A Monument of Ashes
Posted on Thu Dec 18th, 2025 @ 3:17pm by Lieutenant Devin Hadenbeer
1,678 words; about a 8 minute read
FOURTEEN YEARS AGO...
Devin sat in the conference room with her attorney, Skye Nouri. Skye was a civilian but despite that there was an almost military bearing about her in how she wore her graying black hair in a severe low bun at the back of her neck and the crisp cut of her dark gray pantsuit. Nouri was going over some files on several PADDs and looked so unruffled Devin was certain she had taken tranquilizers. Devin herself attempted an outwardly calm appearance but she worried over how the preliminary hearing had gone.
Nouri did not seem to dislike Starfleet as a whole; apparently it was the justice system she had issues with. And Nouri had been waiting literally years to try this case. Devin had been in custody for only thirty six hours when the attorney showed up in a crisp white suit, brief case in hand, demanding to see her client. It was then that Devin realized ‘Plan G’ was in effect, the one she knew nothing about because Jones wanted her utterly ignorant of the details in the interests of plausible deniability.
“How-” Devin began.
“They’re listening,” Nouri replied without looking up.
“Isn’t that unethical?” Devin inquired.
Nouri glanced up and smiled, flashing white teeth, “Oh yes. We have disrupted their nice, orderly court martial and now they have to regroup. I-”
The doors swooshed open and Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway entered. Nouri cooly regarded the Admiral and stated, “I am not finished consulting with my client.”
“Leave us,” Janeway said to Nouri. Nouri, in response, set down her PADDs, leaned back in her seat and steepled her fingers as she cooly regarded the Admiral.
“Make me,” Nouri replied levelly.
Janeway hesitated. Then she took a breath, “I have things to say to Devin-”
“Captain Hadenbeer, Admiral.”
“...Captain Hadenbeer, off the record.”
“I see,” Nouri seemed to ponder that, then: “No,” she then smiled, “Admiral, do you think I am going to give your side a tactical advantage by allowing you to bully or somehow coerce my client into saying something incriminating so you can lay more charges upon her?”
“This woman,” Janeway snapped, pointing at Devin, “Gave you classified data-!”
“Mister Jones gave me classified data, Admiral.”
“Under her orders!”
“Prove it, if you can, Admiral.”
Janeway took another breath, she then rubbed her forehead and then regarded the pair. Devin tried to maintain a neutral expression but she was pretty certain a small smile had formed on her face. Seeing Kathryn Janeway so discomfited was…entertaining.
Janeway took a seat and regarded Devin. Devin met the Admiral’s steely gaze with a calm, almost zen-like acceptance. She understood why the Admiral was so upset. Nouri had introduced classified information into the proceedings regarding Voyager’s return to the Alpha quadrant, how Janeway had violated the Temporal Prime Directive (technically twice, if one included her future self), all in an attempt to rescue her friends from a disastrous future fate. Nouri had crafted a tale of Starfleet Command ignoring Janeway’s many criminal acts undertaken in the Delta quadrant (among them the murder of Tuvix, again to save a friend.) in order to make her the hero the Federation needed in the wake of the Dominion war, which had ended in a stalemate and had cost the lives of so many. Here was the triumphant return of a ship and crew long thought lost, a heroic captain safely guiding her people home. Nouri had even insinuated Admiral Paris had perhaps a hand in the affair, rewarding Janeway for her saving his son. The point Nouri drove home was how Janeway had allowed her ship to be controlled by a program, the Emergency Medical Hologram, modified as the Emergency Command Hologram. One could have argued that the EMH/ECH was a program, not a fully fledged artificial intelligence but that was a matter of degree. The point was made: rules for thee, not for me.
“You had all of this planned out well in advance,” Janeway finally murmured, “You were expecting to be arrested and put on trial.”
“It was a distinct possibility,” Devin replied, “This was plan ‘G’,” she smiled, “Plan ‘F’ was to become a pirate. Mister Jones suggested we paint this huge Jolly Roger along the side of the ship. I confess it was a tempting notion. I used to play at pirates, when I was a child.”
“And this…defense?”
“I had nothing to do with it,” Devin explained, “Mister Jones handled all of the details. He is a rather intelligent man, Mister Jones. And he is my best friend. He was to me, I think, much the way Commander Tuvok is to you.”
“You can’t expect this to secure your acquittal,” Janeway noted, “Even if the jury found the parallels between us compelling you did violate Starfleet regulations.”
“We do not expect a full acquittal, no,” Nouri replied, “But we have caused the judge to find that moving forward will mean involving you. And in involving you it will bring Starfleet’s judgment into question. And if Starfleet’s judgment is brought into question, well, then things might get…ugly. Accusations of arbitrary justice will be thrown around. And when that happens I have compiled a list of past judgments I can use to point out just how arbitrary that justice is.”
“I thought you said they were listening?” Devin noted.
Nouri grinned, “Oh, I don’t mind them knowing just how screwed they are. I have had three years to prepare for this case. Even if we do not win Starfleet will be summarily humiliated,” Nouri turned to Janeway, “Of course, Admiral, if you were to resign that could impede our defense. You could claim you felt you were not worthy of the rank. I suppose it depends upon how badly you want to see Captain Hadnebeer hang. Metaphorically, I mean.”
Janeway glanced between the two women. She ultimately stood.
“I do not think I like you very much, Captain,” she stated.
“And I think you are a hypocrite, Admiral,” Devin replied simply, “You broke numerous rules, violated regulations and were rewarded for it. And you did it for selfish reasons, just as I did. But there you are, sporting a flag rank while my freedom and reputation are at risk.”
“They can’t afford not to punish you.”
Devin’s smile turned sad, “Admiral, my best friend and daughter are lost to me. No amount of punishment will wound me as deeply as that. I-”
The doors swooshed open again and the prosecutor, Commander Pineda stepped in. He hesitated when he saw Janeway, then turned to Nouri and held up a PADD.
“They are…interested,” he confessed.
“Interested in what?” Janeway asked.
Pineda hesitated but Nouri explained, “Elle’s mental architecture. She periodically sent our office updates. It is the most comprehensive mental mapping of any artificial intelligence. We submitted a sample and apparently Starfleet’s Research and Development division is salivating over the prospect of studying it.”
Devin sat up, “Skye, you can’t-!”
“Captain,” Nouri replied calmly, “This was Elle’s idea. Is it really that surprising she loved you so much that she was willing to give them this to save you?” she turned back to her prosecutor, “Commander what did Starfleet Intelligence say?”
“Yes, Commander,” Janeway noted, frowning, “What did Starfleet Intelligence say?”
Pineda hesitated, then decided upsetting a Vice Admiral was a Bad Idea, “We…There are a series of Ferengi bank accounts with substantial assets…”
Janeway turned to Nouri, shock on her face, “Are you telling me they are attempting to bribe you!?”
“Not a bribe,” Nouri countered, “Due compensation for the loss of a Starfleet vessel as well as equipment, ordnance and auxiliary craft. With interest. Apparently Elle was quite good at playing the Ferengi market. Starfleet Intelligence could use those resources. Imagine it; funds not tied to the Federation in any way, shape or form, to be used in any covert operation. And it affords the Federation an inroad to Ferengi economics if they so choose to employ them.”
Pineta paused, then confessed, “Yes, Starfleet Intelligence is…interested. Very much so.”
“This is so…unethical,” Janeway murmured, her expression one of mute horror, “It’s almost…barbaric.”
Nouri shrugged, “From what little I learned from interacting with Elle, Admiral, I was under the impression she was an ethical being. This money was to pay for a vessel she felt she did not own but nevertheless was reluctant to give up. For her to recompense Starfleet for the loss of their vessel seems very much in line with her character,” the defense attorny turned to her opposite number, “Do you have an offer?”
“Dishonorable discharge, no time served.” Pineta replied, “I can’t offer any more than that. An example has to be made.”
Nouri nodded, “Let me consult with my client.”
Pineta nodded and left. Janeway pursed her lips thoughtfully as she regarded Devin.
“A person can be judged by the company they keep,” the Admiral finally said, “You have extraordinary friends, Captain, for them to do so much for you,” she paused and added wryly, “I will not be submitting my resignation today.”
After she departed Nouri cocked her head, “It’s the best offer we will get, Devin. They need to make an example, as the Commander said, and this way their ‘honor’ is satisfied. The deal about the architecture and money will be kept a secret, of course, but…”
Nouri paused, then reached into an inner pocket and removed a hand kerchief and slid it across the table to Devin, who took it and wiped her eyes. For the first time the crushing loss of…everything came down upon Devin. Elle and Jones gone, her ship lost, her career destroyed. She took in a ragged breath and nodded.
“Take the deal,” Devin finally stated, once she was convinced her voice would not crack, the words ashes on her tongue as she contemplated a life devoid of almost everything she loved and held dear…
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