Six: It's difficult to advise you unless I know what you are accused of. Do you even know? Depending on what the "crime" is, and I don't expect you to tell me since we don't know each other, some of the advice you've received here is sound. Specifically, I agree with:
1. Don't do their job for them by DA'ing; make 'em do the deed because that forces them to come up with evidence. As another poster said earlier, you never know in these things when some elder will have an attack of conscience and surprise you.
2. Do the stall. You have a right to know what the charges are, and to bring witnesses (but not, as someone suggested above, the right to bring folks for moral support, sorry). The alleged wrongdoing would determine whether there could be witnesses. You have a right to prepare your defense; make 'em give you sufficient time (two weeks or even three would be reasonable, especially if you are on deadline for some big work project). At the meeting itself, make no admission of guilt. If possible, deny everything. If it appears they are going to make a decision that night, offer to produce a witness who can verify your version of events. Doesn't matter whether you can or not, your goal is to get a postponement of the hearing. That should buy you at least another week. If you are DF'd at that point, and you still need more time, tell them at the hearing that you intend to appeal. Wait six days, per the suggestion outlined by someone else above, and deliver your appeal letter. They will attempt to get that meeting scheduled very quickly but between contacting the CO and you finding time in your busy schedule, you could probably buy another week or two.
Of course, all this assumes you just want to put them off until after the wedding. I'm afraid there is no magic bullet for avoiding DF'ing, although some interesting suggestions have been made on this thread. I, too, am not a big fan of threatening a lawsuit, although I know that some bodies of elders would shudder at that; but in the end, they'll talk to the CO and "Mother" and they'll be coaxed into moving forward.
The only reason they should be in a big hurry is if you are considered a "clear and present danger" to the congo. Of course, the real reason they might be rushing this is because they know about the wedding coming up and someone has complained to them that you will be there.
Good luck.
