Descent into Mayhem

EPILOGUE

Leiben, 10H50, 21st of June, 2771

Criminal court judge Ken Hirano was nearing the end of his rope.

Two weeks ago, a law had been hastily passed, granting criminal court judges the power to sentence convicted felons to compulsory service in the armed forces. Such a decision had seemed a little extreme even in the midst of the recent crisis, but after news had begun to surface of more than a hundred combat casualties in the mining quadrant, Ken had realized that such a decision was tantamount to a death sentence.

Almost every judge of the criminal court circuit had flatly refused to pass such sentences, hoping that, as had happened so many times before, the council would understand that they had been hasty in passing the law, and allow it to be in effect tacitly revoked through sheer disregard for its tenets.

Instead the Council had decided to enact Article Thirteen of the offending law. In an ultimate insult to any self-respecting judge, the article called for attachés from the Military Justice Department to be appointed to assist at criminal trials, and to advise their civilian counterparts on the best way to go about fulfilling the Council's wishes.

Lieutenant-colonel Germano Gutierrez smiled at him as the moment for sentencing arrived, making plain his intention that the four youths accused of engaging in a street fight be inducted into the forces.

Sighing heavily, Ken shook his head at the officer, and he thought hard on a justifiable reason to spare the boys as he watched Germano's smile grow daggers. Finally clearing his throat, Ken passed his ruling.

"It is the decision of this court that, on the day of the facts previously described, the four defendants engaged in the crime of public disorder. The fact that the defendants have accused each other of provoking the altercation is insignificant, since provocation as a justification does not legitimize the criminal act. In light of the proven facts, it is the decision of this court –"

He hesitated, aware that the colonel possessed the authority to usurp sentencing from his hands and make his own ruling, and finally decided upon a concession.

"... that Donovan Lieberman and Rikku Thomasson, each being the elder of the opposing pair, be sentenced to no less than eight months of compulsory military service, with the possibility of said period being extended at the pleasure of his Excellency the Commander of the CDF."

The decision carried through the courthouse like a sonic boom, and the looks of terror on the elder boys' faces tore at his heart. Both families lost their composure, and it took the intervention of several members of the court Police to stop them from forcefully approaching his bench. The younger two, who had only recently finished high school and had good perspectives for higher studies, both collapsed into their seats as if by common agreement.

Whatever their objections, Ken had no doubt that it had been the two older boys who had begun the fight. Wishing them well, he sentenced the remaining pair to eighty hours of community service each.

The lieutenant-colonel gave him a sly look and then followed with a discreet nod, and the beginnings of an understanding began to form between the two judges.

"Next case!" Ken ordered.

The bailiff squared her slim shoulders and leaned up to whisper to him.

"You honor, this next case is that queer one we were discussing yesterday ..."

"The ... oh hell ..." he remarked, remembering. "Call the boys in."

At the bailiff's soft beckoning, a rugged crew of eight young men trudged into the courtroom, followed by a squad of metropolitan policemen. The detainees sneered at the court officials as they entered and then gazed indolently at their surroundings. The last to enter was the smallest among their number, clothed in a trench coat a size too large for him. Lieutenant-colonel Gutierrez watched the group like a hawk as they formed a line before the dock.