The Disciplinary Hearing of Cora Wolf

[Note: This thread is semi-open. Those who would know of it and wish to defend Cora's behaviour are welcome to participate. Do not join the thread as an audience member (it's a private hearing) or if your character does not know Cora or the events at hand. Kindly leave all NPC actions of her superiors and the judge to staff. Those within the military police are welcome to take the place of NPC guards.]

Some weeks had passed since Cora Wolf's encounter with Dr. Geist, and it seemed the medic made good on her promise to file a report. One frosty morning the trainee would receive a formal letter summoning her to Headquarters for a mandatory disciplinary hearing.

The courthouse was vast and foreboding. Four military police were posted along the walls to keep order. The event was kept as private as possible besides them - honoring Cora's wishes. Only those necessary to the case would be attending. Along the furthest wall behind the judge, four great banners emblazoned with the sigil of each military division were on display. Several of Cornix's training instructors were present, as well as Dr. Geist herself, scowling as ever. On the opposing bench, places were available for friends and fellows who wished to speak on Cora's behalf.

The judge was a bear of a man with a thick, grizzled beard. His face was dull and slack with disinterest. He seemed too old and out of shape to be active within the military - law and order among the ranks appeared to be his his primary duty - unless he had been borrowed from a civilian court of law. "Good morning. my name Bodrick Harden and I will be acting as Chairman for this case. We are here today to investigate the circumstances of multiple charges laid against the trainee Cora Wolf. Once everyone is in attendance we may begin."

Once those expected to attend had been seated and given their names, the judge spoke again as he peered sleepily at a stack of documents under his nose. "Cora Wolf of the 105th Trainee Squad. You are here today on several counts of reckless endangerment and one of aggressive disobedience toward your superior. Your mental aptitude for military service is in question. The results determined by today's hearing will decide your fate. If there are no questions, we shall begin. Do you understand the charges against you, Cora?"

The portly judge gave a curt nod once everyone had seated themselves; the gesture made the jowls surrounding his beard wobble. "Very good. We may proceed." He announced.

Dr. Geist watched Cora's fellows as they seated themselves, giving Connor a tilt of her head in acknowledgement if she caught his eye. She was quietly displeased to find Severin lacking; his presence could have been useful to the case, but she hadn't even known his name to provide summons. The doctor sporadically wrote on the stack of papers in front of her, but otherwise listened to the case intently. The judge shifted his papers and his droopy eyes darted across the first few lines before he began to read, his gruff baritone voice filling the courtroom with ease. "We will begin with the incidents occurring on the afternoon of June 27th. Cora Wolf was noted to have caused herself bodily harm, to the point of drawing blood, during a conversation with the trainee Connor Graham. Cadet Graham, can you provide us with the details of this conversation?"

The court heard Connor. Judge Harden listened with sleepy neutrality, but Dr. Geist's visage grew fiercer with every sentence from the young man.

"Your honor, if I may have a word." The doctor spoke with a loss of temper once Connor finally placed blame on himself. She rose from her seat to speak and set her hard green glare on the boy below. "Cadet Graham, if we thought you were to blame for this matter it would not be Cora in question here today. Falsely incriminating yourself for the sake of another is an obstruction of justice, no matter your intention. Cora Wolf initiated the conversation with you of her own will, did she not? Unless you physically assisted in pressing her fingers to her own flesh, you did no such thing."

The doctor's heated response was finalized by the strike of a block of wood to the judge's table and she sunk bank into her seat, jaw tensing visibly. "That's quite enough, thank you Doctor."

The judge himself was less moved. He leaned in his seat, peering down at Connor in a half-lidded gaze. "So. As Miss Geist has stated, Cadet Wolf placed herself in a position to question and be questioned on a topic that clearly proved too sensitive for herself to handle. A comparatively innocent subject, at that. This is cause for concern, as what would more traumatic matters remembered instigate in this young woman?"

Judge Harden paused, allowing his words to marinate in the air - and perhaps for someone to answer. "Cadet Graham, it is documented that you and a supervising member of the Garrison discovered the injury shortly after your conversation, and this gentleman instructed you to care for Cora Wolf's self-inflicted wounds before Dr. Geist's intervention? Do you believe you were fit and equipped to do so? What would you say of Miss Wolf's mental state at this time?"

[OOC: I don't know why you came to this conclusion but I don't need to tell people when to go. Use common sense, guys. My only rule here is if your character received a direct question from the court, you must post immediately after me and all else must wait. The exception of the rule is for internal thoughts and noninvasive dialogue/actions/reactions to the trial. Characters may otherwise officially interject with permission from the judge (or can speak out of turn! But may be reprimanded). That aside, it's a free for all unless you guys can or want to keep original post order.]

Judge Harden answered with a wave of his hand. "Very well. We understand that it is not easy to speak against friends and fellows, but know that Cadet Wolf is not here to be punished, only to be set on the path most safe and sensible for all parties." He reminded those present gently, peering at both Connor and Cora in turn. After all, mental illness was no crime. "One who presents a danger to themselves and not directly to others, is still a cause of danger." He replied.

He nodded at Connor's response thoughtfully. "So the intervention of a member of medical personnel can be considered necessary." He confirmed, then turned to the doctor, who appeared to be doing her best not to sneer every time she heard herself titled improperly.

Harden: "Miss Geist. Can you describe the nature of Cora Wolf's injuries for us?"

The doctor nodded, glancing downward at her written documents before casting her gaze forward, at no one and nothing in particular. "Yes, your honor. Cora Wolf suffered multiple lacerations to her left forearm. Being a working soldier, it should be noted that her nails are not of considerable length. The sheer force and determination required to break the superficial layers of skin and draw blood by hand is quite grievous."

Harden: "I see. And were prior injuries evident on Cadet Wolf?"

Geist: "Yes, your honor. From the short time I had to examine her, I noted several old and new scars on Cora Wolf's forearm. Some were caused by blade, others once again by hand. Many of these were positioned as such to suggest self-infliction."

Harden: "And why was your examination brief, Miss Geist?"

Geist: "Cora initially refused treatment, your honor."

Harden: "How would you describe the manner in which she declined your assistance?"

Geist's eyebrow twitched. "With an outburst of temper and disrespect. I must note that I believe this was caused by fear above all."

Harden: "Do you believe your actions toward the cadet were intimidating?"

Geist hesitated in thought. "I spoke firmly with her and had tried to reach for her arm, your Honor."

Harden: "And were Cora Wolf's wounds insubstantial enough that she could feasibly deny treatment, her behaviour aside?"

"No, your honor. The bacteria even short nails can accumulate over a single day can cause serious infection untreated. Sterilization was necessary at the least."

Harden: "How did you proceed, doctor?"

"I insisted as an order. To which Cadet Wolf had another outburst and was most distressed and angry. I paraphrase here, but Miss Wolf stated that she had injured herself more severely in the past without receiving medical attention, and proceeded to bare her 'uninjured' arm to me, which was similarly riddled with numerous scars. Miss Wolf then stated that she was beyond help, berated and insulted me before fleeing. She failed to obey a direct command to return."

Judge Harden's sleepy gaze widened slightly as he listened, and the man jotted something down before his response.

Harden: "I see. Cadet Wolf, did Dr. Geist's actions toward you cause you fear? Is it true that you verbally assaulted your superior and intentionally failed to obey an order?"