SEIA13

=Chapter 13=
==Silent enim inter arma: Tribunals==
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Kernigan Prison complex
Albany, New York Sector
North America, Terra
Sol Star System
Republic of the Sphere
3079
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Outside the prison, protesters were kept back by a cordon manned by a detachment of Stone's Revenants.  Signs demanding "Justice for Geneva" and the occasional burning effigy were interspersed with shouting and occasionally, with minor acts of violence and vandalism.
This presents something of a problem.
"This could be trouble." David Lear noted, as the executive VTOL passed over the mob.  "It can undermine your legitimacy, Devlin.  A conviction could be seen as bowing to the mob out of fear, an acquittal will certainly cause civil chaos and bad feeling."
"She refused even to hear Victor out, Dave. I need to know why."  Devlin said sourly, "What are the numbers on Metis?"
"They're still refusing to acknowledge you as a legitimate candidate for head of state, and the Metis Congress. The only working government out to the Oort now that Bureau of Terran Affairs is former, is requesting that she be released."
"How in the ****** did that happen?" demanded Devlin
"Seems they see Elizabeth Ngo as the liberator of the belts, Devlin, this is going to be a problem.  The Terra's population sees a war criminal, the Belters see the liberator that got Terra's boot off their necks after a generation of suppression by the Word." explained David.
Devlin closed his eyes, "It's Liao all over again, isn't it?"
"It could be. we need to get her on-side, or the Republic's going to be too weak to be viable, and you won't last in office. That won't work to the Plan." Lear told him, "Christ, she decapitated things with those strikes and she's practically neutered the Cause, and we're the ones holding her..."
"Well, put your big boy negotiator pants on, Dave, we need to talk her into accepting some kind of deal now." said Devlin as VTOL circled around to the parking lot to land.
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