Project Ares Gold Edition

Chapter 22 - Court Martial

Repulic Courts - Coruscant

The layout of the court was fairly simple, a panel of judges would sit on an elevated platform and look down on the trial. Both the defence and prosecution would be on hover pods similar to those in the Senate. The accused would be directly in front of the judges and surrounded by a pair of Coruscant Guard troopers. Because it was a whole group that was being accused, Chief would be the only one coming forward to represent Blue Team.

After being walked like a criminal to the stand, Chief looked up to see the jury on a platform to his left and another platform with all of Blue Team standing on it in cuffs. Returning his gaze to the centre of the room, Chief looked up to see the Chancellor, Mace Windu and Mas Ameda sitting where the judges would sit. As the court martial began, Mas Ameda spoke first, directly to Master Chief. "Master Chief, you and along with thirteen clone troopers are being charged with treason, murder of a military official, theft of military hardware, insubordination and conduct unbecoming. How do you plead?"

"Not guilty." Chief replied calmly, gazing at the blue Senator on his right. "Very well then, Admiral Tarkin, you may proceed." Ameda gestured to the admiral, signalling the prosecution to begin. Immediately, Tarkin asked if he could produce his first witness. Confirming the request, the judges allowed the prosecutor to bring forth Captain Fordo of the Coruscant Guard. Taking the stand, Fordo was reminded that as a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, he was legally obligated to answer all questions truthfully and to his fullest capacity. Nodding his head in agreement, the ARC Captain was asked whether or not Chief requested Katarn armour for his men.

"Objection!"

"Over-ruled." Palpatine slyly replied. When Fordo confirmed what Tarkin was asking, the Admiral pointed out to the jury that Chief went out of his way to cost the Republic critical military hardware, and for what? Some underqualified clones who had just completed their second successful mission. Asking the clone captain whether or not Master Chief spent any time with the men on base whenever he was stationed on Coruscant, Fordo reluctantly replied with negative.

"So not only was the Master Chief hellbent on giving away crucial military hardware to unqualified clones. But he also does not value the men who serve alongside him on base. The Master Chief clearly favours only the men below him and has a complete disregard for the rest of the Grand Army of the Republic." Tarkin spoke with his usual authoritarian tone, causing the jury to stroke their chins in contemplation. Relinquishing the witness over to Senator Chuchi, Tarkin took his seat with a smug grin on his face.

"Captain Fordo, was the Master Chief ever disrespectful to you or any other troopers?"

"No ma'am, he always treated the men and myself with the appropriate respect, insisting that we refer to him as a fellow soldier and nothing more. When I could not provide Blue Team with Katarn armour, he was understanding and did not push further."

"But still you gave his men sets of ARF trooper armour?"

"Yes ma'am, my observation was that he wasn't trying to take advantage of his team's status as special operators. Rather he just wanted to look after his men by equipping them with the best gear available so that they would be the most effective in battle."

"Thank you Captain." Chuchi replied, letting the ARC trooper return to his duties. She had just knocked some of the charges regarding conduct unbecoming off the list. The next witness was Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, Chief's temporary commander before he was placed under the R.S.A.'s banner.

After answering all of the senator's questions with nothing but positive answers, Anakin was then grilled by Tarkin for anything that the jury might be able to use against the super soldier. Unfortunately for the prosecution, Skywalker had nothing negative about Master Chief, stating that from the small amount of interaction he had with the warrior, 117 was one of the most loyal and respectful soldiers he had ever met. Stating that if it wasn't for the Master Chief, there was a good chance the Separatist would have conquered many more worlds by now.