Naero's War: The Citation Series 3: Naero's Trial Read Online Free PDF Page A

and read their decision.
    “According to Spacer Law, and based upon all of the facts and evidence presented, we the jury find the defendant, Naero Amashin Maeris, of Clan Maeris…guilty of murder in the death of another Spacer.”
    Naero gasped, nailed to the bedrock of the planet itself in almost complete shock.
    Guilty meant…
    Master Tree rose up. “This Mystic trial has ended; it is over. A verdict has been reached. Without question, this grim crime is punishable among our people by death. Under the circumstances, the sentence is to be carried out immediately and without delay.”
    Naero, I can–
    Shut up, Om.
    Naero gasped and covered her mouth with both of her bound hands as she sobbed and went down on one knee.
    Then she dropped her shackled hands to her abdomen and her eyes met Khai’s in explosive waves of desperate horror and regret.
    Their child from their love within that distant star barely grew within her. Now, no time remained to tell Khai all that she needed to before he performed his duty as the Mystic Enforcer.
    Before he took her head…ended her life, and the lives of his own family.
    Naero Amashin Maeris clenched her fists, and rose up with her head held high to meet her fate with her eyes clear and wide open, if that was what must be.

 
     
     
     
    4
     
     
    Naero appealed to the court. “Admiral Klyne, this isn’t right. I don’t understand. I questioned this before. Is this normal? Why must the sentence be carried out immediately? That seems incredibly harsh and cruel. At least give me time to prepare for my own execution. Allow me the dignity of having the chance to say my goodbyes to my family, friends, and loved ones.”
    “I concur,” Master Jo said. “The prosecution made up this arbitrary rule and insisted upon it. Why should Master Tree be allowed to assist on that point, unilaterally, without any one else’s input? To do so is cruel and highly unusual for such a verdict and such punishment.”
    Master Tree rose up and jumped into the debate with both feet. “There are, in fact, many good reasons to take such action,” he noted. “This convicted murderer is a definite flight risk. She has fled before, numerous times. Given the chance, she will flee again. And we know full well that she has many Cosmic powers now that we have trained her to use. And she will make good use of them also to conduct her escape. Just as her outcast, outlaw uncle did before her. They are cut of the same cloth. That is why she must be executed now, this very instant.
    “As stated, when her former uncle was also convicted of similar crimes, a delay was mistakenly made for his sake before his execution. Such a delay made is possible for him to escape justice. And as a result he has been at large as an outcast, an outlaw, a major criminal, and a thorn in our side ever since.”
    Master Tree glared at Naero.
    “Why should we allow history to repeat itself, when we surely know that it will do so?”
    Why did Master Tree seem to despise her so much now? He was never that way before. The hatred and vitriol she sensed within him toward her suddenly seemed as if it was off the charts. Like the way Master Vane used to despise her.
    Why? What was that all about?
    Naero looked down at her shackles and sighed. “Will the court please allow me to say something?” she asked.
    “The trial is over,” Master Tree insisted. “She has been convicted, sentenced, and condemned. By the letter of the law, we need not listen to anything more that she could have to say. Her words are now meaningless and irrelevant.”
    “That is your opinion,” Master Jo said. “Spacers always have a right to speak their mind.”
    Master Tree ignored him. “This court must now demonstrate whether it intends to uphold our laws, or spurn them and cast them aside.”
    Master Jo spoke up once again. “This is exactly why the letter of the law, by itself, is never sufficient. Spacer justice, if it is to be true justice, must always be