”I like her,” Number One says of Batel, the woman who arrested her in “A Quality of Mercy”, and prosecuted criminal charges against her based solely on her species in “Ad Astra per Aspera”.
Yeah, Una’s attitude towards Starfleet in general and Batel in particular does seem a bit unrealistic. Does she respect duty above everything? Can’t be that, because then she’d never have let Pike cover for her!
She didn't have Pike cover for her because she turned herself in. When exactly that happened in the four months between her telling Pike and her actual confession is unknown.
During the hearing Una was asked when she told Pike, and it comes out that 4 months had elapsed. I don't recall if it's four months between her telling Pike and turning herself in, or her arrest.
I would have to assume that Number One was arrested fairly quickly after she leaked the information about herself. All things considered, it doesn’t seem like the sort of thing Starfleet was willing to just sit on.
I think it depends, on a few factors. Patel and Pike were both around the Neutral Zone at the beginning of the episode (A Quality of Mercy), so the Enterprise and Cayuga are in general proximity to each other. Patel mentions that she has a "date on the far side of the Neutral Zone," so I think it's safe to assume here that they are headed in opposite directions.
Dependent upon how much time the episode actually covers; how much time elapses between the Enterprise and Cayuga going their separate ways and Pike making their way to Outpost 4 (I assume they traveled there), that would take some time.
This also depends on where and when Una turned herself in too. She would have sent the message to Starfleet, who would in turn have to contact the nearest ship (here the Cayuga), and then have Patel rendezvous with Enterprise.
I think a week is a conservative estimate...but I'm also looking for Stardates, and unfortunately I can't make any sense out of them.
In Beta canon material, Illyrians are supposed to be fairly enlightened, on the same level as Vulcans, and Una was raised by Illyrians. I could see that iteration of Number One finding it fairly easy to forgive Captain Batel, understanding that she was just doing her job, and being able to see past any personal feelings of resentment.
But so far as SNW is concerned, the Illyrians seem to just be the X-Men, so I don’t even know.
Given what we’ve heard about Illyrian society in SNW it doesn’t seem particularly enlightened! Honestly feels like they should just have had Pike have that conversation with someone else, but stuck with Una just because they didn’t have anyone who had spoken to Batel onscreen.
I think Number One is supposed to be Pike’s friend and confidant, similar to Sisko and Dax’s relationship in DS9.
Who else is he going to confide in on this matter. Spock giving Pike relationship advice would be pretty wack.
Spock: Captain, I could not help but notice that the USS Cayuga warped away sooner than expected given your relationship with Captain Batel. The crew assumed you would want some “alone time” as ensign Uhura put it. I will not repeat what lieutenant Ortegas said. Pike: Wait, you guys talk about my love life on the bridge? Spock: Indeed. It is a matter of some interest. Pike: Okay, I’m not exactly comfortable with that. Spock: Captain, if you and Captain Batel are experiencing…difficulties, I would be happy to demonstrate some neuro-pressure massage techniques which can be quite stimulating. T’Pring has said I am particularly skilled, and as you are aware, Vulcans cannot lie. Pike: Okay, now I’m really uncomfortable with this.
I suppose Doctor M’Benga could sub in as confidant instead.