Naero's War: The Citation Series 3: Naero's Trial Read Free Page B

enemies, time and time again, as only she could.
    “And let us not forget, that Naero Amashin Maeris has directly fought with valor and courage to help save the lives of trillions, not just Spacers and landers, but many known sentients. We would all be much worse off, without Captain Naero helping to defend us.”
    Master Tree shot to his feet and asked to be able to make not so much of an objection, but a comment. Admiral Klyne, acting as the guiding judge, said that he would allow it.
    Tree asked everyone in the open court, “Do any of these noble acts and achievements give anyone the power, right, or permission to commit murder?”
    Master Tree continued to play variations on his trump card.
    Master Jo took up one of his own.
    First he detailed all of Master Vane’s many “difficulties” that he had brought about and upon himself, largely on his own and by his own character flaws and actions.
    Master Tree quickly objected. “The murder victim is not the one on trial here; nor can he speak for himself,” Tree noted.
    “Then perhaps the so-called victim and his questionable character should be held up to scrutiny and made a matter of public record. By any account, Master Vane was not the soul of virtue and discretion. It was long known or suspected that High Master Vane was either responsible for or present at the deaths of several adepts during extreme Mystic practice sessions for various reasons over the years. One of them even provided Vane with a very convenient and reliable host body, shortly after dying. It was often wondered if Vane somehow helped the process along.”
    This time Master Tree shot to his feet to make a very clear objection. High Master Vane was not on trial. His character was not the question.
    Master Jo insisted that it was, and that he would clearly demonstrate why.
    Then Master Jo surprised everyone by calling Naero Amashin Maeris, the defendant herself, to the stand to testify.
    Naero walked over, still wearing her shackles, and was forced to stand in place instead of taking a seat. The chair was simply pulled back to make room for her to do so.
    Master Jo began to explain, in great detail, how in the Astral Plane, Naero had never intended to fight with Master Vane, let alone intended to kill him. She merely went there to have her say and defend herself, when Master Vane was insisting that for the good of all, she should be executed.
    Naero’s testimony agreed with Master Jo’s presentation at every point.
    They tried to present and explain Master Vane’s well-known prejudice and hatred for the Maeris Clan, and specifically, Naero’s direct family, dating back to her mother and her now outcast uncle. Vain had repeatedly made his contempt for them known even as he trained them.
    Master Jo explained how all along, Master Vane openly declared and insisted that Naero was literally a Cosmic monster, one that would need to be destroyed. And that when the time came–or whenever he saw fit–he would step in and destroy her himself, for the good of all.
    Their main defense was that Naero had only slain Master Vane accidentally, in self-defense, after he chose to act unilaterally and was actively trying to kill her.
    And he kept trying to kill her, despite the fact that she had fled from Master Vane, fought only to get away, and repeatedly begged him not to attack her. She repeatedly warned him of the possible, terrible consequences if he insisted on trying to destroy her.
    She could not be held accountable for the outcome.
    Master Tree did his best to emphasize this key point of her defense. “Naero, like every Spacer, had every right to defend herself. No matter what High Master Vane’s opinion of her, even the other two High Masters agreed that Master Vane overstepped his authority when he went after her. He attacked her repeatedly, trying to kill her, ignoring her attempts to flee–even when she begged him not to attack her.
    “Naero was under no obligation to stand by and allow Master