[Jmenschenfresser]

2411.9
The court room is standing room only; however, as special counsel to Tallik, I am able to sit up front with the defense. The court room is huge, bigger than any I've seen, bigger than any that exist on Xiban. The Zynarra built them well. This civil court martial has been going on for two months. Honestly, as a man trained in the ethics of She who judges every atom on merit, I wonder at the both the charges and the evidence in this case.

Nearly a year ago, Tallik and I boarded a five vessel fleet bound for Farzah space. The intended mission was not one of destruction, but of investigation...reconnisiance. The ships were charged with the investigation of Farzah territory that connected into Cephedri. We were sent to collect a system wide sensor scan to determine the immediate Farzah capabilities. Once out of the warp point, we attempted to hold a position near the center of it, so as to avoid detection. The sensor scan would have taken several months. We first started with the planets, then moved on to the moons, and then to possible ships. We avoided detection for a month, but finally the Farzah traced the source of the scans and realized what was going on. They sent a fleet of seven ships to deal with us. A large battle insued in which two of our cruisers were destroyed, along with a third, which lost all but a handful of men and needed tow back to Cephedri. The ship Tallik and I were on suffered light damage. We took several torpedos to our shields, but they held. I was thrown several times to the ground, acquiring a few bruises which certainly cannot be bragged and exhibited as war wounds. The Farzah lost all seven ships. Tallik was second in command of the fleet, and that is why he too is on trial along side the Fleet Commander Borulk. Since I am a brother of the holy order of Hujov, the court, rather than include me in attempted prosecution, sent the case to the Elders of my order. Brothers are decisive and know what they know. Decision is quick. Within a week the Elders of my order sent word that I had done nothing wrong and nothing spoke to the charge that I might have given ill advice on the Farzah Mission.

The Court charges Borulk and Tallik with "allowing" the conflict to happen. Orders were to disengage and return to Cephedri at the first sign of Farzah detection. However, after our fleet was detected we remained hovering over the warp point for three weeks. Tallik and I still shared our nightly discussion, but he never mentioned to me approaching Farzah ships, and I do think he would have had he known. Four of the ships, including the one Tallik and I were on, the Flag ship, were using all sensor abilities to scan the system, short range sensors had been shut down to maximize our capabilities; however, one of the two ships which fell to Farzah quantum torpedos had the duty of tracking Farzah movement. It specifically was to warn us if we'd been detected. Since the ship was vaporized, it might never be known why we failed to get word of the Farzah fleet until they entered the sector.

QUESTIONEER:
We've all heard the official complaint you made in private, only in the company of Monk Raeghar there, to the Borulk about his decision to engage the Farzah once they arrived in the sector. That cannot be discredited as a credit to your right mind in this matter; however, for the sake of further investigation, was there another reason why you preferred withdrawl over engagement other than the stated fact that such an action was a direct order from the Ministry?

TALLIK:
Things of the military science are practical...orders or not. The two options, to fight or to flee, cannot of course be weighed from the outset as being even, when one has the sanction of one's superior and the other doesn't. However, that was not my only reason to make a formal complaint. Borulk has stated his reason for staying was our disorganized nature leading to our inability to safely withdraw. Yes, we were taken by surprise and as to why, we will most likely never know. However, I suggested withdraw because I felt precisely the opposite, that we indeed could make a successful withdraw.

QUESTIONEER:
Then in your best estimation, as a man who knows tactics through and through, why do you think Borulk felt he could not withdraw the ships?

TALLIK:
I think exactly for the reason he stated. Nothing in war, neither my idea nor his, was 100% guaranteed to work or fail.

QUESTIONEER:
So his fear that the fleet would not be able to organize itself and flee is legitimate in your eyes.

TALLIK:
Yes.

QUESTIONEER:
Going back, why did you feel you could make a successful withdraw?

TALLIK:
Because I felt that by attacking the Farzah none of us would survive; however if we withdrew to Cephedri, we would have the support of the defense array. I told this to Borulk and he muttered something about an open path to Cephedri. I simply took that as his vision of the bigger picture here. I think the logs show that he proved me wrong in one instance, we did not all die. His brilliance as a tactical commander minimized the loses.

QUESTIONEER:
You are referring to his charge upon the Farzah ships.

TALLIK:
Yes.

.....

2 days later
The prosecution suddenly asked for a week long break to process new information. After a private session with the judge, she allowed it.

Let me quote the news article which explains the ending:

Two weeks ago during the height of the Farzah Mission trial, what at first appeared to be an average Amon'krie trader was caught trying to leave Cephedri I through illegal channels. Aboard a Norak vessel which had long been under suspection of smuggling within Cephedri, he was found as part of the crew. The authorities detained him on account of his falsified papers as an interstellar trader. Aboard the ship and in his possession was found an enormous amount of Amon'krie gold. He claimed to have lost his papers to thieves and had them falsified rather than face the pain it takes to get new papers allowing trade between the Amon'krie and Norak. The gold, he claimed, was the result of recent business with the Sallega. He provided the authorities with some sketchy information, claiming he'd forgotten the name of the freighter he used.

The Sallega graciously checked their shipping records and discovered that this individual had not bothered to declare himself when entering Sallega space. In other words, it was possible he'd never made a trip to any Sallega planet. As his face and name were passed throughout the empire, a CueCappan intelligence minister came forward claiming they'd been tracking an anti-establishment group within the Amon'krie empire, and their intelligence had attached this name to the group. They called themselves The Descendants of Amon'thar, a reference to Amon'krie antiquity. Amon'thar was the first leader to fully subjugate the Amon'krie homeworld nearly 600 years ago. His rule was one of the bloodiest in Amon'krie history, but it was also one of the most culturally developed. Many argue this was the golden age of Amon'krie civilization. These Descendants of Amon'thar adhere to a splintered philosophy. Rather than being interested in reintroducing Amon'krie society of a new golden age, they seem rather to favor spreading anarchy and war. Their end game was vague, and in it somehow war would eventually purify the Amon'krie.

This Amon'krie trader was what he said he was. His real papers showed up not long after he'd been picked up. Some honest bar owner mailed them to the authorities. However, the gold it turned out was from the pockets of the Descendants of Amon'thar. The trader confessed all he knew on the condition the Norak would not return him to Amon'krie where the sentence for cult membership is death.

The money was destined for an account owned by Borulk. It is suspected Borulk was bought by the Amon'krie to start a real war between the Farzah and the Norak. Somehow he'd managed to hide the approaching Farzah fleet. Perhaps the other captain was in cahoots, but that will most likely never be proven. The trader was fleeing Cephedri as he was unable to deliver the gold and unable to move about without his papers. The very night that Tallik, Borulk and I heard the news of the trader's confession, Borulk committed suicide, so the real reason behind this scandal will surely remain shrouded forever in mystery. The Farzah and Norak were already at war, but not a ship had been lost on either side. The war was war only in name, not in action. Tallik was acquitted seeing that all evidence pointed to the deceased Borulk. In all probability, Borulk wouldn't have been convicted. There was no outside evidence supporting what the trader said. He would have been forced to give up his rank and office, and given a pension on a planet far from the pubilc's eye.

...

Tallik and I are returning to Organtrix to confront the problem of Sergetti mine fields, which have disabled two of our deep space colonizing missions. I am glad the trial is over. It is hard to get back to work after a month dealing with lawyers and courts and minute evidence. Both Tallik and I know this is an unimportant assignment, but we are both joyous to have the relaxation.

The Farzah and the Norak, it seems, will be reconciled for the time being. The Elders have heard their cries in the darkness and have responded. Thanks again to the peace loving Sallega who valiantly negotiated the settlement. Perhaps it was the so-called change in leadership with the Farzah, if you can rightfully say that such a chaotic enterprise has a top and bottom, or it was the recent defection of one of their prized North Dakota III class ships which changed their hearts. I am sure it is a heroic tale we shall hear one day, how he managed to elude his fellow country men and find haven among the Praetorian our beloved ally. The Elders are plotting a way in which to return the vessel to Norak space, but along one lane are the mine fields of the Sergetti, and another holds the gauntlet of the Farzah. I fear it may be a long journey yet, for those aboard. May She who keeps watch over the feet of all travelers find them safe passage.

One of the few stipulations woven into our newest treaty with the Farzah is a permission to colonize a world within their empire. We made it abundantly clear that this is in no way intended to be an intrusion, but rather a mission colony for future trade and the wonderful word of She who loves all peoples. The Farzah have granted us rights to any colony we choose in the Knoglam system, a grand offer. This brings our scholars to a new task of translating the Text into the language of the Farzah.

Pellwain sent me word that she was growing tired of her little colony so close to Xiban I. She longed for something new and exciting. I asked her to consider taking the charge of over the future colony in Knoglam. She said she would think about it.

I feel the rumble of the contra engines as we exit the atmosphere...a sensation that still and will aways make me uneasy, and in this uneasiness I can't help but to recite the follow:

"I am Traveler, lost upon the hills, as all the ancients before me; please, Master, hide your face from me, so that I might find a bit of rest, before I depart and am no more."

[ 22 April 2002: Message edited by: Jmenschenfresser ]