Admiral’s Throne Snippet 4
In honor of the rough draft’s completion i give you snippet 4!
Chapter: Isaak’s Trial
“That is why esteemed members of the tribunal I urge you to remember that my client never authorized the use of Bio-tech weaponry. He never ordered the Senator’s death and most importantly of all was never even present when the actions he is being tried for took place!”
“If you’re looking for the man responsible then you need look no further than one Jason Montagne, rogue Vice Admiral and Warlord extraordinaire,” cried Isaak’s Lawyer wrapping up an impassioned closing statement foisting all the blame away from his client, “I urge the Tribunal to do the right thing,” he finished with a sharp nod before sitting down.
The Imperial Tribunal quietly conferred for several minute before turning back.
“All rise,” ordered the Baliff.
The Chief Justice cleared his throat.
“After weighing all the evidence the Imperial Tribunal dictates that since Isaak was the ultimate civilian authority and in all cases of Confederation Law the precedent is clear that the military answers to civilian authority, that thus he was in fact the man ultimately responsible for the rebellion in the spine and the actions of the rebels and traitors which killed Senator Cornwallis!” the Judge said in a deep voice.
“No!” Isaak bolted out of his chair with a cry.
“Speaker Isaak Newton of the rebel regime and so called New Confederation you were the highest authority in you government and as such this Tribunal considers you directly responsible for the actions your military took against the empire, the 2nd Reserve Flotilla and our citizens in the Spineward Sectors. As such you are hereby sentence to be hung by your neck until dead as is the traditional punishment for all traitors against humanity,” the Tribunal Judge said grimly.
“I’ve been framed! No. This isn’t possible. This is all that traitor Montagne’s fault! The record is clear that I don’t even like the man, in fact I detest him! To hold me accountable for his crimes is unreasonable when I did everything within my power to stop and then punish him after the fact,” shouted Isaak.
“Don’t insult our intelligence? Your attempted to cover your tracks was pathetic, your own staffers turned imperial evidence to avoid extradition and gave you up. We have audio files where you call… and I quote, call “Jason Montagne’s a fool, a rube, a chump and a patsy! That manipulating him was easy.” Do you really expect us to just assume you were spouting lies in the privacy of your own office surrounded by trusted advisors?”
“B-b-but,” Isaak Newton visibly gobbled with alarm finally bursting out, “I’ve been framed by my own staff! Any such lies are simply desperate attempts by loyalless traitors to save their own skin!”
“Jason Montagne Vekna is a loose cannon and the greatest threat this glaxy has ever seen!” he cried.
“Do you actually expect us to buy that you would continually hire and then officially ‘betray’ your top military commander? The only man standing between your people and the darkness beyond the galactic rim?” said the Judge.
“It’s the truth. May the gods strike me down if I lie,” Isaak said urgently.
“Don’t take us for fools! There is a clear paper trail and audio record where you ordered Admiral Montagne to defeat Senator Cornwallis by and I quote ‘any means necessary,’” growled the judge.
“Jason Montagne likes to think he’s an honorable man but his love for the people, the civilian population of the spine will cause him to do any blasted thing. Appealing to his patriotism seemed easy until he turned my hand and took entirely illegal actions. Haven’t you looked at any of the evidence I provided? Why are you being so obtuse?” cried Isaak Newton.
“Speaker Isaak Newton of the Spineward Sectors Rebellion we don’t believe you but even if we did and everything you say is true, that only makes your crimes even worse,” scowled the tribune. “You failed in your duty to properly control your military and for that alone you should be executed. Your sentence stands. You are a traitor to humanity and you will be hung by the neck until dead.”
Isaak’s eyes bulged and he looked frantically from side to side.
“I demand an appeal,” he shouted before shoving his lawyer to the side and bolting for the door.
The former Speaker’s mad run for the exit was halted imperial security half way to the door.
“Let me go I can pay you anything you want. I’m worth millions,” struggled Isaak trying to break free and simultaneously bribe the imperial security guards.
“Bailiff restrain the defendant!” shouted the 3rd Tribunal Judge.
“With pleasure,” said the Bailiff. He turned to his security team, “Men,” he jerked his head and one of the guards pulled out a shock stick.
Isaak’s struggles only increased.
“Don’t tase me bro! Don’t tase me!” he cried.
The guards only chuckled evilly.
I’m innocent,” he shouted.
The guard’s just shook their heads and put him in a head lock.
As he stared at the stun baton headed toward his face the now broken politicians searched for anything that could save him and came up blank. He only had one gambit left.
“I know the location of a core fragment!” he screamed.
The 3rd Tribunal Judge who had been watching stony faced slammed a palm onto his wooden bench hard enough the resulting sound could have been mistaken for a gun shot.
“Blasphemy!” shouted the Judge his face constricting.
Seconds later the guards repeatedly shocked Sir Isaak into unconsciousness. They didn’t stop until long after he stopped moving on his own.
Later that day Sir Isaak was officially hung in traitor’s square. Many were pleased. The Media loudly railed against the traitor to all mankind, although some viewers complained of the poor audio-visual quality when the Imperial Censor’s Office slapped an excessive realism ban on the moment of the actual hanging.
