Lockdown on Exocron (Sanya)

[Sanya Val Lerium]

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

She sat up putting her arm across her chest and used the other to hold it in place. Eye sight was still a little blury as she tried to focus. Sanya could tell they'd placed her inside a cell. It was small but big enough to not set off her claustrophobia. The man, Jorus began to speak to her. She listened to him, to every word carefully as he spoke quietly. Looking at him trying to focus her head would nod. "May I have access my com and datapad to prepare? I need to make some calls and have some files sent."

Sanya would scrunch her face a small bit from a slight movement. The feeling of braking a bone had been long forgotten. "Our immune systems are double of yours roughly. It depends on the individual." Croa biology was generally much the same as a human main differences were a stronger immune system, elongated ears, reproductive organs and weaker bones. Those and they all looked female in appearance. Still Sanya expected to hear a no to the demands. They didn't seem to care for the truth so any advantage or evidence she has to prove her innocence against the false accusations. Chances are they'd ignore it in favor of their own.

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Sanya Val Swift"]

"You'll be provided with a secure comlink, a legal advisor droid, a medical droid, and a datapad. They won't be your own comm or pad: those have been filed as evidence, along with your ship's databanks and so forth. You'll also have privacy: just you, the legal droid, the medical droid, and the guard droids outside your cell. The guard droids will be able to see but not hear you."

Jorus exchanged glances with the other Judges, gauging their moods and first impressions. They'd made careers out of being impartial, plenty of them. Some didn't think well of him, for one reason or another. But they were professionals, and they'd probably examine the evidence more impartially than he could have. Whatever judgment was passed on the Queen of Sekalus, it wouldn't come from Jorus Merrill.

Not that she'd believe that if he told her, of course.

"The Judges you see here have determined that trial starts in one week. Will that be enough time for you to prepare your defense?"

 

[Sanya Val Lerium]

[member="Jorus Merrill"] Ξ [member="Tanomas Graf"]

Sanya wasn't sure how long it would take. Even if they had her com and data pad in evidence they'd not be able to access it. Using a data spike would increase it's security measures by deleting all files permanently from that device. The droid brain inside it would take care of that. As for her com it had very few contacts in it. All if them wouldn't give information without her own say so. Still two of those contacts in it she needed. Same for her data pad for receiving files sent by her servers. Any old data pad not worth two credits would be able to have access. Her vision had come back to a some what normal. The layout outside the room was basic. Looking at Jorus still with the hint of pain in her expression she shook her head. "I'm not sure. Also my I need my data pad and com. There is two people I need to contact and my datapad is the only thing that can get the files I need for evidence. Any other won't get access. You may confiscate it after until the trial. Also the legal droid may not be needed. One of those contacts are for someone who is more suited to be my attorney. Droids are limited in programming and struggle to understand certain concepts." Shuffling to the edge of the seat Sanya would stand up. Her tail went limp still suffering some injury from the stun.

Waking to the side of the cage she was trapped in she took a deep breath. "It's not like I'm asking for a blaster with onen shot in it or my sword. Just the resources I need to get what I need to proven you wrong." Her tone of voice was about normal but had a bit of sarcasm along with it. "Also it's not like I know where I am and neither can be used to gain the location. Braking out isn't exactly an option for me."

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Sanya Val Swift"]

"Your Majesty, how can I put this. You're a queen. You rule a planet of I don't know how many billion people. That comm can put you in touch with all the files and lawyers you can shake a stick at. It'll take a while for the Coalition to crack your pad's encryption, but it'll happen, and you're sure not getting it back while it's locked up as evidence. Couldn't give them back to you even if I wanted to; it's called a chain of custody." Jorus glanced at the other Judges and shrugged. "Anyways, answer's no. Your little 'I'm still in control' games don't count for squat when you're in a cell. Oh, by the way, crushing that Force collar snagged you a charge of resisting arrest. See you in a week, Your Majesty."

He turned and headed out of the chamber that held the energy cage. The other Judges talked among themselves briefly and did the same, and that was essentially that.

In a week, unless something changed due to Sanya, she'd reach a space station over Kal'Shebbol. Aboard that secured station, she would face a panel of Judges and have the opportunity to present evidence. Jorus would be a witness, but not a formal prosecutor, nor have any decision-making role. The primary Judge leading the panel would be [member="Bryce Bantam"].

 

[Bryce Bantam]

Location: Interior bay 12 of Arbiter Station
Intent: The Trial of her highness Sanya Val Swift, Queen of Sekulas, Mother of Croa
Defense: [member="Sanya Val Swift"] | [member="Tanomas Graf"]
Prosecution: [member="Jorus Merrill"]
Chief Justice: Bryce Bantam

The medium sized hold has been recently converted into high security court room. The defense box where the accused sat was surrounded by a Universal Energy Cage similar to the one she had been transported on from Exocorn. To her left a giant holoprojector had been set up to allow any who wanted to testify on the accused behalf. To her right was a legal protocol droid will versed in the matters of justice in Coalition space.

In the prosecution box sat one Jorus Merrill, head litigator for the people mining collective on Demonsgate. He was also accompanied by a similar droid to that of Queen Swift. In front of both of them was a large metallic "bench" that on the from of it bore the new coalition symbol (a circle with three rays of light shining from the center). Hanging behind the bench was a large flag green and white in color bearing the same symbol. There were no observers in the room either save for the judges charged with guarding the accused. No jurors either as these matters were to be determined by only the chief justice. Instead floating camera droids representing the media outlets of region were zipping around trying to get the best angle of the accused.

The clicking and buzzing of the observation droids quite down as the chief justice was introduced.

"All rise for the honorable Judge Bantam!"

In a hushed room, Bryce dressed in his red trench coat entered and waved to the camera's before taking a seat behind the bench. Instead of a gavel there was a large metallic ball sparking with energy. Taking it up in a glove hand Bryce slammed the ball down upon a specially designed shock pad. Sparks and flashes of light lept from the instrument as Bryce repeated the process bringing the court to order.

"Cool... I mean... order in the court. Will the defendant Sanya Val Swift rise. You are charged with Genocide, the use of alchemy on a civilian population, grand theft Prink, and destruction of the mining facility on Demonsgate. How do you plead?"

 

[Sanya Val Lerium]

When he had left Sanya had been riled up for a while leaving a even more of a sour taste. Of course he could get it but it was his was of trying to stop her getting the evidence. After eight hours she gave in to have access to the com they'd provide even if they didn't hit the hidden fire wall she needed to make sure. It wasn't as secure as she hoped. Although Asuna would be able to tell by the different com Id. "Hello?" The woman said. "Asuna gotta keep this short." "Everything okay? What's with the different com?" "No time to explain. I need you to do me a few things okay?" "What is it?" "Task twenty three, forty seven, six. Secondly I need you to contact Tanomas Graf." "Yes milady. Wait isn't tas..." "Asuna not the place just do it." "Sorry." "When your in contact I need you to give him access to anything about the black rose related, Demonsgate and Sekalus. Tell him when the time comes I'll say what files. Also make sure to warn him that this line may not be secure when you give it him."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

​

Asuna took a while getting a hold of the man. So many security measures had been put in place by the imperial remnant. Especially when it came to their leader. She opened up a secure com channel to the man. She'd been given a time to contact him which was bizzar. "Hello Mr Graf. My name I'd Asuna. We have met before briefly when you came to sekalus a few weeks ago. I've been told to contact you by Sanya to call her on this Id number." She said as it got sent through. "She told Mr to warn you the channel or com may not be secure I've also granted you access to certain files at the queens request." As Asuna was calling him she'd have access to Sanya's data pad. As she entered the code a signal had been sent out for the data pad to fry the memory unit along with the brain. Any files on it would become in unrecoverable.

​

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[member="Tanomas Graf"]
Fifteen hours later. Sanya received a call. "Hello." She said in a hushed voice. The call could have come from someone working for jorus or the emperor himself. When she heard his voice Sanya felt a little bit more relaxed. "Thank you for contacting me. As I hope asuna told you you've been given access to certain files. I need you to represent me. The kathol outback has captured me and I'm been imprisoned waiting for trail. Please tell me you've read up and listened to the recordings?" She asked hesitantly.

There was a lot to go through she knew that and there was little time to do so. His next few days would be filled.

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[member="Bryce Bantam"] Ξ [member="Jorus Merrill"]

Day of the trial. She was in a medium size room once again in a cage. As a person walked in she also recognised this person. She stood due to formalities with the hologram of the Emperor of the imperial remnant projected besides her. "NOT GUILTY!" She said out loud. This time they'd have the proof. They'd have the audio and limited video. They would also get proof of who really created the croa, the person she'd told them before. Again they ignored her so they could just pin the blame on anyone disregarding justice for their own twisted kind.

 

[Bryce Bantam]

Location: Interior bay 12 of Arbiter Station
Intent: The Trial of her highness Sanya Val Swift, Queen of Sekulas, Mother of Croa
Defense: [member="Sanya Val Swift"] | [member="Tanomas Graf"]
Prosecution: [member="Jorus Merrill"]
Chief Justice: Bryce Bantam

"The court recognizes the plea of not guilty on behalf of the defendant. It also recognizes the representative from the Imperial Remnant. That done we shall begin with the opening arguments. Council, you may begin as you are ready."

Spoiler

OOC: Both sides present your opening statements.

 

[Jorus Merrill]

"Your Honour," said Jorus, standing up, and then he paused, weighing his words. He'd asked not to be involved in the prosecution, but the guilds of Demonsgate had picked him, and he'd spent the last week in close consultation with, you know, actual lawyers. At best, he could remember the more formal speech he'd used as a ranking military officer for long years in the ODF.

"Your Honour," he said, "I represent the people of Demonsgate by their request. I'm not a lawyer by training, but I'll do my best not to misstep, and the evidence is pretty clear.

"Let's start with the charges of genocide, or rather attempted genocide, and using alchemy on a civilian population. We'll present evidence and testimony that Sanya Val Swift intentionally infected the planet Sekalus with a Sithspawn virus and attempted to do the same on Demonsgate. She aided and abetted the virus's creators and actively spread the contagion alongside them, as a full member of the Covenant of the Black Rose, a Sith cult. The virus destroyed identity and culture. It transformed men, women, and children into a twisted reflection of bizarre sexual fetishes; it whipped them into a violent frenzy. At last count, nearly half the population of Sekalus, billions of people, underwent this transformation. So did just under one percent of the population of Demonsgate, as a direct result of the attack and occupation that the defendant joined and championed. These are ugly facts, but they're facts. Many witnesses to the repercussions of the defendant's actions still live on Demonsgate. We'll present their eyewitness accounts.

"Those accounts and other records will demonstrate that the Covenant of the Black Rose stripped a fortune in phrik from mines and refineries on Demonsgate during the first day of their occupation. The evidence will prove that the defendant not only aided and abetted the attack and occupation, she used the leverage of the ongoing assault to negotiate a massive discount for herself, and paid the local authorities only a fraction of the phrik's value. Later, when the Underground liberated Demonsgate from the Black Rose's remnants, particularly the defendant, massive amounts of phrik were loaded into her personal ship by her orders.

"The defendant actively assisted in the destruction of the phrik facility on Demonsgate - the one she'd helped occupy. She gave cover to the effort to destroy the facility by attempting to buy time in false negotiations with the Underground. She is a Master of the Force, and at the time she was claiming to be a Jedi; she had the power to prevent the facility's destruction by her lackeys in any number of ways. Instead, we'll demonstrate that she fanned their fears, spurred them to destroy the facility, and deliberately allowed it to happen as a public relations weapon against the Underground. She then joined the civilian evacuation that she'd instigated, and used the panicked locals who'd been under her influence as human shields.

"These charges were substantiated enough that the Underground issued a warrant for her arrest. The proper authorities paid out the bounty to the hunter who assisted in the defendant's capture.

"I should also note that at various points, the defendant has confessed or claimed the following to Judges: that she 'clawed her way to the top' of the Covenant of the Black Rose', and that there was no phrik loaded onto her ship during the occupation of Demonsgate. She will tell you that she, a Master of the Force who clawed her way to the head of a Sith cult, who deliberately embraced Sith alchemy and spread it to civilian populations, was in mortal terror of her sisterhood. This queen of billions and dark Jedi Master will try to tell you that at every stage, she was too scared to have a choice, an option, any power to change anything; that she went along with the occupation of Demonsgate because she was forced to; that she only ever brought humanitarian aid and investment. She wants you to believe that she clawed her way to the top of a major Dark Side cult and went along with their atrocities, at the same time as she was just being benevolent. Since then, she's refused to pay reparations or accept any measure of responsibility for her actions.

"To the listed charges, we're also adding two charges of resisting arrest. The defendant refused to be confined and destroyed a Force collar, comparable to a pair of handcuffs, while being arrested by Judges of the Outer Rim Coalition. She also ordered the unlawful arrest of a Judge who was investigating her, as well as the civilian crew of the vessel he was flying at the time."

 

[Tanomas Graf]

The Emperor stood, a bright blue hologram, in the middle of the courtroom next to the cage that his Grand Master currently resided in. He listened intently on what some black-haired 'Judge' said to another, most if not all of his statements blatant lies. Emperor Graf knew what this was, it was a mock trial, the Outback overstepping their authority once more to enact their 'righteous' form of 'justice' on 'criminals'. When the black-haired one finally shut his mouth. Tanomas cleared his throat and begin to speak through the hologram connection;

"Your Honor" He started "I believe the courts are forgetting that Miss Swift in fact risked her life to evacuate the citizens from Demonsgate when the Underground attacked their own citizens when invading the planet of Demonsgate. Furthermore, the Underground has, multiple times, encroached on Imperial territories in an attempt to forcefully abduct the Queen from her homeworld of Sekalus on false charges, going as far as luring her to Exocron to 'arrest' her; an act of war. Several times you have also commenced deep scans of Imperial vessels, far away from your own holdings. Therefore, I request that Miss Swift be moved to a neutral location for the trial to proceed for the charges that are real and not fabricated." The Emperor sneered, leering grumpily at them both.

[member="Jorus Merrill"] | [member="Bryce Bantam"] | [member="Sanya Val Swift"]

 

[Sanya Val Lerium]

[member="Bryce Bantam"] Ξ [member="Jorus Merrill"] Ξ [member="Tanomas Graf"]

Sanya smirked. There was a reason she chose the emperor as her attorney. She could possibly best the man in a one on one fight but the man had a way with words. A skill she still wasn't that good at. She had always needed help writing speeches or someone to aid her in formal meetings. Listings to Tanomas he knew his stuff and the files she'd sent him would help a lot. Especially the audio and video from Maria her droid that had captured everything from inside that room. When they'd watched it the judges would see Sanya had left the room when the owner if the facility had activated the meltdown. At the time she was trying to safely get everyone out. They would also hear her saying to them that the phrik was theirs to do what they wished with after the evacuation. Even if it was such a little amount.

Sanya stood up once more looking at the judge. "I would also like to mention that Mr Merrill had contacted a privet line then and resisted arrested himself. He is also aware he is not welcome so that would include trespassing. He himself has started to rack up a list of crimes." Bryce would probably do something to try get those wiped away. It was of course a bargain chip. Although the crimes against the remnant would

 

[Jorus Merrill]

"If we're in the business of tacking on additional statements, the defendant's crimes and bounty all came about before she chose the Imperial Remnant as her flavor of the week to support her outrageous taste in warships and shopping. Her current allegiance to the Remnant has no relevance whatsoever to her crimes against the Coalition's people, or the Coalition's right to prosecute​ those crimes. She has no...retroactive diplomatic immunity, no right to special treatment. This court has jurisdiction over the place and people that her crimes impacted. This is the proper venue.

"And for the record, I'm not sure there's any such thing as neutral territory when the Remnant starts throwing around superweapons."

 

[Bryce Bantam]

Though far fetched in Bryce's eyes a part of their argument did ring with some truth. As a member of the Demonsgate liberation force, his view was obviously not that of a totally impartial Judge. For this trail to not be tainted with doubt another piece was needed, another person to insure the out come was as fair and just as possible.

"I have heard the defenses motion for venue change, while this can not be accommodated due to the defendants flight risk the court does feel more can be done insure fairness through out."

Bryce then called for a recess and left the bench. Returning some hours later the court was re-connived.

"The court has decided to appoint a co judge, one neutral and assets all over the galaxy. The court now introduces co-judge [member="Klesta"] , former Republic senator and diplomat."

 

[Klesta]

Judges: [member="Bryce Bantam"] | Klesta
Prosecution: [member="Bryce Bantam"]
Defense: [member="Sanya Val Swift"] | [member="Tanomas Graf"]

Kind of bizarre that he was brought in to co-judge on Sanya's trial: on the one hand, he did not know the defendant, [member="Sanya Val Swift"], no more than he did know the accusers. Then again, he did serve as Senator of Hosnian Prime when the crimes were perpetrated: he was not serving in the humanitarian aid or foreign relations Senate committees at the time: sure the genocide was a tragedy, but so were the repeated genocides of the One Sith that the Republic was powerless to stop. At this point, Klesta's relationship to the Coalition was a little tenuous. The briefing notes were, per the summary of the opening statements: genocide, use of alchemy on a civilian population, grand theft phrik and destruction of a mining facility, even though the defense alleged that she also risked her life to evacuate other citizens of Demonsgate (but it's entirely possible that the destruction of the mining facility may be related to the subsequent evacuation in his mind, perhaps even in an attempt to force it). Oh and a few charges of resisting arrest as well.

"Due to His Honor being a complete unknown to the parties involved in this trial, both accusers and defendant, the Court saw fit to appoint His Honor [Klesta] as co-judge in this trial. Now that the court is in session again, prosecution, you may begin the presentation of the evidence"

 

[Jorus Merrill]

@Klesta @Bryce Bantam [member="Sanya Val Swift"] [member="Tanomas Graf"]

“Thank you, Your Honours.”

Klesta, former Senator of Hosnian Prime, was the definition of an unknown quantity. While part of Jorus could appreciate the impartiality that the Judges had shown by ranging so far afield for a neutral party, it would have been nice to know something about Klesta. He would have to proceed carefully.

“We’ll start by addressing the first charge of resisting arrest.” From a file box beside his desk, he produced a mangled ring of duraplast. “This is a Forcer containment collar. It weakens Sith abilities but can’t completely negate them. It’s standard procedure when Judges are arresting fugitives known to be powerful Force-users; legally, it’s equivalent to a pair of handcuffs. When Colonel Cody Bantam attempted to arrest the defendant, she verbally refused, declared her intention to destroy the collar, and then crushed the collar using a violent Force technique. She was then stunned and placed under arrest. These events were witnessed by Colonel Bantam and the independent contractor Kat’Lariah Syphex, as well as me. Our affidavits are on file.

“Mister Graf, does your client have any evidence that she did not forcibly and deliberately destroy this collar while Colonel Bantam was attempting to arrest her?”

 

[Balaya Praelior Zambrano]

[member="Jorus Merrill"] [member="Klesta"] [member="Bryce Bantam"] [member="Sanya Val Swift"] [member="Tanomas Graf"]

Hmm there was something of an interest in her eyes as she sat there. in the meditation chamber that had been constructed for the ships and cannibalized to be within her own personal chambers. The amplification crystals so that her force powers could expand outwards. The zeltron was different from the last time most of the galaxy had sen her, the trials in the monolith something that had broken her body part a thousand times and reformed it. The voices of the five there as they had allowed her to learn from them secrets when she had gone against her own pride and temptation that had revealed maybe more ot her then she had expected. There was a bigger look on her face while sitting in the oversized chair, she had managed to reform her body with the upgraded and implants but also have one that wasn't falling apart from the darkside corruption. Half her once great size but with the power of a battlelord warmaster. She could command the sithspawn that were there with her. A hand going up, there was news the Firebirds had brought to her. They were presenting that a former servant a former associate had been captured and was on trial. "How interesting." She said it with a small tight lipped grin while she sat there for a moment. This would be something to see and she shouldn't be late to the party.

As her eyes gleamed in the light with the massive mane of fiery dark red hair around her pink skin. The vains of her body pulsing and going black slowly for a moment as the pressure in the room became an aura of dominance and the sithspawn servants who were in there with her fell to their knees and the floor almost in pain. They were there when she was focusing not on the planet or the place. She had long ago done blood trails on her pets. On her servants so that she could find them anywhere in the galaxy or at least have a general direction as she felt it there behind her eyes. Tracking with the force itself she knew Sanya, she knew her pets and creatures when she was feeling her, feeling the room and the other beings that were in there. Slowly she focused more of the energy as she was speaking with the force on her lips. Energy building with the pressure of a spell before she remained there in the room with her own consciousness and her own power. Letting the dark presence be felt in there, with a drop of the temperature as she was focusing and pulled one of the beings there to her. To use their life force to power the spell of a phantom that shifted into the room. Still a giant compared to many the seven foot zeltron with muscles in her zoosha fabric dress when she got some gasps of surprise.

The displacement of creating the phantom couldn't go unnoticed, it was sith magic, darkside power that she had used and it made the breath of those around the phantom chill in the air as small lines could be seen. The gooseflesh appearing on their arms and the zeltron was standing there for a moment when she focused to form a familiar to create the communications. She had secluded herself within the bubble and found a place for the others to be that she could access and draw upon the power. Slowly focusing her eyes to display the muscled form on herself. A long curtain of black hair framing her when some of the people around she could tell through the familiar were force sensitive. Some of them might have even been there when she had been within the black Rose itself.... might have seen her experiment but as far as most knew she was simply Darth Praelior a former voice, monster maker, sith lord and general nobody. She preferred it that way. Meant she didn't really have to focus to much on the people or the day to day operations of things. She was free to be in her workspace, she was free to come and go with her experiments for a moment before her eyes fell on Sanya who was there and speaking. There were others around as well that she didn't know... and didn't need to know.

"Hi." See she wasn't totally evil, just not the most people person for herself when she was remaining there with a few more thoughts. One of the people looked at her. "By the force." He seemed to get she was a zeltron but no pheromones, no real life signs aside from being there and making the area around her a little colder as the darkside aura remained over the area. "I was bored really bored and wanted to see how my old apprentice is doing." The sith lord was standing there looking at all of them now and curious about what was going to happen. She had merely heard that Sanya was arrested and facing trial. Many had but the proceedings well she had gone into them blind and wasn't like it was any skin off of her if she was here and they didn't like it. Just meant she was getting to meet some people who were important in this area of space now. Uncertain about the rest she remained there looking up and over at a few more thing walking around with her hands behind her back so she could stand opposite Jorus raising her eyebrows to wonder about him as he looked the vaguest sense of familiar but she shrugged unsure if she had seen him now or later. The fore could do tricky things when you went to places most others didn't and saw eldritch force energies who were dangerous.

She was listening to them, the interest in Sanya was there but how she handled herself as the phantom moved to stand there. Then waited for a moment looking at the other judges or the people. SOme interest coming to her so that she would be able to listen to all fo the charges the stenographer was doing. The minutes let her go over the previous statements as well as whatever was needed to be in here that was important. "Hmm I see." Balaya looked over at Sanya and spoke. "I am very disappointed in you my pet, all of this because of what? Because of what we did.... seems a little excessive but hmm I am uncertain what I can do to help, I am here with the Aing-Tii learning from them after they helped keep me safe." She said it and the phantom was one of the better spells to use when you dind't really want to reveal anything. The aura wouldn't change if they thought she was lying and wanted to check it. It was just a sense of the darkside and all of the energies that were going into creating it while she maintained the connection with the life force of one of her sithspawn. "Sekalus was one thing but Demonsgate was different. Sadly I wasn't able to learn as much as I wanted from the being there or get the proper data . To little in terms of what it was I needed to experiment."

Balaya was saying it and speaking now for the time while she walked around. "As to the croa, your claims of knowing what they are is grossly out of perspective. These are not sexual fetishes. Or at least they didn't start out like that.... really it begins very small, seems like nothing much at all. Just a germ, just a speck, just a grain but the seeds were sown and before she knew it had grown it had spread through the worlds like a stain." She said it. "They started out as a solution to the problem that presents itself when the sith come to a world. See we can bring order to the chaos that is your lives, we can bring prosperity if you would just bend a knee and serve us. Worship us, fear us and we will be there to ensure you are taken care of. All machines of conquest and advancement need gears, they need cogs and the chaos that is your own humanity makes you rebel, makes you seek to be a problem. So I created the croa, a virus that is small, that infects, transforms, molds you into the perfect cogs. It removes, your hatred, it removes your sickness, it removes your need to fear what is happening to you and provides bliss in servitude. Those who have it do not know better and those smart enough to protect and save themselves have shown they are stronger for it."

Balaya spoke plainly while she was walking around and allowing the one recording it to make sure of what she was saying. She didn't see people, she didn't see what she had done. A more pure form of the strong controlling the weak but without the ego or the thought that it was her right. She had the ability, she had the power to make these beings better to make their lives improved and so had simply created something that could do it on a galactic scale compared ot many of the others. Where she saw not really people but a puzzle piece that needed to fit itno the concept of sith conquest. People... individuals had freewill, they had thoughts and endangered often what was best for them because they wanted more then their lot in life. Even if they were not skilled or strong enough to claim it. THey would try to blindly lead others and then they would die and the overall vision would be damaged because someone couldn't accept it. So she had engineered and made something that would make everyone better, would make their lives better and it would help them. They weren't being genocided, they were being turned into something that would properly fit into the plans and vision of their betters. They were a collective not free of the sickness that was freewill and individualism.

"As the project evolved others for good or ill took an interest and they could be used for things. We had such plans but problems arise, Sanya here wanted to try and have it both ways. Be the villain with the heroes and it was not really for me. I could have ordered her to step down and away, I could have taken the leadership and title away from her but I like my position. I don't need to rule over the others and attract the attention until my plans are ready to be implemented. Until the right moment, by being like this, by being the second I am afforded certain powers and freedoms. In many ways I am protected, whoever is in charge attracts the attention, those under me are afraid because while they know I hold power they also know trying to go after my servants will incur my wrath as well as those higher then them who are using these pawns in their own plans." Balaya remained there. "So I sat there and I worked out the paradox that is sith control and rule. Fear is power, martial prowess is power and all can be used but eventually you get someone looking to be a martyr so you need to make the people under you docile and able to still function. THey must be more drones serving the masters will. So a simple solution came, to transform all of them and I gave my servants, I gave others the means to do it."

That was the crux of it, if she had ordered it and someone was following orders or if she had well left it there. A loaded gun as it were for them to use it however they wanted and the truth of the matter was... She didn't care. The more uses of the croa the more it spread the more the galaxy would be able to be brought under the rule of her and those who were strong. She could compare them to the rakghouls except to make them and control them you didn't require a dangerous and flawed talismen that had been designed by a madwoman. Balaya held a small grin on her face now. "I gave her the power but unlike many of the others she does have free will. Other servants do not but you need those able to think, you need those who will serve a purpose knowingly or unknowingly to spread the croa around the galaxy and so she like others can think. Doesn't mean as a mother I cannot be disappointed in them but are you so certain that those infected, those who were taken are suffering? As i said it transformed them, who is to say they are not a new being that you are condemning because of what they are. Proving why they are needed. The croa do not hate you, they do not judge you and they will not betray you for credits." She said it with a shrug while walking to a seat.

he stayed there in the seat, done with speaking for the most part, she didn't have much else that could go with it. The croa were something meant to solve a problem that the sith and black rose had faced. People were a problem, so she got rid of them and made her own. Until they were looking at her at least the others that grew of some interest to her. Risking it all until she pushed the force here when she wanted to see areas of it, when she was going to be prepared for it with all of her thoughts that were looking at her now. Some fo them seemed disgusted while one or two seemed to think about it and it helped that she was unsure about the risks or implications of it. As she didn't turn it to be the malevolent evil that wanted to rule and would kill you if you resisted. It was that evil that didn't care and only made you part of the machine, part of itself and did it because it thought it was improving you, improving your lives, making you better by taking away the soul and what brought misery or thoughts. Balaya basked in being labeled as evil and a wicked being, she had given her apprentices who had taken the powers that were offered to them the freewill because they were showing that they were strong and able to defend themselves. She had her eyes on all of the people there with raised eyebrows.

Per request​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0F-IHwgC-Q​

 

[Klesta]

Judges: [member="Bryce Bantam"] | Klesta
Prosecution: [member="Jorus Merrill"]
Defendants: [member="Sanya Val Swift"] | [member="Tanomas Graf"] | [member="Balaya Praelior"]

"Even though you weren't called as a witness, could you please state your name?"

Klesta had no recollection of [member="Sanya Val Swift"] even coming to a scheduled Senate committee, even though he was a party in one of those Senate committee meetings. By now [member="Balaya Praelior"] offered some testimony and, by the Force, her testimony has just incriminated herself alongside Sanya on the biggest two charges. But he would restrain himself from indicting the Zeltron on the counts of genocide and use of alchemy on the general population just yet, nor would he accuse Balaya of contempt of court. Perhaps if Balaya took the oath, he would not accuse Balaya of contempt of court, even though there would be genocide accusations levied against her. Plus Balaya was a name that appeared on several occasions in Senate reports when he was a Senator, especially as it pertains to Manaan, and, to a lesser extent, in any genocide perpetrated on Republic worlds, so Balaya would have several genocide counts to her name: Manaan, Sekalus, Demonsgate, plus the same alchemy counts. That, even though this court did not have jurisdiction over the crimes committed by Balaya that were external to those of Sanya.

"Your testimony has been duly noted. Also, do you swear that you told this Court, the truth, nothing but the truth, the whole truth, and will continue to do so for any further testimony in front of this Court?"

However, Balaya could be accused of contempt of court if she also committed perjury, in which case she would have these two charges on record. In Klesta's mind, he would not lay charges on either count until the trial ends.

 

[Tanomas Graf]

The Emperor's eyes flared an angry yellow "This is outrageous, we ask for some form of impartialness and you bring in some Republic slime not to mention this delusional sith showing up unannounced. I recognize the Coalition's right for justice and their ability to arrest criminals, but you have tipped the scales far too much in your favor. The truth being that over half of these charges have no evidence is irrefutable. You can review your case and remove unnecessary charges or Miss Swift will not be charged at all; Tick tock." He growled.

[member="Sanya Val Swift"] | [member="Jorus Merrill"] | [member="Bryce Bantam"] | [member="Klesta"] | [member="Balaya Praelior"]

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Tanomas Graf"] [member="Sanya Val Swift"] [member="Klesta"] [member="Bryce Bantam"]

"Oh, you want evidence, Mister Graf? Let's see if I can accommodate you."

While officers of the court potentially handled the swearing-in of Balaya Praelior's Force spectre, Jorus focused on the presiding judges' main mandate: that the prosecution present the evidence.

"We're ready to address two more of the charges as both Judge Klesta and Mister Graf have requested. The first charge of resisting arrest is about as concrete as it gets. We have witnesses, we have a confession of premeditation, and we have the legal restraint she destroyed. The defense has presented absolutely no counterargument. On that charge, the prosecution rests.

“I’d like to address the second charge of resisting arrest. Investigating an unrelated matter, the Outer Rim Coalition civilian science vessel Gossamer visited a number of systems near the Coalition’s borders over the course of several weeks before the defendant’s arrest. One of those systems was Sekalus. At the time, the Gossamer was under my temporary command, and I’ve submitted mission and communications logs, including recordings and transcripts, into evidence. On the holoscreen, you’ll see the transcripts I mentioned. I’ve redacted the names of the civilians who were serving as my bridge crew at the time. I’ve also underlined part of the transcript.”

Spoiler

MERRILL: Comms: contact the government of Sekalus and indicate we're searching for a fleet that's been reported in the area. Don't identify me by name, just identify the Gossamer.

MERRILL: Empire. Maybe First Order, but those there look like old Imperators, not new FOCIE dreadnoughts. Well, feth. Comms, any response from the locals?

COMMS OFFICER [REDACTED]: No, sir.
MERRILL: Relax, [redacted]. We're well outside range of anything but a hypervelocity cannon or energy torpedos. The second one's rare and we'd see the first one coming. Hail them again. Ask them why there's an Imperial warfleet in their space.

VAL SWIFT: This is Queen Val Swift. You are trying to reach a secure channel. Please identify yourself.

CARDAN: Unidentified vessel, this is Rear Admiral Gromm Cardan of the 52nd System Force of the Imperial Remnant; We have been alerted that you have queried the Sekallian government about our presence in the system, please respond.

COMMS OFFICER [REDACTED]: Captain? Who would you like to answer first?
MERRILL: Both at once. Broadcast, open channel, audio only. I'll take it, on my mark. Ops, recall the probes. But first, Comms, relay all sensor data to the Foundation. Ops, spool up the hyperdrive. Nav, plot us a course to Zonju in case we have to run.

[Acknowledgements by bridge crew.]

MERRILL: [Redacted], put me on.

MERRILL: This is the Kathol vessel Gossamer, Captain Merrill speaking. I'm a Judge empowered to investigate and address threats to the Kathol territories. Long-range sensors detected your fleet bypassing our space. Rear Admiral Cardan, Queen Val Swift, why exactly have you gathered a warfleet right next to the Kathol? And what was the battlecruiser that followed you here, Admiral?

CARDAN: Captain Merrill, your worry is justified but ultimately unnecessary. This is not a warfleet, we are here because the Sekallian government has recently accepted protection provided by the Remnant due to raised concern following recent First Order and Galactic Alliance engagements; The Imperial Navy has stationed a system force, my system force, to support their weakened defenses. As for the Imperial Battlecruiser your sensors picked up; I am only at liberty to state that it was carrying a high-level Imperial emissary. It was chosen over a smaller vessel due to the importance of the emissary as well as the nature of the surrounding territories and their respective holders.

MERRILL: I can sympathize, Admiral. The First Order’s tangle with the Alliance has plenty of star systems on edge. The issue here is threefold. First off, your fleet’s an awful lot closer to us than to them. Secondly, Sekalus already has a good-sized defensive fleet of its own. Thirdly, the Queen of Sekalus, Sanya Val Swift, is an unrepentant war criminal who we’ve been after for years. She’s fled bounties, refused to make reparations -- heck, she’s refused to so much as apologize for her crimes. Put all those points together and you can see how we’d be concerned about a force buildup in her system. That’s not me impugning your honour or the honour of your fleet, just making sure you know who and what you’re in bed with, and what her agenda might be.

VAL SWIFT: The Sekallien naval vessels are currently been swapped out. While new and better ships are been built, since my fleet is currently needed in other areas of the galaxy. The imperials had graciously offered to station a fleet here. Besides Jorus, you only call me a war criminal because you still refuse to see the truth. Although if you’re man enough to apologize for accusing me without superficial evidence... I may consider talking out a resolution.

CARDAN: The Imperial Remnant is fully aware on who they are doing business with, but I ought to remind you that we are not just defending the Queen but the billions of inhabitants as well. But to put your fears at rest slightly; We are only here to protect, the Queen cannot command us to fight for her. Those orders come from the Triumvirate. I-

VAL SWIFT: Mr Jorus Merrill. The Sekallien navy will be sending out an escort to temporarily detain you. This is protocol due to the situation no harm will come of you or your crew members. This will present the opportunity to speak face to face. Admiral Cardan would you care to join me?

UNIDENTIFIED SEKALLIAN OFFICER: Gossamer, please power down your engines until our escorts have reached you. Any signs of weapons been activated will be seen as an act of hostility. Do you understand? You will be escorted to one of the vessels in where you will dock.

MERRILL: [Redacted], copy the Foundation on our last few conversations, if you would, and tell [redacted] that Exocron is a go. [Redacted], I'll be taking the nav station for the next stretch.

“Mister Graf, your client used military force, a wing of assault starfighters, in an attempt to detain not only a Judge but dozens of civilians. She did that on the paper-thin pretext that my comms officer had called the wrong number, that he’d somehow done something wrong by sending out a transmission to attempt to reach her planet’s government. She did it out of fear that I would convince her allies of her crimes and potentially bring her in on her longstanding bounty for war crimes. Can you offer any evidence to refute that argument? Somehow, I doubt it, as you've yet to present any genuine evidence, of any kind.

"The next charge we’ll address is terrorism. We call Judge Abenaka to the stand.”

A dusty Bereth-Aku tortoise with a gunslinger’s bandolier waddled up and took a seat.

“Judge Abenaka, you were one of the principal investigators of the defendant’s alleged activities on Demonsgate, and you have years of experience investigating bioterrorism in and around the former Qektoth Confederation regime. Can you tell us about the evidence?”

The tortoise nodded, harrumphing. “The defendant has a history of deliberately spurring public terror with indiscriminate alchemical attacks on civilian populations. Hundreds of residents of Demonsgate were infected and transformed by her Sith alchemy. We have reams of affidavits from their co-workers and families, as well as personal holorecordings and security footage. Those holos show hundreds of people being infected by force, threat of force, or other coercion, undergoing a brutal mental and physical transformation, and attacking others. The defendant knew exactly what would happen when she helped introduce the Croa virus to Demonsgate.”

“And why do you believe that?”

“Because we have reason to believe she did the same thing to half her home planet. Unfortunately, when it comes to Demonsgate, we have to rely on eyewitness testimony and the affidavits and holos I mentioned. None of the infected citizens of Demonsgate are available to testify, because the defendant removed all of them to an undisclosed location. She admitted that in a transmission during the liberation of Demonsgate, while stirring up public terror and spurring an unprovoked mass evacuation.”

“Thank you, Judge. The evidence file also includes reports by doctors and a Jedi healer. Can you give us your expert opinion on those reports?”

“The reports describe the horrific physical effects of infection by the Croa virus. Areas such as the lower spine, the genitals, and the sides of the skull experience rapid and brutal transformation. Reasoning and judgment are affected. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that handles self-control, is stripped to the point where the infected attack anyone nearby. Once again, the defendant knew exactly what would happen.”

“Why?”

“Because she had already undergone the same process, presumably for her own reasons, and because much of the population of Sekalus had as well.”

“Thank you, Judge. Prosecution, your witness.”

 

[Sanya Val Lerium]

[member="Jorus Merrill"] Ξ [member="Tanomas Graf"] Ξ [member="Klesta"] Ξ [member="Balaya Praelior"] Ξ [member="Bryce Bantam"]


Sanya's claws began to dig into the skin of her hand drawing blood. The other was in a sling due to the fractured collarbone she'd suffered from the attack. Right now she was enraged at the sight of that sith queen. Even if it was a face imitated copy. "I was never your apprentice and there was never a we, camellia was the reason I couldn't leave and you know that. YOU ORDERED THE ATTACK. No doubt it's was you who ordered the croa to attack people on demonstrate to. Events I wasn't aware of till after my mission on demonsgate.

I was there saving the village been overcome by magma. Those people where the people who took home inside that facility. Emperor Graf file forty nine A seven seven six please."

The file was her report of her activities and led up to the event of the survivor's taken to the facility. Included in that file was also the amount of credits given and the materials to extend the facility to house them all. "I hadn't any idea that that woman had brought the croa to demonsgate, anyway you heard it from her. She created the croa virus. My own turning was due to own fault by kissing the woman I loved. I had briefly forgotten that a kiss would make me transition into the very woman I am now.

Brsides I don't know how yo do alchemy or enchantment. My abilities are ones that aid me in battle or aid others who are in need of help." Her face had the look of rage. "Praelior even if it's the last thing I do. I will see it that your crimes are put to true justice. Not this fake illusion these people believe. I gave you a chance, I gave everyone in the black rose a chance to redeem yourselfs. It's was made clear to me I had failed." The words were bitter that rolled of the tongue. The amount of seriousness could be heard as unspeakable truthfulness. Praelior was the true cause of why she was really here. It should be her in this box or worse, dying at tip of a blade.

"Only those in the capital of sekalus had been effected by the croa virus, and out of those who transitioned only two or three I had given it to. My orders where to stun the people who were forced to fight for their tyrant king. It was praeliors orders to turn them. I never agreed with the method of how we became to be. But my people do not hate what they have become those who do I've funded a program to help them look as much as they did before. They do have free will and live life how they want to. Also the croa on demons gate left long before you guys showed up. Those who I evacuated was humans, twi'leks and zebraks. Also if my species attacked anyone near by then asuna would have attacked many people who buy from my company. From what little I know about the early croa they became mindless.

Your judge here sounds like he's going off theory's rather than actual facts. The only facts he said is what the croa's physical features. The croa on sekalus much like asuna are peaceful. They get on with other species."

Sanya was beginning to struggle with emotions. She needed time to have a brake and get a hold of herself, but first she looked at Mr Merrill. "The collar? Does it have my fingers prints on or my DNA? If not it can hardly be called physical evidence. As the judges know you have a hate for me. The should also be aware you are a force user too. Thus how can they be sure it wasn't you placing evidence. Also if I'm correct your people shot an unarmed person before this said person even had chance to do anything, and may I remind you the person who had surrendered. That it's self can be counted as a crime. On top of that you attacked innocent civilians. My employees. The very people I'm yet to know if they are safe. You had also told me you were experimenting on those of us who are croa. I presume by force without consent. Again another crime."

Her eyes turned to graf. "I like a brake please." She said shakily. The sith brought back a lot of things Sanya had tried to forget. It seems while the woman is fine for good Sanya can never truly escape from the wrech. She looked at the judges once more before the emperor had chance to asked for recess. "It's that woman who who commuted many of the false accusations against me. It's her who you should be after."

 

[Jorus Merrill]

“You were witnessed by three people destroying the collar and saying you intended to destroy the collar, so saying it can’t count as evidence? That’s a lie.

“You and all of the Judges here know that I can’t so much as lift a pebble with the Force, so that’s a lie.

“The independent contractor who stunned you had just witnessed you verbally and physically resist arrest, and was pursuing a legitimate bounty. She did nothing wrong, so that’s a lie.

“We attacked no civilians. We alerted them and disabled the facility with ion cannon fire due to the risk of another of your facilities mysteriously exploding when faced with capture. We informed them they were all free to go, and we let them go, except for the Croa who were placed in medical quarantine due to the involvement of an alchemical virus. That was more than a week ago. They’ve all been well treated and will be released another week from now if none of them show signs of infectiousness or enhanced aggression. So all of those accusations of yours? That’s a lie too.

“Your Majesty, I’d strongly recommend letting your lawyer speak for you. Perjury is a crime, you know.”