TGoaW-56

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==Chapter 56 - The Glow of a Worm inside a Child's Eye==
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Samantha Daimh...
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..was convicted of shipjacking in 3048, an act as part of a militant cell of Free Skye, she had been sentenced to life in Blackgate, before the Coast Guard showed up with a proposal. 
She'd made it through the 'shake and bake' two year course as part of the first 'class' out of Spider Moon, with merit-promotions within the Coast Guard militia that put her here.
"Colonel Clees, I am obligated to ask you to report any abuse, or potential abuses you and your personnel may have been subjected to after your surrender. Details would be important, especially if you can identify any of my people whom have taken liberties with yours, or employed unnecessary force, coercion, the withholding of medical treatment, denial of sleep...basically any violation of the Prisoner of War provisions in the Ares Conventions as signed and ratified in twenty-seven-fifty-one."
This was the first shock to the Clan Warriors. They were detained, disarmed, and then held as prisoners of war, instead of being taken as bondsmen. She had read about the abuses of the long-gone-past...
"Do you have any complaints about your treatment?"
"The food is good." Clees said neutrally, "but this is not our way..."
"Well, when you capture some of us invading one of your worlds, that will be relevant. In seven days, AFFC Regulars will come to take charge of your personnel, for the moment, you're in the custody of the Coast Guard and Marine, which means we are duty-bound to strictly observe the rights of prisoners of war, including protection from abuse and prohibitions against forced labor. In the event that your government negotiates for a prisoner exchange, we are obligated to assure that you are repatriated to your government in as good a health and condition as is physically possible with the resources available. In the intervening timeframe, I am obligated to provide your people with food, medicine, shelter, and protection...including protection from vengeful guards and others whom might wish to harm you."
"You have practiced this speech."
"I have." Daimh said with a curt nod, "My Baroness has strong feelings about upholding traditional laws, but that does not apply to the people she answers to, which is why, given the circumstances, I need the most complete report on how your people are being handled and treated as POW's, and why she is tearing through directories to find enough lawyers trained in military law to provide your people with legal representation, in the event you find yourself in need of it."
"Where is this Baroness now?"
"She's visiting the Academy site, her Brother is a student there...and she has been made aware of your Clans and their tradition of 'bondsmen'."
"You say that like it is a bad thing."
"Liz was horrified. Kowloonese have strong social and societal taboos against forced labor and slavery. She spent last night reading one of your officer's copies of Nicholas Kerensky's book, 'The Way of the Clans' and...she was not impressed."
"How...'not impressed'?"
"If she did not feel she was restrained by the Elbar Declaration, many of your warriors would be walking out of airlocks without suits, as slavers." Daimh explained. "As it is, Baroness Ngo is restrained by the Elbar Declaration and has chosen to be restrained by SLDF Regulation 775-22 as amended and confirmed in 2761-that would be 'Humane treatment of enemy combatants taken prisoner in conflict'. Which is why after this meeting, you're going to meet with Henry Cogswell of Cogswell, White und Deen, Attorneys at law, whom have volunteered to provide legal representation to you and your personnel on an as-needed basis while you are in our custody, and potentially afterward."
"Why would I need such?"
"Because there are a lot of people in the Commonwealth who want to put your whole Clan up on trial for War Crimes. You will WANT that lawyer, because with a good lawyer you can beat the charges."
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