After she was deemed calm enough by Marshii, Endea was told to report to the Conference Room. She made her way there and entered to see Arsha and Kalo talking. She cleared her throat, attracting their attention. \u201cGot a more level head?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAye, Captain,\u201d replied Endea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen come join us,\u201d directed Arsha. Endea sat down. \u201cKalo, this is Endea, the living extension of the Endeavor<\/em>. Endea, this is Kalo Avonamei, the defense lawyer arguing for Mechanica rights.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo the trial is soon?\u201d asked Endea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn two days,\u201d confirmed Kalo. \u201cRight now, the debate is still ongoing. The trial will determine whether or not you get treated better than a few hours ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe need your testimony,\u201d continued Arsha, \u201cof your work over these three months.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSomehow, I think the opponent\u2019s going to use my fight against me,\u201d muttered Endea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think we can come up with defenses for that,\u201d replied Kalo. \u201cNow, let\u2019s start planning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The trial was held in the Morgonthor Trench\u2019s Great Amphitheater. While the Endeavor <\/em>stayed outside, Endea stepped inside and noticed how many people were attending to watch the trial. The prosecutor was a male, yellow-skinned Fairy named Thentra. His wings were oddly still as he observed the crowd with great scrutiny. Because the prosecutor was an air-breather that had a vital piece of biology that would be affected underwater, the main stage of the amphitheater was surrounded by an air bubble. Kalo took her position at the defense\u2019s seat and observed Thentra. Just then, a Siren bailiff glided into the bubble in a water chair as an old Cecaelia man took his place at the judge\u2019s seat. \u201cAll rise for the honorable Judge Uluntan!\u201d called the bailiff. Everyone rose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBe seated,\u201d directed the judge, Uluntan. Everyone sat down as he banged his gavel. \u201cCourt is now in session for the trial of Mechanica rights. Defending said rights is Mrs. Kalodina Avonamei of the Over-realm\u2019s Chromanian Sea Merfolk Kingdom. Arguing against her is Mr. Thentra Yaltar of the Over-realm\u2019s Drelda Forest. Madam, Sir, are you both ready to begin?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am prepared,\u201d replied Kalo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs am I,\u201d answered Thentra in a cool manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen, as per tradition, the defense shall begin,\u201d directed Uluntan. Kalo rose and began her opening arguments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLadies and gentlemen,\u201d she started, \u201cthere is precedence for us to welcome a new species with open arms. While our start with them was NOT smooth, we still address the Chimeras as friends and fellow people. Their obtaining of rights was too long and, as many Chimeras have stated, Mechanicas should not need to suffer for those rights. I urge that Mechanicas be given the same rights at a rapid pace.\u201d She then sat down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you, Mrs. Avonamei,\u201d bid Uluntan. \u201cMr. Yaltar, your arguments?\u201d Thentra then stood up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFar be it for me to deny anyone their rights,\u201d he began, \u201cbut is haste truly the best way to make everyone equal? Unless I\u2019m misremembering history, that\u2019s what ended the First Age of Unity with the War of Stars when we tried to quickly introduce Chimera rights to the Realmfleet Constitution. To date, that was the bloodiest war we\u2019ve ever had and I speak for those of us biological immortals who fought in that war when I say we cannot be hasty. I submit that now is not the time for Mechanica rights.\u201d He then sat down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith the opening arguments having been said,\u201d declared Uluntan, \u201cwe shall begin.\u201d He banged his gavel. \u201cMr. Yaltar, you may call the first witness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI call Mrs. Gronsar to the stand,\u201d called Thentra. An Orc woman in a business suit then took the stand. \u201cMadam, if you would state your name and occupation for the Court Record, that would be splendid,\u201d directed Thentra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m Mrs. Galya Gronsar,\u201d introduced the Orc woman, \u201cmanager of Under-rail.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTell me, Mrs. Gronsar,\u201d inquired Thentra, \u201cwhat do you foresee if your fleet of engines were to come alive?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHonestly, a lot of lay-offs,\u201d replied Mrs. Gronsar. \u201cWith engines talking and thinking as we do, being able to move or stop under their own power, there would be no need for them to have drivers, or firemen in the case of steam engines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd if the engines were the ones to get paychecks instead of the workers you\u2019ve hired?\u201d asked Thentra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019ll circumvent the need for me to pay for their repairs,\u201d answered Mrs. Gronsar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMrs. Avonamei, your witness,\u201d declared Thentra. He sat down as Kalo approached Mrs. Gronsar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMrs. Gronsar, this may seem like a trifle,\u201d she began, \u201cbut how much are your workers making on average? Per year, let\u2019s say.\u201d Mrs. Gronsar looked up as she calculated how much her workers earn in a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet\u2019s see,\u201d she mused, \u201cengine drivers get roughly 50,000 golds per year, firemen for steam engines get 52,000, repairmen earn 60,000…that\u2019s all I can think of as of now without a calculator and worker table in front of me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd repairs to any of the engines,\u201d pressed Kalo. \u201cHow much are they per year?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019d say roughly 700,000 golds per year,\u201d replied Mrs. Gronsar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, if one of your engine drivers decided to pay for it,\u201d surmised Kalo, \u201cthey would need to put away 14 years of paychecks to pay for the repairs to their engines. But, most of them have families to consider and I\u2019m willing to bet that they would rather put the money to their families instead of their engines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMrs. Avonamei, forgive me for interrupting,\u201d called Uluntan, \u201cbut where is this going?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhere this is going,\u201d explained Kalo, \u201cis that, if engines were paid the same as their drivers, they would need to do the same. I have every reason to believe that Mechanicas, much like us, would want to start families and provide for them. They wouldn\u2019t see the logic in hoarding 14 years\u2019 worth of paychecks to pay for one bit of repairs or maintenance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDid any Mechanica say so?\u201d asked Thentra, assured in victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs a matter of fact, yes,\u201d replied Kalo, \u201cbut not the Dauntless<\/em>-class skyship that\u2019s parked outside. No, this is an engine from Mrs. Gronsar\u2019s fleet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI beg your pardon?!\u201d boomed Mrs. Gronsar. \u201cOne of MY engines?! I only have two living engines! Who\u2019s testifying against me?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI believe his engine number is 67456,\u201d answered Kalo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Hansar,\u201d hissed Mrs. Gronsar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs this engine here?\u201d asked Uluntan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe is, Your Honor,\u201d confirmed Kalo<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet us see Engine 67456,\u201d rumbled Uluntan. As Mrs. Gronsar left the stand, there was the puffing noise of a steam engine moving slowly. The engine then came in. Much like the engines in Galthar, he had a humanoid upper torso coming out where the funnel would be and he dressed in a repair person\u2019s clothing. He had eight wheels connected by side rods, two side tanks for his water, and a coal bunker behind his cab. Somehow, he was making his own rails so he didn\u2019t ruin the floor of the amphitheater. His driver, a female Leaf Elf, and fireman, a male Minotaur hopped from the footplate. The driver patted the engine\u2019s side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood luck, old boy,\u201d she bid. Mrs. Gronsar was confused as she saw the crew sit with Kalo. Kalo then began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlease state your name and occupation for the Court Record,\u201d she directed the engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m Hansar, Engine 67456,\u201d introduced the engine. \u201cI\u2019m the station pilot for Under-rail\u2019s headquarters at Realmgate City.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMr. Hansar, tell us,\u201d inquired Kalo, \u201cdid you even think about leaving your crew behind?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see no need to,\u201d replied Hansar. \u201cThey\u2019re too valuable to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToo valuable?\u201d muttered Mrs. Gronsar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, I can make myself go or stop whenever I wish,\u201d continued Hansar, \u201cbut I\u2019m the more reckless of Under-rail\u2019s two living engines. I need other voices to get me to think before I act and my crew does just that. On top of that, my driver, Jalme, can see whether or not I\u2019m functioning properly. When my fireman, Kuljur, was doubting his own importance to me, he asked me if I could reach my bunker. As I can demonstrate,\u201d he twisted his torso and tried to reach back, \u201cno matter how hard I try,\u201d he grunted, \u201cI can\u2019t even reach my cab.\u201d He stopped twisting and returned to giving testimony. \u201cWithout him, my fire wouldn\u2019t burn and I can\u2019t refuel it. As you can see, my crew is essential in my life. I see no reason to go anywhere on the rails without them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhich explains another point of mine,\u201d interjected Kalo. \u201cI\u2019ve heard fears of Mechanicas no longer needing organic life to help them. As we\u2019ve all just heard, there\u2019s still a place for us in keeping Mechanicas alive. Since they need us as much as we need them, I must urge the advancement of Mechanica rights!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd how would that prevent violence from occurring?\u201d asked Thentra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Pardon?\u201d asked Kalo, caught off-guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re similar to us,\u201d continued Thentra, \u201cwho\u2019s to say that there won\u2019t be violence between organics and Mechanicas? I believe such a fight happened a while ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere it is,\u201d muttered Kalo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour Honor, I must urge,\u201d insisted Thentra, \u201cthat tomorrow be spent discussing possible race riots between organic and mechanical life if the Mechanicas are granted equal rights right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cObjection!\u201d called Kalo. \u201cYour Honor, I urge that we settle that question today!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cObjection overruled,\u201d dismissed Uluntan. \u201cBoth sides need more time to prepare their arguments of that subject. Court is adjourned for today and will reconvene tomorrow.\u201d He banged his gavel and everyone cleared out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe can\u2019t delay this!\u201d hissed Arsha as she, Endea, and Kalo met in the Conference Room. She had long put her hairpiece in its drawer in her Ready Room. \u201cWe need Mechanica rights NOW!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnfortunately,\u201d sighed Kalo, \u201call royal families needed to appease those that said such rights are harmful. This trial SHOULD get people to hear both sides of the argument before lines are drawn for war. And, yes, your parents said the trial was necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t believe this! My own parents!\u201d growled Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing we can do,\u201d insisted Kalo. \u201cWe need this trial to play out.\u201d Arsha drew in a breath, then calmed down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re right, we need to be a little patient,\u201d she sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll right, he\u2019s definitely going to use my fight two days ago,\u201d declared Endea. \u201cWe need to figure out how to counter that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAgreed,\u201d confirmed Kalo. \u201cLet\u2019s get started.\u201d The three then planned their defense.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After she was deemed calm enough by Marshii, Endea was told to report to the Conference Room. She made her way there and entered to see Arsha and Kalo talking. She cleared her throat, attracting their attention. \u201cGot a more level head?\u201d asked Arsha. \u201cAye, Captain,\u201d replied Endea. \u201cThen come join us,\u201d directed Arsha. Endea […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1743,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,95],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-2600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-2-the-rise-of-living-metal","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2600"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2601,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600\/revisions\/2601"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1743"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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