Keelhauled

[Rodent]

Lewis

---

Lewis was content to let the senior Officer take charge of this hearing. There was not much to say for him which Hartman hadn't already drilled into the cowering Valentine. He watched on impassively as Hartman railed at Valentine, and made no gesture when Valentine stammered out a response. Indeed, he made very little sign at all that he was listening, or that he was even alive, and not a Statue masquerading as an Officer. When Zoe finally finished, wringing her hands and for all intents and purposes looking genuinely distressed...He glanced at Hartman, who nodded briefly.

"Normally, insubordination and lack of respect towards a Commanding Officer, particularly an Admiral...would be grounds for suspension and possibly Court-Martial."

He glanced at the datapad set in front of him, letting the implications of that sink in.

"Furthermore, I don't think you really understand the seriousness of what's going on, Miss Valentine." More implications. Valentine was probably too distressed to really pick them up, but Lewis knew that she'd understand...eventually.

"See. What the Admiral is trying to make-" He was cut off by another voice, someone he recognized instantly. It was the Fleet Admiral. Each word hit him with powerful waves of Deja Vu. He had been here before...Nearly Twenty years ago. Davies spoke briefly, but the damage had been done. Lewis had fervently hoped against all odds that this day would not come.

"That's what they say about hoping..." He muttered to himself. He had often been mocked as the Old Man of the Navy, but at this moment....he felt old as death. He glanced at Hartman, but she remained impassive.

Of course. She knew already.

Hartman caught his glance, and nodded briefly to confirm his suspicions. There was nothing to be done, except grimly bear it through, and there was a task before him that needed to be completed immediately.

"Seems like a Court-Martial would actually be doing you a service now, Valentine."

He glanced at Hartman again.

"An adequate punishment now would be to report back to your Squadron leader. We wouldn't dream of taking away your chance to die for god and country. If Admiral Hartman agrees, of course."

He hunched up his shoulders, wanting to be done with it.

Hartman nodded, glanced at Lewis, expressionless as slate."Dismissed, Commander. Let's not have this conversation again."

After Valentine had practically scampered out, Lewis turned his chair towards Hartman and asked the obvious question.

"You knew."

Hartman grimaced, rubbing her eyes. "Of course. We have to do this, Lewis."

Lewis leaned back in his chair, nodding absently. "Reminds me of things I don't really want to remember."

They sat in silence for a few moments. Soon, this station and every Naval Base in Liberty would explode in a flurry of activity as orders filtered in. It was the brief calm before the unending storm.

"You want to take a moment? I may have a few things for Veteran Campaigners stashed back on 'Hattan...."