[hr]6 MONTHS LATER
NEW HAVEN
HUBERT'S OFFICE[hr]

[center][b]SOL INCIDENT INQUIRY: DURNHAM'S COURT MARTIAL TRANSCRIPT[/b][/center]

[quote]Gen. Lee Abrams: "Admiral Durnham, Lucas J., you were ordered by the Lead Director to [i]ONLY[/i] protect the medical ship and the Nano Construction Vehicle relegated to Sol in order to assist allied ships in the system. Is that not correct?"

[Durnham took a sip of water before replying to General Abrams]

Adm. Lucas Durnham: "Aye sir."

Gen. Lee Abrams: "Then why did you lead your ships on the offensive Admiral Durnham? You were supposed to stay back."

Adm. Lucas Durnham: "Sir, I escorted the two ships closer to the front to provide more adequate support to our allies. It was then we were engaged by electronic warfare and the friendly fire incidents occurred. I led the remainder of my unaffected ships to hunt down the culprit before damage could be dealt to our unarmed ships, sir."

[The jury began to look towards each other and hushed conversations could be heard but not understood]

Gen. Lee Abrams: "Why then did you deem the mining vessels to be a threat? The purpose of the mission was to apprehend the perpetrators alongside our allies, not annihilate them. We are a self-defense force admiral, not a proper military."

Adm. Lucas Durnham: "Sir, there was no way of knowing whether any of the mining ships were truly mining ships or disguised E-warfare vessels. I ordered my ships to engage any and all threats, this included the mining ships, sir."

Gen. Lee Abrams: "After your ships regained control, why did you not call off your assault? The Columbian and Xandalian fleet were more than capable of wiping out a small combat fleet. Were you under orders to do so?"

Adm. Lucas Durnham: "Sir, I was ordered by the Military Science Director Timothy Candy, to engage and show the might of New Haven to the foreigners, sir."

[The general stood up in shock, the murmurs then turned into heated debates among the jury]

Gen. Lee Abrams: "ORDER IN THE COURT!"

[The jury settled down while the general refocused on Durnham]

Gen. Lee Abrams: "Do you understand the accusation you are making Durnham?"

Adm. Lucas Durnham: "Sir, I am merely answering your question. I was under orders from Director-"

Gen. Lee Abrams: "Enough, I'm elevating this case to the board. This matter involves one of the directors. Court is dismissed."

[End of transcript][/quote]

Doug sat quietly next to Hubert as Hubert sat on the floor of his office listening to the audio transcript.

"I knew that little turd had something to do with the Sol incident. All Timbo had to do was be god damned patient! I said I would handle it! Jeez, it's like no one listens to me anymore."

Doug sat up and licked Hubert's face, "I listen! Besides, I think it's just because before meeting the rest of the colonies, Tim didn't really have much of a job, now he does!"

"So the man gets a taste for power and wants more... Geez, I knew I had a bad feeling about him back in the academy. WELP IT'S NOT DURNHAM'S FAULT! He was just following orders. Buuut, if I don't do anything, that'll push the blame on Tim and that's not exactly good either." Hubert put a hand to his chin and hmmmmmed as he thought of a way to deal with the situation.

"Wait, but isn't Tim a danger to the Directorate? Wouldn't it be better to [i]just[/i] let him get ousted by the board?" Doug tilted his head all confused like as he looked at Hubert.

"The procedures for ousting a director is time consuming and there's no telling what he'll do. He's had six months to prepare. It's best to let him think I'm an idiot that'll let him get away with everything while I keep my cards to myself. The Praetorian project is still on-going and I think I'm going to form a new task-force... Perhaps..." Hubert's eyes drifted to Lucas Durnham's file, he held out a hand and waved it over towards the front to move the holographic display in front of him. "Maybe, Admiral Durnham would need a demotion and a transfer to some remote 'ship breaking' facility and some RNR at Elysium-3..." Hubert smirked as he looked towards a file named [i]NHS SKYRIDER - PRAETORIAN PROGRAM[/i]

Doug then looked towards the file, "I thought Aldini was going to be the one taking the Skyrider..."

Hubert then replied, "He still is, but he needed a tactical adviser. From how Durnham conducted himself, the man seems to have a talent of knowing when and when not to do things. Sure the tribunal was a pain, but for him it was logical. Tim knew he had power over Durnham, but Durnham knew that he could flip it all around in a Court Martial. Looking over the evidence, the man even had back ups of his conversation with Tim. This course of action presented the highest chance of retaining his rank."

"Buuut he won't though."

"Yeah, but compared to what Tim could've done, this is still a cake walk. Not to mention, it will [i]not[/i] count towards his military record. Aldini and him will do well, I just know it." Hubert started writing up the orders and his course of action to the board of directors.

Doug rested his head on Hubert's lap, "Oh by the way! The Khan has a message for you too! Something about an alliance of sorts?"

"Oh that? SUN? MOON? What is it now? Just send Dick to do it, he knows what to do..."

Doug stood up and booped his nose on a holographic button labeled simply as: [i]'Call Dick'[/i]

Dick was once again going to be woken up rudely that day.