Court Martial (TNG Novel)

Court Martial is the season 2 opener of Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2.
==Plot==
After the events of the last mission Captain John Branson faces a general Court Martial for protecting an officer who disobeying the Prime Directive, and becoming a religious figure head that altered a planet's destiny of growth even though it was a temporal planet can the crew help out their commanding officer or will the Enterprise have to get a new one?!
==Script Chapters==
===Teaser===
FADE IN
EXT-SOL SYSTEM, EARTH ORBIT
Enterprise is docked at Earth defense outpost Cairo.
INT-EARTH DEFENSE OUTPOST CAIRO BRIG AREA
John sits up as Lieutenant Mason walks over to him.
LTJG. MASON: You alright Captain?
CAPT. BRANSON: Jack, what's going on where am I?
LTJG. MASON: You're onboard Cairo Station in orbit of Earth you've been charged with editing a report to protect Commander Kal.
CAPT. BRANSON: What time is it?
LTJG. MASON: Oh four hundred. Your hearing starts in four hours. I suggest trying to get some sleep. You've got a big day ahead of you.
Lieutenant Mason walks away from the brig cell as John is still trying to process what's going on.
[END OF TEASER, FADE OUT]
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Theme music:
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Introduction:
CAPT. BRANSON'S [voice over]: Space The Final Frontier These are the Voyages of the Starship Enterprise its Continuing Mission: To Explore Strange New Worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations to boldly go where no one has gone before!
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A shot of Starbase 1 and the USS Enterprise as she slowly departs from the base, as her warp engines powered up and leaps into warp.
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STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
A STAR TREK FAN FILM PRODUCTION
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'BASED UPON STAR TREK CREATED BY:
GENE RODDENBERRY
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JARVIS DAVIDSON 
 AS
CAPT. JOHN BRANSON
The Enterprise flies by an asteroid
FELECIA LINKOUS
 AS
CMDR. JANE KAL
The Enterprise flies by Mars 
KEVIN REGAN
 AS
LT. JACK MASON
FERNE MYERS
 AS
LTCMDR. STEPHANIE WILLIAMS
USS Enterprise is flying next to a comet
DELENA "DEE" LUSK
 AS
LTJG. JAMIE KAYE
JACOB ELLIOT
 AS
DR. PETER LANGFORD
The Enterprise flies under a Pioneer-Class vessel
SADIE BRICKHOUSE
 AS
LTJG. SITO JAXA
The Enterprise flies by a planet as the sunsets 
BECKY ELLIOT
 AS
LT. T'MIR
The Enterprise flies by Earth and her warp nacelles power up and she leaps into warp.
CREATED BY:
JARVIS DAVIDSON & JEREMY REGAN
===Act 1===
FADE IN
INT-EARTH DEFENSE OUTPOST CAIRO HEARING ROOM
[EPISODE NOTES: OPENING CREDITS FALL OVER OPENING SCENES]
Fleet Admiral Ozawa taps the ship's bell six times as we see on one side is Captain John Branson and Commodore Jean-Luc Picard and on the other is Captain Audrey Hunter.
FLT ADM. OZAWA: This hearing will come to order. Captain John Branson you've been charged with editing a report to protect your first officer who violated the Prime Directive how do you plead?
CAPT. BRANSON: Not guilty your honor.
FLT ADM. OZAWA: Advocate Hunter, you may present your charges. 
CAPT. HUNTER: Thank you honor, Starfleet Command has made the following charges against Captain Branson for editing a report on Stardate 53656.1 during their mission to uncharted space where they encountered a planet that would every 11 days here 700 years passed on the other side.
Commodore Picard stands up.
COMM. PICARD: Admiral, what Captain Hunter has failed to realize that during the mission in question the shuttle craft Goddard was investigating a strange anomaly, and they were forced to land on the surface we're hoping to clear his name of any wrong doing.
FLT ADM. OZAWA: I will hear formal evidence beginning tomorrow afternoon at fifteen hundred hours.
She taps the ship's bell 5 times.
CUT TO:
EXT-SOL SYSTEM, EARTH ORBIT
Enterprise is docked at Earth defense outpost Cairo.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM/SITUATION ROOM
The senior staff are gathered in front of the wall monitor as John's trial begins.
CAPT. HUNTER [monitor]: I have studied Captain Branson's report, the Enterprise's sensor logs, and the reports of the other officers on the Bridge. And I believe every word of it. It's a point of pride for the Federation that Starfleet officers never lie or commit fraud, so I will accept the facts of the case as they have been submitted
CUT TO:
INT-EARTH DEFENSE OUTPOST CAIRO HEARING ROOM
Commodore Picard stands up.
COMM. PICARD: Admiral, if there are no facts in dispute, then this hearing would appear to be at an end. 
Audrey turns to him.
CAPT. HUNTER: Someone told me this was a search for the truth. Should we not follow that search wherever it takes us? 
Ozawa thinks and looks at them.
FLT ADM. OZAWA: The question of Captain Branson's motive is relevant. I will allow you to explore this issue, but only as far as I permit it. 
CAPT. HUNTER: Yes, ma'am.
FLT ADM. OZAWA: You may call your first witness.
[First witness is Captain Jessica Smith.]
CAPT. HUNTER: When did you first meet Captain Branson?
CAPT. SHELBY: High School we were high school sweethearts 
CAPT. SMITH: When we were both at Starfleet Academy.
CMDR. CLARKSON: When we were at Starfleet Academy he fended off some upper classmen who were being jerks to me, he's looked after me ever since.
CAPT. HUNTER: Do you believe the captain is emotionally and psychologically fit for command of a starship? There is nothing in his history or his personality that would suggest mental lapses? 
CMDR. TROI: No nothing in his file suggest that.
CAPT. HUNTER: But he falsified a report?
LT. MASON: He did it to protect a member of his crew and that was the ship's first officer.
CAPT. HUNTER: Has he ever been known to falsely edit a report?
COMM. PICARD: Never I taught him to never edit a report he sends to Starfleet Command.
She looks at Picard.
CAPT. HUNTER: So, why did he falsified a report to Fleet Admiral Ozawa about his first officer coming into contact with a pre-warp person?
COMM. PICARD: I don't know.
CAPT. HUNTER: I don't know, I don't know I rest my case.
Commodore Picard turns to John who's tensed up.
[END OF ACT 1, FADE OUT]
===Act 2===
FADE IN
EXT-SOL SYSTEM, EARTH ORBIT
Enterprise docked at Cairo Station.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM/SITUATION ROOM
Commander Kal and Lieutenant Sito are watching the trial.
LTJG. SITO: I can't stand this.
She walks out of the ready room as Commander Kal remains.
CAPT. HUNTER [monitor]; Doctor Langford have you ever seen the Captain lose his temper?
INT-EARTH DEFENSE OUTPOST CAIRO HEARING ROOM
DR. LANGFORD: No never.
She picks up a PADD and walks over to him.
CAPT. HUNTER [re: PADD]: Not even to Commodore Picard when the Enterprise visited the planet Majalis on Stardate 53943.7?
LTJG. SITO: No, ma'am he was mainly expressing his concern that the Commodore was too close to the situation.
CAPT. HUNTER: Was the Captain to harsh to Commodore Picard?
CMDR. KAL: No as Lieutenant Sito said he was expressing his concern that the Commodore was too close to the situation and wasn't seeing the big picture.
Captain Hunter thinks of her next words.
CAPT. HUNTER: Admiral how would you describe Captain Branson?
ADM. JANEWAY: He's respectful he values the Federation he would give his life for it and his ship and crew.
CAPT. HUNTER: Nothing further.
FLT ADM. OZAWA: Admiral Janeway is there anything else you want to add?
ADM. JANEWAY: No, ma'am.
CUT TO:
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE ARMORY
Commander Williams is helping her husband Jack reconfigure the phaser arrays as Lieutenant Sito is giving the update on the trial.
LTJG. SITO: She wants to gather all the evidence she can, and then put it to a vote.
LTCMDR. WILLIAMS: So, she's going to let the jury decide?
LTJG. SITO: Pretty much.
Jack walks over to the weapons locker and gets a phaser rifle.
LT. MASON: I say we end this right now. I say we go in there, tell them that the party's over, and get back to work! Who's with me?
[Several of the personnel get up, readying their weapons, as his wife gets in his way.]
LTCMDR. WILLIAMS: Stand down Lieutenant.
LT. MASON: Steph, this is wrong the Captain shouldn't be on trial.
LTCMDR. WILLIAMS: You're the one that spoke about the mission.
LT. MASON: She was demanding an answer.
Then the doors opened and Commodore Picard enters.
COMM. PICARD: Am I interrupting something?
LTJG. SITO [smiles]: No, sir.
COMM. PICARD: At ease.
He walks towards Lieutenant Mason.
COMM. PICARD: Lieutenant?
LT. MASON: This has gone on long enough, Commodore. We're ready to back your play.
COMM. PICARD: No we're not going to mutiny we're going to back Captain Branson as best we can, because I am sure he would the same for all of you in return so stand down Mister Mason.
Lieutenant Mason lowers the rifle as it powers down Commodore Picard leaves as Jack isn't happy.
[END OF ACT 2, FADE OUT]
===Act 3===
FADE IN
INT-EARTH DEFENSE STATION CAIRO HEARING ROOM
John walks into the hearing room as Admiral Ozawa is there as well.
CAPT. BRANSON: You wanted to see me?
FLT ADM. OZAWA: Yes, sit down.
John sits as Ozawa looks at him.
CAPT. BRANSON: Alice what is going on?
FLT ADM. OZAWA: The Federation Council wants you to answer for protecting one of your officers, but I tried to tell them that I took care of it but they wouldn't listen so for what it's worth you've done a lot of good out there since taking command of the Enterprise.
CAPT. BRANSON: And I've made some enemies Captain Audrey Hunter for example.
She looks at him.
FLT ADM. OZAWA: What happened I didn't get the full story from Admiral Mariner.
CAPT. BRANSON: In 2376 I was first officer onboard the U.S.S. Wraith and we were on course for Cardassia to help rebuild, we received a distress call on a Cardassian channel we altered course but it was an ambush 7 Cardassian warships dropped out of warp we were swarmed and they crippled and boarded the ship we put up a fight and they got to the bridge I saw that she was about to get shot so I got her out of the line of fire but she thought I was trying to rape her.
CUT TO:
EXT-SOL SYSTEM, EARTH ORBIT
U.S.S. Luna is docked as well.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE
Doors opened and Lieutenant Junior Grade Tina Branson walks onto the bridge and walks over to the ops console.
TINA: We need to talk now.
Sito follows Tina out of ear shot of everyone.
TINA: You've got your eyes on the sensors next to T'Mir and you're telling me you didn't detect a thing?
SITO: I didn't.
TINA: Check again.
At one of the consoles Sito works.
LTJG. SITO: Whoa, I didn't see that.
LTJG. T BRANSON: What is it?
She works at the console.
LTJG. SITO: That is a deletion. I wouldn't have even noticed it, except it caused a minor glitch in the code. It's from the exact time that we departed the time-dilatational planet and the Hornet met up with us.
Commander Kal enters.
LTJG. SITO: Commander we may of found something.
Commander Kal has a curious look on her face.
[END OF ACT 3, FADE OUT]
===Act 4===
FADE IN
EXT-SOL SYSTEM, EARTH ORBIT
Same shot.
INT-EARTH DEFENSE OUTPOST CAIRO HEARING ROOM
Rear Admiral Nallus Ree has arrived to see the hearing.
FLT ADM. OZAWA: Call your next witness.
CAPT. HUNTER: I call Captain John Branson.
John gets up and sits in the chair.
CAPT. HUNTER: Your full name?
CAPT. BRANSON: John Timothy Branson.
CAPT. HUNTER: Rank and position?
CAPT. BRANSON: Captain, commanding officer U.S.S. Enterprise.
CAPT. HUNTER: And how long have you held this position.
CAPT. BRANSON: One full year since Stardate 54455.1.
CAPT. HUNTER: Admiral?
FLT ADM. OZAWA: Captain, do you believe in the Prime Directive? 
CAPT. BRANSON: Yes I do.
FLT ADM. OZAWA: Then why did your first officer disobey it?
CAPT. BRANSON: She didn't want a death on her mind.
CAPT. HUNTER: Captain are you familiar with Stardate 51709.1?
CAPT. BRANSON: Yes I am its the second Neutral Zone Incursion.
She picks up a PADD.
CAPT. HUNTER: It was when the Enterprise encountered a brand new Romulan warbird that was destroying our Neutral Zone outposts and the sensor detection grid, and you didn't destroy the vessel.
CAPT. BRANSON: No I didn't I talked to the Commander I wanted to stop further bloodshed.
CMDR. SMITH (re: PADD): According to your chief science officer Lieutenant T'Mir the station was subjected to intense plasma bombardment. 
CAPT. BRANSON: That's correct. 
REAR ADM. TUCKER: When the Romulan vessel decloaked why didn't you fire on it? 
CAPT. BRANSON: We weren't in weapons range yet and I asked if Commander Al-Salah had phasers to fire upon the enemy vessel, and he told me that he didn't cause the phaser crews were dead I then ordered Lieutenant Mason to hail the enemy vessel to make a challenge to get its attention on us but the vessel ignored us and destroyed the outpost. 
Commodore Picard remains sitting there.
FLT ADM. OZAWA: Captain we questioned Captain Smith on her report of the events and she said that you wanted to disable the Romulan vessel. 
CAPT. BRANSON: That's correct ma'am. 
The Admirals looked at each other confused. 
REAR ADM. TUCKER: Why?
CAPT. BRANSON: I wanted to establish a dialogue with the enemy and hopefully end the conflict. 
REAR ADM. TUCKER (frustrated): But it didn't the Enterprise sustained damage due to an unexpected disabling of vessels warp drive resulting in Captain Smith ordering 14 ships to cover the Enterprise so she can get her warp drive back on-line and three automatic freighters were destroyed did I leave anything out Captain? 
CAPT. BRANSON: No, sir you didn't. 
Admiral Tucker calms down. 
FLEET ADM. OZAWA: We'll reconvene at 1550hrs. 
She taps the ship bell.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE ARMORY
The doors opened and Romulan disguised as an engineer walks over to one of the consoles and starts downloading the tactical information on the Enterprise, but wasn't counting on Commander Clarkson showing up.
CMDR. CLARKSON: What's wrong? 
ENGINEER: It appears that the main phaser couplings are having issues. 
[Kyle works at the console and he sees something and he removes it and sees that its a device, and deactivates it and scans it with a tricorder but then hears a phaser power up and turns to see the engineer.] 
[END OF ACT 4, FADE OUT]
===Act 5===
FADE IN
EXT-SOL SYSTEM, EARTH ORBIT
Same shot.
INT-USS ENTERPRISE WEAPONS CONTROL ROOM [RED ALERT]
[Kyle is held at phaser point by the engineer.] 
LTCMDR. CLARKSON: What's going on? 
ENGINEER: The Federation is weak they don't even defend their bases. 
LTCMDR. CLARKSON: What? 
He shot the bulkhead as it erupts in a shower of sparks. 
CUT TO:
INT-USS ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE [RED ALERT]
[T'Mir is at her station and reports.] 
LT. T'MIR: Commander my scanners have detected weapons discharge in the weapons control room. 
Commander Kal walks over to her station. 
CMDR. KAL (confused): Why would a phaser be discharged in there Jack take a 
security team down there and figure out what the hell is going on. 
LT. MASON (nods): Aye, Commander. 
[Lieutenant Mason walks into the turbo-lift and the doors closed, as Commander Kal is worried.] 
INT-USS ENTERPRISE WEAPONS CONTROL ROOM [RED ALERT]
[Kyle has his hands up as the engineer is holding him at phaser point.] 
CMDR. CLARKSON: Who are you? 
[The Engineer speaks Romulan.] 
LTCMDR. CLARKSON (shocked): You're a Romulan agent. 
ENGINEER: I did it for my people and our empire as I see your Federation is still weak you couldn't even defeat a Romulan warbird. 
[Then Kyle jumps him and they wrestle for the phaser as Kyle kicks him in the face, as he attempts to grab the phaser meanwhile Lieutenant Mason and two security officers are heading to support Kyle. As the hand to hand combat is going ok for Kyle who picks the phaser up and aims it at the engineer.] 
LTCMDR. CLARKSON: Now tell me what the hell is going on? 
[Then the doors opened and Lieutenant Mason and his security team shows up also aiming their phasers at the engineer.] 
ENGINEER: All I can tell you is that my people are going to rule the entire Alpha and Beta Quadrants. 
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE BRIG AREA CELL 4
John sits in his cell as Picard is visiting him.
CAPT. BRANSON: A hearing due to my command choices at the Romulan Neutral Zone incursion are you kidding me? 
COMM. PICARD: Not only that you falsely editing a report before sending it to a Fleet Admiral John I taught you better then that.
CAPT. BRANSON: Jean-Luc I wasn't going to allow Jane to be taken to rot at a Penal Colony for the rest of her life.
COMM. PICARD [sighs]: Well I did teach you to care about your officers.
SECURITY OFFICER: Their ready for you now sir.
CAPT. BRANSON: Very well Ensign.
CUT TO:
INT-EARTH DEFENSE POST CAIRO HEARING ROOM
Commander Smith speaks. 
CMDR. SMITH: The details of this hearing will remain classified, as ordered by the Command Council. 
FLT ADM. OZAWA: If there are no further questions? 
Everyone stands.
FLT ADM. OZAWA: This it is by the order of this court that we find Captain John Timothy Branson...
The doors opened and Lieutenant Mason and Commander Clarkson come into the hearing hall with a Romulan officer.
LT. MASON: We found him onboard downloading tactical information.
CMDR. CLARKSON: He also erased the sensor logs of that last mission and try to say that they violated the Prime Directive at will.
CAPT. HUNTER: I have nothing more to say.
She leaves the hearing room.
FLT ADM. OZAWA: Perhaps we should call a recess until tomorrow. 
The Admiralty leaves the room.
CUT TO:
EXT-SOL SYSTEM, EARTH ORBIT
Enterprise is docked at the defense outpost.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM/SITUATION ROOM
Captain Branson is looking out the windows of his ready room as the doors chimed.
CAPT. BRANSON: Come.
Doors opened and Lieutenant Mason enters.
LT. MASON: Am I bothering you, Captain? 
CAPT. BRANSON: No. Please, Mister Mason. Come in. 
LT. MASON: It is over. Admiral Rhee has called an end to any more hearings on this matter. 
CAPT. BRANSON: That's good. 
LT. MASON: Captain Hunter has left the Sol System aboard the Hornet. 
CAPT. BRANSON: We think we've come so far. The torture of heretics, the burning of witches, it's all ancient history. Then, before you can blink an eye, it suddenly threatens to start all over again. 
LT. MASON: I believed her. I helped her. I did not see what she was. 
CAPT. BRANSON [smiles]: Jack, villains who wear twirl their moustaches are easy to spot. Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well camouflaged. 
LT. MASON: I think after yesterday, people will not be as ready to trust her. 
CAPT. BRANSON: Maybe. But she, or someone like her, will always be with us, waiting for the right climate in which to flourish, spreading fear in the name of righteousness. Vigilance, Jack, that is the price we have to continually pay. 
==Cast==
===Starring===
*Jarvis Davidson as Captain John Branson
*Felecia Linkous as Commander Jane Kal
===Also Starring===
*Kevin Regan as Lieutenant Jack Mason
*Ferne Myers as Lieutenant Commander Stephanie Williams
*Jacob Elliot as Doctor Peter Langford
*Delena "Dee" Lusk as Lieutenant Junior Grade Jamie Kaye
*Sadie Brickhouse as Lieutenant Junior Grade Sito Jaxa
*Becky Elliot as Lieutenant T'Mir
===Guest Stars===
*TBA as Nurse Laurel Takahashi
*TBA as Transporter Chief Kayla Mackenzie
*TBA as Lieutenant Commander Samuel Kirk
*TBA as Ensign Elias Sheridan
*TBA as Lieutenant Angela Martine
*TBA as Captain Jamie Towe
*Jeremy Regan as Commander Kyle Clarkson
===Special Guest Stars===
*TBA as Fleet Admiral Alice Ozawa
*TBA as Rear Admiral Naulis Ree
*TBA as Captain Audrey Hunter
*Ashley M. Kalfas as Captain Jessica Smith
*Joshua Irwin as Commodore Jean-Luc Picard
==Trivia Notes==
===Background Information===
*Take place after the events of Mad Idolatry.
*Introduces new dress uniforms.