Post by Dominion of Zabéara on Dec 8, 2014 21:04:53 GMT
Mizral Pizuzti-azha stood before the panel of law-priests, ready for the third round of grilling for his part in the Kortl disasters. The judges' regal clothing and large, ornate hats seemed rather out of place in the spartan quarters of the Saint Baal's planning room.
Thought had been given to holding the trial on Zabeara, but given the high tensions there, lack of available transport craft, and wish to not immediately dismiss Puzuzti from his command, the trial was held abord his own flagship. As a precaution, the Saint Baal's escort flotilla was pulled back deep into Dominion space, in case Kortl raiders decided to make another foray.
The trial continued. '' Pizuzti-azha,'' spoke one of the judges in an impartial tone while simultaneously adjusting his enormous headpiece and reading through a datapad, ''we shall now turn to your decisions just prior to the incident. Why did you see fit to dispatch civilian craft towards and into the disputed territories, at times without escort? Is it not true that on the month of Erin'mez you received a Dominion Intelligence report concerning the movement of a large Kortl force into the disputed territories?
''Yes, this report was received.''
The law-priest sat upright ever so slightly more and switched to a more accusatory tone: ''Then why was it disregarded?''
''It was not disregarded. Kortl emissaries were hailed in response, who in turn assured us that their fleet had only peaceful intentions, specifically the protection of their own civilians.''
The judge seemed increasingly agitated. ''And you just accepted them at their word? These heathen Xenos?''
''Your Lord'', Pizuzti softly and patiently spoke, almost whispered. ''It was the Dominion's own Ministry of Unconverted Aliens itself that rated the Kortl as a A-3 edifice.
''Perhaps,'' the judge waved his 4-fingered hand dismissively, ''but it is not the ministry that is on trial here, but your actions. Tell us, why did you withdraw the escort flotilla from the colony ship just prior to its destruction by Kortl raiders?''
Pizuzti hesitated and drew a long breath. It was something that brought him no small feeling of discomfort. '' As your Lords know, 3 days before the fatal attack, a treaty was agreed upon between the Dominion and the Kortl concerning a division of the disputed territories. Given that the colony ship was in what was according to the treaty uncontested Dominion space, plus Kortl promises of peaceful conduct, I deemed it safe to withdraw the escorts, furthermore, my requests for reinforcements were denied, and given that the flotilla was not strong enough to protect the civilian crafts from the full force of...''
''Your decision was wrong! It would be one matter if your witless and naive trust of unbelievers only harmed yourself, but your foolish decisions have led to the deaths of millions! MILLIONS!'' The judge stood up, threw back his brown sash, seemingly ready to have an aneurysm. ''And now, because of you, riots! RIOTS! In the very streets of the Holy City! The first ones in 350 cycles! Why you haven't poisoned yourself out of shame yet I cannot fathom, but it matters not, for if you do not have enough honour, then...''
Suddenly an alarm went off on the ship's comm system. The judge stammered and hesitated, looking as if just snapped out of a trance. Pizuzti called the bridge on his comm device. ''What is it?'' He said, almost grateful for the interruption.
''The warpgate,'' came back the nervous voice of his acting bridge-commander. ''Its opening.''
Pizuzti turned and bowed gracefully to the law-priests: ''My Lords, I am very sorry to interrupt, but my immediate attention is requested on the bridge.''
The ensuing battle with another Kortl raider was painful and drawn out. In the end, it was destroyed, but more Dominion lives were lost than Kortl. The fact that the Kortl has broken yet another agreement was hardly a surprise to anyone. More worrying than those losses or more Kortl treachery however was how far the Kortl raider had penetrated into Dominion space.
The reaction on Zabeara to this latest affront was on the whole predictable. A perhaps unforeseen result however, was that Pizuzti was not executed on the spot as the judges as initially planned, but recalled to the Patriarchal Palace itself.
Thought had been given to holding the trial on Zabeara, but given the high tensions there, lack of available transport craft, and wish to not immediately dismiss Puzuzti from his command, the trial was held abord his own flagship. As a precaution, the Saint Baal's escort flotilla was pulled back deep into Dominion space, in case Kortl raiders decided to make another foray.
The trial continued. '' Pizuzti-azha,'' spoke one of the judges in an impartial tone while simultaneously adjusting his enormous headpiece and reading through a datapad, ''we shall now turn to your decisions just prior to the incident. Why did you see fit to dispatch civilian craft towards and into the disputed territories, at times without escort? Is it not true that on the month of Erin'mez you received a Dominion Intelligence report concerning the movement of a large Kortl force into the disputed territories?
''Yes, this report was received.''
The law-priest sat upright ever so slightly more and switched to a more accusatory tone: ''Then why was it disregarded?''
''It was not disregarded. Kortl emissaries were hailed in response, who in turn assured us that their fleet had only peaceful intentions, specifically the protection of their own civilians.''
The judge seemed increasingly agitated. ''And you just accepted them at their word? These heathen Xenos?''
''Your Lord'', Pizuzti softly and patiently spoke, almost whispered. ''It was the Dominion's own Ministry of Unconverted Aliens itself that rated the Kortl as a A-3 edifice.
''Perhaps,'' the judge waved his 4-fingered hand dismissively, ''but it is not the ministry that is on trial here, but your actions. Tell us, why did you withdraw the escort flotilla from the colony ship just prior to its destruction by Kortl raiders?''
Pizuzti hesitated and drew a long breath. It was something that brought him no small feeling of discomfort. '' As your Lords know, 3 days before the fatal attack, a treaty was agreed upon between the Dominion and the Kortl concerning a division of the disputed territories. Given that the colony ship was in what was according to the treaty uncontested Dominion space, plus Kortl promises of peaceful conduct, I deemed it safe to withdraw the escorts, furthermore, my requests for reinforcements were denied, and given that the flotilla was not strong enough to protect the civilian crafts from the full force of...''
''Your decision was wrong! It would be one matter if your witless and naive trust of unbelievers only harmed yourself, but your foolish decisions have led to the deaths of millions! MILLIONS!'' The judge stood up, threw back his brown sash, seemingly ready to have an aneurysm. ''And now, because of you, riots! RIOTS! In the very streets of the Holy City! The first ones in 350 cycles! Why you haven't poisoned yourself out of shame yet I cannot fathom, but it matters not, for if you do not have enough honour, then...''
Suddenly an alarm went off on the ship's comm system. The judge stammered and hesitated, looking as if just snapped out of a trance. Pizuzti called the bridge on his comm device. ''What is it?'' He said, almost grateful for the interruption.
''The warpgate,'' came back the nervous voice of his acting bridge-commander. ''Its opening.''
Pizuzti turned and bowed gracefully to the law-priests: ''My Lords, I am very sorry to interrupt, but my immediate attention is requested on the bridge.''
The ensuing battle with another Kortl raider was painful and drawn out. In the end, it was destroyed, but more Dominion lives were lost than Kortl. The fact that the Kortl has broken yet another agreement was hardly a surprise to anyone. More worrying than those losses or more Kortl treachery however was how far the Kortl raider had penetrated into Dominion space.
The reaction on Zabeara to this latest affront was on the whole predictable. A perhaps unforeseen result however, was that Pizuzti was not executed on the spot as the judges as initially planned, but recalled to the Patriarchal Palace itself.