Private Justice in Triple Time [Triumvirate]

[Spirit of Wisdom]

Justice in Triple Time
Location: Top Secret High-Security Prison, Level 4999 of Coruscant
Presiding: Irveric Tavlar of the NIO | Adhira Chandra of the GA | Auteme of the NJO
Prosecution: Ministry of Justice (GA) | Procurator of Justice (NIO)
Defendant: Ingrid L'lerim
Witnesses: Hans Rennagen | Additional Witnesses May Be Called

Most of the criminals, law-breakers, and ne'er-do-wells on the capital planet who found themselves on the business end of the Alliance judicial system could end up in any number of correctional facilities dotted around Alliance territory. There were community service and rehabilitation programs on Velusia and Alderaan, there were low security holding cells on almost every planet where lives were made comfortable, and in the most extreme situations, there was the Alliance Judiciary Central Detention Center reserved for mass murderers, slavers, and mob bosses. Those were the prisons the public knew about.

Then there was Level 4999.

A holdover from darker times, Level 4999 was refurbished for used during the era of the Alliance to serve as a top-secret, very high-security prison. Some senators without the right clearance did not even know it existed. It was reserved for those who were too dangerous to keep in normal prisons. Dark Jedi, Sith Lords, war criminals, and, in the case of Ingrid L'lerim , the high-ranking leaders of hostile combatants. Ingrid would not be kept uncomfortable here. On the contrary, despite her high profile, she was not classed as a high-level threat so she enjoyed many amenities including a suite to herself. She was only denied the right to leave and the right to communicate with the outside world save her legal representatives.

And she would likely be doing quite a bit of that. Today was her trial.
​

The room where the trial would take place was pitch black, except for a single circular platform in the middle of the room. On one side was a chair and table for Ingrid. On the other side were a table and several chairs for the lead prosecutors of the Ministry of Justice and the Procurator of Justice respectively. In the middle, a holoprojector where events could be replayed and witnesses could remotely give testimony. Finally, there were a few simple chairs scattered around the perimeter for the rare few that may be asked to attend.

The one thing absent from the room so far were the Triumvirs who would be presiding. There weren't even chairs for the three to sit in. Still, Ingrid L'lerim would be led in to await the next step.​

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud
The Red Witch, The Night Queen, Lady Stuztala, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium, Archon of the Primyn Group​

Location: Top Secret High-Security Prison, Level 4999 of Coruscant
Equipment: Military uniform || Empyrean gland
Tag: Irveric Tavlar | Adhira Chandra | Auteme | Hans Rennagen

[ Need another… ] ​

Ingrid's days were fairly unanimous and boring. Mostly because she had to disguise herself completely human. This meant she had to pretend for many hours as if she would sleep while she was awake all along. True, meanwhile, she was with Adrian all the way in her own mind; at least there were benefits to that as well. And as for the rest of the day, when the NIO wasn’t trying to get information from her, or wasn’t being interrogated by GA, she was reading, training, or drawing.

Anyway, she was fully cooperative, she promised Hans, and the woman kept what she promised. That's why she didn't even try to escape. Ingrid hadn't gotten what she was here for yet. The only thing she was not cooperative in was she did not reveal things that would endanger the Eternal Empire. The Empress would have died at any time for them, for her Empire, which is why she would not have said so.

She wasn’t considered too dangerous, which was good. The only reason for this could be that she collaborated and hid her true abilities perfectly. If they had known what a woman was actually capable of, she certainly wouldn’t get that many privileges. She, as the loose rules kept her, she could have switched to the Netherworld at any time and would already be free. A single thought and short concentration would have been enough for freedom. But she was still here.

Because she wanted to be here.

The two real difficulties were caused by place and situation. One was that she couldn’t work here to bring Adrian back and lost valuable days, weeks with it, while the pain didn’t alleviate anything, nor did her condition improve. However, the long time she spent without the soulshards had an advantage, she had already learned to hide the pain that seemed on her because of it. Yet she felt it and it hurt more than anything.

The other is nutrition; she was not a human anymore, she also needed life force. So she did there when the soldiers escorted her down the hall. While they are walking she stole life force from the guards and prisoners too. So much so that no one can feel it; she had always been quite discreet in this and did not want to draw attention to herself. But maintaining one’s own shape and pretending to be human was tiring.

At the trial, she wore a military uniform, without coats of arms, insignia, her usual attire. As long as she was accompanied throughout, as always a soldier, she was distant, showed no weakness, movement and holding were noble and military. She only mourned and suffered inside, could not be seen by an outside observer and could hardly be felt even through the Force.

Upon entering the room, she looked around the dark room, walking to her own table, but not sitting down. She just picked up her usual military posture, little straddle, her hands clasped behind her back. She was still completely neutral in the Force, her posture noble and ruling; a strong woman. If she had wanted to, she could not have done otherwise. Today she was not an agent and a spy, but a ruler and a soldier, this behavior was expected of her in all situations…

Yet she was certain that because of the NIO and the Alliance to withdraw EE from the fighting and stab the TSE into their heart, she would almost certainly be sentenced to death…

 

[Adhira Chandra]

Lofty Goals
Coruscant, Level 4999 Top Security Prison via Hologram
Irveric Tavlar | Auteme | Ingrid L'lerim | Hans Rennagen

Towering above the surface of Coruscant, Adhira Chandra stared across the vast expanse of sky that stretched out for hundreds of miles in every direction, clouded by ships and obscured only by the occasional skyscraper. The mornings on Coruscant were truly quite beautiful. It made it almost possible to forget that more than 5000 levels before her was an entirely different world waking up to face their day. Today was the first of what would likely be many days for her to serve as a member of the Tribunal, an organization created by the Triumvirate Treaty, to address war crimes and other inter-faction matters of grave importance.

"They're ready for you, ma'am,"

She turned to see her escort motioning to the hall. Adhira twinkled and glinted in the sunlight as she shifted to her feet. Her attire was simple, regal. A smart jacket and pants woven with inexpensive jewels to refract like. The old woman followed her aides closely down the hall from her office but they remained on the executive level. It was a brief walk to the holoprojection room, but she had to admit she was not looking forward to such a long period of time in the same -- metaphorical space as Tavlar. The three triumvirs for this case, Irveric Tavlar , Auteme , and herself would be appeared via hologram as at least one of them was far off-world.

Adhira placed herself in the middle of the room where a feint blue light was scanning her. In the room where Ingrid L'lerim was being held for trial, Adhira's figure would appear on the edge of the platform. Though not gigantic, Adhira's image was amplified many times over so that she was clearly visible, though the result was likely rather intimidating. She could see that the prosecution and the prisoners had already arrived and she seemed to be the first of the triumvirs.

"Be upstanding for the Triumvirs of this Tribunal formed under the terms of the Treaty of Coruscant, Adhira Chandra, Chancellor of the Alliance ; Iveric Tavlar, Sovereign Imperator of the New Imperial Order; and Master Auteme, Shield of the New Jedi Order."

Adhira tried not to look at anyone in particular until the others arrived.
​

​

 

[Irveric Tavlar]

I M P E R A T O R
NEW IMPERIAL ORDER
GALACTIC CITY | CORUSCANT
TRIBUNAL
Ingrid L'lerim | Adhira Chandra | Auteme

LOYALTY
​

Victories came in more than shades of color on Galactic projections. The Third Imperial Civil War had now spanned into half a decade and through all this time, Irveric Tavlar had yet to take one of them into the custody of the New Imperial Order, to gauge insight on the opponent, of their tactics, their means and most importantly of all...close they were to the breaking point. Ingrid would have to suffice in accomplishing this task and perhaps...more.

With Ingrid seized and in Triumvirate custody, the Eternal Empire's belligerency in the Third Imperial Civil War, a conflict of an ever seemingly escalating scale would be in the balance today. Under ideal circumstances, she was brought to Ravelin, made to face Irveric directly. A prisoner, defeated. However, one of the Empire's own in Hans Rennagen saw it more fit to send her to the Galactic Alliance, no doubt, by her request. He wouldn't hold the knight to fault for this, not knowing the nature of his dialogue with the Eternal Empress and banked on the Lord Executor to investigate further.

Regardless, work had to be done. This 'trial' was hardly anything of the nature, at least not to the Sovereign Imperator. Her 'crimes' were evident. She chose the wrong side. Irveric was already well prepared for her retorts. Of how the New Imperials might have seemed hypocritical, overzealous, he didn't care. He wanted his results. His holoprojection appeared in similar manner as the other two. Auteme and Adhira Chandra could not have served a greater contrast to the foreboding gaze of the Imperator. The wide eyed young Jedi Knight, the wise politican...and the warlord. A man forged from violence of action, strife and tribulation.

"Ingrid L'lerim, Eternal Empress. You are charged with being complicit and contributing the resources of the Eternal Empire toward the proliferation of crimes against sentience conducted by the Sith Empire. Need look no further than Serenno and the offensives at Ziost to witness their inhuman brutality. The New Imperial Order has already determined your guilt in the matter...but firstly, do you bare any retort to these accusations or do you simply wish to hear the terms of your punishment for these crimes, Empress L'Ierim?" Irveric spoke boldly and outright immediately following Chandra's introduction of the three. He was not a man keen on wasting time.

 

[Auteme]

Adhira Chandra Irveric Tavlar Ingrid L'lerim ​

Auteme didn't know if this was justice.

A secret prison deep in Coruscant's underground, nearly extrajudicial process of determining guilt -- was this how things had to be done? Ingrid L'lerim was a dangerous woman, but still Auteme placed a small amount of trust in her integrity. Perhaps with more freedoms she might be more cooperative. That was how democracy was meant to go. Irveric Tavlar might argue the reality was otherwise.

His way was swift. Punishment, strength. Effective to some extent but she did not believe it was ethical. To kill one's enemies in battle was one thing, to kill a prisoner was another. What was happening now, despite her reservations, was surely better than more death.

Adhira, of course, had pulled her weight to create this setting. At the very least it was a moment for the Empress to plead guilty and search for a better way. Still, there was much more to be done.

Auteme's image emerged, shimmering blue just like the other two grand projections. Though she knew she'd be intimidated if she were in such a situation, she knew L'lerim would not be so easily cowed. Thus she spoke:

"Be honest, Lady L'lerim. I will know if you are not." Firm in voice, yet as ever there was a sliver of kindness to be found in her gaze. Be honest, she thought.

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud
The Red Witch, The Night Queen, Lady Stuztala, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium, Archon of the Primyn Group​

Location: Top Secret High-Security Prison, Level 4999 of Coruscant
Equipment: Military uniform || Empyrean gland
Tag: Irveric Tavlar | Adhira Chandra | Auteme | Hans Rennagen

[ Need another… ] ​

The red-haired woman could not have wished for more than a dark room. This is where she felt best. Ironically, in this place, she could have killed most people at once because of the darkness, if she had had such goals. The three people appeared one after the other. It was part of the woman’s job to analyze the enemy, so she had conjectures as to whom to expect, not to mention that she had already met Tavlar in person twice.

"Madam Chancellor, Master Denko-Durren, I am glad to finally meet you “in person”. Imperator Tavlar, joy as always!" she greeted all three people with a short nod. Her voice was the usual military and cold, but spoke with respect. In the end she turned to Auteme. "That’s good news, Master Denko-Durren, at least I don’t have to convince you why I’m really here. But you will know these are my true intentions."

She knew what to expect when she came here; but Ingrid didn't care. If the Empress manages to achieve something, she will no longer die in vain. Looked at the three people, not intending to lie during this day. So she did something she rarely did. She left it to Auteme and maybe the other two people would be able to read in her body language, facial expressions. These were otherwise hidden by instincts or obscured by acting; now she forced herself to show these.

"That's not why I'm here, Imperator! We have time to talk about this topic later, it really doesn’t matter if you say now or in an hour that the NIO has sentenced me to death. The Lord Executor and your other men expressed this view quite thoroughly during the war about what my destiny would be if I did not betray the Sith Empire. However, under the contract with Lord Hans Rennagen , you will listen to me. If not, you will break the agreement and I will leave and you will not be able to prevent it. I am here because I want to be here, although I do not deny that I would have been happier for a trial that would have received more publicity."

She paused for a moment.

"You don't have to worry, I'll take the death penalty too, I won't run away from it… The reason I gave myself up to finally be able to talk to you, because there was no other way. Imperator Tavlar knows the reasons, I talked to him about this once when I broke into his office, and now I will do it again. I want you, all of you, to end this pointless war that is being fought now, born of a total of childish defiance and silly religious motives, because you thought the Elder Compact was against you. Stupidity! The alliance would have been made against the real opponent, according to our intelligence data, yet you have started the war again."

She fell silent again, telling the whole truth, based on the information she had received so she knew, Ingrid knew no other reason than Bryn'adul. She was still speaking coldly, militarily, without emotion. It is as if she is the winning party and not the one who stands as the accused before the leaders of two other factions and the leader of the Jedi.

"That is why I am here to ask for an end to this meaningless war and for you to help fight against the real threat… against Bryn’adûl before they storm and wiped out the entire Galaxy."

Yes, since Bryn’adûl attacked the Eternal Empire, she has wanted to achieve this…

 

[Adhira Chandra]

Adagio
Coruscant, Level 4999 Top Security Prison via Hologram
Irveric Tavlar | Auteme | Ingrid L'lerim | Hans Rennagen

​

Adhira's looming form shifted to watch Tavlar as he dolled out his opinion on the lady's guilt. It was clear that the New Imperial Order's vote at the conclusion of the trial would be for a guilty conviction, but the Chancellor was committed to at least make an attempt at a fair hearing before making up her mind. Then she looked back to Ingrid as she pleaded her case - or - attempted to change the subject. Adhira really could not tell whether the woman was making an attempt at conveying genuine concerns or simply trying to confound the proceedings. Her dark eyes narrowed.

"No one has been condemned to death here, Lady Vandiir," her raspy tone cut across the other voices in the room, "... however... you stand charged with a number of very serious crimes, least of all leading a failed attempt to invade sovereign Alliance space and as an accessory to the crimes against life committed by the Sith Empire."

"I can appreciate your concern for the well-being of the galaxy in the face of the growing Bryn'adul threat, though as I am sure you are well aware, the Alliance has been a steadfast opponent of the Bryn'adul in almost every major conflict they have had with other galactic governments. Meanwhile, the participation of the now-defunct Elder Compact has routinely been found wanting."

"I do wonder though, where was this altruistic benevolence when the Sith Empire was conducting a mass sacrifice on Ziost? Where was this good-natured-concern when the Sith Empire carried out an orbital bombardment that targeted both Alliance combatants and their own citizens? I do not recall reports of you stepping in when the Sith Empire used mere children as living shields."

Her tone was severe as she listed just a few of the numerous atrocities committed by the Sith throughout their conflict. It was becoming ever more clear that the strategy they had employed in the war against the Sith Empire was not effective, but Adhira refused to allow anyone to make the Sith out as the sympathetic figures in this struggle. The lesser of two evils was still evil.

​

​

 

[Irveric Tavlar]

I M P E R A T O R
NEW IMPERIAL ORDER
GALACTIC CITY | CORUSCANT
TRIBUNAL
Ingrid L'lerim | Adhira Chandra | Auteme

LOYALTY
​

Tavlar appeared as cold and indifferent as ever when she described the vitriol of which the New Imperial Order's own approached her on the field of battle. Death in their eyes. Even so from the Lord Executor Fel, the man who was his will where he was not. He was not surprised, offended or disappointed by any of this. Ingrid had led men and women into war against the New Order, slain many who would be Irveric's brothers-in-arms. She garnered little sympathy from him, but managed to garner more from the Knight Hans Rennegan, who'd landed her in custody here to begin with.

"There is no benevolence here, Chancellor. She is Sith and she is no better than the rest. A deceitful creature. The Sith Brotherhood actively manipulated the governments of the Confederacy, Silver Concord and Eternal Empire into believing they were doing the right thing and defending the Galaxy against the Bryn'adul, yet this pathetic 'Elder Compact' only arrived in force on Dantooine, my home." He continued, innate bitterness buried in his tone.

"To prevent the New Imperial Armed Forces from liberating Garang City, the place of my birth from a government which perpetuated great crimes there years prior. To prevent the Imperial Knights and New Jedi Order from lifting the stain of darkness from historic Jedi grounds. And still, no great offensive has been made by any of these governments by the Bryn'adul. No attempt had been made to sow peace in the Third Imperial Civil War, no attempt had been made to force the Sith Empire to fold to our demands. Demands which we abided by our selves by fire and sword. You are not a paragon of peace, Ingrid L'lerim. You are a parasite on this Galaxy as the rest of the Dark Creed are." He broke in this moment, his cold composure collapsing down into more vitriol.

"Killing my men and women on the field of battle when they fight to free their homes and families is not defending the Galaxy from the Bryn'adul. Perpetuating the rule of the same regime who glassed Mandalore and Ession. Who poisoned Mon Cala, is not defending the Galaxy from the Bryn'adul. You can not truly, sanely believe that you have done anything to fight the evil you claim there to be." Tavlar insists.

 

[Auteme]

Adhira Chandra Irveric Tavlar Ingrid L'lerim ​

Auteme's face fell as Ingrid launched into her explanation of why she was here and the... attitudes, that she held towards her imprisonment and the state of galactic conflict. The woman's tone held the kind of iron resolve matched by Tavlar and Chandra. No one had come here to have their minds changed. It was less a trial, more a shouting match.

The worst part was, L'lerim may have been convincing, were it not for her prior actions.

"One evil does not erase the other," she said softly. Forgiveness, reconciliation, even the barest minimum cooperation would be nigh impossible given the histories of the people and nations involved. Auteme felt tired already.

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud
The Red Witch, The Night Queen, Lady Stuztala, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium, Archon of the Primyn Group​

Location: Top Secret High-Security Prison, Level 4999 of Coruscant
Equipment: Military uniform || Empyrean gland
Tag: Irveric Tavlar | Adhira Chandra | Auteme | Hans Rennagen

[ Need another… ] ​

"Unsuccessful? No, I don’t know what your advisor or your high command told you, but we never had a goal for the occupation. We voluntarily left the planet after a certain point. Last but not least, we did not attack civilian areas, like the Alliance and the NIO did in the war, only industrial and military facilities."

She still spoke coldly and did not say it literally, but the Eternal Empire got what they went for. It was a true half success, it failed to destroy the Nexus, but it became inactive. Ingrid dies there and returns to life. Although she failed to bring Adrian back, she took steps for it and she became part of the Netherworld. She would have been very happy to respond to her words with irony, a retaliation. But she couldn't, she was an Empress, she did what was expected of her. They didn't want to execute her, it was interesting, but she didn’t have time to deal with it.

Last but not least, luckily she had enough self-control not to ask back to the woman’s words. It would have been a sharp and wicked riposte. And that the Alliance and the NIO think if someone set a living shield in front of them, do they have the right to kill the shield? Or children at the academy?

"The Eternal Empire sent and promised help and support to Midwinter and their leader, Thurion Heavenshield . In addition, we have provided financial support to countless refugee groups and hospitals, both by the state and me, through companies, or even through the IGBC. We built a home for the refugees and I could still list my actions until tomorrow. Last but not least, we kept their movements under constant observation. I think we have done a lot to be up to date and there is no problem with humanitarian aid either."

She paused for a moment.

"Where was I then… at Ziost? I brought Vice Chancellor Aerarii Tithe home to Coruscant after I rescued him from the Alliance's ship, before it was too late. I brought him to safety, yes it was an act by which the Sith Empire can turn against us. Officially I was at home, unofficially I saved him. If you don't believe me, ask him how he survived and got home after someone teleported him out from the ship's bridge. In all other cases, we protected civilians, hospitals, and art treasures and got them out of the planet. Because neither the NIO nor the Alliance is interested in the unwritten rules of war. And of course I tried every time to end the war, but no one cared."

Unlike the Chancellor, she spoke without emotion. But she still told the truth, lied in nothing. With an unshakable face, she listened to Tavlar's words in perfect stillness and motionless. She saw the same deep hatred in him as in all other NIO members, except Hans, he was different...

"If I were a Sith, you would be dead, Imperator! I would have easily killed you when I broke into your office to talk to you. I could have beheaded one of the nations without ever revealing who killed you. But you are here and accusing, you talk the same way like the one you're fighting, like a Sith. I am not a Sith, I have never been a Sith. And I don’t care about your stupid and childish religious war. Which... all of you think is mandatory to fight because your predecessors did the same. It would be time to grow up and not act like a hysterical child!"

Her voice and one was a little severe in the end, but still perfectly emotionless.

"At Dantooine, my units protected three hospitals from those who wanted to kill the injured and evacuated them. To the best of my knowledge, thirty-seven NIO soldiers have died at the hands of the Eternal Empire, all since the beginning of the war, while we have lost far more people in the defences. I insisted on our contract, Imperator, which Rurik Fel broke, you have not kept it in many points before the break. In the battles that followed when we could have attacked you… well we weren’t present. At Ziost, I was only there in disguise, and at Serenno, the Eternal Empire did not fight either. We have complied with all the lines of the contract with you."

These, too, were true, still not lying, and then paused for a moment. She still did not respond to the insults.

"In addition, I support other troops against Bryn’adûl, from their own or imperial sources. It’s just not the easiest thing to do from the opposite end of the galaxy. My conscience is clear, even if you don't see it that way, but then let me ask. Can this be said of yours after the war crimes you committed? You sent your people to a slaughterhouse in a senseless and unnecessary war, not me. However, I made an offer to lighten your souls if you still have souls and help save others, those who really need it."

She had only guilt over Adrian, she was still blaming herself for her husband's death… Then she looked at Auteme.

"I am perfectly aware that one evil does not erase another. But it also applies to your sins, which are more serious than mine. But at the moment this is neither important nor the accusations… all of which are insignificant and tiny, especially when much of the Galaxy is facing destruction. But I don't want to go through the deaths of my own people if they come to us again because they've beaten everyone else already…"

 

[Adhira Chandra]

Resolve the Dissonance
Coruscant, Level 4999 Top Security Prison via Hologram
Irveric Tavlar | Auteme | Ingrid L'lerim | Hans Rennagen

Chancellor Chandra was loath to agree with the Sovereign Imperator on this matter, particularly where it concerned justice. No the justice of the New Imperial Order, where the law was dictated rather than written. This justice, a trial, a defendant, an equally split jury. It was the best semblance of justice that a seemingly unrepentant war criminal could have hoped for in Adhira's estimation. Yet as her ghostly hologram towered in the winds of the dark chamber, peering down at Ingrid's defiance and, what seemed at times, indignation, she found it difficult to disagree with Tavlar.

Adhira took a deep breath and cut in once more, somewhere near the end of Ingrid's last tangent. "Lady L'lerim-Vandiir, while I am sure this tribunal appreciates the candor you have displayed in your - ahem - defense of your actions, you have yet to address the serious charges against you by the Triumvirate Governments...​

For your role in the Byss invasion, you stand charged with Crimes Against Sovereignty​

For your Empire's financial and military support of the Sith, you stand charged with Crimes Against Sentient Life​

For your role by accessory in the heinous acts of the Sith, including but not limited to ritual sacrifice, you stand charged with Crimes Against the Living Force"​

​

They have managed to summarize the long and ever-growing list of atrocities committed by Ingrid or her people. The old woman knew that she would likely get no better rebuttal out of her than they already had. Had it been a choice given to her, Adhira may not have ruled the poor woman fit to stand trial at all. Seeing as it was happening already, though she cleared her throat.

"Well, unless the other Triumvirs have anything else to add... or if Lady L'lerim-Vandiir has any final words to say in their defense, I see no reason to prolong these proceedings." Adhira's eyes were dark, even as holograms, while they scanned the other towers figures. "Shall we vote?"

​

 

[Irveric Tavlar]

I M P E R A T O R
NEW IMPERIAL ORDER
GALACTIC CITY | CORUSCANT
TRIBUNAL
Ingrid L'lerim | Adhira Chandra | Auteme

​

Talking, talking, talking. It was moments like this that he wished he was a crueler man, that he more emulated the Sith he'd served with. To abide by the wise words of Darth Bellum and 'send the message'. But she was not in his custody, she belonged to the Alliance. A shame, really. Though perhaps in an act of vengeance, for Byss being besieged, they might see to reason finally and do what must be done.

"The Galactic Alliance and New Imperial Order are not the parties being put on trial here, Ingrid L'lerim. Were you more intelligent, you would respect the gravity of the accusations levied toward you. Shed as many tears as you wish, it will garner no sympathy from me. Justice will be done. Whatever crimes have been committed by the member parties of the Galactic Triumvirate pale to those done in those adherent to the Sith. If we wish to truly combat the Bryn'adul threat, we can not do so while rogue Sith states continue to strike at the nations willing to fight the Bryn'adul. Ossus, Bastion...Byss." Irveric let Adhira take the floor once more, who carried on with the proceeding. Thank the all above for that.

The charges carried an almost religious slant which certainly maligned to Irveric's view of the Galaxy. But needless to say, it worked for him well enough.

"There's no reason to carry on. She is guilty, of this, there is no reasonable dispute. Only the consequences need be decided."

 

[Auteme]

Adhira Chandra Irveric Tavlar Ingrid L'lerim ​

Auteme winced. The lack of tact, the cold and emotionless demeanor; this was the nature of a second-generation dictator, one lacking the charisma and spark of the first that could compel an entire nation into imperialism and fanatical order. Ingrid seemed to cling to her own power desperately. Doubtless powerful, doubtless tyrannical -- but not enough to be Empress, not truly. Not enough to sway anyone here. If her mission was peace, the way she conducted herself may well have bent the pacifist towards war.

"I must concur with the Imperator," she said, curling the word in the slightest manner. "The defendant has brought no evidence that might exonerate her. I suppose there are only two questions left: what punishment might be appropriate, and if Lady L'lerim is indeed a woman of her word, and thus willing to endure it."

Despite it all, she could never support an execution of any kind. Hopefully something less dire, more beneficial might come of this.

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud
The Red Witch, The Night Queen, Lady Stuztala, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium, Archon of the Primyn Group​

Location: Top Secret High-Security Prison, Level 4999 of Coruscant
Equipment: Military uniform || Empyrean gland
Tag: Irveric Tavlar | Adhira Chandra | Auteme | Hans Rennagen

[ Need another… ] ​

It is difficult to fight a fight, a war where the cards have already been dealt in advance. Where they have decided everything in advance, as well as that they will not take someone’s words into account and will not change anything. Maybe she was naive that she hoped so. Although not, she hoped she could address others, reach others who would be able to influence leaders later. Ingrid knew there were people like that, she also found some people in the NIO, GA, and SJC with whom she had similar views.

Maybe one day these words, thoughts and deeds will reach Tavlar and Chandra’s ears too, when it’s not too late. Ingrid raised an eyebrow at Chandra's words for a moment. She was willing to pay for the sins she had committed. However, she was not guilty of what the woman listed.

"I have never attacked civilians, Madam Chancellor, nor has the Eternal Empire been under my control! You massacred civilians! I will not pay for your sins. My people just protected them from you and fired back when the Triumvirate attacked them. We were not present at the events in Ziost, look it up in the files, we’re only negotiated under the first with Telis Taharin-Zambrano , and no one there from us under your second invasion, just me, and I saved your men’s life."

She said and her voice was still cold, without emotion. Then looked at Tavlar after the man's words. They don’t consider her smart, it came in handy for her. She seems less dangerous, she could have turned this to her advantage even now and later.

"However, I accept the consequences for Byss, not for the rest. You also know, Imperator, even if you occupy that region, you will have to fight the guerrilla Sith forces for months, years. Do you really want to endanger your own people and civilians in multiple frontal wars? And if Bryn’adûl strikes in the heart of your empire in the meantime? Wouldn’t it be easier to make a ceasefire and end this war once and for all after Bryn’adûl is gone?"

Auteme was wrong, she misjudged the woman very much, for she was not interested in power and she did not want to be an empress, if she could feel hatred, she would have hated that position. She would have loved to give it to anyone, especially her dead emperor.

"All I ask from you is leave this war for as long as there is a greater threat out there, if I have to offer my help in creating a ceasefire, they know me… and if Bryn’adûl is no more… I am interested in the well-being of my people and the biggest threat after Bryn’adûl is Maw…"

She finished here, it was unnecessary to say anything further in a show trial where the judgment had already been rendered before the trial…

At least, she tried.

 

[Adhira Chandra]

Fanfare Ascends
Coruscant, Level 4999 Top Security Prison via Hologram
Irveric Tavlar - Auteme - Ingrid L'lerim - Hans Rennagen

Adhira could hardly be colored surprised by the reaction Irveric Tavlar. His opinion on the judgement of Ingrid's disposition came before the question had even formally been asked and - she expected - had formulated long before the trial started. It was Auteme who surprised her. The Shield of the Jedi was still a young woman, but her title did not come without tremendous wisdom not just in the physical but also the ways of the Force. To hear the young Jedi cast down Ingrid so readily made a pit form in the old woman's stomach and solidified her opinion.

She gave Ingrid a moment to finish. The words did not seem relevant to the Chancellor and certainly were not a convincing plea for clemency. It was as if she were stalling for time. "We will have order." It was not a request. Her magnified voice reverberated off the closely built durasteel walls and she was sure she saw one of the guards flinch. Loathe as Tavlar was to follow protocol, Adhira pressed forward in her vain attempt to legitimize the trial with the formalities of democracy. "Thank you all for your time today... however, given the weight of the evidence against you and with both of my colleagues have voted in favor of conviction, the Galactic Alliance is inclined to agree with them."

"I concur. A unanimous verdict is reached, we the Triumvirs of the Triumvirate Alliance, with the authority vested in us by the Treaty of Coruscant and by our own jurisdictions, do hereby find Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir guilty of all charges. "

"If I may," she continued, not allowing the others to speak first, "the Galactic Alliance would like to recommend what we deem would be a fitting punishment to rectify Lady Ingrid's many crimes: Penance and Exil. She must renounce her wealth and her titles and go into exile... we shall choose the destination. Perhaps one of the observation worlds yet harboring life beyond the horizon of the galaxy, where she will spend the rest of her days fending for herself and tending to the life that the Force has blessed her with."

"and... should she return... death."

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