Epilogue 2: Vindication

“The council is now in session,” President Roth declared. “If you will all take your seats. Bring them in.”

Una Chin-Riley had changed from her prison uniform into simple civilian clothes. She was escorted by Starfleet security officers, but was unbound. Her eyes were covered by a dark visor. Starfleet Medical couldn’t determine yet whether her Ilyrian enhancements would allow her damaged eyes to heal, and the legal restrictions on genetic augmentation complicated the question of whether she could receive clonal or cybernetic implants. Likewise, the scarring of her face and hands had been triaged, but lengthy surgeries would be needed to restore her appearance and mobility.

Erica Ortegas held her elbow to guide her. Ortegas would be standing trial herself soon, for the loss of the Reliant, but that was largely a formality. She had been offered medical discharge, and was inclined to take it. There was still hope that Starfleet medical could repair the brain damage and restore vision in her bad eye – for now, she wore a metal visor that bypassed the damaged nerves – but the psychological scars would take much longer to heal. At her other side stood Jim Kirk. They’d never met, but Kirk hoped his support would mean something to the council. The others who’d served with Una on Enterprise, thirty years ago now, watched from the gallery. Pike’s absence weighed heavily on Una, but he hadn’t returned to Earth yet. She also wished La’an could be with her, but Kirk’s first officer felt that the last thing to help Una’s chances was a Noonien-Singh in the courtroom.

“Una Chin-Riley,” the President said, “You stand accused of unlawful escape from court-ordered confinement on Salius 6. Of aiding and abetting an act of piracy in the theft of the Starship Reliant. Of conspiracy to commit theft of [] Federation research materials. Of aiding and abetting in the willful destruction of Starfleet property, specifically the USS Reliant. And finally, of providing tactical intelligence and assistance in an attack on a Starfleet vessel, the USS Enterprise, resulting in loss of life. How do you plead?”

Una held her chin high, as best she could. “Not guilty, Mister President.”

“So entered,” President Roth said. “Logs from USS Enterprise having established a preponderance of evidence for physical duress or coercion and in light of the medical reports of Doctors M’Benga, McCoy and Chapel, the charges against you are summarily dismissed.”

Una closed her eyes and let her shoulders relax slightly. The president continued. “The council recognizes your efforts, and your sacrifice, in defense of the USS Enterprise. The ship and its crew owe their lives to you. Even as the incident with Khan reminds us of the dangers posed by genetic engineering, and the reasons for the Federation’s restrictions on the practice, your actions show us that there are other possibilities, and that other cultures might find a different balance. And the ideals that our Federation stands for means that we must balance the safety of the many with the rights of the few. You exemplify the highest ideals of Starfleet, in spite of the treatment you have received under our laws. And for that reason, the previous judgment against you, for the falsification of official records to gain admission to Starfleet Academy in contravention of the Shengzen Convention, is vacated.”

A murmur went up through the assembly. Many were still reluctant, particularly so soon after news of Khan’s escape had broken, but the audience clearly approved; it would have been politically impossible to return her to prison after saving the Enterprise. “Furthermore-” he had to raise his voice over the crowd, “Furthermore! It is the judgment of this court that section seventeen of the Starfleet charter takes precedence over the prohibitions of Federation Eugenics Code 3.” The murmur in the court was louder this time, even though only about half of the gallery understood the technical language. The President explained: “In recognition of your record of distinguished service in Starfleet, your previous judgment having been vacated, you are granted full citizenship in the United Federation of Planets.”

The crowd was more torn. Una herself had expected no more than repatriation to Ilyria. Instead, she was not only free, but free to remain in the Federation. But the President still wasn’t finished. “And additionally, in light of the severity of the penalties already levied against you, your commission in Starfleet is restored. Una Chin-Riley, we can not give back the years of your life that our collective bigotry took from you, but we can grant you the rank of Captain, and, pending medical clearance, return you to active duty status.”

If there were any sounds of protest from the audience, Una didn’t hear it over the prolonged cheers from her friends and supporters. The applause drowned out some of the president’s closing remarks as well, which at this point were a formality. It was by no means a sure thing; there was a devil hiding in the details of “pending medical clearance”. Starfleet could massage the parameters of medical clearance to keep her out of active duty, and with her disabilities, it might even be the right choice.

But she had been vindicated. Even if she never set foot on a starship again, her record would show that she had done her duty and served with honor. That it wasn’t a crime to simply be who and what she was. She leaned toward Kirk and whispered the last question that weighed on her. “Where’s Chris?”