NEW Truth [PG] VOY AU (P, Picard)

Title: Truth
Author: Dave Rogers (daverogers@geocities.com)
Series: VOY AU
Part: NEW 1/1
Date: 29/6/99
Rating: [PG]
Codes: P, Picard

Summary: Sequel to "Honour", third in the series beginning with 
"Father to Son". The Caldik Prime enquiry; can Tom find honour in 
Starfleet?

Disclaimer: Paramount owns the characters and situations in this
world; I've just borrowed them and put them in mine.

Acknowledgements: Some of the dialogue in this story is adapted
from passages in Jeri Taylor's novel "Pathways", which is also 
the source of background material.



Truth



Tom Paris entered the small, windowless room and walked slowly to the 
chair in the middle. Turning, he fixed his stare directly in front of 
him, avoiding the eyes of the three who sat in judgement before him.

"Cadet Paris," an aide began beside him, "this is a formal hearing, 
and any and all statements made here may be presumed to be under oath. 
Are you aware of the implications of this?"

Tom nodded.

"Let the record show that Cadet Paris indicated assent. This court is 
now in session."

His father sat behind him, giving the outward appearance of a loving, 
supportive father; an appearance that Tom could no longer believe 
after his interview two weeks earlier. And before him sat three 
legends. Admiral Finnegan, hero of the Ferengi wars of many years ago.
Admiral Brand, who had made First Contact with more civilisations than 
any other Starfleet officer - excepting, of course, the inimitable 
James Kirk. And finally, perhaps the greatest of them all, though the 
most junior. Ironic that the man he had so wanted to serve might now 
be his judge and the source of his condemnation; Captain Jean-Luc 
Picard, Starfleet's finest and a worthy Captain of the ship with the 
proudest tradition in the history of the Federation.

Tom thought back to Picard's previous visit to the Academy, a few 
short months earlier. Then, as now, a court had sat in judgement over 
the death of a Starfleet cadet; then, as now, the guilty man had lied 
to save his career; and, Tom remembered only too clearly, it was the 
lie and not the deed that had been the unforgivable crime. But more 
had been whispered between friends; that Picard, himself not a member 
of the court, had exposed the lie, and that Picard himself had stated 
his belief that the first duty of a Starfleet officer was to uphold 
the truth. Clearly, thought Tom, this was not a view shared by Admiral 
Owen Paris; but if there was ever a time to defy his father, Picard 
might be the one man who would support him.

He thought back over his written disposition. Was it already too late?
And then, even as he wondered, Picard threw him a lifeline.

"Mr. Paris, the court has received an informal deposition from you 
regarding the incident at Caldik Prime. However, in the absence of any 
recorded oath associated with the document, the court has decided only 
to accept its contents to the extent that they are confirmed by you in 
this session. Do you, therefore, wish to swear that the contents of 
this deposition are the entire truth concerning the incident of the 
seventeenth of June?"

"No, sir," replied Paris. At Picard's raised eyebrow, he continued, 
"I would prefer to go over the events in detail before the court, in 
case there are any parts that need clarifying." The words sounded 
false to him, but this way his father would suspect nothing until he 
had actually spoken the truth. Any more warning than that, he feared, 
and his father would find a way to change his mind for him, as he 
somehow always did. No, it had to be done quickly if at all.

The questions concerning the events prior to takeoff went smoothly; no 
need to lie there, although he had omitted any mention of his feelings 
at the time. But then came the question he had hoped for and feared, 
and the decision was upon him.

"If you were the team leader," asked Admiral Finnegan, "Why was Cadet 
Katajavuori leading the strafing run?"

Tom took a deep breath, and tried to forget the feeling that his 
father's eyes were boring a hole into the back of his neck.

"At that point, sir, my deposition is no longer an accurate report of 
the events of the seventeenth."

Admirals Finnegan and Brand looked at each other briefly. Picard 
frowned, and looked intently at Tom. And from behind him, he heard his 
father's quiet exclamation, "What?"

"Sir, I led the strafing run." He spoke quickly before anyone could 
interrupt. "I held the dive too long, and pulled out too late. The 
others were in stepped formation below me, and never had a chance to 
pull out. Then afterwards, I panicked, and..."

His testimony was lost in the rising voices. Admiral Paris was saying 
something to Tom, he wasn't sure what. Admiral Brand was telling Owen 
Paris to be quiet in court. Admiral Finnegan seemed to be asking Tom 
whether he had lied in a sworn deposition. Only Picard was silent, 
staring intently at Tom with a gaze that seemed to look into his soul.
And then, suddenly, the noise stopped, and Admiral Paris was heard to 
say, "Young fool, I told you to tell them..."

He stopped in confusion. Tom slumped in his seat, exhausted by this 
single act of defiance; but the words had been spoken, and nothing 
could now unsay them. He sensed, though, that for some reason he was 
no longer the centre of attention in the room, and a moment later the 
reason became clear.

"Admiral Paris," said Picard in a grave voice, "You are present as an 
observer at this hearing, and your testimony is not being recorded. 
However, I must warn you, sir, that the court has the right to record 
your remarks should it so choose, and that any further remarks from 
you will be so recorded."

There was an awkward silence. Admiral Paris rose to his feet, and 
seemed for a moment to be about to say something; but then he turned to 
the door and left the room. Then Picard spoke again, this time to Tom.

"Mr. Paris, is it your sworn testimony before this court that you were 
solely responsible for the deaths of Cadets Day, Launay and Katajavuori
on the seventeenth of June?"

"Yes, sir, it is."

"And what was the specific cause of the accident?"

"Pilot error on my part, sir. I held the dive for too long, and the 
others - the others - " Tom's voice faltered, then failed him 
completely.

"Were unable to pull out in time." Picard finished the sentence for 
him, and Tom simply nodded.

"Have you any further statement that you wish to make to this court?"
added Admiral Brand.

"Yes, sir." Tom found his voice again. He had rehearsed this final 
part of his testimony, and could use it honestly now. "I would like to 
say, for the record, that Cadets Day, Katajavuori, and Launay were 
three of the best that Starfleet will ever encounter. It was my honour 
to be their friend, and all three were completely blameless."

Brand looked at the officers on either side, and the three conferred 
quietly. Finally, Brand announced, "This court is adjourned for 
consideration of this witness' testimony. We will re-convene in two 
hours." A gavel rapped on the desk, and it was done.



Two days later, after hearing character witnesses and medical reports, 
the verdict was delivered by Admiral Brand.

"This court finds that the deaths of Cadets Day, Launay and Katajavuori
were caused by human error on the part of Cadet Paris. A formal 
reprimand is attached to the Cadet's service record. While it is within
the power of the court to pass a more severe sentence for this offence,
we have chosen clemency in this case on the grounds that Cadet Paris 
has assisted the court in all its enquiries and has made no attempt to
exculpate himself.  Cadet Paris, this has been a tragedy of terrible 
proportions. The loss of three young lives, lives with such great 
potential, has left their families bereft and all of us at Starfleet 
sobered. But we are aware that it has been a terrible loss for you, as 
well. It is not our desire to make you suffer any more than you have 
already. You come of a long line of Starfleet luminaries. Any one of 
them would tell you that losing those you've worked with closely is 
devastating. But we've all been through it. If there is any good to 
come of this catastrophe, it might be in serving to help you become a 
better officer in the future, knowing as you do the awful penalty for 
error. Dismissed."

Time seemed to stand still as Tom considered the implications of these 
words. He had lied in his deposition, he knew, and he knew that Brand, 
Finnegan and Picard knew; yet they had chosen to cover it up in their 
summation. With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he 
realised that his father's influence must reach even further than he 
realised, and that even the brightest and the best in Starfleet were 
tainted.

Then he saw that maybe there was one good man left. Picard, as Brand 
spoke, was regarding Paris with a look of cold, hard hatred. He must 
have voted for Tom's dismissal, and been overruled. Somehow, keeping 
his precious Starfleet career in such a manner seemed worse to Tom 
than losing it; and he knew he would never be welcome aboard the 
Enterprise with this man in the Captain's chair. But the sole crumb 
of comfort he could find was that somewhere, at least, there was 
still honour in Starfleet.

--------

The Enterprise's visits to Earth were rare, and Captain Picard and 
Commander Riker moved in very different social circles on those visits.
Briefly, however, their calendars had converged to the point where they 
could find time for lunch together.

"Strange, Number One," mused Picard as he sipped his tea. "There were 
times during Admiral Brand's summing up when I felt like I was looking 
at Wesley's friend Locarno." He'd felt some of the anger and dislike 
that Wesley's squadron leader had evoked in him too; he hoped nobody 
in the courtroom had seen his face slip.

"They're supposed to be nearly identical, aren't they?" replied Riker 
with his characteristic half-smile.

"There is a superficial resemblance, I'll grant you that," admitted 
Picard. "And, I suppose, there's quite a similarity between the cases. 
On the surface, at least."

Riker's smile faded. "At least Locarno tried to be loyal to the squad. 
From what I heard, Paris was just lying to save his own skin." He tried 
not to show the contempt he felt, but suspected he needn't have 
bothered; his old friend and Captain knew him too well.

"So I thought myself," replied Picard, "until I had a word with his 
father."

"He's Owen Paris' son?" Riker knew that the Admiral was involved, but 
hadn't realised it was that close a connection. "That makes it even 
worse."

"I don't know, Will; maybe, maybe not." Picard decided it was better 
not to say too much. The story that a Starfleet Admiral had ordered his 
son to lie in court, however tortuous the misunderstanding and however 
innocent the circumstances, was one best kept between himself and the 
other two officers who already knew. "Let's just say that Admiral Paris 
is rather better at talking than at listening."

"There's something you're not telling me, Jean-Luc!" It wasn't often, 
and never on board the Enterprise, that Riker dropped the formality in 
addressing Picard, but as he did so there was an inquisitive gleam in 
his eye.

Picard smiled. "They say the boy's the best pilot Starfleet Academy's 
ever seen. The Enterprise needs the best."

Riker raised an eyebrow. "He's just been found guilty of pilot error, 
he hasn't graduated from the Academy yet, and you want him for the 
Enterprise?"

Picard smiled, shaking his head. "I'm not that impetuous, Will. No, the 
boy's got some growing up to do before he's ready for us. Keep an eye 
on him, though; let's see where he is in a year or two."

Riker shook his own head, then laughed. "You're the Captain." Picard 
found good people in the strangest places, he had to admit; and, 
frankly, he also had to admit that his Captain's choices had always 
turned out for the best in the end.




THE END