Stardate: 71208:1600
Title: The Further Adventures of Isabelle Grimm
Author: Dr. Lin Talbot
Time: Current
Scene: USS Relentless
Every ship should have one. It was Standard Operating Procedure. Still, she
sounded more like a function than a person.
In the two years since being assigned to the USS Relentless, Lt. Isabelle Grimm
had kept her, all too pointy, nose clean and out of everyone's business. Well...
other than her usual monthly report to Starfleet that she filed like clockwork
on the 2nd day of each and every month.
Being the only JAG Officer onboard essentially made her the baby fingertip on
the hand of the legal arm of the Judge Advocate General's Office, or 'Ship's
Ambulance Chaser' for short - a term she neither minded nor relished.
Her stomping ground included, but was not limited to, minor custody disputes
involving the odd souvenir or artifact up to the defense of any crewperson
charged with Breach of Conduct, General Orders or Code while in deep space.
'While in deep space' being the operative term, since most serious offenses were
placed on the backburner until the ship was docked and back under Starfleet
domain.
So it was, and with a near complete lack of any true Maritime law experience,
that Lt. Grimm was summoned to the Captain's Ready Room and came face-to-face
with Abigail Winters and Commander Portnoy Jessop.
Captain Winters was the first to speak. "I assume you've been briefed on our
current situation?"
"I sent the memo myself," Jessop was quick to interject.
Isabelle stood her full five foot ten inches tall with a physique that was a
little too thin, a profile that was a little too sharp, and hair that had the
very beginnings of gray strands that littered the top of her head.
"Yes, Ma'am." She nodded.
A long uncomfortable moment passed before Captain Winters continued... "And?"
Isabelle shifted her eyes from one officer to the other. "Uh... begging the
Captain's pardon... and... what?"
Abigail exhaled loudly. "Correct me if I'm wrong. Are you not our legal council
while in deep space?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Have you noticed that we have been charged with crimes of inter-universal
meddling, tampering in the affairs of other universes, causing untold damage to
the cosmic order?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
Exasperated, Abigail finished. "WHAT, pray tell, is your recommendation?"
"Erm... don't do the crime if you won't do the time?"
Jessop had had enough, his fist hit the side of the desk as he stood. "I see NO
humor in this situation. You are one answer away from the brig. What sort of
attorney are you?"
Winters rolled her eyes. "Typical, I would assume."
Isabelle straightened her crisply pressed uniform. "May I sit?" She gestured
toward an empty chair.
Abigail nodded.
Lt. Grimm kept her voice low and even. "You see, Sirs... I really don't have
much experience with the laws against interstellar meddling... In fact... I
don't recall any statute in Starfleet history that remotely refers to any of
this."
"Great," Jessop chirped.
Isabelle pursed her lips. "I can write a complaint... but to be filed where?"
She moved uncomfortably in her chair. "There appears to be a set of Orders of
Conduct in place that we, until now, have been unaware of. However, I believe
that if there is a system in place, there must then be a set of checks and
balances to be reckoned with by the Observers."
"Uh..." Captain Winters shook her head. "In layman's terms?"
"I believe, Captain, that eventually... we will get our day in court. And when
that day comes... rest assured... I will be ready."
With that, Lt. Grimm was dismissed and headed for her computer terminal. She had
a lot of studying to do. Some time, in the next four months, she would, as they
say, have to put her money where her mouth was.
======================
Lt. Isabelle Grimm (NPC)
JAG Officer
USS Relentless
======================
======================
Lt. Jr. Grade (Dr.) Lin Talbot
Medical Officer
USS Relentless
NCC-11966
======================
