All That Glitters Ch. 57

"If you pass forward your request for clemency, we will review the names of those ships with the official registry and advise accordingly," Kestin spoke.

The names of those ships requesting clemency were read out and eight of them were rejected as having participated in the battle.

"Beerlendl Kestin, the crews of these eight ships state that they had no choice but to participate in the battle on pain of death from Admiral Grazia," Linnett stated.

"In other words, now that they find themselves on the losing end of this situation, they wish to reform?" Kestin demanded. "That is not acceptable, Advocate. The crews of these ships are all under edict because they refused clemency in Alliance space and because they broke the Lannette Protocols by using a nuclear device on a civilian target. If these crews were serious about their position, they could have left the Grazia Fleet after the destruction of Semt Shall. Their counterparts did so and were granted clemency. The crews of the ships that participated in the battle did not. Clemency is refused.

"The Beerlen will consider a motion for clemency for the ships listed as not having participated in the battle and for no others," Kestin stated formally.

"What of the crews of the Torge Class ships that participated in the battle, Kestin. Why are they not represented here?" Linnett demanded.

"Those crew are being dealt with in trials directed by Navy Command. They are not subject to Asocan Civil Court as they did not attack civilian infrastructure, unlike the Grazia Fleet," Kestin answered.

The trial for the ships involved in the battle was swift with information on participating ships provided by the Planetary Authority from the Matrar Station corroborated with testimony from the ships of the Asoc's fleet that engaged the ships of the Grazia Fleet. A list of damage caused to the Asoc's Fleet by the Grazia Fleet was included.

Questions were raised and answered and the Beerlen requested if any would speak on behalf of the accused. No one chose to speak for them.

The Beerlen stepped away for deliberation. They returned quickly.

"It is the verdict of the Beerlen AsocAR that the members of the Fleet Grazia now before this court are responsible for acts against the people of AsocAR and against the rightful ruler of the Asocan Realm, the Asoc >Catal Mutt Herrtt. They are also in defiance of Alliance Protocols to disband their fleet and against the Lannette Protocols of attacking civilian infrastructure with a nuclear device. They also refused to act on offers of clemency given to them prior to the battle.

"The crew of the ships before us could have left the Grazia Fleet when Unaayel Mutt Herrtt ordered the destruction of Semt Shall, showing their disdain for Admiral Grazia, as some thirty other ships of the Grazia Fleet ships have done.

"We the Beerlen AsocAr find the crews of the named ships to have willingly participated in the attack on Semt Shall in direct violation of the Lannette Protocols and in the battle against the rightful ruler of the Asocan Realm, the Asoc >Catal Mutt Herrtt. We find you guilty of the charges against you.

"The humans have set a specific penalty for breach of Lannette Protocols. That penalty is death. Asocan Law sets a specific penalty for participation in rebellion against the lawful authority of the Asoc, especially were multiple deaths of the innocent occur. That penalty is death.

"The crews of the named ships will be permitted to lay an objection to these penalties only if they can prove they had no choice but to participate in this rebellion. However, that petition has already been rejected. If you cannot find another reason for objecting to the death penalty. It will be applied to you in forty-eight hours.

"Take the guilty away," Kestin thundered at the end, getting a roar of approval from the crowd.

"Bring out the crews of the ships that did not participate in the final battle," Kestin ordered. Those crews were standing before the Beerlen shortly after.

"You have been accused of participating in an armed rebellion against the lawful authority of the Asocan Realm, the Asoc >Catal Mutt Herrtt. As many innocent lives were lost during this rebellion, you would normally have been subject to the death penalty.

"However, a petition of clemency has been entered on your behalf on the grounds that you did not participate in the final battle in direct contravention of the orders of Admiral Grazia. As such, clemency will be considered in your case.

"The conditions of your clemency will not be the same as those who previously acted openly for clemency. The death penalty that hangs over your heads is commuted by this court as part of your act of clemency. The conditions of further offers will be given to you by the administration. Your lives, your wellbeing, and your futures, are now in your hands. Break Asocan Law, and the resulting commuted death penalty will be remembered and enacted. Act accordingly.

"Remove these people from this court," Kestin thundered against the backdrop of protests from Asocans around the center. Kestin roared out a command to cease all comments immediately, reminding those in the Center that trials were ongoing and that they had promised not to interfere with said trials.

Kestin then called forth the associates of Unaayel Mutt Herrtt starting with the rank and file and moving upwards to the more senior levels. When those who were Gurn were put on trial, the Asoc, the Asost and much of the administration of the >Clot< made an appearance.

In all cases, the trials were swift and without mercy. The senior members of the administrations who sided with Unaayel were stripped of their rank and positions. Those who killed were given the death penalty. When asked if any would speak on their behalf, only a few had people spoke for them. The Beerlen moved swiftly through the list.

Finally, Shugrand Mutt Herrtt was brought in for her trial.

"Shugrand Mutt Herrtt, you are accused of acting on behalf of your mother Unaayel Mutt Herrtt, to further her agenda of rebellion. there are many mitigating circumstances surrounding your accusations. Who is acting on behalf of this person?" Kestin demanded.

Once again it was Linnett Mutt Reta.

"Beerlen, I will show that the accused was not acting on behalf of her mother but on behalf of the realm. She worked tirelessly to correct the injustices that her mother acted first upon the people of ShemetAR, then upon the Asocan Realm itself.

"I wish to submit into evidence the conversation between the Association of Gurn of ShemetAR, which included the then Raddon Shugrand Mutt Herrtt, and the Asoc >Catal Mutt Herrtt at the end of the Second Denders Summit," Linnett said.

"Objection," came from one of the Beerlendl. "The appointment of Shugrand Mutt Herrtt to Raddon ShemetAR was not made by lawful authority."

"We acknowledge that point," Linnett replied. "However, Shugrand had been working diligently on ShemetAR to limit her mother's excesses on the planet prior to this appointment and, when given the title of Raddon, she was able to work with more authority to help the Gurn and the people of ShemetAR.

"The same occurred here on AsocAR when the rebel Unaayel brought Shugrand back to AsocAR to help with the ongoing situation here. Shugrand performed flawlessly as Minister of the Interior as she was appointed by her mother," Linnett acknowledged. "We are aware of the legitimacy of Shugrand's appointments, however, Shugrand was working to do the best she could under difficult circumstances. Her comments on the situation are a point of history which have been provided by the Association of Gurn of AsocAR."

"Very well, we concede the point for now," Kestin stated. The trial continued as the situation that Shugrand found herself in was explained.

When the vid of the conversation between the Gurn of ShemetAR, Shugrand, and the Asoc was made, the Asoc could see that the people were responding well to the list of Shugrand's accomplishments.

"Are there any who would speak on behalf of Shugrand Mutt Herrtt?" Kestin asked after some time. Over one hundred claws went into the air, surprising the Beerlen.

Kestin pointed to one Asocan who was practically bouncing on her heels.

"I am Gashafen Mutt Shemet of ShemetAR, Beerlendl Kestin. I was the appointed aid to the then Raddon Unaayel Mutt Herrtt. I can attest to the fact that Unaayel did not know what she was doing in the office of Raddon, did not even care to be in that office. She leaned heavily on her daughter Shugrand to help her run the office, leaving much of the day-to-day minutia to Shugrand.

"I continued to be the aide to the Raddon when Unaayel raised the flag of rebellion and named Shugrand as Raddon to ShemetAR. When left alone, Shugrand was swiftly able to repair much of the damage that Unaayel had done to ShemetAR.

"I came to AsocAR with Shugrand when her mother called for her. I watched as Shugrand did much the same on AsocAR as she had done on ShemetAR, repairing the damage that Unaayel had set upon the Realm in the short time she had control over it.

"As Shugrand had said to the aides to the various ministers and to the High Gurn of AsocAR 'we need to work to control the excesses of Unaayel and so that we can return the realm in some semblance of order to the next Asoc, whomever that might be'. Shugrand did exactly that," Gashafen ended.

"I am the High Gurn Praatra Mutt Korld, High Gurn of Mutt Korld and leader of the Association of Gurn of AsocAR. I corroborate all that Gashafen has said in regards to Shugrand's presence her on AsocAR. She worked tirelessly to rebuild the finances and administration of the realm after the damage that her mother had committed to the realm in the short time that she was in control of it. I commend Shugrand's efforts to bring the Gurn together and get them to work for the realm instead of for themselves," Praatra stated.

More people spoke up for Shugrand with only one person stating that Shugrand had killed two Asocans when she first arrived on AsocAR, but it was shown that she had reacted to the aggression of the others to protect herself as they had challenged her when she was not wearing a >Curlat in defiance of Asocan challenge customs and norms.

Corroborating evidence in the form of media files were entered to compliment all of the testimony.

Once again, heads were nodding all over the open courtyard.

"Very well, we have shown that Shugrand had worked for the benefit of the realm in accordance with the traditions of the offices of the Minister of the Interior and Finance and for ShemetAR and in accordance with the offices of Raddon ShemetAR when she was placed in that capacity.

"We also commend her for her selfless actions on AsocAR when she was placed in the role of Minister of the Interior. We commend her for this.

"However, we are still left with the fact that Shugrand is an adult of the line of Unaayel Mutt Herrtt. By tradition and law, if Unaayel is found guilty in her trial, Unaayel will have to be executed," Kestin stated.

Shugrand rose and nodded her head. "I am aware of this tradition, Beerlendl Kestin and acknowledge that the realm has limited options. I have made my pact with the gods and am ready to serve the realm one final time if my death can prevent future needless tragedy," Shugrand told the Beerlen.

"Take Shugrand away," Kestin told the guards. Those in the center noted that Kestin had not asked them to remove the prisoner. As Shugrand was led from the Center to the holding pens, those she passed all bowed to her. It left a formidable impact on the Beerlendl of the Beerlen AsocAR.

"Bring in Unaayel," Kestin commanded. There wasn't a word spoken as Unaayel was brought into the center.

"Unaayel will be represented by a member of the Beerlen as no Advocate wanted to work for her," Kestin commented.

"Unaayel Mutt Herrtt, you have been accused of many foul and irredeemable crimes. You are accused of the mass murder of the innocent during your attack on the Crèche of Mutt Beddan, where you personally killed sixty-nine, including thirty-seven infants in the Beddan Nursery Swamp, innocent clutches, some not even into their second year of life. You also killed their parents who attempted to stop you. Entire Mutt Lines were wiped out that day.

"You conducted personal challenges of experienced warriors, not giving them an opportunity to decline, then either killed them in combat or cut off their hands in contempt when they lost." That was something that was not widely known to most Asocans so it came as a bit of a shock to those in the Gathering Center.

"Then there is the atrocity of Semt Shall, which you ordered destroyed through the use of a nuclear device from your mercenary group. It is estimated that more than three and a half million Asocans died in that single incident.

"And finally, you kidnapped Asocans that had spoken out against you and your rule and placed them in a prisoner compound North of the Lost Shall, where the streams coming from the Lost Shall pushed their radiation poison into the swamps in that compound, poisoning the prisoners. Many prisoners died in that compound and many more may yet die from the effects of long-term exposure to radiation poisoning.

"All-in-all, your crimes are of the stuff of the malevolent warlords seen in entertainment vids. You have surpassed the crimes of the Asoc Minatran, until now, the most reviled Asoc ever. Your deeds are so vile that no Advocate wanted to represent you in this court.

"Worse, you cared so little for your actions that you recorded all of these events so that others could see them as you enacted them. Those recordings are a condemnation of your activities and condemn you in this court," Kestin commented.

The trial was longer simply because of the amount of information that Unaayel had accumulated. All of the media was shown to those in the Great Gathering Center, Unaayel condemned by her own recordings.

Gilli and Neron were there to testify to what Unaayel had done to those who had lost the challenges against her. They showed the stumps of their wrists much to the anger of the Crowd. <Gorlat came forward and informed the Beerlen that she had been in contact with Malihan Hospital on Green's World and had been informed that they now had the ability to tweak the Asocan DNA and could perform limb regeneration surgery on those who had been maimed by Unaayel and her ilk. The Asoc stood and stated that those who worked for the realm would be compensated by the realm, including the recovery of lost limbs.

Cynthia Stewart's media files were entered into evidence and showed the fight at the detention centre and the fight at Unaayel's challenge grounds, including how Unaayel had used snipers to attack >Catal and her senior people. The crowd cheered when Junelliya took down the snipers. They cheered even louder when the Asoc killed Unaayel's Lastoc, again when she defeated Unaayel, and when she killed Tarrest.

The media file captured all the single combats between the forces of Unaayel and those of the Asoc. Finally the evidence was considered completed.

"Is there any who will speak for Unaayel?" Kestin demanded at the end of the presentations. Not a single person raised a claw.

"Unaayel Mutt Herrtt, you are found guilty by your own hand in the recordings that you and others have made. Your actions are reprehensible and your behaviour so outside the norms of Asocan society that we cannot pass an adequate punishment on you. We do, however, condemn you to death for your deeds," Kestin ended.

The Asoc rose and all turned to look at her. "Unaayel Mutt Herrtt, your deeds have condemned you in this court and in the hearts of all Asocans throughout the realm. As such, Mutt Herrtt strips you of your name and all titles and awards that you may have received from your Mutt and the realm.

"Your name will be stricken from the lists of Mutt Herrtt, your accomplishments removed from its history, your feats denounced.

"However, your unmitigated lust for power needs to be remembered, a warning to all Asocan children in future of the cost of such desires. For this reason, you shall be remembered by the cursed name that was applied to you in the last few months...Belgedra...the evil one.

"According to our laws, your Mutt Line will be extinguished, forever forgotten along with your name.

"Take the prisoner away!" the Asoc snapped and the one now and forevermore known as Belgedra was unceremoniously pulled from the Gathering Center to the jeers of the Asocans in the center.

"Bring in Shugrand Mutt Herrtt!" the Asoc ordered.

Shugrand marched into the center under her own power. She was not shackled. Her head was held high and she met the eyes of every Asocan who looked at her, making most turn away. She marched into the middle of the Petitioner's Circle and faced the Asoc, giving her a deferential bow.

"Please! Let me through," came a plaintive cry as a male tried to force his way toward the Petitioner's Circle.

"Who is this male?" the Asoc demanded.

"I am Kordel Mutt Shemet, Asoc, and I am Shugrand's intended," Kordel said as he stepped into the circle with Shugrand.

"NO, Kordel, do not do this!" Shugrand snapped.

"It is my choice to do so, Shugrand," he replied quietly.

"Asoc, please, send him away! If he ties himself to me he will share my fate!" Shugrand wailed. "Kordel, please, I do not want you to die with me."

"My life has no meaning if you are not in it, Shugrand," Kordel replied. "I would rather die with you than live without you."

"Kordel, do you accept the fate of this female knowing that she may be condemned because of her Mutt Line?" the Asoc demanded.

"I do so willingly, Asoc," Kordel admitted.

"Shugrand, do you accept this male as your mate?" the Asoc asked.

"NO!! I reject him, Asoc, I cannot bear that he would be killed because of me!" Shugrand returned.

"SILENCE SHUGRAND!" the Asoc thundered. "You demean this male by your actions.

"Let me ask you this, Shugrand," the Asoc said more gently. "If the threat of termination did not rest over your head, would you accept this male as your mate?"

Cornered, Shugrand admitted that she would.

"Very well then. Mutt Herrtt does not object to this mating," the Asoc stated. "Where is the High Gurn for Mutt Shemet of ShemetAR?"

"Here, Asoc," Woaden Mutt Shemet called out from the crowd.

"Does Mutt Shemet of ShemetAR object to this mating?" the Asoc asked.

Looking around, High Gurn Woaden Mutt Shemet assessed the mood of the crowd and decided that she did not want to oppose the mating.

"If this is what Kordel wishes, Mutt Shemet of ShemetAR does not object to this mating." That brought a roar of approval from the crowd.

"Martte Shugrand step forward," the Asoc ordered.

"Asoc, we both know the validity of my title Martte. It was given to me by my mother and only..."

"The sitting Asoc may grant or rescind the title of Martte, though normally either is confirmed by the Beerlen. I remind you Shugrand that I AM the sitting Asoc. Beerlendl of Beerlen AsocAR, this female has worked consistently to uphold the laws and traditions of the realm, even knowing that doing so would hasten her own demise as the daughter of Belgedra. Do you confirm the title of Martte for Shugrand Mutt Herrtt?" the Asoc asked of them.

"We do, Asoc," the reply came back.

"Rise and stand with your intended, Martte Shugrand Mutt Herrtt," the Asoc ordered firmly. Shugrand did as she was told.

"Shugrand Mutt Herrtt, you have performed your duties to the people without hesitation, including presenting yourself to this governing body knowing that your fate rested with us," the Asoc informed all. "You have committed yourself with distinction and I, as the head of Mutt Herrtt, am proud to include you as one of our members.