Chapter 54

 FIFTY-FOUR

Count shifted uncomfortably in the witness stand.

“Can you please repeat that?” he asked.

“How long have you known the defendant?” Roschack asked.  

“About two years now, give or take.”

“In those two years, have you had any reason to suspect the defendant of treasonous activities? Did he hold a grudge towards Osea?”

Count shrugged “Hard to say. At Zapland we all had our own beef with Osea but we still went out and did our job. It’s what was expected of us.”

“Why would you have a ‘beef’ with your home country? Especially as pilots and officers?”

“Because we weren’t either. We were convicts that they used as cannon fodder. Flying these decrepit spare airframes that the air force could afford to lose. We weren’t expected to come back and not many of us would.” Count paused and looked to Trigger “That was until he showed up. They’d send us out to die and he’d make sure we would all come back. We started surviving, and hell, we even began winning. He’s the reason we made it through half the missions they sent us on.”  

Trigger smirked from behind the defense table. Jeeze, now you admit it. he thought to himself.

 

“What about after you two were assigned to the LRSSG, any indications the Major would have ill feelings towards the country, any seditious thoughts or feelings?” Roshack probed, causing Count to shake his head again. “Not a damn thing. Frankly I think he was eager more than anything, especially after Stonehenge. We were winning, I think that was getting to his head a bit really.”

“What about after his incident with General Clemens? Any resentment from that?”

Trigger felt himself get flush in the face at the name. Clemens had been insulted that a lowly pilot had been taking the glory of the war and had hired a group of mercenary pilots to kill the LRSSG and had sabotaged two important missions and cost the group time in hunting down an Erusean submarine. Count’s laughter however caught Trigger and the rest of the courtroom off guard.

“Is something funny captain?” Roshack asked.

Count took a moment to compose himself from the fit, “No, it's just, another pilot in the squadron really put the hurt on him, Clemens I mean. After that he was a punchline – quite literally – instead of anything more serious. Nah the only person I saw Trigger get pissed towards was Mister X.” 

“And who’s this ‘Mister X’?”

The smile fell from Counts face, “He was the son of a bitch that killed the group commander, that’s who. Trigger took him down though. Unfortunately, the bastard survived but what can you do.” He said bitterly. Roshack nodded his head sympathetically. “Sorry for the loss of your commander. With that being said, would you say the Major would have any Erusean sympathies then at the end of the war.”

Count remained stoic “None. He made that quite clear I think at the end there, bagging how many radical jets? Plus, the Arsenal Bird? Overall, he probably downed more Erusean jets than most of us see in our entire careers. I was just lucky enough to be on his wing for most of it.”

Roshack nodded, “So when did you learn of the Major’s relationship with the Princess?”

“On the flight line a month ago.”

“And was there any indication before that point that he was seeing her? Any indications he was sending secrets to someone?”

Count shook his head “Not a thing.”

Roshack smiled before turning his attention to the judges. “No further questions your honor.” he said before spinning on his heel and walking back to the defense table. 

Trigger’s heart skipped a beat at hearing that. 









Trigger sat behind the stand and could feel every set of eyes bore in on him as he was sworn in by Ackermann. 



It was almost over. He couldn’t help but feel useless as he waited for the Judges to finish their deliberations and make a final verdict on his future. When Trigger probed Roshack on his feelings, the JAG sighed and shrugged “We laid out the evidence best we could Trigger.” was all he said before changing the subject. 

Trigger leaned to Roshack “That could have gone better.” 

Roshack held up a hand to quiet him “It’s not over yet.” he reminded him.

 

Ackermann strolled up casually to the lectern. 

“Captain, you mentioned earlier you were assigned to the penal unit, is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“Explain to the court why you were assigned to the penal unit.”

Roshack leaned forward “Objection, relevance?” 

Ackermann shrugged “Goes towards the witness's credibility.”

There was a long pause while the judges murmured amongst themselves before Payne spoke up. “Sustained, the witness will answer the question.” 

“I was convicted of fraud.” Count replied slowly.

“So if you were convicted of lying once, why should we believe you now?”

“Objection! Badgering!” Roshack protested 

Ackermann held up his hand “Withdrawn. No further questions.”

Count gave Trigger an apologetic look before dusting himself off and exiting the courtroom. 

Trigger sighed, “I see your point.” 

“Just wait.” Roshack reminded him as he stood up.

“Defense calls Colonel John Mancuso to the stand.”

“Who the hell is that?” Trigger mouthed to Roshack. The lawyer shook his head dismissively as an older man walked to the witness stand. He wore a Marine Corps service dress and was adorned with various combat medals and ribbons. Trigger had also never seen the man in his life, and the name sounded only vaguely familiar to the pilot. 

Ackermann finished swearing the colonel in before he started his deposition. 

“Can you please state your Name, Rank and current billet for the record, sir?” Ackermann asked. 

“Colonel John A Mancuso,Commanding Officer Marine 5th Corps of Engineers.” the officer said authoritatively. 

Roshack stood behind the lectern “Colonel, can you briefly explain to the court what the Osean 5th Corps of Engineers is. You’ll have to forgive me but your decorations dont suggest you were combat engineer.” 

Mancuso cracked a smile. “We go by the name Basilisk. While I can’t go into detail about what we do, just know that when Osea has a problem, we’re the ones that sort it out with the least amount of fanfare. I’d like to see Sea Goblin claim the same.” 

There was a nervous laughter amongst the attendees. You guys have no idea Trigger thought to himself.

“Can you please explain your personal interactions with the Major?”

“Personal interactions? This is the first I'm seeing him face to face. However one of my teams did work alongside the Major for the period of his absence from the military officially.”

“So you were harboring a known fugitive?” 

Mancuso shrugged “Not the most distasteful thing I had to do that week so I don’t feel bad about that call. I had credible intelligence the major’s life was in danger, and I had one of my strike units intervene. After finding him in the condition he was in, I wasn’t sure exactly who in Osea could be trusted so we kept his involvement strictly off the books.” 

“And why was that? Surely you could have relayed this information to Osean high command and they could have assured his safety without any of this.” Roshack said motioning around the room. 

Mancuso stared at him “He had a brigadier general who tried to kill him. Honestly I think he was in better hands with my team, plus we made use of his talents.” 

“And what talents were those?” 

“Close air support primarily. The team that picked him up was conducting counter-terror operations in southern Usea, he was a major aspect in their operations until the termination of the mission.”

“So he was still assisting Osea, but off the books?”

“In a manner of speaking. Yes.”

“And at any point did you or your men suspect him of betraying Osea in any way, to either the Erusean Government or any radical elements?” Roshack probed.

“My team leader had one of the best interrogators talk to him. They gave their approval and had no complaints so I didn’t feel the need to question that.” 

“Really, one man's opinion is all you needed?”

“I do trust their judgment that much. They wouldn’t be on the team if I didn’t.” Mancuso explained. 

“And how did your team separate with the Major?” 

 Mancuso took a deep breath. “They were assaulting a hostile Airfield, almost no support to speak of and, despite what the official report may claim, in direct violation of my orders and the wishes of Oured. My marines on the ground were pinned down by enemy air assets. Trigger had used his aircraft to buy them time to regroup. He was shot down and in the chaos we were never able to find a body."

"So you didn't know for certain he was dead?"

"We had enough reason to suspect he had been killed when the PJ’s found the crash site. We had already taken heavy casualties and the officer in charge of the clean up decided to dedicate resources to the airfield. They simply didn’t have the men available to launch a rescue mission for someone who probably was dead.”

“So is it fair to say that the Major was an asset in your operations in Usea?” 

Mancuso nodded “He is the only reason why we were able to complete the mission in Usea. To my understanding the men under my command gave him the chance to back away but he didn’t. And even when my hands were tied and I was having another team come to apprehend him, He kept to the mission. We might have lost a marine that day, but Trigger’s the only reason we didn’t lose an entire team.”

Roshack grinned “Thank you Colonel, No further questions.”

Next up was Ackermann. The prosecutor paused for a moment staring at the marine.

"When my office received notification that you'd be testifying. I didn't know what to make. So much black ink." He started "As I said, some of our mission's are more interesting than others" Mancuso quipped. "Quite, so what I want to know is, how can we believe a word you said?"

"Objection! Badgering the witness!" Roshack interjected. "Goes towards credibility. I couldn't find a single after action report that wasn't drowning in it. Makes me wonder if the Chief's of Staff don't have their fingerprints on a cover-up."

Payne glared at Ackermann. "Councilor, I will remind you that the Chiefs are not on trial. Either get to the point, rephrase the question or move on." She sternly reprimanded.

"Of course your honor; Colonel, what little information I could find on this last mission pointed me to more questions than answers. Who your supposed source was to find the major, what condition he was in, where you rendered aid. All classified higher than probably the president. But the one question at the forefront of my mind is how six of the eight Marines on that mission are now AWOL, the only ones accounted for are currently in an ICU in a coma, and were the casualty on that mission. What is going on that only you are the one left to supposedly exonerate the Major? Awfully suspicious if you ask me about that timing. Where are your men, Colonel?"

Mancuso shrugged, "Can't say that I know. Last I heard from them was signing off on the block leave with the destination being to sit on a beach. They're Marines, they like the beach. Maybe look for them there." He explained condescendingly. Ackermann aggressively closed the distance "Colonel I think you know exactly where those men are, and I swear to god-" he was cut off by the banging of the gavel. "Colonel Ackermann, that is enough! Move on or im holding you in contempt!" Payne shouted.

Ackermann took a step back, straightening out his service coat and exhaled sharply to compose himself. "My apologies to the court. I'm done with the witness" he said through gritted teeth.

Trigger watched as Mancuso walked out of the stunned courtroom. 

Payne sighed, "we will recess until fifteen hundred today. Defense can call their final witness then." She instructed with a bang of her gavel.

Trigger could see a puturbed look on the JAGs face. "Well, I thought that went well at least." He said. Roshack shook his head dismissively "not quite the slam dunk I was hoping he'd be but, it was something. Maybe if we're lucky we can get you off on a technicality." "That's not a 'Not guilty' verdict though." "Yeah and it's not a cell or a firing squad either. Take what I can get you"

***

“Major, you understand you do not have to testify today, is that correct?” Roshack asked. 

Trigger nodded “I am aware.”

“Major, At any time did you divulge secret, privileged or otherwise restricted information to the Princess of Erusea, or any other officers in the Erusean military?”

“I did not.”

“At any time Major, did you have any indications that elements of the Erusean Military were planning on the attack on the night of May seventeenth?”

Trigger was silent. “Major?” Roshack probed. 

“Intel briefings to us said something was going to happen, but my theories on who was involved were incorrect.” he replied tactfully. 

“Explain Major.” 

“It was my personal belief that it was Colonel Andre’s that was the traitor. When the bullets started flying and an Erusean junior officer had a gun to my head, I knew my theory had been disproven.”

“And what happened then?”

“He shot me, I returned fire. I’m still here and he’s not. In most cultures we call that a ‘win’.” Trigger quipped, subconsciously rubbing his side where Asher’s 9mm had grazed him.

“After that Major, what did you do?”

“Well the Radicals attacking the base we were at were still trying to kill us. I knew I had to get the Princess out before the situation could get worse. We had been inspecting one of the advanced jets Ersuea had and that seemed like as good a plan as any. I was able to get the Princess out and we made it to McKnight. My memory is a bit fuzzy after that.” Trigger explained. 

“So it's fair to say you were not friends with the Eruseans?” 

Trigger chuckled, “I think it’s more accurate to say I wasn’t friends with anyone given how most of my memory of McKnight was having the shit kicked out of me.”

“Generally people don’t find that humorous Major.” Roshack said flatly. 

“Guess you had to have been there.”

“Final question Major. What is your relationship with the Princess of Erusea?” 

Trigger paused to find his exact wording. 

He smiled. “Do you want the short answer or the long?”

“Indulge the court, please.” Roshack elaborated.

“She’s the reason I didn’t roll over and die, though lord knows I had the chance. In that concrete hell of McKnight, Cossette is why I stayed alive. When I was going through the recovery, both times, Cossette was on the forefront of my mind getting through that pain. Cossette is why I stayed with the Basilisk Marines. I figured If I couldn’t have protected her back then when I was right next to her, I might be able to do a better job from within the cockpit, taking the fight to the only enemy left. When I got shut down in Chopinburg, Cossette was the one thing that kept me alive. She’s the one thing in my life that has given me a sense of purpose. Now I admit I did knowingly carry on the relationship against the regulations, but that's because Cossette was the one thing I didn’t want Osea to take from me. I’ve given you people enough of my life, I didn’t want to give my fiance up too.” 

Roshack nodded satisfied before he allowed Ackermann to ask his questions.

“Major, just as confirmation, You were aware you broke regulations by having this relationship with the Princess?”

“I am. But don’t ask me to cite doctrine because I can’t.” Trigger quipped

“Doesn’t that violate the very oath you took, the one we all took, while betraying the trust your fellow countrymen put with you when you became a commissioned officer in the Air Defense Forces?”

Trigger shrugged “Figured you all owed me that one after throwing me in jail the first time around.” 

“Major, answer the question.” Ackerman replied forcefully. 

Trigger leaned in closer to the microphone in front of him. “I did.”

“So it stands to reason that if you ignored one regulation, You very well likely ignored others?” 

Trigger shrugged “Well I’m sure theres about eight or nine dozen I broke on any given mission. At least half a book from flight school that says in no uncertain terms about flying in tunnels. You going to hit me with that too?” 

Ackermann sighed. “No further questions,” he said, returning to his desk. 

The rest of the day in court went by as a blur. Both Ackermann and Roshack made their closing arguments on the guilt of Trigger before Payne had dismissed them. 

***

The neighborhood was quiet, it unnerved Trigger. He had been shot at, shot down, shot. Flown Close Air Support missions in a fighter never built for it in abhorrent conditions, and even asked the love of his life to marry him. But what was in the house in front of him paralyzed him beyond reason.

The house itself was unremarkable in every way, much like its occupant. It was a two-story home with a porch, a garage, and a small front yard with a mailbox.

Trigger stood on the sidewalk staring at the house for what felt like an eternity. It wasn’t until he felt a slight squeeze on his hand that he snapped back to reality.

“Is everything alright honey?” She asked him, a slight look of concern on her face.

“Yeah… just… Haven’t really been home in what seems like forever” Trigger sighed. It was true, while he had many places he lived in growing up, this place was the closest to a ‘home’ he had since his mother had died.  The last time he was here was the day he moved out for college. Never returning during his breaks, and never having time once he had joined the Air Force. He quickly did the mental math trying to figure out how long it might have been for him. Six, seven, eight? He thought to himself.

“I know this is really interesting and all. But if you two will excuse me. I’m going to go away now. Call me when you guys need a ride” The Roshack said behind them, pulling a cigarette out of a case from his coat pocket and lighting it up. His annoyance from the late night favor Trigger called in was apparent.

Trigger smirked and looked at Cossette, “Yeah I guess we should”.

The two watched the car pull away and turn the corner before turning their attention to the house.

With Cossette’s hand in his he made the short walk from the sidewalk, up the steps and to the Front door. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door three times.

 

They heard the creak of floor boards, then the twisting of a dead bolt before the door opened. Cossette was taken aback. The man before her appeared to be in his late fifties, His hair once a dark brown had started to grey and thin, from what she could tell the man in his prime was muscular but had lost most of the tone with age. He wore slacks and a sweater and had a pair of reading glasses on the crook of his nose, despite his wrinkles, the man also looked exactly like Trigger.

For what seemed like an eternity the three stared at each other.

“Hey Dad” Trigger finally spoke up.

“Nothing as much as a letter for two years and you decide to show up on my doorstep as a criminal?” the man said disapprovingly.

Trigger did not even flinch at the jab.

The Elder man sighed, turning and stepped out of the doorway, motioning them to follow him in the house. “Well I guess if you came all this way, least I can do is hear you out.” he said, patting Trigger on the back.

The man walked from the doorway to a small Kitchen. “Can I get you something to drink? Water? Soda?” The man shouted from the other room.

“Water please!” Cossette shouted back

“I’ll have that too, please!” Trigger added.

The man returned with two glasses, handing one to Rosa and keeping one for himself. “You’re a big boy now, You can get water yourself” He said to the pilot.

Cossette looked around the living room, and noted it was extremely spartan. While there was a Television on the far wall, with a Sofa and two chairs, she noted the lack of any other attempts of decorations in the home, no pictures adorned the walls like she expected of the Trigger family home.

Trigger returned a moment later with a glass of water, and the elder man motioned for the two to take a seat on the Sofa while he occupied a chair.

The awkward silence filled the air.

“So, I see you finally brought a girl home” the man broke the silence

Trigger for the first time that night cracked a smile

“Yeah, I guess I did, Dad, this is my fiancé Cossette. Cossette, this is my Dad” Trigger said, introducing the two.

Triggers father shook Cosette’s hand

“The name is John, not sure how much my ungrateful son has told you about me, but at least he told me before the wedding that he was getting married.” John said flatly. Cossette didn’t know if he was joking or not. The silence in the room was unbearable.

“How did you two meet?” John asked

***

General Payne sat across from the esteemed senator. 

“We both know how this needs to go.” the Senator explained. 

“I am aware.” Payne replied tersely.

“Are you Marjorie?” 

“Yes, Angela. I know what you need.” 

“Then why are you the last one that still needs convincing?” the Senator pressed.