Tyranny of the Majority

After Khalid had knocked Ana out they placed handcuffs on her and restrained her to one of the chairs in the mess hall. Roy explained the rules and protocols for this situation while they waited for Ana to regain consciousness:

"The captain of the ship has the right to detain any of the crew if he has reasonable suspicion that they committed a crime while on board. When the suspect is detained the captain is tasked with questioning the detainee along with witnesses to ensure transparency and to confirm torture wasn't used for information. Once the captain finishes with questioning he can either formally charge the detainee with a crime or dismiss the case.

"If the captain decides to go ahead with the trial he must appoint one representative for the prosecution and one for the defense. These two appointed parties have to argue, the best they can for punishment or acquittal. Once all of the arguments have been exhausted, the captain who is in the role of judge decides if he punishes the accused or clears them of punishment"

Roy continued to speak proudly pounding his chest for knowing all of these facts: "In the category of serious crimes, such as the bombing we had, the only form of punishment the captain can bestow is execution. By stripping the defendant of their uniform, revoking their citizenship and status as a soldier or student in our case, and launching them into space to die.

Keep in mind that the rule ne bis in idem applies. If you decide not to punish the accused, there can't be a retrial when we get back to Nova Occasio. If you decide to acquit them of the crime you can absolve them of punishment for this bombing for the rest of their life. While I think Ana is 100% guilty and should be punished, the decision is up to you Brigham, you are now performing the duties of the captain. Be sure you have the facts straight before starting the trial as the trial is only a debate on whether or not to impose punishment (the death sentence)."

Brigham nodded along and took in the information. It was a big responsibility that had been thrust upon him, but this was what he had always wanted. Maybe not this scenario and better circumstances but a chance to lead.

"Roy, Khalid, go call Hitomi and Lei Mei back, I think they would want to listen to the questioning, I will stay here and wait for Ana to regain consciousness," Brigham said.

"Will do," the two boys left to search for the two girls.

"Brigham if I may ask," Emidio timidly approached his blue-haired friend. "I would like to go and investigate the ship for more clues if that's okay, I think we may have missed something."

"You don't want to listen to the questioning?" Brigham rubbed his chin in thought. "Well, I guess it is pointless for all of us to be present for the investigation… Fine, Ljubiša will go with you to search for clues."

While Emidio and Ljibiša went to search the ship, the rest of class Lupus gathered around Ana to observe the questioning. She soon regained consciousness and was greeted by Roy and Brigham right in front of her. She started to struggle but her restraints didn't allow her to move.

"What is the meaning of this, release me, I didn't do it!" Ana yelled as she jumped around in her chair.

"I freaking knew it was you all along!" Roy snapped his finger. "Why did you do it? Who sent you? Who is your commanding officer, and how much are you paid for by the Soviet Union. Were you a Russian spy from the start? Does the Warsaw pact want war with Nova Occasio or does it want a war with NATO, is the beginning of a galactic war"

Brigham pushed Roy away lightly, "I believe you said I was in charge? I will take care of the questioning."

"I have no idea what all of you are talking about," Ana said frowning. "I love Russia! It is the country of origin of my parents and me. It is part of my heritage and history and I think we should join the Warsaw Pact as Nova Occasio. However, I never was a Russian spy nor did I commit this bombing!"

"So how do you explain Curro's analysis confirming it was a Russian bomb?"

"That proves nothing!" Ana shook her head. "The pistol Roy pointed at me was a Russian-made Makarov gun. Does that make him a Russian spy? All of the guns on this ship are Russian-made. The culprit could have just bought a Russian-made bomb!"

"You do have a point," Brigham slightly tilted his head.

"It is much harder to buy a bomb than a gun!" Roy said. "The bomb being Russian is highly indicative of the origins and motivations of the killer. Anyone can buy a gun, but bombs you need serious contacts for that. Contacts you wouldn't have if you weren't Russian!"

Brigham pushed Roy slightly away again: "Okay then tell us about your alibi. We went to the bridge together with Mok, and after he appointed us to our posts we all went our separate ways. What did you do after we separated from Mok at the time of the explosion?"

"I was on the navigation computer doing my job!"

"Can anyone confirm this?"

"No? Nobody passed by but I was diligently doing my assignment. I wanted to prove myself after getting into an argument with Emidio. I wanted to show that I was the best! I was going to be the best navigation officer this ship ever had!"

"Spare us the platitudes," Roy scoffed. "You don't have an alibi."

"What about you Roy," Brigham raised an eyebrow. "Where is your alibi."

"I don't have one either actually." Roy nervously laughed. "I was also operating the communication systems but nobody passed by."

"So you are just as suspicious as I am," Ana jumped in her seat still trying to fight her restraints.

"Yes, but it is a Russian bomb!"

Hitomi jumped into the conversation and said resolutely: "You know what? I think it is pretty obvious who it is. This is clearly a political Cold War game kind of bombing attack. You can't buy bombs easily, so your side gives you one, not knowing a nerd like Curro is on board. He reveals which side made the bomb and they don't have an alibi. It can't get any more clear cut than this."

Ana's heart sank, it was the second time she felt stabbed today by her only friend. The usually strong-willed Ana broke into tears: "I didn't do it! Why can't you all see! I was only working hard on the navigation computer!"

"Ugh, crocodile tears of the guilty." Hitomi rolled her eyes.

Hitomi managed to turn the crowd against Ana and everyone had become convinced that she was responsible. Brigham had lost control of the situation and he had an angry mob ready to tear Ana apart.

"Why do we even need to go with a trial," Khalid angrily yelled, "Let's just kill her now!"

"Her bomb killed our Mok, and it probably killed most of the class Ovis and Serpens along with their instructors whose ships are marooned on planet Hrkar," Curro said with rage in his eyes. "She should pay for what she did!"

"I don't see who else could have done it?" Even Lei Mei was convinced.

"Guys there are still a ton of things we don't know, we shouldn't jump the gun so soon." Brigham raised his voice to meet the crowd. "The fact it's a Russian bomb doesn't prove much. I bet a lot of us have flimsy alibis due to the nature of our posts. We have to take this investigation step by step and give her a fair chance and fair trial!"

The angry mob ignored him and started chanting at Ana: "MURDERER!" It only made the blonde-haired Russian girl even more upset, she continuously denied her guilt. The only ones who weren't chanting in the room were Brigham and to his surprise Roy.

Roy was not long ago ready to draw blood on that very same girl. However, he was at his heart a legalist, seeing the bloodlust eyes in the crowd, their willingness to throw out innocent until proven guilty, a fair defense, and everything that went with law and order made him deeply uncomfortable. Even more so given that he was looking at a mirror of himself.

Roy felt nothing but disgust at himself for abandoning his principles guided by his prejudice. He felt he was no better than the communist governments he so detests. Overcome with the worst animalistic urges of humanity that the law wishes to protect them against. He tried to speak out against the crowd but it was seemingly too late. He and Brigham were about to be steamrolled by this angry mob and that crowd was about to murder a possibly innocent person.

The crowd came closer to the sobbing Ana, still proclaiming her innocence, when out of nowhere, an unlikely shout was heard from the door of the mess hall: "GUYS STOP!" It was Emidio. "Ana is not the culprit and I have proof!"