The room had seldom needed use. Using it was a curse, and a necessary evil. Each time the doors were opened, people shuddered at the thought of the damned who were going to go down this time. Alas, like all bad things, the necessity came up from time to time, and now it was time to open it up and use it again.
The hall of the damned, it was called. The ones who entered saw this, if not overborne by emotion- A cavernous hall, unadorned except for a tapestry of The Eye of Horus on one wall. Chairs lined the area before the steps leading up to the platform. The platform itself had a big desk, complete with computers and related equipment, and had a few chairs.
The room today was filled, The eyes of the one seated had a mingled look of sadness, expectation and dread at what was to come. Despite the large numbers in the hall today, everything was deathly silent. Expectancy was in the air, piercing it like daggers through a length of cotton.
Presently the procession walked in. Leading the pack were the front guard, marksmen of superior calibre and unholy skills, the personal guard. They flanked the procession from all sides, and in the middle walked the makers of destiny. At least, in The Order. The members of The Order High Command would have seemed ordinary put in any other context, but there was a powerful aura about their manner.
Soon the High Command was seated at their places on the raised platform, and the conductor motioned the gathering to silence. As if there was not complete silence already. The High Command sat for a while talking amongst themselves, then one of them stood up. He wore no badges of authority, nothing to distinguish him, but anyone closely relating to The Order knew him. He was Jack Osborne, Fleet Admiral of All Order forces.
He stood for a moment before the mike, and began to speak.
"Officers, Soldiers, and Allies. Today we have a case of high insubordination and dereliction of duty on our hands". A few audible gasps went up at this. The Conductor once again called for silence.
"Today it is not one, not two, but a group who has betrayed The Oaths and our trust. They are" he lowered his voice "The Cincinnatus Guard". The crowd winced, as if naming them was as good as a confirmation of the charges levied on them. Osborne then signaled for the damned to be brought in.
They nearly filled the entire hall, The Cincinattus Guard had been a large body Of the Order, and these brought in were only the leaders. In front stood Barnes, with an unreadable expression his face.
Jack Osborne resumed his seat on the platform, and a woman of young years got up. She was Kaylee Staite. She took a datapad and began to read out aloud.
"The charges levied against The Cincinattus Guard are-
a) Attempting to Assassinate the Fleet Admiral
b) Attempt to Murder of fellow Order pilots
c) Express refusal to follow Orders laid down by the Fleet Admiral
d) Lack of respect and cooperation with other Order bodies"
Here, Barnes attempted to speak out, clearly outraged, but was quickly motioned to silence.
"You will speak when we ask you to speak Barnes" Kaylee said coldly. "The charges levied against The Cincinaatus Guard are extreme, and if any of them can be fully substantiated with evidences, the verdict can only be one. Court Martial and Dissolution of The Cincinattus Guard, and exiling them from The Order, after proper brain-washing solutions have been used."
She also went down and resumed her seat, and The Conductor came up. "Bring in the evidence" was all he said.
Soon, a procession walked in. They carried bulky cases, filled with guncam footage. They got to the multipurpose projector at one corner of the room, and began to load discs into it.
"Evidence relating to the first accusation", The Conductor Intoned, and soon the holovid came online, showing this.
Jack Osborne got up here. "You can clearly see the shots headed towards my ship" was all he said before sitting down again, an unreadable expression on his face.
"Evidence relating to the second accusation," The conductor now said, and a different hologram came on the screen.
There were murmurs of outrage, Order pilots being killed by their own brethren? Unheard of. A few shouts were heard of "Execution", and the Conductor worked frantically to get the tranquil silence back.
"Evidence relating to the third accusation" he said. It was not a holovid that came up this time, but a verbal conversation. It played out slowly.
Exhibit C. Exhibit D.
There was shocked silence as the Conductor stepped up again.
"Evidence relating to the fourth accusation" He droned on like a Robot.
Half an hour passed. The High Command talked amongst themselves, in whispers mostly, although occasionally a voice would be raised. The Damned Cincinattus members stood despondently, not hoping for a verdict in their favor.
Finally, a decision was reached. The air hung stiff with expectancy as Jack Osborne went to the Mike for the final time.
"Looking at all the evidence and testimonies, The High Command has reached a decision." He stood silent for a while, and the tension grew even higher.
His next words were cold, hard, like steel. "The High Command has decided unanimously, to Dissolve The Cincinattus Guard as of this day, and with all their assets turned over to the primary and secondary fleets. The Cincinattus Guard members shall face Brain-washing and exile for their actions committed while flying under that wing, And Captain Barnes, for leading this group and being a part in many of the crimes committed, will face Execution. That is all. A Transcript shall be sent to our allies informing them of this decision.
Barnes looked broken, defeated at last. The Damned were lead out, and the crowds slowly dispersed, satisfied with the justice which had been meted out.
//This is now open for all Order and related parties to RP in.//
*Kate Miller was in the crowd and listened to this mess, her face hidden under a hood.*
- See Lena... See the stupidity of the Order. Now they kill each other.
- I noticed, Mother.
- These idiots have no idea of what they've done... While the few good mens that aren't manipulated by the high command and getting more rare each day, the High Command is slowly breaking the sanity of all the others. Now with the Cincinattus Guard disbanded and their leader turned into scrap... Everything is going to be easier.
- Sometimes you scare me, Mother.
- I only seek revenge... for what they did to you. Soon enough, with all our efforts, The Keepers will be stronger then the Order... and We. Will. Destroy. Any. Single. Of. Thems. Now let's move, this place make me sick.
*The hooded woman and her daughter dissapears in the crowd leaving the room*
You are accused of genocide, the worst thing human can be ever accused. The data is undeniable, leading to death of Order personel, provacting full war with Liberty Navy which can take even more people lives. If you somehow manage to escape you will need to live with that knowledge.
Fernando Soto smiles thinking about Barnes actions in future and in past...
"So that's the man who fired upon me and Ishmael Leyva on Freeport Eleven long time ago? Would be interesting to see what they're going to do with him".
"Kraver foolishly trying to kill me ended his own career by colliding with Toledo. Now i fired back in self defence. The "TCG" then called in their flagship and gunned down two men. This is cold blooded murder. You monsters can lie saying we attacked first which is total crap. You firing at us first is us shooting you? I want these men to be executed Sir."
sitting in the back of the room Jake Tiberius listens to the proceeding and the anger that fills the room.
'Well now is the time I made up my decision after what Barnes has done for the second time and a incompetent commander." Tiberius thinks to himself.
Anger fills his soul as the evidence of the TCG group come to light.Tiberius still thinking to himself Other secondary groups have perform with distinction like the TOP wing, The Iron Legion and now new groups with be hard pressed to earn the trust Of the primary fleet.
Tiberius gets up and leaves the proceedings and head down to the Primary Fleet recruitment office.
Death Before Dishonour! Honour above all!
This masterpiece was made by Calego. (Iron Legion)
"The last days have been a blustery affair ...but that had more to do with the weather", Orley thinks to himself.
He listened to everything and it is now time to position himself.
"We all know, what the Guard has done.
I was always patient and hoping that they change ...unfortunately they did not, everything became even
worse.
I always considered myself a friend of them, but times are changing, it seems.
Due to their recent actions, I have nothing to add."
Orley leans back, folds his arms and nods to Fleet Admiral Osborne.
Jake Night watches from back of a small hall on the battleship Apophis. At the front end of the hall, the large screen at the front plays footage, live from the trial of Captain Barnes. About 30 men stand around the screen, rubbing their hands together, eagerly awaiting the result, everyone of them wishing they could've been there. Each one of them has left their seat in anticipation of the result. As the verdict and punishment is aired, everyone but Jake erupts into cheers and applause.
Knowing full well everyone will be watching the trial, Jake sneaks out into the hallway for a cigarette. As he picks a cigarette out of his pack a woman dressed in a hoodie that hides most of her face, shadowing any notable features comes running towards him.
"You don't smoke"
Jake looks up.
"Wa- What are you doing here?"
"You didn't think I'd miss this, did you?"
"Yea', but if they find out you're here, they'll kill you"
"Relax, I'm untraceable remember"
"Yea bu-"
"Look, did Barnes and his merry men get whipped or not?"
"The TCG are to be disbanded, their assets and equipment seized. Barnes is to be executed".
"Good, it's what that fracker deserves, this'll be over now."
"He deserves it, but I don't think following killing with more killing is a good idea."
"And why the hell not? He shot down our own men, he's a traitor!"
"And do you really think this will solve anything? Dan was right, this is all going to end in civil war. The TCG will fight on, even without Barnes they'll be driven by anger. This isn't the end."
"Perhaps you're right, I've been hacking TCG transmissions"
"You WHAT?!"
"This is me remember, they won't find out who I am, or where I am."
"You're not meant to be attracting attention to yourself!"
"I won't be, anyway-"
"Look this is just stupid, if you ge-"
"Just shut up and listen, they're trying to rally your own allies against you, I doubt it will work, but I think you're right, they're trying to prepare for war against us!
I've got go, I'll catch you soon."
"Good luck out there"
"If you're right, you're going to need it more then I will".
Just as she turns a corner down the end of the corridor, Jake goes to pick out that cigarette from the packet.
"What the? Damn bitch stole my fags".
The general alarm comes on. and a voice is heard across the ship
"All fighter pilots, to your ships, intruders in Minor!"