He Flies who Flies [✱16]

Posted on Wed Jun 4th, 2025 @ 10:15am by Captain Rovak & Lieutenant Onda Duros & Staff Warrant Officer Umet'Okan & Consul Kwaa & Atonu & Tyr
Edited on on Wed Jun 18th, 2025 @ 10:18am

1,610 words; about a 8 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, diminutive being Tyr, a member of a distantly humanoid species that had been introduced to the station personnel as an 'Asgard,' accompanied by Lieutenant Onda.

On the defence side, the Harcesis youth Atonu sat in the first chair. The dark, slim-featured human girl looked even younger and smaller than usual in the protective presence of Consul Kwaa, the Cetacean Consul-General from the Federation Embassy, the sleek bottlenose lawyer resting weightlessly beside her in his gravitic envelope.

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 bailiff will now read the charges, then we will commence." Rovak brought up the list on his lectern as Umet'Okan recited it. “Akhenaten, Goa’uld epicene. Human male host name unknown. Accused of crimes against peace, sentient rights violations against citizens of the Upper and Lower Karnak Sectors.

Hera, Goa’uld queen. Human female host name unknown. Accused of crimes against peace, sentient rights violations in the Olympus sector, waging illegal war, genocide, violation of galactic treaty, murder, mass-murder, and contributary negligence.

Typhon, Goa’uld epicene. Human male host name known. Accused of crimes against peace, sentient rights violations in the Ischia sector, waging illegal war, genocide, violation of galactic treaty, trafficking in weapons of mass destruction, trafficking in pandora-grade technologies.

Hekate, Goa’uld epicene. Augmented human female host name unknown. Deceased, charges prepared but dismissed.

Polyphron, Goa’uld epicene. Risunka, Tollan host. Released, charges prepared but dismissed.

Mars, Goa’uld epicene. Male human host name unknown. Accused of crimes against peace, sentient rights violations in the Olympus sector, violation of galactic treaty.

Atenophis, Goa’uld epicene. Male human host name unknown. Accused of crimes against peace, sentient rights violations in the Karnak sector, violation of galactic treaty.

Skylla, Goa’uld epicene. Female human host name unknown. Accused of crimes against peace, sentient rights violations in the Ischia sector, violation of galactic treaty.

Akraia, Goa’uld epicene. Female human host name unknown. Accused of crimes against peace, sentient rights violations in the Olympus sector, violation of galactic treaty.

Kanahkt of the Southern Desert, Jaffa male. Accused of crimes against peace, sentient rights violations in the Karnak sector, violation of galactic treaty.

Thalistra of Olympus, Jaffa female. Accused of crimes against peace, sentient rights violations in the Olympus sector, violation of galactic treaty.

Pindar of Chulak, Jaffa male. Accused of crimes against peace, sentient rights violations in the Ischia sector, violation of galactic treaty.” Umet'Okan concluded, his enthusiasm consistent throughout.

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

“We thank the court.” The Asgard said, standing with a slight bow. His voice was gentle, with a high, almost adolescent timbre, but which did not suggest youth.

“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—”

A high-frequency whistle of Atlantic 1 interrupted the Asgard. It consisted of only a single sharp note, being one of the simplest and oldest signals in that language, a pre-word, echoing before history.

"Objection," Kwaa interrupted serenely. "Introduction of claims of racial guilt are prejudicial to the accused."

Rovak considered the objection for a moment. "Mister Tyr, the Consul is correct that such claims are inadmissable by the standards of this court. Do you wish to respond?"

"It is not our claim that the accused are responsible for any actions but their own. What I intend to establish is the historical and biological context in which Goa'uld have operated throughout the last few millennia. I believe it is crucial to understanding the motivations of their behaviour, and the basis of their belief system that such behaviour is acceptable." Tyr clarified.

Rovak took another moment to consider the response. "Very well, please proceed. But remember that judgements are the provenance of the court."

“Thank you, your honour. To conclude my previous remarks, the strongest among the slaves taken from Earth were altered into Jaffa. It is not by accident that the Goa'uld are so successful. They are one of the most naturally intelligent and skillful 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 among the inhabitants of our galaxy that the Goa’uld seek to 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 Onda.

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