SEIA6

=Chapter 6=
==Silent enim inter arma: Tribunals==
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Kernigan Prison complex
Albany, New York sector
North America, Terra
Sol Star System
Terra Protectorate
3078
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"What the ****** are you doing, your grace?" Seether had finally gotten to meet with her client in an un-bugged room.  "You should've been on your way back across the line!"
"It's complicated." Elizabeth stated, "Tell me, what kind of value is having a rule of law, if it's only enforced on the losers? what good are standards if they're not evenly applied?"
"You did nothing wrong!" responded Seether 
"I need to prove that in a court of law. Then, the Law will have bite. It sets a precedent and that precedent will be seen and studied by officers, who will become generals and admirals, and it will work its way into the doctrines-here is the line, that you do not cross, here is the gray area, and here is permitted action.  These are the exceptions that are required to cross that gray area.  If Stone really does seat a fully international panel, say, of everyone who might still want to be part of the Star League, then it establishes The Standard."Seether 
"Are you high?" questioned Seether 
"Clean for the last five years, Seether." Liz said, "It has to be done. We can't afford another Jihad or First Succession War. We can't afford for people to think 'well if I win, what I do doesn't matter'.  That precedent was a bad precedent.  If Kerensky convicted Tranh Truk Ngo after Elbar, maybe Kentares wouldn't have happened.  Maybe we wouldn't have lost seven centuries of advancement in three hundred years."
"Jesus Christ, was this your plan?" Liz's attorney questioned her 
"No." Liz said, "But, it's a good plan anyway.  Cheer up, you're going to participate in the trial of a century."
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