He Flies who Flies [✱16]

Posted on Wed Jun 4th, 2025 @ 10:15am by Captain Rovak & Lieutenant Onda Duros & Staff Warrant Officer Umet'Okan & Atonu & Tyr & Consul Kwaa

1,053 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: The Serpent's Tooth [3]
Location: Courtroom, Deck 85 - DS13
Timeline: 0900 - MD10

“Good morning. This tribunal is called under section 253 of the Starfleet code. As Captain, I will serve as presiding officer. I have empanelled a jury of individuals with extrasensory abilities who will serve in an advisory capacity throughout proceedings and who will have the option to activate an alert if they believe a response is categorically untrue. If there is consensus among the jury, this will manifest in the form of a light on my display, which I will then consider when rendering my verdict.” Rovak explained to the packed courtroom.

“Given the nature of the accusations and the scarcity of reliable evidence under the circumstances, the option to refuse the analysis of this jury will not be given to any defendant. By the same token, the jury must not by inference or expression give any indication of their findings to parties other than myself as presiding judicial officer, unless otherwise instructed by myself. They will remain anonymous and sequestered until the conclusion of proceedings."

“In the interests of brevity, all accused parties will be present at once via holographic link, and all claims will be settled by this tribunal. I note that this procedure will operate under a civil standard of the balance of probabilities. While this tribunal is empowered to authorise extradition, it is not empowered to determine criminality.” Rovak said. He had a traditional Vulcan gavel replicated. It looked somewhat like a miniature lirpa with a flattened stone head instead of a blade.

“It is the responsibility of the prosecution to demonstrate that it is more likely than not that the accused Atenists are responsible for war crimes in their home galaxy. It is the responsibility of the defence to disprove those claims. If on the balance of probabilities it is in the view of the tribunal more likely than not that any individual has committed such crimes, extradition will most likely be granted. The tribunal will follow standard court proceedings, all instructions will given by myself as presiding officer. The bailiff and deputies will enforce any rulings.

The bailiff was Warrant Officer Umet’Okan, who looked more serious than usual with his arms folded. His purpose beyond looking intimidating was not immediately clear given that all the accused were present as holograms.

At the prosecution seat was the grey being Tyr, next to him floated Consul Kwaa, the Cetacean Consul-General from the Federation Embassy, who floated on a similar antigravity rig that most had seen Subcommander Saa get about in.

On the defence side, the Harcesis Atonu sat in the first chair, accompanied by Lieutenant Onda.

The holographic depictions of the accused sat on the benches either side of the judge's bench, though the display in front of the Captain was not visible to them, they would not be aware if the extrasensory jury determined anyone was lying.

“The prosecution may proceed with their opening statements.” Rovak said.

“We thank the court.” The Asgard Tyr said, standing with a slight bow.

“It is an undisputed fact that since they emerged from the swamps of their homeworlds, the Goa’uld are a race whose existence has always been at the expense of others. On their homeworld they first encountered the native species we call Unas, taking them as the first hosts. Eventually, they discovered the stargate and the technology of the ancients. They stole, plundered and exploited everything they have ever possessed. Most notably, upon the discovery of early humanity on Earth, they abducted vast numbers of humans from across the planet. The Goa'uld tormented and deceived these humans into believing they were their gods, seeding them across the galaxy as slaves, eventually altering the strongest among them into Jaffa.”

“It is not by accident that they are so successful. They are one of the most naturally intelligent and skilful species on record, owing to their genetic memory. Combine this with their predatory ability to latch onto the minds of others and enslave them entirely and perpetually, you have an apex predator that soon came to control an entire galaxy. My people did what they could to liberate and defend early civilisation in the milky way galaxy from the depredations of the System Lords, but we could only secure so many worlds."

"It is also an undisputed fact that the Goa’uld conquer anything external to themselves. They destroy anything they cannot conquer. Whether with viral warfare, irradiation of inhabitable worlds or any number of genocidal treacheries, the Goa’uld have been responsible for the eradication of hundreds of species across thousands of worlds.”

“These Atenists are no different. They may have reformed their tactics, but they are still System Lords in all but name. They claim dominion over their Jaffa by their superior managerial skill as Goa’uld, or the divine will of this supposed ‘Aten’, rather than as divine beings themselves. They then manage a society where all of their needs are met first, and if there is time, the needs of the Jaffa are then addressed, with a minimal outlay of resources. Until recently both Typhon and Hera counted themselves among System Lord ranks, all the inhabitants of this station have been first-hand witnesses to Hera’s graces. Typhon is known well as a trader of some of the cruelest and most destructive weapons ever conceived of. Akhenaten too has served as brutal dictator of the Karnak systems, executing dissidents and leading unprovoked war against undefended worlds.”

“The Harcesis is regarded even among Goa’uld as an abomination. This is because the knowledge and ability possessed by these beings is beyond dangerous, and can result in untold suffering. At best, you will have a being who possesses the fury and entitlement of generations of enslaving deceivers. At worst, that being will have power over the very fabric of reality, paired with the aforementioned entitlement."

"We shall demonstrate to you through these proceedings that conquest and subjugation is the goal and modus operandi of the Atenists, regardless of how they may disguise it. They are conquerors peddling new-age mysticism, and little more. This is why the Alliance of Free Worlds respectfully requests the United Federation of Planets extradite these criminals, so we might put them to justice in the galaxy they have wronged. Thank you.” The Asgard gave another slight bow, and sat himself down next to Kwaa.

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