The Sympathizer

Chapter 41

"Order in the court!" 

"I repeat order in the court!"

My nails dig into the sides of my arms, piercing my uniform. The military court room in the Pia region of the SyStem can barely fit a thousand officers but today the court is teeming with Plutonians. 

One quick look around tells me there might be roughly more than double the capacity currently occupying the room. Plutonians squeeze into corners and line the walls, tiptoeing to see the procession while others pile onto the seats, packed together like cans of fish. 

Thankfully, I'm seated far in front, segregated from the rest by floor to ceiling laser reinforced barriers. Lucian is next to me and the judge sits on a slightly higher platform in front of us. General Lyra, Mondric and Aldric sit on the highest platform in the room, overseeing the rest of us as they play their roles as hosts. 

There's some scuffling from behind us and I can see one of the Plutonians holding up a large black and white banner with Lazarus's face plastered over it, the words innocent painted in blood red over his head. 

I never knew he held such support. He hasn't made an appearance in court yet but these past few cycles have shown me just how many officers are behind him, some borderline fanatical. The courtroom is piled up with officers today because he's scheduled to make an appearance in court, before Lucians statement. 

"Order in the court!" The judge calls out and his voice is amplified through the microphone fixed to his uniform. Two drones sit on either side of him, one to record the trial and the other acting as a scribe. The judge shifts uncomfortably between them.

The room quietens for only a second before someone calls out that Lazarus should be released. Someone else exclaims that this entire trial is blasphemy and I catch Lucian snorting from my side. At least one of us finds this funny. 

"To the soldiers in the back, you will be removed from this room if you do not act accordingly." General Aldric warns the officers through his mic and the chatter dies down. 

"As I was summarising, in the trial of General Grievous and Precursor General Lazarus versus the prosecution, we hereby start today's trial with a statement from a personal assistant who has worked with General Grievous previously." 

Numerous 'boos' echo from behind us and I hear Lucian snort again. I glance at him and notice he's suppressing a smile. 

"Is it really that funny?" I lean in to whisper and he nods vigorously. 

"Look at them. Everyone acts like a child when there is no order." 

I turn behind to see the Plutonian officers climbing over seats, some huddled on the floors because there isn't enough space for all of them.

"I never realised how many supporters he has." 

Lucian only shrugs. "I think he's going to walk free because of them." 

"They don't have a say." I tell him pointedly and he nods towards the rows of commanders lined up behind us. The war council members. 

"I'm talking about them." 

I resist the urge to turn behind and look. Lucian's right, even though General Aldric holds some influence over the trial such as appointing the judge and overseeing the case, at the end of the day the deciding vote will be cast by the commanders behind us. 

To ensure fairness, all matters regarding leadership are decided by the public and by public we mean war council members. The only problem is, half of these commanders lie in General Grievous's pockets and those pockets run deep, glistening with gold coins that grease their palms on the regular.