He flaps his wings like a zeret bird [✱20]

Posted on Sun Jun 29th, 2025 @ 12:58am by Captain Rovak & Lieutenant JG Nalt Iyel & Lieutenant Onda Duros & Atonu & Tyr
Edited on on Sun Jun 29th, 2025 @ 1:03am

844 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: The Serpent's Tooth [3]
Location: JAG Courtroom
Timeline: 1330 - MD11

The cross-examination of the First Primes had taken the rest of the first day’s afternoon. The next morning, the governors were due. Then the one living Commander in Hera’s service. Nothing particularly damning had emerged, Kanahkt said nothing new, Thalistra was more honest than any would have expected, but Hera’s testimony was aligned with her own.

Pindar had refused to answer questions about his master’s arsenal on the grounds of ‘tactical security’, but it did not reveal anything that made Typhon seem to have done anything specifically wrong. The governors had reminded everyone just how charismatic their leaders were by comparison; answers were long and dry and formulaic.

All the accused had been spoken to at the beginning of the second morning. Now, only expert witnesses remained.

Lieutenant Nalt Iyel, the senior Trill medical officer took the stand, at the request of the defence.

“Dr Iyel, you are this station’s foremost authority on symbiotic organisms, correct?” Atonu asked.

“Other than perhaps Dr S’Lace or Dr Pfeiffer, it’s probably fair to say I am the foremost authority on symbiotic organisms aboard, yes. After medical school I spent a decade as a blending technician and general researcher for the Trill symbiosis commission before joining Starfleet.”

“Would you say there is anyone else in your galaxy better versed in the study of the Goa’uld symbiote?”

“Objection.” Tyr said, standing slowly. “The Goa’uld are more accurately classed as parasites. They harm their hosts to reproduce and survive. To classify them as symbiotes is misleading.”

“Overruled.” Rovak said, with a gaze that he hoped encouraged the Asgard to show caution.

“Your honour, I would remind the court that scientific accuracy–“

“Mr Tyr, the objection is noted. The defence is under no obligation to use potentially inflammatory language the prosecution may prefer, if the witness objects to the classifications provided it is incumbent on them to say so.” Rovak said, looking back to Atonu to encourage her to continue.

“I don’t think anyone else has had the opportunity to study the Goa’uld in this galaxy, at least not with my background. I would add that I’m not sure I can necessarily dispute the prosecution’s classification of the Goa’uld. From what I understand, it would be quite unusual for a host to survive their symbiote.” Iyel testified.

“Objection,” Lieutenant Onda said, standing. “That would also be true of the Trill symbiote, but we don’t classify them as parasites.”

Rovak looked to Iyel for further clarification.

“That’s true, but the Trill aren’t capable of taking a host against their will, or abandoning them unassisted in the event of jeopardy.” Dr Iyel responded. “There are certainly similarities between the two, but the Trill are in my view a significantly more benign and beneficial symbiote, as well as a more distinctly blended entity. They don’t have the ability to dominate a host the way the Goa’uld do.”

Onda had nothing to add.

“Having reviewed the scans of the individual Goa’uld, do you think it would be possible to tell one from another?”

“If you had samples to draw from, I think so. But sight unseen? No, I wouldn’t think so.”

“And do you think you could determine the age of a symbiote?”

“Other than Akhenaten, all of the symbiotes seem to be affected by the effects of a healing capsule we recovered. The anti-senescence field they seem to have been exposed to makes determining the exact age impossible, the best I could tell you was how long since they were last healed.”

“In your expert opinion, does evidence exist that would allow you to verify that any of the crimes supposedly committed by the accused were in fact their doing, and not the deed of another Goa’uld who used the same name and iconography?”

Lieutenant Onda squirmed in his seat. He wanted to object but he knew he had no grounds.

“I suppose not. Not from a medical perspective anyway.”

“No further questions.” Atonu said, resuming her seat.

“The prosecution has no questions for the witness.” Onda said, swallowing his frustration.

“Does the prosecution wish to call any witnesses?” Rovak asked.

“If you’ll permit us just a moment, your honour.” Onda said, turning to his co-counsel.

“We need to call her.” Onda said quietly to Tyr.

“No.” The Asgard responded equally quietly. “Polyphron has nothing to add to strengthen our case. We have already reviewed the data she had supplied on her services for Hera. Unless she has been uncharacteristically dishonest in her reporting, she has not been involved in any activity that would prove to be compelling testimony. I do not believe there is more we can do except hope that any lies the Goa’uld have told are sufficient to sway your Captain.”

Onda twisted his face in frustration, before standing once more as it settled. “We have no further witnesses, your honour." Onda didn't look or sound defeated, but he felt it. He needed a drink or seven.

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