NationStates Jolt Archive

Part 1: In Justice's Name

Port de Valgiers, Valgeria

The ever present and unrelenting sun beam down across the port city, situated along the coast of North Africa. Opposite the bustling city lay the sprawling blue Mediterranean Sea. The Valleran colony of Valgeria is the last colonial pocession of La République. The whole expanse of the North African Coast once belonged to Vallera, but over the centuries, the colonial territories continued to shrink in the wake of pressure at home, successful rebellions, and economic hardships. Now, Valgeria is all that remains, and that too is slowly being lost. The native inhabitants have off and on for the entire existance of the colony, risen up; however, they were always unsuccessful and faltered from lack of cooperation from the tribes and lack of sufficent equipment and support. In recent decades, the leading freedom organization The Valgerian Liberation Army began a dramatic reorganization from the top down. They shifted tactics from open warfare to terrorist and guerrilla tactics, mindful not to target civilians in an attempt to win the support of the people. These tactics began to slowly deteriorate the control of Valleran authorities who resorted to what they always did, increase the presence of Genderamie forces and a crack down on liberties. This stockpile of explosives needed only a spark which seemed ever close to igniting...

Andre Darlan walked down the streets of Valgeria along the Avenue de Valgiers, the main avenue through the city. The financial and political districts ran along it. Sand colored buildings in the backdrop added for a taste of two worlds as the Valleran flag waved over La Fort de Hammoud, an old fort which jutted out into the bustling harbor, once the guardian of the city. When Valgeria was first colonized, King Hammoud II, ruler of the city defended it fiercley against General Jacques Tybaly. Superior gunmanship aboard the warships prevailed and the fort fell to marines after a prolonged siege. Andre admired the city's rich history and culture. His family were well established residents of the city. He came from a well off family, his father a former magistrate and mother a law clerk, that's how the two met, through the courts. It was another hot day, as usual. His sleeves were rolled up and tie undone as he carried his suit jacket in his left arm. Average people brushed passed him, wearing traditional arabicv clothes. The native often adopted to secular laws of Vallera while a descent number wore traditional clothes. He moved along the streets, observing the sights, smells, and sounds of everyday life in the port city. He casually looked around, as he made his way to work...

Andre was a handsome man in his early thirties, well-educated and of a casual nature. Standing at six feet tall with black hair and hazel eyes. Many people enjoyed working with him as he rarely raised his voice and was fair. He spoke the local dialect fluently. He wiped beads of sweat from his brow and continued along his way. His car was in a mechanic shop at the moment, needing a new alternator. Andre knew little of cars and preferred to let experts handle the maintenance. The walks never bothered him and the heat bothered him only slightly. Horns from passing vehicles beeped and blarred around as he passed the market, a mixture of stalls and vendors, selling anything and everything. He made a mental note to browse through later and take some home to Nadia.

Finally, after some odd blocks of walking, he arrived to Huegot and Associates, a law firm the handled all sorts of defense cases. Francis Huegot, the founder and long since retired lawyer still oversaw the day to day functions of the practice. He was a famous defense lawyer in New Paris but decided to move to Valgeria some twenty odd years ago and fell in love with the place as well as Andre. He now no longer takes cases but merely comes in from time to time, giving advice and counsel to the other lawyers. Andre began as a clerk at the practice ten years ago and in the past seven years, a practicinf defense lawyer. Andre was skilled, maybe not the best, but he could hold his own in the courtroom and was known for his subtle yet brutal cross-examinations, often tearing a witness apart without even raising his voice. Andre entered the door and into the lobby, the reception desk was manned by Sabeen Al-Turk, a beautiful and articulate young woman. She smiled and greeted Andre who greeted her in return and made hi way up the staircase to the second floor, past the other offices and storage rooms to his own office.

His office was small, with a chestnut desk with a large window behind it, offering a street view of the avenue. Two chairs in front of the desk, a filing cabinet and on each opposite wall, bookshelves filled to the brim with all matters of law and philosophy. The top of the desk was occupied by several files and other documents needing his approval. As he set his coat down and came around to his chair there was a knock on the door. Andre looked up and saw an elderly Huegot with a broad smile.
"Monsieur Darlan, good morning" Huegot said.
"Bonjour, Monsieur Huegot" Andre replied and came back around to shake his mentor's hand.

The hum of the ceiling fan occupied a short silence as Huegot slowly entered the office and grunted as he eased himself into a chair. ANdre moved back to the other side of the desk and took a seat as well. Huegot was like a mentor, teaching Andre everything he knew from matters of law to courtroom tactics as well as subtle approaches for getting information and deal making.
"Andre, how is everything with you?" Huegot inquired, readjusting his spectacles slightly.
"Everything goes as it does, sometimes well sometimes not, you?" Andre shifted through some papers and reorganized them into a neat pile, a habit of his.
"Oh, I just can't stand to read or watch the news these days. La Voix did an article today that the Colonial Magistrate Authorities are passing another curfew that will take effect tomorrow." Huegot complained.
"Is this in response to the bombing in El-Jazair?" Andre asked, remembering that last week there was a bomb that detonated at a bus station often used by magistrate officals for transportation to the Valleran Colonial Headquarters in that city. Ten people lost their lives, including a soldier guarding the entrance. The VPLA reinstituted another wave of attacks over the next three month period in response to Valleran Foreign Legion operations in the desert.
"That's just another justification. The authorities are lossing their grip slowly and the only way in their mind is to use a vice." Huegot commented as the two continued with political talk.