guilt or innocence of the defendants in regards to their complicity in the destruction of sentient beings for personal gain. That gain was returning home from an unprecedented and unsurmountable distance of over 60,000 light years. That would be enough to terrify anybody. However it does not justify the taking of life no matter how alien or how desperate the people might be.
"The crew of the Equinox was in a unique situation, but perhaps that was even more of a reason to adhere to the high standards of Starfleet and the Federation. The prosecution maintains that those standards be upheld, regardless of the situation and, that all those who fail to live up to those standards be brought to justice.
"If Starfleet is to be regarded as a benevolent and trustworthy organization, then this court must find the defendants guilty. If they do not, then Starfleet, as a whole will pay the ultimate penalty. It will no longer be regarded with the same esteem that it is now."
Bass took his seat and nodded politely to Janeway. Maybe it was a new type of psychological warfare. Janeway was stunned as she expected a much longer and forceful speech from Bass.
"Defense?" Zafy said quietly.
Gathering her composure and courage, Janeway looked at the defendants. This would be a make or break plea for them. 'Well, damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead,' she thought.
Standing, Janeway addressed the board directly, "Starfleet is known for its high standards, that's true. And I also agree, those standards are concerned with many aspects regarding conduct of its personnel including its justice system. Perhaps, that's the most important aspect as it proves what we stand for. Any government and its agencies are only as good as its justice system. If justice isn't administered fairly, then all the lofty standards stand for nothing. If justice rides roughshod over its people, then how good is the government or the people it represents.
"We came to this court to listen to the accused. The question is, did we actually hear anything they said? If so, did we believe them? If so, then we must try to understand their position. Justice cannot be measure by how many people we put into prison. Rather, it must be judged, if you'll allow the use of the word, by how the law is applied in balance with understanding, compassion, empathy and tolerance.
"I do not believe that anyone here can fully appreciate just what the crew of the Equinox went through, but we must weigh that carefully. As we now know, it weighed heavily on them, some to the point of... no return.
"Please be careful as you determine their ultimate fate."
Janeway turned and sat down next to 'Mike'. He looked at her and smiled. Whispering he told her, "You said I could start a second career, maybe you should think about doing the same. I could always use some quality help."
After a few minutes of discussion, the court members turned back to face everyone. Zafy sounded the bell once, lightly and spoke in a moderately loud voice. "This court will stand adjourned until 1300 hours." Another tap followed and the court left the room quickly.
Janeway looked at Novozhilov, "What do you think?"
"I'm not a betting man and good thing because I have no idea how this is going to go. It's the... most unusual case I've ever been on."
"Understood, Captain, let's get some lunch and discuss it. I need to get out of this room... now."
The pair left quickly and found many others doing the same.
Returning to the courtroom, Janeway found herself wishing it was over already. Waiting for the verdict was somehow worse than a... Borg attack.
It seemed that everyone entered the room at the same time: defense, prosecution, members of the court and defendants. All sat down quickly and had faces that could not be read. Each looked as if they were in shock or, at least, trying not to think about what was going to happen.
True to form, Zafy sounded the bell bringing the session to order, though it was unnecessary. You could hear the proverbial pin drop.
The president of the court wasted no time. Reading from a data padd she began, rarely looking up. "This court has heard testimony from each of the defendants and we feel they've had an adequate opportunity to explain their actions or inactions in regards to the killing of alien life forms in order to provide a fuel source for the Equinox.
"Testimony given in this court, combined with the few records from Voyager, gives us only a partial picture. We are forced to complete that picture with suppositions and speculation. That is not a viable means in which to determine the guilt or innocence of the defendants. The lack of concrete evidence, one way or the other, gives us pause as to what is justifiable as far as an appropriate and reasonable verdict or punishment is concerned. We say that because laws, regulations and even basic notions of what is right or wrong come to bear.
"There were many violations aboard the Equinox. Voyager's records show that behavior continued after the two ships met. Any chance of righting their many wrongs were not only missed, but the wrongs were compounded by defying Admiral Janeway's orders, even placing her ship and crew in danger.
"Not all the defendants were involved in every one of these actions aboard Voyager, nor were they a willing part of the use of aliens for fuel. It is difficult to put ourselves in the place of the defendants. It's easy for us to say how we would behave but the reality may have been far different. Many factors influence a person's reasoning and decision making. This court therefore cannot condemn outright all behaviors, actions and inactions out of hand. But -- and this is important -- laws, regulations and basic tenants of humanity were broken.
"Because of this, we find all four defendants guilty of all specifications and charges related to the events on both the Equinox and Voyager."
There was a subdued reaction by nearly everyone in the courtroom including Janeway. She felt as if she had failed the Equinox people.
Clearing her throat in an attempt to regain attention and quiet Zafy continued, "However, due to the unusual circumstances mentioned previously in regards to the various factors, known and unknown, and the subsequent stresses experienced by the individuals, this court must make allowances as to the punishment.
"Therefore, we hereby rule the following: Misters Tassoni, Sofin, Morrow and Lessing are guilty and therefore are sentenced to ten years each. Again, given the unusual conditions and factors, we also recommend that Misters Tassoni, Sofin and Morrow receive suspended sentences and be placed on probation for a minimum of five years. During this time, they will not be restored to previous ranks nor will they be eligible for promotion. In regards to Mister Lessing, we feel his reluctance to show remorse for his actions and to insist that following captain's orders was his only option leaves us few choices. Therefore, he shall serve a sentence of not more than five years but not less than one year in a Federation penal colony. Following that, he will be on probation for another five years if he desires to remain in Starfleet.
"This is our verdict and in so declaring it, this court has concluded its business and reason for existence. We therefore stand down." Zafy rapped the bell hard three times, indicating the official end of the day's proceedings and the proceedings itself.
Novozhilov and Janeway were both stunned. The verdict was both unexpected and somewhat confusing. They were all guilty, but only moderately penalized. Bass had won, but they would not spend their lives in prison as he had advocated.
Just what had motivated the court martial board was anybody's guess. Zafy had outlined some of their reasoning, but just what were they thinking?
Janeway looked at Zafy as she gathered data padds, papers and other personal items. Without consulting 'Mike,' she moved to the front of the large room and approached the court martial president.
On the verge of vacating the room, Zafy was surprised by the sudden appearance of Janeway. Starfleet's new admiral was equally surprised by the woman's pleasant attitude.
"I was impressed with your presentations. For a non-lawyer, you did quite well."
Janeway was even more surprised by the compliment. "Thank you, sir. Let's just say I was properly motivated."
"I suppose that would make a difference. You really went a long way to take care of your crew members, especially those from Equinox."
Very tentatively Janeway posed a question. "Since I'm not a lawyer, I'm not really sure of proper protocol, but is it acceptable for me to ask how you arrived at your verdict and sentencing recommendations?"
Zafy studied Janeway for a moment. "Normally I would not, but this case was very different. Basically, we found it hard to do either of the extremes: life in prison or total exoneration and reinstatement. Also, our decision was influenced by an outside factor."
Janeway bristled at the mention of an outside influence. If Starfleet or the Federation authorities had influenced the decision of the court martial, she would protest it strongly and demand a retrial immediately.
"We found the suicide by Miss Gilmore most disturbing and indicative of the great stress that the defendants were under."
Hearing the explanation, Janeway was struck by the implications. "I had no idea..." Quickly, she refocused. "So the reduced sentences were a result of not knowing the exact circumstances of their decision making process."
"Precisely, it's similar to the concept of tempering sentences regarding juveniles, as their decision making process is not entirely formed at a younger age. That is why we were hesitant to issue harsh sentences. Miss Gilmore's actions emphasized the point."
Janeway was totally shocked by the lady and the revelation. "I'm truly... amazed."
Smiling broadly, Zafy responded quietly and with a lot of feeling. "Do you find it hard to believe that a lady with the reputation of being hard-hearted can actually be compassionate?"
Returning the smile with one of her own, Janeway responded in kind. "Not anymore." Then she had an afterthought. "May I make a suggestion?"
Intrigued, she studied Janeway closely, "Let's hear it."
"Would it be unreasonable to recommend that Lessing receive a psychological evaluation? After all, he, too, may be as troubled as Gilmore was. It may be his reason for being so reticent."
"If you ever wish to make a career change, Admiral, give me a call." She smiled again and added, "I'd be happy to recommend an exam for Mister Lessing." She paused and then asked one more question. "Anything else I can do for you?"
"No, Ma'am, and thank you for talking to me. Your explanation helps me to understand a lot."
Immediately after talking to Zafy, Janeway left the room and ran into the ship's EMH.
"Admiral, I was wondering if I might have a word with you." He was serious, almost grim.
Instantly, her elation almost melted. "What is it?"
"I've been in discussions with a number of people and agencies regarding my status as a sentient being. Although we had touched on it briefly in relation to my rights concerning the holonovel, it's now beginning to look like I will actually be able to make my case before the Federation Supreme Court." He finished on a slightly more upbeat note, but still subdued.
"Why that's wonderful! I don't understand. Why the long face? I would think you'd be celebrating. It's a major milestone for you and all photonic lifeforms."
"Yes, but I'm having a difficult time in choosing an advocate."
"And you'd like for me to recommend one to you, right?"
Now he was nervous and uncharacteristically hesitant. "Actually, based on what I saw at this and the other hearings and what you did for Mr. Paris, I'd like you to represent me."
Janeway was floored. "Really? You must know I don't have the expertise or training for such an important issue, and to present it before the Supreme Court; that's way above my level of experience and expertise. After all, this concerns your future and that of many others."
"If Mister Paris and the others trusted you, I do, too. After all, you could be doing the same for myself and other photonics."
She studied the doctor for a moment then spoke in a firm voice. "Okay, but a few conditions..."
Smiling for the first time, he responded enthusiastically, "Of course Admiral, anything."
"First, we find an experienced advocate to act as an advisor on court protocol and procedures. I recommend Captain Novozhilov, he was a great help with the Equinox people."
"Done!" he declared.
"And second, you can't go into the court without a name. Having a name will give you credence in your quest to be thought of as a person, rather than a computer program."
The EMH now sported a big smile. "Actually, I have already taken care of that." There was a sense of pride and accomplishment in his voice.
Janeway was genuinely surprised. "Really? When did that happen?"
"During the court martial, I was taken by the fact that those senior officers were addressing our fellow crewpersons by their names. I realized that it sounded more dignified than being referred to by rank or position, especially in such an official setting. It was rather like me being referred to only as doctor which is my title or job description." He stood stoically until he realized Janeway was waiting for something. Then it hit him. "Oh, yes. My name. Well..."
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© 2024 Brad McDonald / U.S.S. Kitty Hawk
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