Honor is priceless

In the fourth trial, Kaffee cornered Kendrick step by step, forcing him into confusion.

Kaffee began by bringing up another soldier, who had been subjected to code red during his execution. Dawson couldn't bear to see the soldier starving and provided him with food, which ultimately led to Dawson's punishment. Dawson had always held the rank of Lance Corporal and couldn't advance further. This lesson made Dawson realize that in the military, orders must not be disobeyed. Kaffee's interconnected questioning forced Kendrick to admit to everything, including the fact that Dawson would never violate orders after that incident.

Therefore, Kaffee deduced that if Kendrick had ordered Dawson to execute code red on Santiago, Dawson wouldn't have disobeyed. Although Kendrick didn't answer due to the obstruction of the prosecuting attorney Ross, it was evident that he was completely overwhelmed and helpless in the face of Kaffee's powerful momentum.

This trial turned the tide in favor of the defense. However, bad news followed. It was confirmed that Jessep's claim of having the first flight departing at 6 a.m. the next morning was true. Mason's statement about a flight to Andrews Air Force Base seven hours earlier couldn't be found in the flight logs. After confirming with Mason, Kaffee discovered that Jessep had manipulated the flight logs for both Guantanamo and Andrews.

Then, Markinson, burdened with guilt and remorse, knew that Jessep was about to be promoted to head of the security committee. Jessep had the power to cover up everything, and even Markinson's testimony wouldn't change anything. So Markinson chose to commit suicide.

Finally, the fatal blow came when Ross caught Downey's vulnerability. He revealed that Downey hadn't directly received the order from Kendrick to execute code red on Santiago; he received the instructions from Dawson. This put the case in a deadlock because Dawson was the only one who could prove Kendrick's orders. Moreover, Dawson happened to be the one who had a personal grudge against Santiago—a motive for the crime. Most importantly, Kaffee had no prior knowledge of this fact and had arranged the questioning around Downey receiving direct orders. Now that this vulnerability had been exposed, all their efforts were in vain.

After this trial, Kaffee was completely angry and disappointed. In the midst of a storm, he abandoned himself and vented his inner anger on Galloway, losing all control. But it was Weinberg who woke Kaffee up. Although Kaffee's father was one of the best lawyers in history, he would still choose Kaffee to represent Dawson and Downey because not even Kaffee's father would have thought of having Jessep testify. Only Kaffee had the courage for that.

Kaffee stopped Galloway, who was leaving in the pouring rain, and rallied his spirits. He decided to have Jessep testify and force him to admit to giving the order of code red through questioning. Because Kaffee recalled his first meeting with Jessep and knew that Jessep was a domineering, arrogant, and even self-righteous person who believed that everything he did was for the country, forgetting that he had deprived soldiers of their human rights. Kaffee could use Jessep's arrogance to make him admit it in court with his own mouth.

Before the final trial, Kaffee sent Weinberg to Andrews Air Force Base to bring two soldiers who were on duty that day. However, Galloway couldn't help but start worrying at the last moment. She told Kaffee, "When you're out there. If it's not gonna happen, he's not gonna say it... don't go for it. You could get in trouble." Galloway's confidence was still lacking.

The trial began, and Kaffee started by attempting to prove that the transfer orders for Santiago were entirely fabricated. First, Santiago was scheduled to leave the base at six o'clock the next morning, but he never packed his bags. All his clothes were neatly placed in the closet. Second, despite Santiago's eagerness to leave the base, he didn't inform any friends or family before leaving. In contrast, Jessep, who was only in Washington for one day, packed a large amount of luggage and made three phone calls, indicating that Santiago never received any transfer orders to leave.

But this argument doesn't hold water. Although the prosecuting attorney, Ross, realized that the situation was not favorable, the judge wanted to hear Jessep's answer, and Jessep delivered a powerful counterattack. He said, "My answer is I don't have the first damn clue. Maybe he was an early morning riser and he liked to pack in the HQ. And maybe he didn't have any friends. I'm an educated man, but I'm afraid I can't speak intelligently about the travel habits of William Santiago. What I do know is that he was set to leave the base at 06:00."

After explaining this, Jessep continued to be unyielding and turned the pressure back on Kaffee. He said, "Now are these really the questions I was called here to answer? Phone calls and footlockers? Please tell me you've got something more, Lieutenant. Please tell me there's an ace up your sleeve. These two marines are on trial for their lives. Please tell me their lawyer hasn't pinned their hopes to a phone bill. Do you have any other questions for me, Counselor?"

Facing Jessep's relentless pressure, Kaffee hesitated, recalling Galloway's advice before the trial. But his hesitation was brief. Jessep's aggressive demeanor, as if he wanted to leave the courtroom directly, ignited Kaffee's fighting spirit. Taking the risk of destroying his own future, Kaffee not only brought Jessep back to the witness stand but also engaged in a fierce debate.

After regaining his momentum, Kaffee launched a relentless attack on Jessep, wave after wave, leaving little room to breathe. He questioned, "A moment ago said that you ordered Kendrick to order his men not to touch Santiago, but was Kendrick clear on what you wanted? Any chance Kendrick ignored the order? Any chance Kendrick left your office and said, "The 'old man's wrong"? When Kendrick spoke to the platoon and ordered them not to touch Santiago, any chance they ignored him?"

Under Kaffee's relentless pressure, Colonel Jessep resisted fiercely for several rounds but eventually lost his composure. In response to Kaffee's questioning of why there were two orders, Jessep's tone became weak and uncertain. He said, "Sometimes my men take matters into their own hands."

"No sir. You made it clear just a moment ago that your men never take matters into their own hands!" Kaffee stepped forward directly, using rapid speech to apply direct pressure. His amber eyes sent chills down people's spines. "Your men follow orders or people die. So Santiago shouldn't have been in any danger at all, should he have, Colonel?"

"You little bastard!" Jessep finally lost control. The prosecuting attorney wanted to request a recess, but the judge refused.

However, Kaffee steadily approached his final goal. He said, "If Kendrick told his men that Santiago wasn't to be touched, then why did he have to be transferred, Colonel? Kendrick ordered code red, didn't he? Because that's what you told Kendrick to do." Despite the prosecuting attorney's objections, Kaffee remained undeterred, accumulating his momentum. "And when it went bad, you cut these guys loose. Your orders took a life, yet you show no remorse. Not only did you have Markinson sign a phony transfer order, but you also doctored the log books." Despite the judge and prosecuting attorney's continuous attempts to block him, Kaffee fearlessly unleashed all the words from his heart. "I'll ask for the fourth time. Did you order code..."

The judge believed that Kaffee was contemptuous of the court, and Jessep didn't have to answer that question. However, Jessep was thoroughly provoked by Kaffee's rudeness. "You want answers?"

"I think I'm entitled to them." Faced with Jessep's overwhelming demeanor, Daniel showed no weakness and charged forward like crashing into a wall.

"You want answers?!"

"I want the truth!"

"You can't handle the truth!" Jessep unleashed his full fury, staring fiercely at the man before him, as if he faced an irreconcilable enemy. "Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives!"

Jessep pressed closer, and his military bravado came to the forefront, vividly displayed at that moment. "You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me there. We use words like honor, code, loyalty... we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use 'em as a punchline."

"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it!" Jessep leaned forward slightly, his spittle flying as he shouted, "I'd prefer you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to!" Jessep's deliberate words were like sharp knives, filled with immense malice and cruelty, mercilessly piercing at Kaffee.

But Kaffee didn't back down; he confronted him, gritting his teeth. "Did you order the code red?"

"I did the job you sent me to do..." Jessep's voice grew hoarse, but Kaffee fiercely interrupted him, taking another step forward, shouting at the colonel in anger, "Did you order the code red?"

"You're goddamn right I did!" Jessep roared at Kaffee, like an enraged lion, exerting all his strength.

The courtroom fell into a deathly silence. Facing his hard-won victory, Kaffee suppressed his excitement and said, "Please the court, I suggest the jury be dismissed so that we can move to an immediate Article 39a Session. The witness has rights." Faced with Kaffee's accusation, Ross had nothing to say.

Jessep still didn't understand what had happened. He believed he was just fulfilling his duty. He even wanted to catch a plane back to the base, but the military police stopped him. This made Jessep completely lose control, ready to tear Kaffee apart. In his eyes, he was the epitome of steadfastness, defending the homeland, and Kaffee's misconduct today would result in a breach of the border, a great shame.

But the law was the law, and Jessep was taken into custody. Unyielding and still convinced of his innocence, Jessep, under the guard of the military police, left the courtroom with his head held high.

Although Jessep admitting to giving the order saved Dawson and Downey from the murder charges, they were still dishonorably discharged due to their improper conduct. Downey didn't even understand what he did wrong, but Dawson understood. "We were supposed to fight for those who couldn't defend themselves. We were supposed to fight for Santiago..."

Watching Dawson's desolate figure, Kaffee stopped him. "You don't need to wear a patch on your arm to have honor."

Dawson, who had always disliked and even loathed Kaffee, halted his steps and respectfully saluted him, offering his respect.