Chapter 10: Hearings

When the Windvane finally docked with the Kuiper space station, the noble ladies were first to be escorted off the frigate. A huge deal was made over their ordeal and them being rescued. Lieutenant Miles and Sergeant Brown were tasked to report to Captain Lambert and the station security chief while Dane organized a cleanup party of the marine spaces on the Windvane.

They also had to start cleaning the recaptured navy frigate, which was attached to the front of the Windvane and then pushed back to the space station. The three pirate freighters were left behind, after their power crystals were removed. The pirate ships were not airless, but they had no power and thus no heating. The bodies of the dead pirates left on them would quickly freeze solid, ready for evidence to be collected at a later date.

“Galan, get dressed,” Lieutenant Miles called as he poked his head down into the pod where Dane was doing careful stretches. He and Peters, the only two who were wounded at the pirate base, were still unable to do exercises, but Dane bullied the nearly full platoon under his command into exercising daily. Sgt Brown has not returned yet, so Dane was doing the work of four squad leaders. The marines complained but did it in good nature since Dane and Peters tried to go along, walking instead of jogging, and doing stretches instead of push-ups and sit-ups.

“Yes, lieutenant,” Dane responded. “Any particular reason to get dressed?” he asked.

“Yes, you have to appear in front of the viscount for a formal hearing into recent events,” Lieutenant Miles said.

During their specialist training they had a class on morals and ethics. One of the points which caused a lot of discussion among the trainees was that a marine’s actions would always be under scrutiny after a battle. This was to determine if the marine overstepped his authority as stated in the Rules of Engagement. When Dane and Nick were called into the room where the hearing took place, Dane was obviously a bit worried and nervous. He already knew what the viscount’s wife thought of his actions.

To Dane’s surprise, he was never really asked to explain his own actions or the reasons behind them. He was asked about Nick’s actions, while Nick was asked about Dane’s actions. Sgt Brown and Lt. Miles were also in the hearing, and they were also asked about Dane’s and Nick’s actions.

The hearing covered a lot of their actions during the first battle, retaking the space station from the pirates. Dane felt a bit embarrassed when they also discussed his actions in great detail in capturing the two mining sleds. By comparison, Dane’s actions inside the cargo pod where the noble ladies were kept was just glanced over, with more made out of Dane and Peters being wounded in the process.

The hearing room had four long tables in a square, with the viscount, his personal assistant, and two other distinguished-looking men sitting behind the one table. Dane and Nick were facing them, while Sgt Brown, Lt. Miles, Lt. McCord, Captain Lambert, Lt. Dern, and Commander Brogan were all sitting on the left side. Viscountess Anette, Lady Ula, and Lady Stella were sitting on the right and never said anything except that the viscountess kept glaring at Dane.

“I think we have enough information on Sergeant Galan and Corporal Belton,” The viscount said. “Please call the next group in. Sergeant Galan, Corporal Beltran, you two can take seats on the right please.” There were a number of empty seats next to the three ladies, so they went sitting there. Dane found it amusing that Nick kept an empty seat between him and Lady Stella, who gave him a friendly smile.