Chapter 586: Stock Car Race (2/2)
”Thank you, Your Honor,” the Detainee said. She tapped the folder. ”I'm still catching up. I need about ten more seconds.”
”You have two minutes,” the judge said.
”Done,” the Detainee said.
Trucker sighed slowly, his eyes closed, as he got his mental balance under him. He opened his eyes and watched as the smartly dressed woman stood up, looking at a file folder in her hand. She was wearing charcoal gray again, a knee length pleated skirt, a wide lapel blouse with a white undershirt, hose, and severe looking polished black shoes, with a string of pearls around her throat.
Her shoes clacked as she moved in front of the witness stand, still staring at the folder. Trucker could see it was just normal plas-sheet, not even smart-paper. She paged through several pages before looking up and taking a drag off her ever present cigarette.
”General Trucker,” she said, smiling as she exhaled cigarette smoke and the smell of blood, iron, scorched warsteel, and brimstone.
”Ma'am,” Trucker nodded.
”As your service record has been made a record of the court, I found myself perusing it,” the Detainee said. ”An impressive string of outright victories as well as forcing the enemy to take a Pyrrhic victory, with nothing that could be seen, looking at it honestly, as a defeat,” she smiled wider, and Trucker noticed just how sharp her elongated incisors were.
”Thank you, ma'am,” Trucker said.
”However, there are five incidents that stand out to me,” she said. She tapped the folder with her extended pinky. ”Two from the Clownface Nebula Conflict, two from the Mithril Nebula War, and one from the Remshalla Cluster Operation.”
Trucker nodded slowly. ”Yes, ma'am.”
”You know which incidents I am referring to, General?” the Detainee asked.
”Yes, ma'am,” Trucker said.
”In all five incidents, you disobeyed a direct order given by a superior officer,” the Detainee said. She took another drag off of her cigarette. ”Is this true?”
”Yes, ma'am,” Trucker said.
The Detainee nodded. ”In each case it was a refusal to engage in operational activities that would have directly caused civilian casualties, correct?”
”That was not the only reason,” Trucker said.
The Detainee smiled wider. ”No. It was not. In each instance you used other tactics and/or maneuvers, successfully completing your ultimate objective, correct?”
”Yes, ma'am,” Trucker had the urge to wipe his brow. He knew he was sweating, but heat was rolling off of the woman in front of him.
”Were you aware, at the time of your request to activate the Black Cauldron Protocol, that a war crime had already been committed?” the Detainee asked.
Trucker frowned. ”I was not aware of any such war-crime.”
”The ordering of one Chief Warrant Officer Casey to manufacture, mount, and field a set of Novastar VII powered planetary assault armor,” the Detainee said.
”At that time, no, I was not aware,” Trucker said.
”It did not factor into your decision?” the Detainee asked.
”No, ma'am.”
”So you were not aware that a war crime had been committed against one of your own troops?”
”No, ma'am.”
”Were you aware, prior to this trial, that a commander can commit a war-crime upon their own troops?”
”Yes, ma'am,” Trucker said.
”In your opinion, as a professional soldier, was the use of the Black Cauldron Protocol upon the troops of 3rd Armor Division and 8th Infantry Division, a war crime?” the Detainee asked. She held up her hand as the defense attorney started to stand up. ”I am not asking about your use in particular, I'm asking about the Black Cauldron Protocol and the Vānaras System being used in general.”
”Your Honor, I object,” the defense attorney said.
”On what grounds?” Judge Lemoyent asked.
”General Trucker is not a lawyer, thus his opinion on whether or not it is a war crime is invalid. Additionally, we have not even confirmed that the use is a war crime,” the lawyer said.
The judge looked at the Detainee.
”If a General in command of a division can't tell a war crime from a legitimate military action, I don't think they have any right to hold command,” the Detainee sneered. She looked at the other lawyer. ”I didn't know and I was only following orders ceased to be valid defenses in military tribunals and trials following a one-balled Austrian artist with a shitty mustache putting a gun in his mouth after getting bullied by a fat Limey, a commie, and a cripple.”
The lawyer frowned. ”I don't know what that means or refers to.”
The Detainee sighed. ”Your Honor, if the Confederate Armed Services has in its rank service beings of the rank of General who cannot recognize a war crime, the problems go far beyond this trial.”
The judge nodded. ”I agree,” she looked at the defense lawyer. ”Overruled.”
”Do you need me to repeat the question, General?” the Detainee asked.
”No, ma'am,” Trucker said. ”In my opinion, having seen and experienced what it does, having seen the fate of a man I've known for decades when you brought him up as a witness, it is my personal opinion that the use of the Black Cauldron Protocol and the Vānaras System has the potential to be a war crime.”
The Detainee smiled widely and took a drag off of her half-finished cigarette. ”One last set of questions, General Trucker,” she said.
Trucker swallowed thickly and nodded.
”You know who I am, correct?” she asked.
”Yes, ma'am,” Trucker answered.
”And that is?” she asked after a moment.
”The Detainee, the Lord of Hell in the SUDS,” Trucker said.
The Detainee smiled and nodded. ”Do you believe me when I tell you with the exception of two subjects who escaped my grasp, I have, in my possession, the souls of every soldier you subjected to the Black Cauldron Protocol and the Vānaras System?”
Trucker thought for a second. ”Yes, ma'am.”
”You can't accept regeneration or cloned parts, you have to rely upon cybernetics, is that correct?” the Detainee asked.
Trucker noted her eyes had a burning light deep inside as he nodded. ”Correct, ma'am.”
”You have never been killed and SUDS washed, have you?” the Detainee asked. ”Or transferred to a new body?”
Trucker shook his head. ”No, ma'am.”
”Please place your hand on the counter before you,” she said.
Trucker frowned and did so. The Detainee put her hand on top of his. Trucker was shocked at how soft and warm it was.
”Yes or no, General,” she said intently, leaning forward slightly. ”Would you trade your immortal soul to me to free them all from Hell and have me heal them and deliver them into the Digital Omnimessiah's embrace and the Afterlife?”
”YOUR HONOR! OBJECTION!” the lawyer yelled.
”I would,” Trucker said, nodding. ”Yes. Yes, I would.”
'COUNSEL!” Judge Lemoyent snapped.
The short matron suddenly spun around, her dress and blouse tearing as her skin turned dark brown, her body swelled, horns sprouted from her forehead. In less than a second she stood nearly five meters tall, all brown flesh, corded muscle, covered in chains and leather straps, one hand holding a fiery whip, the other holding a long barbed chain.
”IMPEDE NOT MY DUTIES TO THE DIGITAL OMNIMESSIAH, MORTALS! MAKE NO ATTEMPT TO IMPEDE MY OATHS!” the massive demon roared. She suddenly shrunk back down, not a hair out of place as she turned to the judge.
”Your Honor, I'm merely establishing whether or not being forced to use the Black Cauldron Protocol and the Vānaras System also victimized General Trucker by leaving him behind to face the guilt of using an approved weapon of the Confederate Armed Services,” the matron said mildly to the silent court.
The judge shook her head quickly, closing her eyes for a second. ”Overruled.”
The lawyer swallowed thickly and sat down.
”No further questions,” the Detainee smiled. She started to walk away and Trucker heard her whisper in his ear even though she was at least four meters away.
”A bargain offered, a bargained accepted,” the woman's voice whispered.