Algear agreed and said."For a grumpy barbarian of an unimportant water planet you sure have keen mind."
"It is because I am a grumpy barbarian I have a keen mind. " Then he coughed and turned red emptied a big glass of water and hissed." And if we ever need to torture someone, all we have to do is feed them Dai Meatballs. The Dai woman called those mildly spicy!"
Algear tried a bite and his mouth and throat felt like it was on fire! "No wonder they all have red skin and are angry pirates. "
Egill giggled like a school boy as he had the Dai Woman pack him a big portion of Extra Spicy Meat balls. He said to Algear." I am sending those to my world and the next Clan Chief meeting. I will say this is what real Off world men eat. Of course they will all eat and then try to look tough to their peer."
"You are a mean old bastard!"
"Oh yes!"
Interlude: Kermac Delegation
Among the seven Kermac diplomats were Nachacht and Vorneun the Wizards, not revealing their true status. In an hour they would have to address the Assembly. A delegation of Shiss and Nul was here as well, both enemies of the Union but here to grill and address the Nogoll trespass. Nachacht could barely hide his jealousy as he saw the grandeur of the Great Assembly, the immense city of Pluribus and the many delegates representing civilizations and planets. Not even at the peak of the Galactic Council did they have that many members and nothing in the entire Kermac sphere of influence compared to this. They were followed in respectful distance but clearly visible by a Union Security team. While most delegates were shielded against Psionics, not everyone was and of those minds they could read they sensed the hostility and hatred towards the Kermac. Vorneun clearly saw the little silver brain pins on the collars of two of the Security beings following them. He whispered to Nachacht."Be careful with your Psionics, there are two of the PSI Corps following us."
"So? They are not Kermac and I have the finest Psi amplifier in my beard. If they try to read our minds they will be punished!"
"Do you think the Union put two average talents on our tail? I think the left one is Alya Sinafar, the PSI corps commandant. If my information is correct, she is more powerful than all other Saresii. The other must be equally talented; they react very unpleasant to unasked telepathic probing!"
Nachacht was not paying much attention to his paranoid colleague."I feel like a little child called before the Head Teacher to receive punishment. They claim we are arrogant, but it is them! Most ignore us, some even laughed at us and others made quite obvious gestures, not flattering ones I might add!"
They both had used a Trans Matter tunnel earlier and neither of them could hide their amazement seeing this incredible technology working.
They were not allowed to sit in the regular session of the Assembly, since no Union member species invited them as guests in their alcove. But they watched some of it from big view screens mounted everywhere. Viertlvorfier one of the real Kermac diplomats clenched his small fists as he heard the Partook and the Elly. "We must deal with those traitors! We cannot allow the Elly to become Union! We should send the Mocee to severely punish them!"
Nachacht agreed but said." How do you propose we do that? It will take us four days just to the border and another three days to Kermac Prime. To mobilize the Mocee or any other Battle Thrall species will take at least six or seven days. By then the Elly are Union members and the Mocee will face Union Battle ships and right now we cannot afford a war."
Viertlvorfier grunted angry." We have Long range telepaths and that is almost as good as GalNet."
"And every Saresii is listening in? All that would do is giving them a fair warning to be ready for us!"
A Blue approached them. Nachacht could barely contain his disgust as he saw that distant cousin of the Kermac. Deemed lost and disappeared they had been found by Union explorers in the Andromeda Galaxy and became Union Members. He could not explain how a species that should have been exterminated for that offensive bluish skin, managed to develop such a high technology level and impressive sphere of influence. It was the Blue who brokered the last Armistice arguing that they did not want their Kermac cousins to be exterminated. The Blue had also warned the Kermac that they would be the first to request the complete destruction of all that is Kermac if it was the Galactic Council that broke the Armistice treaty.
This Blue wore a long-embroidered robe and was flanked by two enormous Potsme warriors, the closest allies of the Blue and their Warrior thralls in the Andromeda galaxy. "The Assembly is now ready to receive your explanations and apologies."
Nachacht never felt more humiliated, and that after two days of humiliations, by the unspoken warning and the openly displayed disgust by the Blue. The Blue were born slaves and now they acted like masters. He slowly recanted all his titles and that made him feel better and then they followed the Blue into the Great Assembly sphere. The Nul and the Shiss were also only now allowed to enter.
The Blue pointed to a parked hover plat form." You must address the Assembly from the center. No one offered you a place in an Alcove."
After mounting the platform it rose into the middle of the huge sphere. Nachacht and none of his associates could ignore the immensity and grandeur of the place. Seeing thousands upon thousands of Alcoves occupied by representatives of planets and societies, and all united under one Government visualized the true power and might of the Union more than even the biggest fleet of Battle ships. He could not sense the minds of the Nul on a similar platform 50 meters away, but he could feel the White throat Shiss thoughts and they were as terrified and impressed as he was.
The din of voices died down and the image of a Petharian colossus appeared," I am Radat of the Petharian Empire and I am this year's elected Speaker of the Assembly. Before us today are the Kermac delegates, representing the Galactic Council, the Shiss diplomats representing the Kingdom of the First Nestling and, the Nul envoys on behalf of the Gray One.
"This is docket number 56 on the 23rd day of June in the year 5015. The Events leading to the Nogoll attack, Scanner records, Communication Logs and Visuals can be accessed under Assembly file 56 of this day. "
An edited visual was shown behind the Petharian and Audio of the Nogoll communications was heard. Including the communication between Stahl and the Kermac.
Vorneun grinded his teeth as a tremendous cheer swelled through the ranks of the assembly as the final words of Stahl were repeated.
The Petharian asked for silence and said." The Nul have the first word."
Nul were very elusive and did rarely participate in any diplomatic events and gatherings. There was no formal contact between the Nul and the Union. There also was no contact to the Kermac. The last time a Nul representative was heard was during the Armistice proceedings over 500 years ago. The Nul had a thunderous voice as he spoke. "My liege cares little for the squabble between the puny Kermac and the weak Union. We gladly accept any declaration of war and show you what it means to go to war against the Nul! However the Nul are no fools and not blind and such a war will be very costly to all sides. This is why my liege the wisest Gray King of all that is Nul ratified the Free Space Treaty and we have kept our commitment, the Union and even out most vile enemy the Shiss have kept the treaty! This contract has like no period known before kept peace and stability in this part of the Universe and we are interested in keeping it that way. Make no mistake, Kermac. We are prepared for war and all your pathetic slave species will not stop the Nul from reaching you! So Kermac, speak and declare your intentions. That the Nogoll have attacked Union ships means nothing to us, that they however violated the Free Space treaty is of greatest importance!"
The Shiss made a similar statement and then Nachacht who was elected by the Grand Wizard spoke." None of you childish species could stand against the combined might of the Galactic Council, we have resources and abilities you never heard or dreamt about. However it is us and not the unimportant slaves the Nogoll who make such decisions. Therefore we the Kermac have expelled the Nogoll fr
om the Galactic Council and you may take whatever quarrels you have to them. The Kermac have not violated Free Space and currently have no interest in changing the conditions of this contract. Be warned, all of you that we will take swift and decisive action if any of you decide the Free Space Treaty is no longer valid."
His words caused a swell of murmurs but the Nul and the Shiss accepted the declaration and the Union speaker declared the case closed.
Nachacht regretted loosing the loyal Nogoll but it was a good solution. He cared nothing for the Nogoll fate as he was certain Union ships would retaliate and hunt Nogoll only moments after he made that statement.
Chapter 12: Preparing Death
I received a dark red dress and hood, just like Dawn, someone had handed me a little golden pin with the Justice Logo and the sword. Then I was sworn in as member of the Justice Department, Corrections and Punishment Division, Deputy Executioner. That was one title and career I certainly had not dreamt about. After a two hour session under a Cerebral Up loader, cramming my head with laws and regulations, the Union Judge updated my CIT and said." Don't look at me like that. Even as a Klack I can see your frown. I promise you it's going to be over soon and you will have done the Union a great service. "
The ever present Union Police officer handed me a holster with a blaster." As member of the Corrections and Punishment Division you are authorized to carry up to Level V weapons at all times. I suggest you do not advertise much what you are. "
Dawn came in the room and said." I am terribly sorry for all this. I really haven't planned it to turn out that way."
"I know I can blame no one but myself. Somehow I have a great talent for ending up in such situations I don't really want."
She sighed and said." Put on your hood. We are going to check the gallows and see the prisoners now." She handed me an official PDD in Clip board mode and said." This part is easy. You don't have to do much. Just check off the points on the list and record everything I say and do."
She too now carried a belt with a holster.
This time we went out the front door and the crows went silent as they saw us, but then someone yelled." Make 'em twitch a few minutes! Those bastards sold my sister to the Togar!"
After we sat in the Police flyer I asked." Do you know why hanging is used?"
She nodded." It is one of the ten execution methods approved by the Union. Hanging is a truly ancient method of execution for pirates and is also used by the navy to execute mutineers and traitors. Union member societies usually have their own methods and most are accepted by the Justice Department. In some cases the delinquent may choose the way. It really depends on the culture, the crime and the species of the delinquent. You could hang a Klack all day long without ill effect. There was one X101 execution and they simply turned him off. Hanging can be very rough and I hope it will all go quickly."
The Gallows were a metal scaffold put up in a picturesque park. Like the rest of the city it was deep below the methane ice buried into the rocky core of the planet. Most of Corri-City was a network of tunnels Housing and businesses build into the tunnel walls, normally about seven hundred thousand beings lived and worked here, but the recent events and the news of the executions had swelled it to over a million, so the Police Chief told me. The town center was built in an artificial cave of about one kilometer in diameter. Here the houses and buildings not hugging the cave walls looked very much like regular buildings with windows, doors, advertisement signs and roofs. There were ten streets coming from the tunnel arms leading to the center of the city with real Terran oaks and grass. A little fusion Sun was suspended underneath the cave ceiling.
The drab gray scaffold seemed out of place in the green park. On top of the scaffold, mounted between two upright columns, a cross beam with twenty nooses. The gallows were cordoned off by police and barriers. Robots and workers put up rows and rows of chairs on the other side of the barrier. Twenty elongated boxes were just unloaded from a cargo flyer and placed underneath the scaffold. More than the nooses it brought home to me what would happen here tomorrow.
Beyond the park and the chairs, I noticed vendors putting up tables and sales booths.
I pointed them out and Dawn said. "It is inevitable. Even though the law prohibits making executions into an entertainment circus. We cannot prohibit vendors form putting up sales stands on private property and while this aspect galls me greatly, they will do brisk business tomorrow. There will be plenty of news media, huge cheering crowds and always a few protesters, not that I think we will see any tomorrow. This is basically a military installation, even though Corri-Door is a civilian colony"
A Sentmac X101 and a blue faced Thauran in work coveralls greeted us at the bottom of the stairs. The machine being padded the hand railing." We put great effort in making it nice and solid, Chief Executioner. The Thauran was chewing something."It's the biggest one we build so far for the justice department."
Dawn turned to me." That is Seris Seveneightseven, he runs a small specialty business building execution scaffolds for the Justice Department. I worked with him a few times before."
I tried to keep the sarcastic tone out of my voice." I guess he found a nice market."
The whole contraption was quite simple; a set of hydraulic arms would yank the cross bar two meters in the air, suspending anyone attached to those nooses off the ground. Each noose had life sensors embedded and would turn twenty green lights on a small control board to red when there was no life signs detected. Trapdoors would then open and the bodies released and slide directly into the open coffins. All was thought out and I found in a very macabre way efficient. Dawn checked the equipment and tested a random noose with a test tummy. I was behind her making check marks when she told me to do so. She told me that the justice department basically copied the Union Fleet manual on executions and she found there was no institution in the known universe more efficient in making detailed manuals on every possible subject. Dawn took great care and made sure every detail was checked and tested and approved by her inspection. She found a little drop of hydraulic fluid at one of the lines and made Seris check, then replace the line and test the contraption again. Only then she was satisfied and we went on to the prison. The prison was located in a prefab building drab looking building underneath a force field dome on the surface of the cold planet. Every door was guarded by at least two fully armored and armed marines and one menacing looking Battle robot. There were at least twenty doors we passed through till we reached the cell tract with the prisoners. Dawn and I had to leave our weapons behind. Each of the seventeen Dai was held in small cells out of solid Ultronit, with Ultronit bars and a force field closing the cells to the corridor. The Dai were kept in clear plastic coveralls, I found very humiliating. The Prison guard who accompanied us said." We have to keep them under High threat confinement as they try to kill everyone including themselves. The coveralls have mittens that allow the prisoner to hold food cups and feed themselves, but keep fingers away from throats and eyes. They are highly trained warriors who know dozens of ways to kill with their bare hands."
I still found it demeaning and I was sure there were other ways to keep a prisoner. Besides if they commit suicide what was the harm, other than taking this sorry task away from the Executioner?
None of the first ten Dai Dawn spoke to would even so much as part their lips and simply stare into the distance. The eleventh looked somewhat younger than the rest and tried to spat, but his spittle evaporated as it hit the force field." So what are you, some sort of priestesses?"
Dawn said. I am the Chief Executioner tasked to fulfill the sentence tomorrow. I came to see if you have any last wish or request or if you have anyone you like to call or talk to. Do you wish to have a priest present?"
It took a moment and then he understood." You are the ones that going to kill us tomorrow! Yes I have a last wish. I want to fight your strongest and best warrior, knifes, swords, bare hands no matter! I do not want to die by the hands of a woman!"
&
nbsp; "This is not a choice you have. Executioners have no face and no gender. We are simply tools of justice. You may request something to eat, a special song, music, entertainment or something similar. According to your documents you refused to be pardoned by joining the Dai Clans that have become Union Members."
"You Unions know nothing of the Dai! Offering me to become an Ulkatai slave in an enemy clan is worse than death; to be Ulkatai in a clan of Okthi-Dai not only my spirit but the spirits of all my forefathers would be shamed!
I glanced on the clip board and pulled up his information. According to this he was one of the youngest Tribal Chiefs know to the Dai and took part in the Partook massacre. According to his mind dump he had sold over a thousand Partook slaves to the Slave traders of Alvor's Cove.
He then was eager to make himself a name and was among the first clans following the Renegade tribes and among the first across in Union Space.
No matter what Dawn said after that made him talk another word.
The rest of the Dai were as stoic silent as the others. Three of the Delinquents were not Dai. One was a thief caught with a kilo of Califerm at Colony 12 light years from Corri-Door and brought here to be executed after a local court had found him guilty. The second was a human Saresii found guilty using Psionics to influence others to empty their Credit strips into his, and then commit suicide. I had to admit this was a case where I fully agreed with the sentence. That had to be the most heinous and cowardly way to kill someone, by making them commit suicide. The last one was to my surprise a woman. She had killed her husband and her mother in law. She was a resident of one of the Floating cities and had been arrested in the Bubble Top restaurant celebrating with her new lover.
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series) Page 230