NationStates Jolt Archive

Peace with Undershi. Undershi had been willing to pull out. Even to pay reparations. If only it had been that simple. No one knew exactly what had happened, but an entire village was dead. By Undershi hands. Their restless spirits cried out for justice, and for vengeance. And they would not be denied.

The entire unit had been put on trial, before a court headed by an Aesonic judge (OOC: If anyone else involved wants a judge on the court, feel free).

"Has the Jannisarry unit chosen a spokesman?" Asked the judge.

The Janissaries had been brought into the court wearing heavy chains, and featureless grey prison uniforms that looked weirdly similar to standard Undershi Army uniforms.
Three Undershis had come with them - two IIS Storm Troopers in their matt-black body armour, and one human in the grey of the Janissaries, although his uniform was unmarked. He stood when the Aesonic judge spoke, and replied for the Janissaries:
"Yes, your honor. I am Samuel Miller, the defense lawyer assigned to these men. I have been chosen to speak for them, as I am the only norm defense lawyer to ever win a case in Undershi." with that little announcement completed he continued standing, waiting for a question or permission to sit.

The judge turned his head to this defense lawyer. "Very well. Samuel Miller, how do your clients plead?"

As the trial began a couple Ustian Marine officers entered the courtroom and sat down in some open seats in the mid-row. They were there to observe the trial, nothing more nothing less.

OOC:This is basically saying I'm just going to read this thread and not get involved considering it has almost nothing to do with me.

OOC: Another sorta, I'm watching.

One of the many guards that ringed the courtroom and a few of the people watching were Mafia agents. They had been planted to observe the outcome of the trial, they were told it would have an impact on future business plans.

The guard of course had his own weapon, but the 3 'watchers' were carrying the CT-3 Special Forces Pistol made by Siap, they were well hidden, made entirely of plastic, and easily disassembled. They had no plans to use them, they just always carried them.

The watchers were wearing the now common bluetooth headsets for cellphone/MP3 players, but their cell phones were on and broadcasting this trial for recording in a Port Santun recording station, all the way in the Algeristani Strip.

The defense lawyer cleared his throat, then replied:
"On behalf of these men, I plead innocent of any crime. Their reactions were justified when they came under fire from a sniper hiding in the village. Their lieutenant was killed, and they reacted by counter-attacking. If any atrocities were commited, well, such is war." that said, he swallowed nervously, and prepared to defend the Janissaries...

OOC: Sorry for my long absence - my internet connection was down.

"Very well. Plea entered. The court will now accept opening statements from both sides."

The lawyer for the prosecution stepped forward.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," he began, "Let us begin by examining the claim that these invaders have submitted. First- they have claimed that they were attacked by a sniper. We have only their word for that, considering they killed all of the other witnesses. Second- they claim that under the alleged circumstances, they were justified in the slaughter of an entire village, men, women, and children. Third- they claim that such attrocities, are a normal part of war. That the coldblooded slaughter of innocent and unarmed women and children is unavoidable. I am confident that when you have heard the facts, you will feel as I do, and give these monsters the punishment they deserve."

The defense lawyer spoke next:
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, please consider that these men had been under intenslely straining conditions for weeks before this happened - they were in a jungle, fighting a guerilla enemy, and their unit had suffered numerous cassualties over the course of the fighting. Then, they were fired upon by a sniper, who killed the only officer present. Of course they reacted. Sure, they might have over-reacted a bit - I agree that the delibrate killing of civilians is not a normal part of modern warfare, but these men were stretched to the breaking point, and, well, they broke. I just feel the need to say that, in closing, if you had taken any other group of men, and put them through what these men went through, then you would have gotten the same result." with that, he was silent.

One of the Undershi IIS guards had an unusual addition to his helmet camera - normally it recorded for later viewing, while also allowing the user to extend the cable and see around corners - this model had a wireless transmitter built into it, which sent the feed to a secret meeting underneath Undershi City, where interested men watched the court procedings in almost total silence... they were waiting for the veredict, a little afraid of what it might bring...

OOC: Is The Aeson still around?

OOC: Is The Aeson still around?

OOC: Only vaguely, I'm afraid.

OOC: Ah... I know what you mean - my school started today. I'll wait as long as you want me to...

Because
Undershi
Must
Prevail

Because
Undershi
Massively
Powns
... all noobs? (What? I had to have a different phrase...)

OOC: This here is more than a bump - this is me saying that I'm assuming I've withdrawn all forces other than those involved in the trial. That, and it is a BUMP... sort of. The Aeson, are you there anymore?!?

OOC: Can I have the names and ranks of the soldiers?

OOC: Sure. I also assume you want their crimes? If so, the soldiers are:

- Master Sergeant Johan Gupta: Led the attack on the village, when prisoners were taken, ordered his men to be "inventive".

- Sergeants Fernando Smith and Matthew Brown: Both took part in the massacre and the atrocities commited against the people of the village.

- Corporals Alexander Hanson, Gregor Khan, Danniel Baker and Steven McCune all took part in the slaughter and atrocities. Corporal Steven McCune was one of the worst, acting with brutal sadism.

- Assorted Privates and PFCs: Some 40 common soldiers took part in the atrocity as well, killing, looting and commiting atrocity. Basically, not nice... but none of special note.

- Major Criminals: The major crimes that were commited were commited by Corporal Steven McCune, Master Sergeant John Gupta and a few of the common soldiers who haven't been positively identified. As for what the crimes were... think My Lai redux.

"For the first witness, I would like to call Master Seargent John Gupta to the stand."
***
Cue swearing in, etc.

John Gupta made his way up to the stand, glancing nervously over his shoulder as he did towards the IIS guards with their automatic shot-guns.
He accepted the swearing-in process, then stood, prepared to give his version of events.


OOC: The entire course of events would have been recorded on their helmet cameras - do you want that as "exhibit A"?

John Gupta made his way up to the stand, glancing nervously over his shoulder as he did towards the IIS guards with their automatic shot-guns.
He accepted the swearing-in process, then stood, prepared to give his version of events.


OOC: The entire course of events would have been recorded on their helmet cameras - do you want that as "exhibit A"?

OOC: Sure.

IC: "Master Seargent John Gupta. After the alleged assassination of the officer in your unit, you ordered an attack on the village, is that correct? Not a search for the sniper, not a police action, you simply came down on the village with full might, is that correct?"

The human officer shifted slightly, then nodded:
"Yes. That is correct. My supperior officer was killed by a sniper firing from the village. I responded by ordering an attack on the village. It was Standard Doctrine from the Southlands, where we hunted feral norms - if one of their villages shelters them or protects them, then we destroy that village. If any of my men were... over-zealous, then, well, that was an unfortunate incident, and they should be reprimanded... but none of my men did anything too terrible." he seemed to know that this defense was insufficient, and furthermore that he was at best exagerating and at worst lieing... but he said it anyway.

Because
Undershi
Must
Prevail

OOC: The Aeson, are you there?

OOC: Is this RP dead? Just asking...