Rule of Evidence

The struggle for justice among the stars is a never-ending fight . . .

At the very edge of South Asian Alliance territory, the USS Michaelson is conducting maneuvers alongside her sister ship, the USS Maury, in a show of military strength. The Michaelson's legal officer, Lieutenant Paul Sinclair, is pleased, since his girlfriend. Lieutenant Jen Shen, is serving aboard the Maury as an engineer. The operation is going by the numbers—until the Maury is wracked by devastating explosions and its engineering section is destroyed.

Paul is overjoyed when Jen is found alive, but his happiness is short-lived. Jen, as the sole survivor in Engineering, is suspected of negligence—or worse, sabotage—and faces court-martial. Now Paul must find out what really caused the explosions. But the more he learns, the more he faces the terrible possibility that the woman he loves may be guilty of sabotage and murder . . .

Ebook
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

First printing, February 2005

A Baen Ebook
Baen publishing Enterprises
P.O. Box 1403
Riverdale, NY 10471
https://www.baen.com

ISBN-13: 978-0-4410-1262-6
ISBN-10: 0-4410-1262-0

Copyright© 2005 by John G. Hemry

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.

Electronic version by Baen Books
https://www.baen.com

To the Reverend Dr. Clayton O. Hughes
A man who asked for no rewards
but only for the ability to serve others.
The embodiment of love and kindness,
it's easy to believe he is now among those
greeting and offering the Grand Tour
to new arrivals in Heaven.

For S, as always

Acknowledgments

I am indebted to my editor, Anne Sowards, for her valuable support and editing, and to my agent, Joshua Bilmes, for his inspired suggestions and assistance.