Kellan had decided to take personal notes and add them to the report in the datapad that Obi Wan had provided. She leaned close to Marcus' ear and whispered with a hint of sarcasm. "Even though this is only a hearing I'll be anxious to see how much information the Viceroy decides to part with at the trial."
The courthouse is the centre of an enormous security operation as important dignitaries arrive from all over. About the only people not being escorted are you guys... you don't think anyone felt they could do that without embarassment, even if they thought you needed it.
The courtroom itself is Star Wars style, which is to say, huge. The auditorium for it seats almost a thousand, with the Viceroy looking smug in the centre of it all.
The judge is named Xian-Tai-Tek. Because this is Star Wars and he has an Asian-sounding name, this means he is, of course, an upper class Englishman. He is also rather eldery, as he calls things to attention.
"Before we start," he says, "I wish to make sure all parties concerned understand how these proceedings will work. The purpose of this hearing is to decide whether the subject, the Honourable Nute Gunray, Esteemed Viceroy of the Trade Federation, is liable to be indicted of the charges being levelled against him. These charges, I feel bound to remind everyone, are extremely serious, ranging from minor counts of abuse of administrative procedure, to a count of attempted genocide. The scale and gravity of these crimes must be reflected by a mature and sensible attitude by all in the courtroom. A trial of this magnitude has not been held for some time, and the reason so much effort has been put into this hearing is because it must be ensured that every single legal procedure is being correctly followed."
"These charges are ridiculous," says the Viceroy. "That this hearing is..."
Crack! Crack! Crack! comes the hammering of the Judge's hammer.
"The Court does not permit the making of personal statements at this time. I will remind all assembled that whilst this is not a trial, these legal proceedings are indeed taking place inside a Courtroom, with the power of the law behind it, and I will not hesitate to bring a charge of Contempt against any person who attempts to defy that just authority."
The Viceroy sits, grumpily.
"The procedure will be as follows. A Representative of Republican authority will outline the case created by the legal service against the subject, in this case created by the Jedi. The Jedi are present in an observationary capacity and are not required to speak except in the unlikely event that they feel their evidence is being in some way mis-represented, in which case they are entitled to make objection. The representatives of the subject will then have the opportunity to refute the validity and relevance of this evidence. The authorities here will then decide whether that evidence is strong enough to have built a strong enough case against the subject to proceed to trial.
There are no witnesses to call, and no jury. The intention is not to prove the guilt of any crime, but simply to establish whether a crime has occurred, and that any such crimes can be linked to the subject, for a trial to follow.
Due to the importance of this case, it is happening under Senatorial jurisdiction. Two Senators will be observing proceedings and will be entitled to make comment on things as they progress. The authority of these Senators will be respected by all.
I expect everyone to be assembled, and for proceedings to start, in ten minutes."
There is a certain amount of fanfare in the courtroom as a troops of blue-clad Senatorial guards march into an upper balcony. A voice comes over the PA system.
"Please stand for the Senator for the Telaxia system... Senator Jonus Riordan."
A rather large and jolly-looking guy comes in, flanked by large guards, and takes a seat.
Riordan, Gundark? Somewhat of a coincidence. If you remember, he's the Senator you met on Nar Shadda, the one who took Ascar into custody.
In fact... the one Ascar bribed with that slave girl to take him into custody? Not encouraging; this one is hardly a paragon of virtue.
However, he seems unaware of any distaste you hold for him. He spots you down below, Gundark, and gives you a cheery wave.
(Do remember, new players, to ask the vets about anything or anyone they know about but you don't)
The Senators chosen are meant to have been vetted for any potential conflict of interest- the system may be corrupt but you doubt it is quite that useless as to miss an association- indeed, if you are worried about anything, it would be that Senators with a vested interest in destroying the Federation would be chosen- bias in the other direction.
Marcus, you snap awake. Your bad feeling just returned, very strongly.
"Please stand for the Senator for the Lamella system... Senator T'Lo Nebb."
A cheery looking, and rather spindly, reptilian being steps into the upper balcony.
Marcus- they made him a Senator!