In the fourth court session, Kaffee pressed Kendrick relentlessly, causing Kendrick to lose his composure.Kaffee started with the case of another soldier, Bell, from before. During the enforcement of a Code Red on Bell, Dawson, unable to bear seeing Bell starve, provided him with food. This ultimately led to Dawson being punished; he remained a Lance Corporal and was never promoted to Corporal. This lesson taught Dawson that defying orders in the military was not an option. Kaffee used a series of interconnected questions to force Kendrick to admit all of this, acknowledging that Dawson would absolutely not violate orders after that incident.Therefore, Kaffee inferred that if Kendrick ordered Dawson to carry out a Code Red on Santiago, whom Dawson had always protected, Dawson would not disobey the order. Although Kendrick did not answer due to the prosecution lawyer Ross's interruption, he was clearly in disarray, looking disheveled and overwhelmed by Kaffee's powerful presence.This court session allowed the defense to regain some ground, but then bad news followed one after another. First, Jessup's statement that the 6 AM flight the next morning was the first departure was confirmed. Makinson's claim of a flight to Andrews Air Force Base seven hours earlier could not be found in the flight logs. After Kaffee confirmed with Makinson, it was determined that Jessup had altered the flight logs for both Guantanamo and Andrews.Subsequently, Makinson, burdened by guilt and a desire for atonement, knew that Jessup was about to be promoted to head of the Security Committee and would be all-powerful. Even if he testified, it wouldn't change anything, so Makinson chose to commit suicide.Finally came the fatal blow: Downey was caught in a loophole by the prosecution lawyer Ross, revealing that he had not received the order to implement a Code Red on Santiago directly from Kendrick, but rather from Dawson. This brought the case to a dead end, as Dawson was the only one who could prove Kendrick gave the order, and Dawson was precisely the one with a personal grudge against Santiago—in other words, a motive for the crime. Most importantly, Kaffee had been completely unaware of this before and had structured his questioning around Downey receiving direct orders. Now, with Downey's revelation, all of Kaffee's efforts were for naught.After this court session, Kaffee was thoroughly enraged and disappointed. In the midst of a raging storm, he indulged in self-abandonment, unleashing his inner fury on Galloway, completely losing control. But then, it was Weinberg who enlightened Kaffee: although Kaffee's father was one of the best lawyers ever, he would still choose Kaffee as Dawson and Downey's lawyer, because even Kaffee's father wouldn't have thought of calling Jessup to testify, but only Kaffee had that courage.Kaffee called out to Galloway, who was leaving in the heavy rain, and rallied. He decided to call Jessup to the stand and then, through questioning, force Jessup to admit that he had given the Code Red order himself. Kaffee recalled his first meeting with Jessup, knowing Jessup to be an autocratic, volatile, arrogant, and even self-righteous individual. Jessup believed everything he did was for the country, to the point of forgetting that he deprived soldiers of their human rights. Kaffee could exploit Jessup's arrogance to make him admit it in court!Before the final court session, Kaffee sent Weinberg to Andrews Air Force Base to find two soldiers who were on duty that day. However, Galloway at the last minute began to worry. She told Kaffee, "If you feel the plan won't succeed, if you feel he won't speak, don't force it, or you'll get into trouble." Galloway still lacked confidence.The trial began. Kaffee first attempted to prove that Santiago's transfer order was completely fictitious, based on two points: first, Santiago was supposed to leave the base at 6 AM the next day, yet he had never packed any luggage, and all his clothes were neatly in the closet; second, Santiago was so eager to leave the base, but he hadn't notified any friends or family before leaving. In fact, Jessup had only come to Washington for one day, yet he had packed a large amount of luggage and made three phone calls, which indicated that Santiago had not received any transfer order to leave.However, this argument didn't hold up. Although the prosecutor Ross realized the situation was dire, the judge wanted to hear Jessup's answer, and Jessup delivered a strong counter-attack: "I have to say, I haven't got the slightest goddamn idea. Maybe he's a morning person and likes to pack in the morning. Maybe he doesn't have any friends. I'm an educated man, but I'm afraid I can't answer an intelligence test about William Santiago's travel habits. All I know is, he was scheduled to leave the base at six."After explaining, Jessup continued to press Kaffee, "Now, am I called here to answer these questions? Phones and footlockers? Please tell me what else you want to know, Lieutenant. This trial will decide the fate of these two Marines. Please tell me their lawyer isn't pinning his hopes on phone lists. Do you have any other questions, Counselor?"Facing Jessup's relentless pressure, Kaffee hesitated, recalling Galloway's advice before the trial. But it was only a brief hesitation. Kaffee was spurred into full fighting spirit by Jessup, who, with an intimidating aura, intended to leave the courtroom directly. Risking his own career, Kaffee not only brought Jessup back to the witness stand but also launched into a sharp debate.After regaining his composure, Kaffee launched a relentless assault on Jessup, wave after wave, almost breathtaking. "You just said you ordered Kendrick to tell his men not to touch Santiago. But was he clear on your orders? Was there a chance he ignored that order? Was there a chance he forgot? Was there a chance he left your office and said, 'The old man's wrong'? When Captain Kendrick told his men not to touch Santiago, was there a chance they disregarded it?"Under Kaffee's relentless pressure, Colonel Jessup, after several rounds of stubborn resistance, finally lost his composure. Facing Kaffee's challenge, "Why were there two orders, Colonel?", Jessup said in a weak and uncertain tone, "Sometimes men take matters into their own hands.""You said very clearly, your men don't take matters into their own hands!" Kaffee stepped forward directly, applying direct pressure with rapid words. His amber eyes sent shivers down one's spine. "They have to obey orders, or people will die! So, was Santiago in danger or not?""You insolent bastard!" Jessup finally lost control. The prosecutor tried to call for a recess, but the judge refused.Kaffee, however, steadily approached his final goal. "Since Kendrick had ordered not to touch Santiago, then why did he have to be transferred, Colonel? Kendrick carried out a Code Red because you instructed him to do so." Amidst the prosecutor's "objections," Kaffee remained unfazed, continuously building his momentum. "And then you made them scapegoats. Your order took a life, but you show no remorse. Not only did you forge the transfer order, but you also altered the flight logs." Facing constant interruptions from the judge and prosecutor, Kaffee uninhibitedly poured out everything on his mind. "Colonel, did you order the Code Red?"The judge deemed Kaffee in contempt of court, stating Jessup didn't have to answer the question. However, Jessup was thoroughly enraged by Kaffee's insolence. "I'll answer! You want answers?""I'm entitled to them!" Facing Jessup's overwhelming presence, Daniel charged forward, unflinchingly, as if running into a wall."You want answers?""I want the truth!""You can't handle the truth!" Jessup was also in full attack mode, staring intently at Daniel as if he were an arch-enemy. "Son, we live in a world that needs men to stand on that wall with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know! Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives!"Jessup pressed on, the iron will of a soldier vividly displayed at that moment. "You don't want to face that truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall! We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline.""I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it!" Jessup leaned slightly forward, spittle flying. "I suggest you thank me and go 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!" Jessup's every word, uttered with venom and ferocity, pierced Kaffee like a sharp knife.But Kaffee, instead of retreating, advanced, gritting his teeth and asking, "Did you order the Code Red?""I have a greater responsibility..." Jessup shouted hoarsely, but Kaffee cut him off sharply. He took another step forward, angrily yelling at the Colonel, "Did you order the Code Red?!""You goddamn right I did!" Jessup roared with all his might, like an enraged lion, at Kaffee.The courtroom fell into a deathly silence. Kaffee, facing the hard-won victory, suppressed his excitement and said, "Your Honor, I move that the jury be excused and that we proceed directly under Article 39-A." Faced with Kaffee's accusation, Ross had nothing to say.Jessup still didn't understand what had happened. He believed he was merely doing his duty. He even wanted to catch a plane back to the base, but he was stopped by military police, which made Jessup completely lose control, flailing and wanting to tear Kaffee apart. In his view, he was a model of steadfastness and national defense, and Kaffee's erroneous actions today would lead to a breach of border defense, which was a great disgrace.But law is law, and Jessup was taken into custody. And Jessup, who never believed he had done anything wrong, left the courtroom with his head held high, guarded by military police.Although Jessup admitted giving the order, freeing Dawson and Downey from murder charges, they were still dishonorably discharged for conduct unbecoming. Downey didn't even understand what he had done wrong, but Dawson did: "We were supposed to fight for those who couldn't defend themselves. We were supposed to fight for Santiago..."Watching Dawson's forlorn back, Kaffee called out to the Lance Corporal, "You don't need a patch on your arm to have your dignity."Dawson, who had always disliked, even detested, Kaffee, stopped, turned, and gave Kaffee a formal military salute, offering his respect.
