The Right Side of the Law
Posted on Wed Aug 5th, 2026 @ 3:14am by Lieutenant Commander Corin Layal & Lieutenant Vincent 'Ghost' Zandrell
Edited on on Wed Aug 5th, 2026 @ 10:58am
2,724 words; about a 14 minute read
Mission:
Episode 2 - The Sins of History
Location: Office of the Emergency Services Unit - Deck 10 - USS Artemis
Timeline: MD012 1100 hrs
Layal made her way to Deck 10, hoping to catch one of the tactical officers that had worked the case. These were the people that she counted on most to help her understand the heart of most cases. They knew the things that were left out of reports - either intentionally or unintentionally, and she had learned early in her career that not talking to them early and often could be a prosecutor's worst mistake.
Generally speaking, she never had a problem establishing a good rapport with most officers. They usually want to win cases as much as the prosecutors do and tended to appreciate being acknowledged for their work and expertise. With that in mind, there was a potential conflict. Not so much a conflict, but there was one investigating officer that she assumed would be less than pleased to find out that she was working the case.
Vincent was in the ESU Office, running through his normal checks before calling it a day. He was partially rushing to get back to Cassie, but also making sure to put in some extra work since he was still trying to get back into a good routine. It had been a long time since he had been part of a team and he didn't want to screw it up. More so, because he was the XO and might one day be called up to take command of it.
Layal saw Lieutenant Zandrell in the ESU office and almost kept walking. The Chief was likely nearby and technically the ranking official in the department. But, she thought better of it and stopped herself. Zandrell was one of the questioning investigators - he had done quite a bit during the interview actually. If this case was going to turn into a trial, they wouldn't be able to avoid one another for long.
She stepped into the doorway, standing at the threshold. "You seem to be doing well for yourself," she commented sincerely as she took note of their surroundings.
Vincent paused and looked away slightly from his work. Not turning to face the doorway, just yet, but still aware that someone was there. Someone familiar to him due to the voice. He soon turned around and faced the woman at the door and immediately felt his heart beat a bit faster than before. With a raised brow he approached her slowly. "Corin, right?" He said softly as he came to a stop a few feet in front of her, noticing the pips on her collar. "Lieutenant Commander... seems you've done well for yourself too." He wanted to extend his hand but wasn't sure how it would go as he felt the tension and slight discomfort coming from her as well. "Gonna be honest. Not sure what to do next. Either shake your hand or prepare to be slapped in the face. So, dealers choice."
"You are a Starfleet officer. Slapping you would be aggravated assault. I'd like to keep my job," she replied with a smirk, though her smile quickly faded as she realized the irony of her statement and immediately felt awkward.
Layal extended her hand as an offer of peace and took a deep breath in an attempt to reset the moment, "Just because I objected to your reinstatement, doesn't mean I wanted you to fail."
"If it makes you feel any better, Commander... I'm as shocked as you are that I am not in some cell somewhere." He replied as he extended his own hand to shake hers. "And... if you slapped me. I wouldn't have pressed charges. Might have even deserved it."
"I hope not. You of all people should have learned to follow the rules by now. Second chances like yours don't come around too often," she said pointedly. "But as long as you aren't a danger to society and don't do anything to screw up my case, I don't really care what you do in your free time." She paused and looked him over for a moment. "You aren't a danger to society are you?"
Vincent shrugged slightly, a bit of a smirk on his face, as he replied. "Put me at a Tongo Table with a bunch of Ferengi and they'll tell you I'm a danger." He let out a quick laugh before adding firmly. "As of yet, Commander, it remains to be seen. I can't promise you I'll follow every single rule to the letter, but I won't be putting anyone down unless they I have no other option. Things are different now and... I'm not in the same state of mind I was when we've crossed paths."
"I see," she said simply. Layal could appreciate a sarcastic comment and might have found the joke funny if he hadn't been hedging on his answer. She had two jobs in the courtroom: Seek justice and ensure public safety. Public safety was the one reason the prosecutor's office had objected to his reinstatement - why she objected to his reinstatement. The fact that Zandrell wouldn't give her a straight answer to a direct question made her uncomfortable.
"What about Vamcet. Is he a threat?" She asked, changing topics abruptly.
He looked at her calmly, sensing the uneasiness again, before replying to her question. "Honestly? I've never known a Cardassian to give himself up so calmly without an ulterior motive." He said as he crossed his arms over his chest and let out a deep sigh. "On the one hand, it's good that we didn't have to go into a fight a lose anyone. On the other hand, it, given the record I saw and experience with Cardassians, it's drastically out of character. Straight out of left field. I'm not an expert in criminal defenses, but it wouldn't shock me if he was going for some kind of insanity plea or working a sympathetic angle to get a softer hand during sentencing." He paused for a second before adding. "It's... I don't know... uncomfortable."
"Can I sit?" Layal asked making a slight gesture toward a chair.
"Please." He stepped aside to let her pass.
"If this remorse is genuine, then who is responsible for the missing Bajorans? Does his confession and surrender stop that, or are we going to see an uptick from whoever it is that is trying to protect him?" Layal asked, suspicion heavy in her voice. "An insanity could be at play. I have reason to believe it probably will be. But whether he's in a locked mental health ward or a Federation facility makes no difference to me. Either might as well be Risian resorts compared to what he put Bajorans through during the Occupation."
As he sat down he heard her speak. He felt the emotions behind every word, but he also felt the pain behind them. A part of him felt that this fight was more personal than anything else. A Bajoran prosecuting a Cardassian was sure to bring up some old feelings. "I get it, Commander. Given the history, I wouldn't be surprised if they try to push your buttons with it. Claim you're taking a more personal stance and demand you be replaced by someone who isn't Bajoran." He looked back to the replicator and gestured to it. "Drink?"
"No, thank you," Layal replied, looking at the replicator, then back to Zandrell.
"I've been doing this a long time, Lieutenant," she replied, turning the topic quickly back to Vamcet. "The only time anyone can get a reaction out of me on the job is when I want them to. Sometimes it's useful for a Judge," she paused and smile dryly almost as a demonstration, "Or a Defendant to see a little rage or righteous indignation." She let out a light laugh as shook her head. "But I have a longstanding reputation for integrity and fairness in the courtroom. It will take more than pointing out my nose ridges to get me bounced from the case."
"I'm not, in anyway way, saying its going to be a problem. Nor do I think you will turn it into a personal fight, but knowing how underhanded and tricky these guys can be with their legal system, it going to come up and your 'longstanding reputation for integrity and fairness' may not matter if they feel its going to put a bias slant on any argument you make." He stood up and held his hands out. "All I am saying, it could be used as a means to delay things. It's not against you personally, but the history your two species share. The same strategy could be used if it were a Klingon Prosecutor with a Defense Attorney who has a Romulan as a client. Everyone here has been caught off guard by this guy coming in quietly and calmly." He paused for a moment and adding with a smirk. "So, do what he wants and treat him like his plea for mercy is genuine."
Vincent stood there for a moment, choosing his words carefully, before speaking. "He came in peacefully. No fight whatsoever. True, its unexpected, but possibly not a trick. Then, do what anyone would do in a situation like this? Plead to his mercy. Get him to tell you about the missing Bajorans. Prove to us they are even alive. Don't demand it. Remind him that revealing their location will go into proving his plea for mercy is actually genuine. Tell him about their families. Use the missing Bajoran's names whenever you can. Hell, toss some pictures in front of him for good measure, but convince him to tell us where to find them and that it will go into proving he has no tricks up his sleeves. If he refuses or comes up with excuses, then you know he's playing us. If he gives it up, then you know this whole turning himself in is legit. You want answers? He has them, so use this whole thing in our favor. Just because he came in peacefully, doesn't mean this thing is over. Those Bajorans deserved to be returned. Dead or Alive. Their families deserve peace of mind." He stood there for a second before walking to the replicator. "But that's just my opinion. Jobs not done until the case is completely closed.
"I didn't like it." He said as he stood at the replicator. "Jestral Tea. Hot." As the replicator began working, he continued. "The things he was saying. Calling the Bajorans cattle and animals. It took all I had not to reach over and punch him in the face. Repeatedly. Until several bones were broken." After his tea was made, he reached down and picked it up, before turning around to walk back to Corin. "His prideful smile and smug face. The way he insisted on wanting to be referred to as Gul and talking how he rejected a promotion to continue his work." Vincent shook his head and scoffed. "He's not remorseful. I felt it. He enjoyed every moment." As he sat down, he looked over to Layal, placing his Jestral Tea on the table. "The guy is Cardassian slime, Corin."
"I watched the... interview..." Layal used the word interview tentatively. "There were quite a few of you in the room. Normally that makes me a bit nervous. A suspect being so outnumbered, but his attorney was there, so his attorney can't really object, it looks like he acquiesced to the process."
"One thing though, that I think will be important at trial is that Vamcet seemed to focus on you quite a bit. He thinks he's smarter than all of us - smarter than you are. Still trying to game the system. If he testifies, it should be interesting." Layal studied Vincent's face carefully as she revealed her observations. She still didn't quite trust the investigator, but she was going to need him at trial, and this meeting was just as much about learning who he was as it was about gaining insight into Vamcet.
"I'm sure, as a Cardassian, it's his nature to think he's the smartest one in the room. That he and his people can do no wrong and shouldn't be judged." Vincent replied as he took a hold of his tea cup and added. "And if he was in a courtroom on Cardassian and surrounded by Cardassians, he would have nothing to worry about. But he isn't. He's being judged for his crimes against people who are allies to the Federation and they demand he pay for them." He gave Layla a smile as he raised his cup slightly as he said. "Actions meet Consequences." Before bringing it to his lips and taking a sip.
"Consequences are really what this trial is going to be about in the end," Layal stated. "There's no doubt as to what he did, but the defense can try a number of different ways to argue that he shouldn't be held responsible."
Layal stood up. "I'll primarily be using you to get his interview in, establish his rank, his role, I assume you will be ready for trial?"
Vincent finished his tea, looking inside the empty cup, before looking back to Layal. "He deserves to be thrown in a cage and locked away. He killed so many people, happily I might add, so there should be no argument that he needs to be put away. Not given 'counseling' or 'medication'. He deserves three meals a day and a cot in a room with no windows." He put down the cup on the table before adding firmly. "Why is this even a discussion? He admitted to doing it and the Bajoran's want him to pay. That interview he admits to everything. If we are using a Federation Judicial System and working within our own laws, his confession, should be enough. His lawyer shouldn't be thinking of ways to argue his innocence but trying to arrange a deal. You didn't feel what I felt. There was no conscience there. No guilt. All I got was pure pride."
As Layal listened to Vincent she turned her gaze to the floor in front of her and tried to push back her own personal feelings that he was beginning to arouse as he expressed his own opinion so candidly.
"I don't doubt you, Lieutenant." Layal looked at him seriously. "It's always the Defendant's choice - whether or not to go to trial. Confession or not, they can still have their trial. Doesn't always make sense to me either, but I've gotten used to it."
"Anyway, with this brain tumor of his, I doubt many will find justice in whatever sentence is handed down," she added. She was tired, but she didn't let it show. "Anyway, I can see myself out. I'll have my clerk let you know when you're needed."
"Thank you, Lieutenant."
Vincent scoffed slightly. He looked at Layal as he stood up from his chair. "I get this brain tumor thing causes a hiccup in the judgement, but as someone who was inside his head during that interrogation, it didn't change him. I felt nothing but a Cardassian enjoying as his crimes and actions were put on the table for everyone to see. I felt pride, like a badge of honor, as everything he did was being spoken about. I didn't feel remorse. I didn't sense one bit of empathy for the Bajorans... or what he did. The tumor is just an excuse to help the defense pull a win. Nothing more. He's not sorry, Layal. This isn't going to be a trial or punishment for him. It's a show to him. Someplace where he can show the world what he did and how much he enjoyed it. You need to go for his throat and toss him behind bars.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Commander Corin Layal
Judge Advocate General, USS Artemis
Second Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Lieutenant Vincent Zandrell
Criminal Apprehension Officer, USS Artemis
Commanding Officer, Emergency Services Unit
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
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