Editing JAG Incident Report (local) 475-A

{{Status|Canon}}

'''JAG Incident Report (local) 475-A''' was the record of the official proceedings of a [[UNSC Judge Advocate General's Corps]] [[Board of Inquiry]] at the [[Academy at Mare Nubium]] on [[Luna]] in [[2492]]. It concerned an investigation into a number of incidents involving [[Inna Volkov]], the daughter of [[Admiral]] [[Konrad Volkov]]. The report included the testimony of a future [[Vice Admiral]], [[Preston Cole|Preston J. Cole]].<ref name="JAG">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]'' pages 272-275 (2010 edition, Vol. I)</ref>

A scandal had occurred after the overnight absence of Inna Volkov from the family officers' quarters on base: she was seen in the company of an unidentified young man and was later found to be [[Ivan Cole|pregnant]]. A Board of Inquiry was subsequently convened, and six cadets (including [[Crewman Apprentice]] Cole) were brought before it for questioning on June 7, 2492.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole'' pages 271-272 (2010 edition, Vol. I)</ref> The results of the hearings were ultimately inconclusive. Cole was initially charged with [[Wikipedia:Contempt of court|contempt]] and obstructing the tribunal's investigation; however, both charges were drop two days later.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole'' page 277 (2010 edition, Vol. I)</ref> On June 13, the log file of Cole's testimony was sealed in accordance with [[UNSC-JAG ORD: 8-PD-3861]].<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole'' page 272 (2010 edition, Vol. I)</ref> Cole later married Inna Volkov, although [[NIGHTINGALE|DNA analysis]] showed that he was not the father of the child.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole'' page 278 (2010 edition, Vol. I)</ref>

An excerpt of the report was included within the file ''[[Historical/Psychological Analysis of Cole, Preston J.]]'', sent by [[Codename: SURGEON]] to [[Codename: USUAL SUSPECTS]] in [[2552]].<ref name="JAG"/> SURGEON believed that the report was important in helping to understand Cole's moral character, even if it left certain questions unanswered.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole'' pages 278-279 (2010 edition, Vol. I)</ref>

==Cole's testimony==
:'''{Excerpt} Transcription of Cole, P. J. ([[UNSC]] [[Service number|Service Number]]: 00814-13094-BQ) testimony before Board of Inquiry, Academy at Mare Nubium JAG Incident Report (local) 475-A \ June 7, 2492 ([[Military Calendar]]) \ Log (video, spatial, psychological enhancement=TRUE) FILE <nowiki>*</nowiki>SEALED<nowiki>*</nowiki> (UNSC-JAG ORD: 8-PD-3861), June 13, 2492 (Military Calendar)'''

:Seated Board of Inquiry: [[Colonel]] [[Mitchell Lima|Mitchell K. Lima]] (UNSC Service Number: 00512-5991-IX), [[Captain]] [[Maria Gilliam|Maria F. Gilliam]], JAG officer in residence (UNSC Service Number: 00622-7120-RJ), [[Frank Welker|Frank O. Welker]] ([[Civilian]] Liaison to the Academy at Mare Nubium, Civilian ID#: 8813-316-0955-G)

:[Crewman Apprentice Preston J. Cole is sworn in before the Board.]
:COLONEL LIMA: State your name for the record.
:CREWMAN COLE: Cole, Preston J., sir.
:CAPTAIN GILLIAM: Tell us, Cadet, where exactly you were between 1900 and 2300 hours three days ago?
:[Cole remains standing at attention and stares up and to the right. Since Cole is [[Wikipedia:Handedness|right-handed]] this indicates he is accessing the [[Wikipedia:Visual memory|visual memory]] portion of his brain ([[Wikipedia:Lie detection|and not lying]]).]
:COLE: I was on watch duty on [[Shadow Perimeter 3|Shadow Perimeter Three]] with Cadets [[Parkins]], [[Haverton]], and [[Tasov]], ma'am. 
:MR. FRANK O. WELKER: Describe "shadow perimeter three" for me, Cadet.
:Cole: Yes, Mr. Welker. Shadow Perimeter Three is the colloquial term used for the series of tunnels and surface tubes that run across the [[Mare Nubium]], connecting the Academy to the civilian sectors of [[Asimov Center]]. The "shadow" part of the name comes from the shadows cast from the nearby crater walls.
:WELKER: Why guard that particular sector?
:[Cole's eyes now lock forward.]
:COLE: I was ordered to do so.
:GILLIAM: Cadet, speculate as to the reason required for guarding Perimeter Three.
:COLE: Yes, ma'am. There are two reasons. First, we always maintain a guarded perimeter against unauthorized civilian incursions on Academy grounds. Second, there have been recent reports of unauthorized military personnel and supplies moving into the civilian territories. 
:[The five other cadets who await questioning in the tribunal chamber shift in their seats.]
:LIMA: Do you know of any such unauthorized crossing of our military personnel?
:COLE: I have not read of any such occurrences in the incident report, sir.
:LIMA: That was not my question. 
:[Cole pauses, looks straight down.] 
:COLE: I have never seen any such incidents, sir. If I had I would have attempted to stop them from occurring. If I could not, I would have immediately reported it and been required to make a note of it in the incident log.
:[Gilliam leans forward and removes her glasses.]
:GILLIAM: You say "never seen," but have you heard rumors or otherwise received any indication of such illegal base crossing on or off your watch?
:[Cole swallows, eyes back up, staring past Captain Gilliam.]
:COLE: I cannot substantiate any rumors I may or may not have heard, ma'am. I have insufficient evidence to do so.
:LIMA: I'm going to remind you once, Cadet, and only once, that obstructing any military investigation is a serious offense that carries a minimum of five years of hard labor. 
:[Cole gives no response.]
:LIMA: I am now ordering you, Cadet, to tell me ''everything'' you know about any military personnel crossing the perimeter the evening of the twenty-fifth - or any tampering with security devices or recordings of the region during that time - or ''any'' detail of ''anything unusual'' that evening.
:[Cole inhales deeply, looks directly at Colonel Lima.]
:COLE: Sir, no. Nothing... unusual.
:[Captain Gilliam, Mr. Welker, and Colonel Lima confer among themselves.]
:[Cole remains standing at attention].
:GILLIAM: If you are trying to protect a fellow cadet through some sense of camaraderie or honor - it is misplaced. Do not throw away your otherwise sterling service record to protect someone who, to be blunt, does not deserve to be an officer. 
:[At this time, Admiral Konrad Volkov enters the room and sits.]
:[Cole faces the tribunal and cannot possibly see the admiral, but nonetheless stands straighter and begins to sweat.]
:COLE: Sir, what kind of officer would I make if I said what you wanted me to say just to avoid trouble - regardless of whether it is the truth or not? Or if I guessed at any wrongdoing to make myself look better? I will not do such a thing.
:LIMA: Crewman Cole, you are in contempt of this Board of Inquiry. I'll deal with you later.
:[(Colonel Lima motions for the court guards. The guards move to escort Cole).]
:[Cole salutes the presiding officers, turns, makes direct eye contact with Admiral Volkov, and is marched from the tribunal chamber.]

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]'' {{1st}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:Files]]
[[Category:Historical/Psychological Analysis of Cole, Preston J.]]