Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - Misguided Perceptions of Justice
Addison MacKenzie
((The Supreme Chamber of Justice - Great Halls of Justice - Bewa City - Morta))
MacKenzie sat in one of the chairs meant for those testifying in the Chamber of Justice. Across from her, Sal'ik and her Inferior seemed bent on sizing up the starship captain. Normally, she'd have thought the exercise to be one of intimidation, but she found nothing particularly intimidating about the pair of Nasciak, as she hadn't the first time she'd encountered the race years ago. Still, there was an air of formality as the justice's Inferior took notes. Not one to mince words or waste time on pleasantries outside of diplomatic excursions, MacKenzie felt the need to get to the point. Quickly.
MacKenzie: I stand by both our actions and our accounting of them. What would be helpful at this point would be to know what we're being accused of.
Sal'ik: Once the resolutions have been determined I shall forward them to you, I gather that yourself and your crew will be made to answer to the Casaret of Justice in these chambers. As Superiority, I am the leader of the Casaret, my second is Callord :: she points to him :: and then there are ten Atura. The decision will be determined by each of us. Have you any questions?
Sal'ik sat down on the bench that MacKenzie assumed was typically occupied by those on trial.
MacKenzie: How long does a typical trial like this last?
Sal'ik: Oh yes, and we'll provide you with an Atura and their Inferior if that is required. Your FDC will likely provide all the legal requirements, I would assume. I only hope that you don't antagonise matters further.
The woman leaned forward and Madoean sighed, she had seen that look many times in her chambers. It was the look many Atura and Archivist had made in her direction. They did not understand that she was only a servant to the justice. To the truth.
Sal'ik: Yes, Dota Eos was incredibly thorough in her report. Her Archivist is highly respected, her Records have never been disputed. You'd be amazed at the volume of Disputations that go through these halls :: chuckles :: People do like to complain :: reviews MacKenzie :: You weren't what I expected.
Madoean pushed herself off the chair and strode nearer to MacKenzie, who held her face still.
MacKenzie: Not the aggressive gunslinger I've been made out to be? Sorry to disappoint.
Sal'ik: What did you expect me to think of you? Your crew raised arms against an ally. You entered our space with permission and then you turned your weapons on us, after we had suffered a grievous attack. Gilara was our first Archivist, and our first Atura of Justice. She taught us that the greatest shame was to turn your weapon on an ally. Only the weak, the cowardly and the deceitful would do such a thing :: pause :: I don't think you are any of those things.
Madoean offered an exasperated sigh before turning to Callord.
Sal'ik: Leave us be. I'd like to speak to the Captain. Privately. Without record.
The Inferior opened his mouth to object, but promptly clamped it shut.
Sal'ik: That's better. Just the two of us. Why was your crew so suspicious of my people? Why did we become the enemy?
MacKenzie: An opportunity for me to incriminate myself and my crew despite being off the record? I don't think so.
Sal'ik: I'm not being clever Captain, I'm just an old woman that has a chance to speak with you. A woman, I believe, that shares my belief that the truth is important and sometimes that means we need to hear it. There's a lot of pressure on me right now, to deliver a Resolution that can push us forward or :: pause :: drag us backwards. And I don't know which direction I'd like to go.
MacKenzie: Then it sounds to me like you need to sit down and sort out your conscience.
Sal'ik: Response
MacKenzie: If you were interested in the truth, you wouldn't bother to tell me about what political pressure you face, because it wouldn't matter.
On the record or off, MacKenzie didn't believe in such a practice. Anything someone said can and would be included in her report, regardless of whether there was a record on the Nasciak's end of things. If the arbiter was in pursuit of an ulterior agenda, or susceptible to political pressure - as the mere mention of it suggested - then any suggestion that they were seeking justice or a truly fair trial was mere fluff.
Sal'ik: Response
She considered herself lucky that her face was covered by the breathing unit, lest her inaudible scoff be visually detected. Instead, she could only offer the slightest shrug in resignation.
MacKenzie: If that's the version of the story you've decided you're going to tell, then I won't bother to convince you otherwise.
Sal'ik: Response
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A