Smoothing Things Over

Posted on 11/23/2020 @ 9:49pm by Lieutenant JG Jonah Webster JD & Lieutenant T’Lanna Vali

Mission: S3E1: Time of Change
Location: JAG Headquarters, Offices of the Defense
Timeline: Day 80 at 1500

Jonah Webster was convinced his new office was a converted broom closet. It was claustrophobic, beige, and windowless. It also smelled, yet he couldn't really detect what or where the smell was coming from. So instead, he absconded one of the small conference rooms with a nice view of the Bay... except it was raining. Because, of course it was raining. It always rained in San Francisco, it was either foggy or rainy, those were the two big weather patterns it seemed. He had been used to it, having lived in the Bay area his whole life. He had been off earth a few times, but never more than a few weeks at a time. Earth was home, at least until Starfleet decided it would not be. JAG officers didn't always work at JAG head quarters, they could be assigned just about anywhere just like any other officer in the fleet.

If he ever decided to change careers - which was more than likely - he would definitely leave earth, but his son was here and wherever his son was, he would be. It was as simple as that.

He stood at the large oblong window, looking out into the rough waters of the pacific as he waited for Lieutenant Vali to arrive.

After events earlier T’Lanna had returned to her quarters, she’d made a fool of herself and truth be known she hadn’t been an expert witness in a case like this before. It was a big weight on her shoulders and she was starting to wish she was back onboard the Standing Bear. She’d received an invite from Jonah Webster to meet him so she headed towards the conference room, once she found it she walked inside offering a polite yet tired smile. “Hello Lieutenant, it’s nice to see you again.”

Jonah turned and offered the lieutenant a smile. "It's good to see you as well," he responded as he moved to the nearest chair to pull it out for the counselor. "Please, sit. Can I get you anything? Something to drink, or a snack?" He was trying to be hospitable, but he also genuinely liked the counselor, he could tell she had gump and she told of Rahmer, so that was high marks in his book.

T’Lanna smiled warmly as she moved across and sat in the the offered seat. “I’m fine, thank you.” She sighed. “I’m sorry about the awkward meeting earlier, I was trying to put all my eggs in one basket and it didn’t work out quite as I expected.” She shook her head. “If Lieutenant Commander Rahmer has her way I won’t be here much longer anyway.”

"If Rahmer had her way, none of us would be here much longer," Jonah said as he took a seat adjacent to the counselor. "She would be rid of me in a New York minute if she had could." Of course, this was speculation, but he could see how she looked at him. He had a feeling that Rahmer thought he was just some smarmy, over grown, frat boy. "Anyway, I asked for you to join me so we could talk. Commander Winchester and I feel you could be of great help in this case, but mostly great help to Lieutenant Syndel. You wouldn't have been called in if it was felt you weren't needed. Plus, as you said, you were a victim advocate, you know your way around these things, that will be helpful."

T’Lanna nodded. “Between you and me, Lieutenant Syndel’s case is very much stacked against her. She lost emotional control and killed an unarmed, stunned guard. She has expressed regret at what she did but I can’t see the court seeing past the fact that she did it. I want to help her, I really do but I can only testify to the facts as I know them.”

Jonah nodded at that. "And we wouldn't expect anything less than the whole truth," he said. "But what we want to know is why, why in that moment did Syndel snap, especially when she calmly stunned the guard just a few moments prior?" He paused a moment to let that sink in for the counselor and then he continued with the center of his fears. "I'm worried about the fact Syndel is an Orion female who shot an Orion male. Starfleet hasn't always had the best track record with Orions, and I'm worried about bias going into this."

T’Lanna nodded. “As the prosecutor would tell me anything I’ve heard so far would be seen as hearsay.” She sighed. “I wasn’t expecting this to be easy, I just don’t want it being too stressful either. Our ships Doctor will be really annoyed if I don’t follow his advice.”

The defense lawyer offered a warm smile to the counselor. "How far along are you?" he asked. He didn't know the particulars of the counselor's pregnancy, but he figured she was in a high risk category if a CMO was worried about stress.

“Seven months” T’Lanna smiled warmly. “It was only four until recently.” She grinned as he gave her a confused look. “Long story very short, aliens we encountered played havoc with my Borg components as well as my gestation period. I ended up three months further forward than I should be.”

"That must have been something to get use to," Jonah replied. He knew the counselor was an ex-Borg, but beyond that, he had no idea how or why she was assimilated to begin with. That wasn't his business. To him, it seemed like a violation to mess with Borg implants like that, but again, it wasn't his business, nor did he want to bring up anything that might trigger more stress.

"I have a son," he added, he lowered the zip of his uniform jacket and reached inside to an inside breast pocket. Out of the pocket he pulled a small chip, he activated it and a three-dimensional holographic display showed a baby with a patch of brown hair and brilliant green eyes. "His name is Kristoffer and he is just shy of fourteen months old."

“Ohh my ...he’s gorgeous!” T’Lanna’s smile practically shone. “I got to see my son for the first time before I came here, Ryan .. Doctor Rose showed me when he did my scan. It’s incredible the way nature works to create life. I expect you miss him being stuck here.”

Jonah's smile turned a bit sad at that. "I do miss him," he said, he continued to stare at the baby, his precious boy. Many thought Jonah Webster was nothing but an ambitious, jerk, but if they knew the real Jonah, they would see how loving and tender he could be. But in the cut throat world of Starfleet and JAG, he had to be tough. "His mother accepted a six month assignment and she plans to take him with her, so that will be even more of a struggle." He gave the holographic one last look and clicked it off before returning it to the pocket from which the chip came.

“I’m sorry, that must be so hard.” T’Lanna offered an understanding smile. “I thought I was going to have to leave my son with family when I was onboard ship and I was struggling to come to terms with it. Fortunately Commander Stillwater has decided to make the ship family capable, so I don’t have to worry anymore.”

"I'm glad to hear that," Jonah responded, a quick nod followed. He was building a repoire with the counselor, which would help in the long run, but he also found her a pleasant person to talk with. An easy person to talk with. He wasn't sure what Rahmer's problem was, Counselor Vali would be a valuable asset to both sides in this case. He could tell how straight forward she was, but more than that, she was a genuinely honest person who took her job seriously.

“So be honest with me, am I going to be a help or a liability to the defense?” T’Lanna gave Jonah a concerned look. “I’ll admit I feel for the Lieutenant, from what I’ve read she simply lost control of her emotions and in return has lost her freedom and her career. I intend to speak with her as soon as I can to hear her side of events.”

Jonah gave a nod to the question. "You will be a help to the defense, especially as an expert in this field. Rahmer may not see it like that, but I don't think she will cause any undo stress on you during a cross examination. We know Syndel is not going to get away from this easily, but we want to make sure we are in the position to strike a deal if need be. Why she broke at that moment is vital to us getting a lesser sentence, and that is where you will be able to help us."

“When I spoke with the Lieutenant she admitted to me that she was angry, that she lost control of herself. Now I’m not going to sit in front of a jury and say that, because if I do she’ll have lost there and then!” T’Lanna sighed. “She has expressed remorse at what she did, she knows it was wrong and she’s waiting to be sentenced and locked away. I can’t say I like that but what if it’s unavoidable.”

"Make no mistake, there will be consequences for Miss Syndel, but it is our job to lessen those as much as possible," Jonah said. He knew the Orion would not escape this unscathed, but the defense could at least try to get something worked out besides a lifetime in a penitentiary in New Zealand. "All that you need to do is state your observations, you know best how to word these things in this situation."

T’Lanna nodded. “I will do my upmost to word it as carefully and as honestly as I can.”

"I know you will, counselor," Jonah replied, a smile forming on his lips. "Thank you for taking the time to meet with me, I appreciate you coming back over here," he said. He stood from his seat and held out a hand for the counselor to help her out of her own seat.

T’Lanna took Jonah’s hand smiling politely as he helped her up. “It’s my pleasure. If there’s anything you need feel free to call me.” Offering one last warm smile she headed on her way.

**

A post by:

Lieutenant JG Jonah Webster, JD
JAG, Junior Attorney for the Defense
NPC of K. Gallagher

Lieutenant T’Lanna Vali
Expert witness/Chief Counsellor
USS Standing Bear