The day of the Trial\u2019s outcome had arrived. Everyone had gathered in the Amphitheater to witness the decision of Uluntan. He approached his seat. \u201cAll rise for the Honorable Judge Uluntan!\u201d called the bailiff. Everyone rose on cue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBe seated,\u201d directed Uluntan. As everyone sat down, he banged his gavel. \u201cThe day has come for the court\u2019s decision. Stenographer, give us a day-by-day summary of the trial.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDay One,\u201d began the Stenographer, \u201cthe opening arguments identified the general two sides of the Mechanica rights debate. The witnesses on that day gave their views on whether or not Mechanicas would circumvent the need for workers to maintain Mechanicas. The proceedings of that day ended when the topic of violence between Mechanicas and organics was brought up. Court had adjourned until the next day. Day Two: both sides had prepared their arguments for the topic of violence between Mechanicas and organics. The proceedings centered around an altercation between the Endeavor<\/em> and a member of her crew. One of the witnesses declared that the Divine Ones would not pay attention to these proceedings while the other one explained that the debate had reached even them. Court had adjourned until yesterday. Day Three: the opening arguments on both sides centered on whether or not the Divine Ones would adopt Mechanicas as their children. We were graced with the presence of two Divine Ones, one on each side of the argument. The day\u2019s proceedings ended with closing arguments and Court was adjourned with the announcement that we would all hear the decision today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you,\u201d bid Uluntan. He looked at both Kalo and Thentra. \u201cYou two are clearly students of Mrs. Kosnar. You have both given excellent points and used your points well to explain the arguments. If it were possible, I would listen to you two debate for eternity as I know you two will keep things civil. However, we are not people with that kind of time. The debate must be settled. Ladies and gentlemen gathered here, I have thought long and hard about this matter. I must admit, advising all governments in the Realms is quite the daunting task. Normally, I would be uncertain to take this trial. However, I would be derelict in my duty if I didn\u2019t preside over this. After hearing both sides, while points were well made, I cannot, in good conscience, permit any life-form to suffer the yolk of inequality. Therefore…I advise all governments to ensure that Mechanica rights are protected! The court urges the immediate passing of Mechanica rights!\u201d He banged his gavel in a move of finality. Kalo and her group cheered in victory! Transhell, on the other hand, was NOT a happy camper. He just stood there, anger contorting his face into an unnatural shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Transhell spent most of the victory celebration in his quarters, trying to meditate, the operative word being \u2018trying\u2019. He was still angry, his body shaking in an effort to keep himself from flying into a self-destructive rage. His door chimed. \u201cGo away!\u201d he snarled. The person at the door, Elmar, didn\u2019t listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re not doing the crew any favors by sitting alone,\u201d remarked Elmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not in the mood for Wood Elf wisdom!\u201d growled Transhell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat about plain old Elf wisdom?\u201d quizzed Elmar. \u201cHow about we just discuss what\u2019s wrong as Elves? Not Wood Elf and Stone Elf, just Elves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…What\u2019s wrong?!\u201d hissed Transhell. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?! I\u2019ll tell you what\u2019s wrong; the sham trial and the ridiculous decision of the judge!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hardly see it as a sham trial,\u201d replied Elmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGranting kettles like this ship rights?!\u201d snapped Transhell. \u201cThat\u2019s not a sham trial?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe is as much a living person as you and me,\u201d answered Elmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat thing shouldn\u2019t have to be alive!\u201d argued Transhell. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but Altrek had the right idea in arguing against all this!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYet she and her fellows placed their faith in the decision made today,\u201d recalled Elmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen their faith was misplaced!\u201d roared Transhell. \u201cI was confident that we\u2019d have no more conflicts! The ship being alive only destroyed that dream!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe must consider the Realms\u2019 greater good,\u201d countered Elmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve done that my entire life!\u201d shouted Transhell. \u201cWhat about MY greater good?! Why should I sacrifice anything just for the general good anymore if my sacrifices are being spat on?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI fail to see how your sacrifices were spat on,\u201d remarked Elmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI joined Realmfleet to PRESERVE our current era, not change it!\u201d answered Transhell. \u201cYou know what change leads to?! War, that\u2019s what! My dad was broken after the War of the Depths! You know, the war that ended the previous Age of Unity?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStaying the same leads to stagnation,\u201d countered Elmar, \u201cand is a greater impetus to war than change. Chaos and change are neither good or bad, they just ARE. Realmfleet knows this, your father knows this, we ALL know this. It\u2019s how we deal with chaos and change that determines whether it\u2019s good or bad.\u201d Transhell stood silent for a moment, just one moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…YOU DON\u2019T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT GOOD OR BAD!\u201d roared Transhell. \u201cYOU DON\u2019T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT ME! I HATE THE SHIP! I HATE THE COURT\u2019S DECISION! I HATE EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE THAT SAYS I NEED TO ACCEPT ALL THIS! PUBLISH THAT IN YOUR SCIENCE JOURNAL!\u201d He grabbed his supply of duty uniforms, shoved past Elmar, and stormed to Barmek\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The mood at Barmek\u2019s was one of celebration! Because she didn\u2019t receive a paycheck yet, Endea was enjoying a free meal. She was talking to Arsha, Gorfanth, and Foresna. \u201cAnd then the clownfish said,\u201d she wrapped up the joke she was telling, \u201c\u2018with friends like these, who needs anemones?\u2019\u201d Everyone laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd Marshii told you that?\u201d asked Foresna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKinda seems out of place for her,\u201d remarked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSpeaking of which, where IS Marshii?\u201d asked Gorfanth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019s reconnecting with her family at the Morgonthor Polyp Gardens,\u201d replied Arsha. \u201cShe\u2019ll be back tonight.\u201d Just then, Transhell stormed in. \u201cHey! Transhell! Come join the party!\u201d called Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not here to join a party for giving this tub rights that weren\u2019t theirs to begin with!\u201d snarled Transhell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTake that kind of talk elsewhere,\u201d directed Arsha. \u201cThe rest of us would rather celebrate Mechanica rights being protected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen celebrate without me!\u201d declared Transhell. \u201cIn fact, continue this voyage without me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…What\u2019s THAT supposed to mean?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCaptain Royana, your decision to protect the ship\u2019s unwarranted sense of self has led me to believe,\u201d continued Transhell, \u201cthat you\u2019re not fit for command. As I don\u2019t have any allies on this ship, a mutiny is out of the question. Therefore, I have only one recourse, since Realmfleet\u2019s not doing anything to give my views any credence.\u201d He then let his duty uniforms drop to the floor. \u201cI\u2019m resigning my commission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…You\u2019re seriously leaving Realmfleet?\u201d scoffed Gorfanth. \u201cOver a new woman gaining the rights that were rightfully due to her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWake up, bull,\u201d hissed Transhell. Gorfanth\u2019s nostrils flared. Foresna was about to charge at him and defend his spouse, but Gorfanth held him back. \u201cDo you really think this change will be good?\u201d continued Transhell. \u201cHave you really considered all the problems? I have to say, for once, the Divine Ones were wrong to leave it to us. I\u2019m leaving this ship, taking the first shuttle back to the Drelda Forest, and I\u2019m NOT going back to Realmfleet. Go on without me.\u201d He then walked out of the bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLittle Elf runt!\u201d growled Foresna. \u201cJust let me at…!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet him run away,\u201d directed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Captain, I don\u2019t think I understand,\u201d remarked Mr. Barmek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRealmfleet is a continually changing force,\u201d explained Arsha. \u201cIf he feels that Realmfleet\u2019s wrong, he can leave. To be frank, I feel that we\u2019ll get on better without him. Less chance of Endea hearing that kind of talk, the better. Now, enough about him, we\u2019ve still got a celebration for Endea! This is her day!\u201d The declaration was received well and the party went back to normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, you really ARE leaving,\u201d muttered Transhell\u2019s sister, Dwenshell, over a communicator. \u201cThis is a real setback! I\u2019m EXTREMELY disappointed in you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, well, I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll get by!\u201d hissed Transhell as he finished packing his bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLook, I\u2019m gonna be frank here!\u201d snarled Dwenshell. \u201cSomehow, don\u2019t ask me how, Dr. Borg\u2019s lost a lot of people as like-minded as you! In the short term, I say good riddance! We can make do without them! We can\u2019t…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEven your son?\u201d asked Transhell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Make do without you!\u201d continued Dwenshell. \u201cYou would be a valuable asset! You just need to drop this anti-Mechanica nonsense! If any of us had your talents…!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnes help us all,\u201d groaned another voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cScorpo?\u201d asked Dwenshell. \u201cIs that you? Are…are you recording this?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah,\u201d replied the voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, cut it out!\u201d snapped Dwenshell. \u201cIt\u2019s annoying, you recording everything!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDr. Borg\u2019s made me her eyes and ears!\u201d protested Scorpo. \u201cThis could have repercussions for our campaign!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDwenshell, you know I\u2019ve done a lot of things, right?\u201d asked Transhell. \u201cThings that I bitterly…forget it! My point is, if you\u2019re going to grant your ship the same rights as every other now-living tin can, then there\u2019s no difference between you and Realmfleet! The Over-Splitters are right, you\u2019re a threat to the Realms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know what your problem is?!\u201d snapped Dwenshell. \u201cYou\u2019ve got your head stuck so far up your rear; you can\u2019t see the big picture!\u201d Transhell just switched his communicator off and stormed out of his former quarters, making a beeline towards the ship\u2019s exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dwenshell sucked in a breath as she clenched her fists. A man in leather with a mechanical tail and claws on the back of his wrists approached her. He had the Scorpion<\/em>\u2019s name and registry number on it. It was safe to assume this was Scorpo, the living extension of the Scorpion<\/em>. \u201cWhat do we tell Dr. Borg?\u201d asked Scorpo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI <\/em>tell her,\u201d replied Dwenshell, \u201cthe recruitment drive was a bust! I don\u2019t need help in lying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt might put you in a more favorable light with her,\u201d remarked Scorpo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe truth is less painful,\u201d dismissed Dwenshell. \u201cJust open a channel to her.\u201d Scorpo rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Channel open,\u201d he reported. Dr. Borg\u2019s face filled the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow did it go?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDisastrously,\u201d replied Dwenshell. \u201cHe\u2019s decided that the Over-Splitters have a better idea. Scorpo recorded the whole conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA pity,\u201d mused Dr. Borg. \u201cWe could have used him. Oh well, we\u2019ll just have to send the package without him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre you serious?!\u201d protested Scorpo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course,\u201d replied Dr. Borg. \u201cThe Realms will never know what hit them.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The day of the Trial\u2019s outcome had arrived. Everyone had gathered in the Amphitheater to witness the decision of Uluntan. He approached his seat. \u201cAll rise for the Honorable Judge Uluntan!\u201d called the bailiff. Everyone rose on cue. \u201cBe seated,\u201d directed Uluntan. As everyone sat down, he banged his gavel. \u201cThe day has come for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1929,"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-2606","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\/2606","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=2606"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2607,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2606\/revisions\/2607"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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