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been established beyond a reasonable doubt."
    "No, you don't understand," said
Calvin, breaking protocol by speaking without permission. "I'm not
interested in proving whether or not the accused is guilty. I'm
interested in finding out why he did what he did. People don't do
things without some kind of motive and we haven't established
one... at least, not a convincing one. My instinct is to believe
Raidan is involved in something larger, which may present a
credible threat to the Empire."
    The Judicator nodded, now
understanding. But the expression on her face, and most of the
faces in the room, was disapproving. "Lieutenant Commander, as only
a half citizen of the Empire and lacking sufficient rank, this
Court cannot consider your request. Unless such a motion is
seconded by an officer of flag rank."
    Calvin looked immediately to Vice
Admiral Harkov, eyes begging her to take up his cause. But she
refused to speak on his behalf.
    "If there is no further objection this
court is concluded and dismissed."
     

Chapter 5
     
    The day rolled forward in slow motion,
even though it was the start of a much anticipated
vacation.
    The station had a large staff apart
from the 500 person crew that maintained it, the facility provided
most of the conveniences someone might expect. From diverse food
options to commercial centers everywhere, everything buzzed with
activity on all public-access levels. But few of the diversions
piqued Calvin's interest. He avoided the gambling hall, even though
he was free to play as much as he liked now—he just didn't feel
like it, and instead spent his time exploring the station, enjoying
some alone time. He stopped from time to time to stare out the
windows at the planet below. He'd been all over the Empire and was
still caught off-guard by the raw beauty of a sapphire blue planet
almost close enough to touch.
    Eventually he returned to his room to
read. But his books couldn't hold his interest and neither did the
online nets, so he began sorting through papers relevant to the
Phoenix mission, and scribbled notes. He began a list of every
possible motive Raidan might've had to go rogue, no matter how
unlikely, hoping he could put everything in perspective.
    It was only a few minutes of
this, however, before his ideas ran out and became silly to amuse
himself, like " his pizza was laced with
amphetamines causing him to misbehave for several
days " and Calvin tossed his pen aside and
crumpled the paper into a ball. What was the point? The case was
decided. The sentence would be carried out. Asari Raidan would die,
and the truth, whatever it was, would die with him. Calvin knew
better than to hope he could figure out what Raidan's motives had
been. Not without more information. So it was a waste of time. An
unwanted distraction that was already ruining his
vacation.
    As a last resort, he turned on some
music—a very old piano solo recorded hundreds of years before, and
lay in bed. He wasn't tired enough to sleep, but as he followed the
gentle rolling notes of the sonata in minor key, he was able to
relax and push everything out of mind.
    Until the comm panel started chirping
at him. He resisted at first, covering his ears with a pillow, but
eventually answered the call. "Calvin here, what is it?"
    "Heya there, Cal." It was Sarah and
she sounded more than a bit tipsy. "It's me, you know. I'm with
Shen here and we were just sayin’ where the hell is that commander
of ours?"
    Calvin laughed. "In my
room."
    "In your room? At 1800 hours
on a firstnight of leave? Nooo ... can you believe that, Shen?
He's in his room on the first night of leave!" Her voice was
somewhat drowned out by the sounds of music and talking. "That
won't do. Unless..." she giggled. "You’re not alone over there are
you, Cap'n?"
    “No, I’m not alone,” Calvin looked
around his room; it was empty except for piles of his junk and a
few books on the floor. "Okay, I’m alone.”
    "Then come on over here and have a few
drinks with us,