Ran, p.29
RAN, page 29
On the day of Klarot’s appearance before the tribunal, the Great Hall seats were filled early. Dombit, who had a reserved seat in the front row, waited as long as he could. On one hand, Ran was bright in a clear, cloudless, blue sky, and he was enjoying the out-of-doors. On the other, he wanted to avoid eye contact with his former boss as long as possible. Not that he feared Klarot; the general’s time was over. But he still felt pangs of conscience at the steps he had felt compelled to take—his sabotage of Klarot and his military intentions.
Dombit took his seat, and shortly thereafter, the thirteen judges filed across the dais. Chief Judge Olkklot Vulorn took his seat and gaveled the tribunal to order.
Two marshals brought out General Klarot, clothed in his full-dress uniform minus his ceremonial sword. Dombit thought he looked rather resplendent despite the shackles on his hands and feet. The marshals placed him in the dock and shackled his hands to the bar. Because of his military stature, the marshals had taken extra precautions. Armed marshals stood outside the main entrance and every side entrance of the Hall. Additional armed marshals stood at locations throughout the Hall. While Chief Judge Olkklot Vulorn didn’t expect any trouble—in fact, the military had cooperated fully—he was taking no chances. He nodded at Prosecutor Judhee Groklet.
“State your name and position,” the prosecutor said.
“I am General Nirurian Klarot, head of the Geroptic Military, Chief Executive Officer of The Geroptic Nation, and the Designated Prophet of the Great Dragon.” He spoke slowly, with dignity. “I am compelled to protest this proceeding. As Head of State and Designated Prophet, I am subject to the jurisdiction of the Great Dragon according to the rules within The Book of the Great Dragon. As a decorated commissioned officer in the Geroptic Dragon Army and Head of the Geroptic Military, I am subject to the jurisdiction of the Military Justice Code. I demand that my trial be moved to one of these venues.”
Chief Judge Olkklot Vulorn had already dealt with the military side of the jurisdiction issue and had researched the religious side. He paused for several seconds and then said, “My ruling is that this tribunal has full jurisdiction over you, given the nature of these proceedings and the events that led up to it.” He rapped his gavel against the sound block.
“You may continue,” the Chief Judge said.
“I officially object to these proceedings. I give my testimony under protest, and my objection applies to every answer and response I may give.”
The Chief Judge responded, “I acknowledge that your further testimony is under protest. I remind you that there is no appeal from these proceedings, and that sentences will be carried out immediately.” He turned to the prosecutor. “Please continue, Prosecutor Judhee Groklet.”
“You are charged as follows,” the prosecutor said. “Count one, the overthrow of the legitimate government of The Geroptic Nation. Count two, the unprovoked invasions of Amred and Ceffid—a crime against lizardkind. Count three, attempting on three occasions to detonate nuclear weapons over or in Amred City and Ceffidia—a crime against lizardkind.” Prosecutor Judhee Groklet looked directly at General Klarot. “How do you plead?”
General Klarot looked right back at the prosecutor. “Under protest, I plead not guilty to all counts, and I specifically object to your use of the phrase ‘Crime against lizardkind’.”
Prosecutor Judhee Groklet meticulously and carefully laid out the evidence for count one, the overthrow of the legitimate government of The Geroptic Nation. He relied heavily on the testimony of the Dragon City Bishop and Major Dombit. The capstone of his presentation was Dombit’s description of Klarot’s deceptive removal of Prophet Vrokhun and his assumption of power.
When Groklet had finished his presentation of the evidence for count one, Chief Judge Olkklot Vulorn asked, “Where is Prophet Vrokhun?”
Klarot answered, “I don’t know.”
“Carry on,” the Chief Judge said to Prosecutor Groklet.
Groklet laid out the evidence for count two, the unprovoked invasions of Amred and Ceffid—a crime against lizardkind, in the same careful manner as for count one. Several of the field commanders were called to testify, which they did, under protest as hostile witnesses. Dombit’s testimony rounded out the evidence as he detailed the careful work that went into planning the invasions, and the role he played against his wishes.
After he completed presenting his evidence for count two, Groklet said, “May it please the Court, I wish to expound on why this count is characterized as a crime against lizardkind.”
“Proceed,” the Chief Judge said.
“These invasions were entirely unprovoked. There was no economic justification, because both Amred and Ceffid were eager to trade with The Geroptic Nation. There was no threat from either nation; there was no external reason at all for the invasions. Major Dombit has testified that General Klarot wanted to rule the world, to place both Amred and Ceffid under his personal control. While Prophet Vrokhun had vague aspirations to bring the entire globe under the Great Dragon, in actuality, this was nothing more than empty words. General Klarot used the inspiration of the Great Dragon with his troops to turn them into fanatical warriors bent on subjugating the world. Thus, the designation of a crime against lizardkind.”
“Have you anything to say in response?” Chief Judge Vulorn asked.
“I do, your Honor. Wanting to bring the primitive Geroptics into the modern world, and then uniting the nations of Arcan against the offworlders, is not a crime, but something deserving of high praise.”
The crowd’s reaction to Klarot’s comments made it clear this was something the tribunal observers had not considered. Modernizing The Geroptic Nation was a good thing. Uniting against the offworlders was a new thought.
The Chief Judge’s gavel brought the crowd’s focus back to the tribunal.
Prosecutor Groklet picked up his folder for count three. “As for count three, attempting on three occasions to detonate nuclear weapons over or in Amred City and Ceffidia—a crime against lizardkind…” He ruffled the papers in the folder. His scales turned bright orange for a moment before gradually returning to green.
“Your Honor,” he finally said, “may we have a short recess while I compose myself?”
Chief Judge Vulorn said quietly, “This tribunal is in recess for eighteen minutes,” and rapped his gavel.
When the tribunal reconvened, Groklet said, “Major Teynal Dombit, please take the witness stand.”
Dombit mounted the steps and faced the Chief Judge. “I remind you that you are still under oath. Proceed, Prosecutor Groklet.”
“Major Dombit, please amplify your earlier testimony about General Klarot’s conversation with the offworlder Orlov concerning nuclear-tipped missiles.”
Dombit knew where this questioning was going and, frankly, wanted to see it play out. “While I was present, General Klarot and the offworlder Orlov discussed the possibility of the offworlder supplying the general with nuclear-tipped missiles. General Klarot specifically requested sufficient missiles to hit every major city in Amred and Ceffid. Orlov refused, telling General Klarot he had no idea of the destructive power of these weapons. Instead, Orlov suggested one nuke for each capital. General Klarot acquiesced.”
“Now describe the launching of the missiles.”
“First, I should explain that General Klarot requested and received four nuclear-tipped missiles, two for backup. Orlov delivered the missiles by portal from a warehouse somewhere in the Solar System. I was responsible for bringing the missiles to the Dragon City HQ compound. I supervised troops digging water-filled channels to vector the rocket exhaust away from the compound. I did not know enough to sabotage the rockets, and the nukes were hidden away at the top of the missiles. I had to rely on the information I had received about the Ceffid nukes somehow being deactivated by the offworlders. Perhaps they could do it here as well. The missiles exploded over the water. General Kenred ordered me to ready the backup missiles, but I thought their warheads may have been deactivated by the offworlders, so I suggested to the general that he request a check from Orlov’s technicians. The backup nukes turned out to be duds. General Klarot then requested small nukes that could be moved by portal from Orlov’s warehouse to the compound and immediately by portal to the two capitals. I have already testified about those nukes and how I deactivated them a second before shoving them through the portals.”
“Thank you, Major,” Prosecutor Groklet said.
Dombit returned to his front row seat.
One of the judges spoke up. “General Klarot, when the offworlder Orlov told you about the horrific destruction a nuclear device causes, why did you continue to pursue using nukes?”
“Once Orlov explained the power of nukes, I decided only a single nuke for each capital would suffice for my purpose. I thought if I decapitated command and control for both Amred and Ceffid in one stroke, that and the accompanying civilian casualties would bring both nations to their knees, and the war would be over.”
With yellow scales, the judge asked, “Didn’t you consider the awful lizard toll, the millions who would suffer and die?”
“We call them ‘collateral damage’,” the general answered, “unfortunate, but necessary.”
The crowd gasped as he said this. Chief Judge Vulorn rapped his gavel twice.
“Your Honor,” Groklet said, “I wish to wrap up this matter.”
“Proceed,” Chief Judge Vulorn said.
“We have shown that Nirurian Klarot actively sought to procure a sufficient quantity of nukes to demolish every major city and their lizard populations in Amred and Ceffid. When this failed, he procured four nuke-tipped missiles that, but for the intervention of the offworlders, he would have used to destroy Amred City and Ceffidia. Then he procured two more nukes that he intended to transport to the capitals in a manner unseen by the offworlders. He was stopped by the heroic efforts of Major Teynal Dombit. I can think of no act that more completely fits the definition of a crime against lizardkind than this.”
Chief Judge Vulorn banged his gavel and announced, “This tribunal is in recess for three hours.”
Three hours later, the clerk called out over the announcing system, “All rise for Chief Judge Olkklot Vulorn and his twelve junior judges,” as the judges filed across the dais to the bench. The Chief Judge took his seat and banged his gavel.
“This tribunal is in session.”
The crowd sat with a quiet hum of anticipation.
Two marshals brought General Klarot to the dock and shackled him to the bar.
The Chief Judge banged his gavel again.
“General Nirurian Klarot, on count one, the overthrow of the legitimate government of The Geroptic Nation, this tribunal finds you guilty and sentences you to incarceration for twenty years without parole. On count two, the unprovoked invasions of Amred and Ceffid—a crime against lizardkind, this tribunal finds you guilty and sentences you to incarceration for life without parole and banishment outside the Ran system, never to return. On count three, attempting on three occasions to detonate nuclear weapons over or in Amred City and Ceffidia—a crime against lizardkind, this tribunal finds you guilty and sentences you to incarceration for life without parole to run concurrently with the previous sentence, and banishment outside the Ran system, never to return.”
Chief Judge Olkklot Vulorn rapped his gavel. “Remove the prisoner and execute the sentence.”
As General Klarot descended to the tribunal floor and shuffled toward the exit, the Chief Judge said, “May the Great Dragon have mercy on your soul.”
The Great Assembly Hall—Dragon Temple, Dragon City, The Geroptic Nation, Planet Arcan
The tribunal was over, the guilty were judged, and it was time to create a civil Geroptic government. Former Cordan mayor and tribunal Chief Judge Olkklot Vulorn played a major role. The lizard who laid the groundwork for everything that happened post Holy War, teacher Judhee Groklet, worked with Vulorn to create a national constitutional convention. Local communities across the country elected delegates to meet at the Great Assembly Hall to form a self-governing nation free from religious coercion.
The delegates welcomed advice from Amred and Ceffid and even the offworlders, and in a month crafted a constitution that served the needs of a nation newly emerging into the modern world while dropping the chains of religious despotism.
Their first task as a newly minted nation was to select a president. Judhee Groklet took to the floor to nominate Teynal Dombit. Olkklot Vulorn seconded, and a great cry rose from the delegates filling the Great Assembly Hall: Dombit!…Dombit!… Dombit!…
Epilog
Federation Headquarters—Oort Cloud, Solar System
Prophet Dudengi Vrokhun awakened in a small windowless room with gravity somewhat greater than normal. He got to his feet as two offworlders entered the room; one of them he knew, the Human Orlov. Vrokhun was ignorant of Human body language, but to him it seemed that Orlov deferred to the other Human. The last thing Vrokhun remembered was passing through some kind of door into an apparently gravity-free environment—and then waking up here.
The Human stranger spoke to him in perfect Geroptic, while his words were presumably translated into the language the Human Orlov spoke.
“I am John Butler, Chairman of the Oort Federation, the largest governing unit in the Solar System around the star you know as Rodal. While I understand your country still believes that your sun is a god, the Great Dragon, I will assume that you are more sophisticated than that.”
Orlov interrupted, his words being translated into Geroptic.
“Chairman Butler, allow me to explain how I come to have Prophet Vrokhun in my custody. I was negotiating with General Klarot from The Geroptic Nation when our negotiations went south. General Klarot dumped the Prophet into my vessel and cut off all communications.”
“Thank you, Isidor Orlov. I note your version of the events. I ask you to leave now, before I find a reason to detain you.”
“John Butler,” Prophet Vrokhun said, “the story told by the Human Orlov is not true.”
“I know that, Prophet Vrokhun. Much has changed in your country since you were abducted. Your country lost a major war perpetrated by General Klarot. Progressive elements in your country have taken over and displaced the theocracy over which you presided. They have established a new government run by representatives of the people. All but one of your bishops was executed for perverse sexual crimes and murder. General Klarot has been banished from the Ran star system.”
Vrokhun shook his head in dismay. “What am I to do?” he asked.
John Butler’s face split horizontally, a facial gesture Vrokhun would learn was a Human smile. “May I offer you sanctuary while you educate yourself on the modern universe? You have much to learn, and I am willing to assist your education.”
Federation Detention Facility—Federation HQ, Oort Cloud, Solar System
General Nirurian Klarot awakened on the floor in a windowless room with greater than normal gravity, and no knowledge of how he got there.
“The Great Dragon take it,” he muttered, “I hate waking up like this.” He assessed his surroundings as memories returned. The tribunal…the guilty verdicts…the sentencing…he was alive. At that moment, being alive was all that mattered. He got to his feet and looked at himself. His uniform was gone, replaced by an orange jumpsuit, but he was no longer shackled. He saw that as an advantage, small, but positive.
A chair appeared from nowhere—a portal, Klarot deduced. He sat. Then a Human appeared sitting in a chair with a facial expression Klarot knew was a smile. Another portal.
Speaking perfect Geroptic, the Human said, “I am John Butler, Chairman of the Oort Federation, the largest governing unit in the Solar System, around the star you call Rodan. You were sentenced to incarceration for life without parole and banished from the Ran star system.”
The Human Butler stopped talking and sat quietly, looking at Klarot. Then he continued. “I have agreed to host your banishment in this incarceration facility.” He smiled again.
Klarot saw an opportunity that might not come again. The Human was distracted. Klarot lunged.
Had Klarot been able to see outside himself, he would have seen a silvery sphere encase his body, followed by two Humans dressed in silvery suits entering the sphere, shackling him to a chair, and collapsing the sphere. From his perspective, one moment he was lunging through the air, the next, he was bound hand and foot, and shackled to his chair. He had experienced no sense of the passage of time between the two events. The Human Butler sat opposite him, unperturbed.
“Must we do that again?” Butler asked. “This room is surrounded by the vacuum of space. The only way in or out is by portal. I personally hold the only hyper-disks—what you knew as larger hyper-bricks. This is the most secure detention facility in three star systems. You cannot escape.” The Human smiled again. It was beginning to annoy Klarot.
“If I give you my parole as a general in the Geroptic Dragon Army, will you remove my shackles?” It is worth a try, he thought.
“I’ll give you a couple of days to think about it,” Butler said. “Then we’ll address the subject again.”
Several days later, Klarot sat across a table from Butler. Butler was outlining things Klarot could do to wile away his time.
“This will be your home until you die,” Butler said. “I have reviewed every word of the tribunal. I find it was fair and generous toward you and the other accused.” He smiled.
There, that awful facial expression, Klarot thought. I will kill him if I ever get the chance.
Butler continued, “I believe you are fortunate to be alive.” He smiled again while Klarot dropped his head so he didn’t have to see the smile.
We will grow closer, Klarot thought, until I can get close enough to grab him. Then…
