NationStates Jolt Archive

The court rapidly is brought to order by the omnipresent Imperial Sovereign Protectors. War crimes in the United Star Empire of Valinon, and the cold blooded murder of over 1,300 civilians at the treaty port of Armandur on Earth constitutes that. War crimes against the Valinor are to be judged by the highest court in the United Star Empire, and the highest court means that only one person can preside over it: the Emperor himself, as Supreme Consul of Justice for the Empire.
Emperor Rowald Alderman I walks in gravely as the court comes to its feet. He is dressed in black, flowing robes as he takes his lofty position.
"Be seated," he says in a cold voice.
He looks first to the prosecution, where Hidoshi Yomuri, Praetor Consul of the Empire sets solemnly, dressed in equally formal robes. His comp-pad and notes already prepared. At the opposite table sits a pair of Ortagan lawyers brought in especially for the occasion to serve as the defenders of the prisoners from the Verniian Q-ship force. Commander Terrell sits with his defenders, along with a select group of chosen prisoners.
Rowald pounds once, heavily with the gavel, "This court called to address the charges of High Crimes of War against the Valinor is now in session. We will now move into opening statements and addressing of purposes....." and so the trial begins.

*******************

Three days later, the closing arguments are completed. The prosecution was fierce, the evidence overwhelm, and the will of the Valinor as a whole obvious. The Ortagans defense was not wholly half-hearted, but it was clear they expected no victory.
Emperor Rowald reenters the chamber, "Be seated."
He withdraws a formal piece of parchment, "The charges arrayed against the defendants are as follows. First, High Crimes of War against the Valinor, specifically the people of Armandur. Second, 1,344 sepreate counts of murder. Third, and finally the brutal bombardment of Boralis, a civilian treaty port."
Rowald looks coldly at the Verniians, "All on counts, this court finds the defendents guilty, and hereby sentences them to death by firing squad no later than two days from now. As this is the decision of the Highest Court of the Empire, no appeals may be filed. The Justice of the Empire is swift and merciless. Prepare your souls," with that the Emperor stands, as the court rapidly does the same. He then takes his leave.

Two days later, the Square of Marshals has been readied for the occassion. The statues of the greatest leaders of the First and Second Empires watch the execution proceedings from their pedestals. At the wall seperating the Glockhauner Engelmann Complex, center of the Valinor Sardaukar from the vast parade ground. The twin suns of the Alpha Centauri system blaze their way toward setting.
473 crewmen and 76 marines, all that remains of the personnel that assaulted the Valinor cities on Earth are escorted in by Imperial Sovereing Protectors, then restrained against the wall. Emperor Rowald comes, dressed in a somber uniform bearing no rank insignia, at his side is a single saber. But behind him is something not expected, not even by the vast crowd of angered Valinor.
Twelve Sardaukar bearing the unit insignia of the 12th Regiment, known as the "First and Only" for their permanent assignment to Earth, follow Rowald. They approach the the only line of single deep prisoners, consisting of Terrel and the "ranking" officers. The other lines are four deep, and Imperial Sovereign Protectors stand at the ready.
The "First and Only" ready themselves. A Catholic priest approaches to give the Verniians their final blessing, but Emperor Rowald holds up a firm hand.
"You cannot speed their way to Hell, Father," the priest nods and returns to the small number of other priest. They bow their heads in silent prayer.
Rowald draws his saber, "Make ready!"
The Sardaukar come rapidly to firing positions, the Protectors follow suit.
"Take aim!" a final adjustment of weapons is made.
For a space of ten heartbeats they stand silent.
"FIRE!" orders Rowald lowering his sword rapidly.
The whine of Impaler rifles splits the air. The torsos of the prisoners are shredded, blood stains the wall.
"Retract arms!" Rowald watches as the Sardaukar and Protectors draw up to parade ground formations. He motions to a squad of Protectors nearby.
"Your Majesty?" says the Lieutenant.
"Remove the hands of the Commander and his officers."
"Yes, Your Majesty," drawing sharpened swords the Protectors set to work on the twelve officers. After the work is completed they withdraw. Rowald sheaths his saber.
A Protector Captain approaches quizzically, "Your Majesty?"
"Let the people confirm their bodies in the matter they see fit, Captain. We are finished here."
Rowald turns, and the Sardaukar and Protectors retreat from the Square. Fifteen minutes later, the Civilian Policing Units do the same. An hour later fires cast an eerie glow through the night sky of New Koln, and a strange scent fills the air.

**********************

Days later, a robotic courier screams into the Gregor star system. Its codes shout neutrality, and request that an official ship of the People's Republic of Vernii board it and take its cargo to the Hereditary President himself.
Inside sits a slender, cryo unit, and inside the cryo unit are twelve pairs of of hands, in the center pair of hands is a data disk, and a later, sealed in a proper package to keep it legible, bearing the crest of House Alderman.
The parchment reads simply: We shall not soon forget. The data disk bears a copy of the trial and the execution.

Hereditary President Calimar turned off the recording and leaned back in his chair. He turned to gaze out the window of his office, on the 150th floor of the Tower of the People, and stared out at a propaganda poster that had been hung on a skyscraper across the street. It was an immense poster, over 60 feet long, with a suitably patriotic image painted across it. A burning Valinor battleship was placed in the center, as a Verniian dreadnought roared past, energy weapons blazing away at enemies out of view. The slogan, "They won't give up." was emblazoned across the bottom of the poster.

PubInf did a really nice job with that, although I wish the war was really going that well. The desk intercom interrupted his thoughts, "Secretary of Defence Bergren is here to see you Sir." "Send him in Julie."

The doors opened, and Calimar listened as footsteps crossed the fine marble floor and stopped before his desk. He paused for a few more seconds, then slowly swung his chair around to face Bergren. "Do you know why I called you to my office?" Bergren's face paled slightly, "No sir, I don't. Although from your expression I can guess that the attacks on Earth didn't go as well as I planned."

"Didn't go as well as you planned? I guess you could say that, since ALL 8,000 men and women aboard those ships are dead! Not a single one made it back!" Bergren's face turned white, but Calimar didn't notice, "Your plan got an entire squadron of Q-ships destroyed! They didn't all die in battle, the enemy captured just over 500. You know what they did? They shot them!" Calimar jumped to his feet and swept the box of his hands off of his desk onto the floor. Bergren jumped back startled, "My apologies Sir, all our intelligence suggested that a strike against a secure target like Earth would crumble enemy morale. If you wish it, I will resign my position."

"No. As much as you screwed up this time you're still valuable. I want you to pick up those hands, and you are going to tell the families of each of those twelve men that you got them killed. If you ever screw up even half this badly again though, then you're fired. As for the execution tape, I'm sure PubInf can make them into martyrs. You're dismissed." Bergren bowed and collected the scattered hands, placing them back into the box and hurrying from the office with it. Later that night, the tape of the executions was released on the 10 P.M. news, complete with warnings of graphic content, and several "spontaneous" demonstrations broke out in the capital, burning flags of the enemy powers and chanting praise of the navy and government.