Supreme Shift!! (Closed/Marsh)

[Patrick OConner]

Statesboro Herald

National News

In a week’s time the Supreme Court of the Republic, will convene for its fall session. The first issue on the docket is the biggest one in the history of the republic and more than likely the biggest in Merikan history. In recent times the Great Shift, a massive global event, caused rapid mutation in citizens from Marshite or those of Marshite descent.

Currently the change ,or “shift” as it is colloquial known, has resulted in the previously listed individuals taking on animal traits. The traits currently expressed seem to come from, otters, orcas, canine species, feline species, mice, foxes, and reptilian species.

These traits are expressed on a spectrum of some type. Beginning with tails and ears one one end to full body fur with lower extremities morphed with full head and face shift to resemble the animal. These changes were expressed rapidly and painfully as the person affected “shifted”. The “shifted” individual even begins to express characteristics of the species they have taken features from.

The “Great Shift” as it is know has baffled scientists as too how it happened. Some people are clamoring to be cured but currently that is an impossibility without even knowledge of how it occurred to begin with much less how it was so limited to people with Marshite genetics.

But a far more important issue is the legal standing of the “shifted” individuals. With the new characteristics, changed behavior, altered behavior and modified genetics they are no longer human, man or woman, in the strictest sense of the word. This is an issue because in the Republic’s founding document, the Constitution, reference’s only humans, men and women. This could leave the “shifted” individuals in a precarious legal position. If they are not human then they are not protected and granted the rights of citizens or even humans under the Constitution.

The Executive Branch, led by President General Marai Overhill has already issued orders that “shifted” are to be treated under the Disabilities Act. However, a lawsuit was raised by Senator Glenn Camdyn has challenged this policy as unconstitutional….

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Statesboro International Airport
Statesboro
Timocratic Republic

The airport was located 60 miles from the city proper connected to it by an 4 lane interstate road. The airport itself is a massive installation shaped like a triangle. In the middle of it are the terminals and office and tower rising up in a large three sided pyramid with the control tower at the top. There were a total of nine 8000 feet long runways, arranged in triangles themselves. There 3 sub triangles surround the center facility. Taxiways inter connect the runways and the facility.

On the lower right runway triangle hangars, repair facilities, fire department, and other such maintenance related facilities for the planes are located.

The lower right triangle has its own mini tower in the middle of it and it serves other more private planes and important people.

Fall has come to the Republic and leave has started to shift into there brilliant reds and yellows and dull brown. The grass is starting to die off and the weather has began to chill significantly.

It is here in a medium sized hangar that a detachment of personnel await the arrival of a party from Holy Marsh. The country expressed interest in the recent events in the Republic. Parties and organization within Holy Marsh wished to come and lend their voice to the pro-shift side of the legal debate. And their arrival was expected any minute.

Inside the small hangar was a convoy of SUVs. They were from the Department of Wardens. Since the visitors were not technically dignitaries, the Wardens had been graciously asked to help provide protection and security for the visitors.

Two people stand outside of the convoy, one man and one woman. Both are in plain casual clothes with a badge and a gun hanging from there belts.



The woman is Ali O’Conner. She has wide soft looking hips, a narrow waist, and modest but noticeable and firm bust. She very athletic looking. Her face is that of a classical beauty with high cheek bones, a small cute nose, and large bright intelligent green eyes. Her skin is slightly tanned as well from exposure to the sun. Brilliant red hair peeks out from under her hat. and with it pulled low.

Next to her is very short squat man but is wide. Very wide and very muscle bound. The man resembles what an author would describe as a dwarf king without the beard. He instead had a bristly mustache.

He was Rory McTaggert, Ali’s partner.

[Holy Marsh]

The landing was smooth and the packed passengers inside promptly pushed themselves quickly to exit. Time was of the essence- if not in a direct call to their mission, then in the very least to their innate senses. The Theocracy was a place of constant movement forwards and time was rarely gifted to them. One by one they would exit the craft, each member.equal parts excited and nervous about the importance of their mission.

Specialist Samantha Ralar of M-SAD was the first off the plane, carrying a briefcase with DNA locks. She was here to answer questions within the guidelines given to her by M-SAD and help put at ease the minds of the Republic for which they had been sent. Personally, she didn’t see why anyone was unnerved, but she recognized that the people of the Theocracy dealt with a higher level of variance than the populace of other nations. It tracked that others may not take the sudden and obvious change in the winds of fate as well as they did.

Second off the plan was Tarus Ulkana, Prelate of Conditions in the Foreign Church Service. He was adjusting to his new life as well as anyone which meant when he was called to serve on this mission he did his best to prepare himself. He was here to ensure that the Theocracy would be able to answer the call of ensuring that their faithful were well served in these times by being available to ‘cut a deal’, in the parlance of the wider world. He knew that there would be difficulties but he was confident that they would be able to reach a wonderful ending together.

The last diplomat had the title of Supervisor of Negotiations of the Ponyist Shrine and she came trotting down the stairs carefully, though a joyous expression never left her phrase. The unicorn Sweet Serenade always enjoyed seeing new places, whether they were pristine vacation hotspots or gas-choked hellholes. Life was strange that way! When she heard that the Marshites of this land were on trial for their very rights, she knew she had to see both it and the aftermath. High stakes, high drama, all the fun!

Each one came off the plane with their own attendants and aides, though all in all the delegation was much smaller than most foreign delegations were. Marshites tended to travel light like that. After they had disembarked, Samantha took the lead in approaching. That was until Sweet bounded ahead excitedly. “Greetings friends! What a pleasure to meet you. I am Sweet Serenade and this is our delegation,” she said as her horn lit up. A moment later, pastries appeared in front of the two. “A gift from me, to you!”

[Patrick OConner]

Statesboro International Airport
Statesboro
Timocratic Republic


Ali and Rory had been thoroughly briefed on the oddities of the Marshites, after all this was the origin of the current issue. However, this was just the first assignment for the duo and they were not Special Wardens.

The oddness of all 3 foot tall talking pink pony with rainbow colored hair leaping up to meet you and just poofing into existence what appeared to be pastries...well...that shocks anyone.

Rory stumbled through something. Once translated from his very thick scottish burr he had said “The small pink pony talks...and it poofs up pastries....I deserve danger pay for this.”

Ali just looked down at the small brightly colored equine that she towered over. She leaned over and took one and tasted it.

“Hmmm...delightful Ms. Serenade. I am Ali O’Conner and this is Rory McTaggert. We are Wardens and are charged with being your guides and guards.

“So nice to meet you two!” Sweet replied as she looked Ali over. She was bigger than Marshites that Sweet had met and was sure as rain something close to an ‘Amazonian’, or something close to it.

Samantha smiled as she drew in closer. She would forgive her excitable compatriot her energetic greeting. “Samantha Ralar, Marshite-Strategic Analysis Department. Pleasure to meet you, Miss O’Connor, Mister McTaggert” Samantha said politely as she extended a handshake to the larger woman. Tarus did the same with Rory.

Ali took Samatha’s hand and shook it firmly. Rory tried to do the same but ended up squishing Tarus’s hand.

“It’s nice to meet you and your group. I am glad you were able to get here so early. We have at least 3 days before the court convenes.”

Tarus was used to it by this point. Whether it was his older brother both before or after The Shift and his wife now, he always felt like his hands were in and around giants, or those with excellent grip strength.
“That suits us just fine. That should give us time to get to our lodgings and prepare ourselves for the court. Do you foresee any potential issues on that front?” He asked the pair, cognizant of the fact that diplomatic escorts weren’t really a thing in the Theocracy.

“If thaur was nae trooble dae ye hink we woods be haur?” Rory grumbles, or rumbles really. From his barrel of a chest everytime he speaks it comes out in a rumble.

“What my partner is saying is that yes there might be some trouble. This whole shift business has thrown much into confusion and quite a significant minority or people are not very happy at all. Nothing has happened yet but there have been some suspicious things going on.” Ali explained to the group “And I for one very much wish for nothing to happen.”

“Agreed. We’d rather not anything happen,” Samantha replied with a smile. She was more or less fine with whatever happened, really. She was used to cracking skulls during the interrogatives of the Inquisition, so dealing with some thugs would have suited her just fine. But that was only add fuel to the fire, and they were here to see the issues resolved.

“Well, if we do run into trouble...there wouldn’t be. Don’t worry; the best way to deal with an enemy is to make him a friend, or to make him not be anymore,” Sweet replied with a spark of her horn and a laugh. “It always works out in the end, friends!”

“Th' wee pony has horn an' its magic...Stoatin” Rory grumbles.

“Please do not...uh....magic er-poof anyone away. That would not be good for….many reasons…” Ali says “That would cause a great many legal complications.”

“Woriat abit th' legal issues insteid ay jist hoo impossible 'at shoods be?” Rory rumbles at Ali with a deep chuckle.

Ali scowls at the man. It was quite a good scowl but it slid off Rory like a duck with water.

Sweet waved a hoof dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t teleport them away,” she said as she prepared to hop into the car. “I turn them into plants for a few days, let them stew on it,” she said with a giggle.
“In any case, we appreciate your hard work. Thank you, Miss O’Connor, Mister McTaggert,” Samantha said as she prepared for entrance.

“Th' wee pony can tely’eport an' dae aw kinds ay magic...I am sae screwed.” Rory mumbles again now looking a bit thunder struck. Which was odd for him, he was usually the definition of stoic. Ali was doing her best to not show her glee at the undermining of Rory’s usual stoicism. It was just so hard to get anything to bother him.

“Lets just not if we can manage. That would make everyone happy. Now lets get into the vehicles. We have a hotel to get to.” Ali says almost pleading.

The Marshites entered with no further delay, excited to see more of the Republic.

Ali and Rory got into the first and second SUV respectively. Rory was in the same vehicle as the delegates.

And with that the convoy of 3 vehicles pulled out of the hangar and left the airport. It was an hour drive to the capital of Statesboro.

On the interstate the countryside went by fast. The trees were beginning to turn there leaves with the onset of fall. Signs erected by the interstate held advertisements for a wide variety of things.

It was somewhat different from the Theocracy. Far less crowded and with significantly fewer overflights of jet fighters, but also more commercial materials. It struck Samantha every time she left the Theocracy just how little advertisement or general acknowledgement of commercial interests there even existed back home. Here at least she wanted to keep an eye out for Peppi Cola. It had the cap top pop that other sodas couldn’t top, pop! Or so the advertisement said.

As the convoy got closer to the city, the tree gave way to more buildings. The convoy exited the interstate and headed into the downtown area of the city. The business and commerce heart of the city is where they were headed.

Tarus enjoyed this bit. Every city you visited had a unique flavor when you left the Theocracy. Every culture was imprinted every which way, even those so-called financial centers that whored themselves out. People revealed themselves the best when they weren’t being revelatory, after all.


Timocratic Republic
Stateboro
Taigh-òsta Grand



The convoy pulled up to a 35 story neo colonial brick and marble building, with a sign out front proclaiming it Taigh-òsta Grand, the Grand Hotel.

The first out was Sweet, who jumped out of a window (or phased through) at first light. Rory was likely happy. She had spent much of the trip up and around him. She had asked him a million billion questions about him, buried her head (careful with the horn) in his warmth, and commented on how cute his muscles were. Her sense of personal space was the same as her fashion sense: Totally barren. She landed in the street outside the hotel, heedless of the humans around her. “Oooh, nice hotel! Where’s the anti-air missiles though?”

Taggert exited the SUV looking very harassed for once in his life.
“Damn talkin' pony is gonnae drife me a bampot. Ah am nae gettin' paid enaw tae pit up wi' a rabidly talkin' magical pit cuddie!!!” Taggert rumbled.

Ali, who had just exited her vehicle, snicker quietly to herself but did not say anything.

The group walked up the magnificent marble stairs into the lobby of the hotel.

Inside was a truly grand lobby hanging from the high vaulted ceilings is a massive sparkling antique chandelier with deep soft red carpeting. The counter was shiny marble shot through with gold lines. Deep brown rich woods paneled with the walls with intricate carving portraying various scenes from ancient battles to hunts to cities.

The furniture scattered around was a mix of chairs, couches and coffee tables, all antique and all matching the aesthetic of the room. Employees dressed very finely stood behind the check in desk and at various doors to open them or to help someone with their baggage.

Those chairs looked really comfy. Back home, wasting money on opulent decorations and comfort when there were real problems to address was certainly something not on the agenda. But in societies that didn’t view themselves as being constantly engaged in an existential war they could spare time for the finer things in life. Samantha needed to pop a top while in a reclining chair, probably one out here, at some point during this trip. Nothing said she couldn’t enjoy the fine things herself.

“Oh, hey! Hey you!” Sweet said as she bounded up to one of the employees, a bellhop of some sort, the baggage held in a magical aura by her horn. “I got some luggage for you! Hey, how do we tip you? What’s your name? I’m Sweet Serenade and I’m so happy to meet you! Here, have a pastry!” She said, a pastry popping to existence for the bellhop.

Tarus, meanwhile, chuckled to himself. “So, Miss O’Connor, was this assigned to you or did you choose this one?”

Ali just smiled back at Tarus “I am a Warden, I go where I am told and do what I am told to do.”


The bellhop smiled and took the luggage.
“I am Mr. Lerry. No you do not need to tip me and no thank you for the pastry. Though I will take you luggage. I will convey it to your room with all due haste.”
And with that the bellhop took the luggage and disappeared.

Ali walked up to the desk and spoke briefly with the man at the desk. And then returned to the group.

“Our suite is ready. Come on.”

Ali leads the group to ornate old fashion looking elevator. The man operating it took up to the top floor. They exited the elevator to a set of double doors. Ali produced a key and opened the door. The suite was just as opulent as the hotel lobby with same red carpeting and deep brown wood though lacking the engravings.


The suit was made up of no less than 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms plus a living room and closets. The entire cost of the furniture was far over and above the cost of most mortgages, from the finely carved and upholstered sofas to the massive ornate four poster beds with silk sheets.

People had lower mortgage payments than what it cost to rent this suite, but governments always had that money to throw around.

Sweet really liked the way it all looked. So soft and fluffy compared to the old stuff she was used to. She jumped on a couch and made herself comfortable. “Ooooh, pretty. What is this, kashmere?” She asked while Samantha took her time to investigate the rooms. Roomy, comfortable- she didn’t like it. Her back was more accustomed to the bed of an IFV than an actual bed. Tarus showed no obvious emotion. “Comes with some hard liquor, right?” he asked no one in particular.

“These accommodations should suffice, Miss O’Connor.”

“I am sure you can use the phone to call the front desk for whatever you want. And I am glad. We will be here as well bunking in the living room if that is not any trouble.” Ali replied.

“Ha, like a sleepover!” Yelled Sweet, who was by now bouncing up and down on the couch.


Ali was starting to have real trouble with Sweet Seranade. Ali was a bit of an animal lover, having been raised on a farm and even taught to ride from an early age. And Sweet was hitting all of her buttons that scream such things as pet, snuggle, play with and shower with love. The little pony was just so damn cute, it hurt.

“Och god laird please mah mercy oan mah soo” Rory grumbled “Wa did ye nae teel me thes?”

“I did not seem important. Besides you already had a packed bag.”

Rory just grumbled as the pony eyed him up with a smile.

“That will be fine. After we get adjusted, we will want to go over the itinerary for the court date, yes?” Samanatha asked as she made her way into one of the bedrooms. Tarus nodded along. “I could use a shower as well. Will you be fine out here?”

“That will be expectable Mr Tarus...it is Mr right?” Ali asked hoping she had it right.

He hoped she had read it right. The itinerary said mister, right? Post-Shift he understood it was hard for many. Unless he pulled down his pants, there was no visual or audio evidence to say that he was Mister Anything. “You have it right.”
Ali did not sigh relief externally but did so internally.

“Yes we can go over it.” Ali said

[Holy Marsh]

TV Broadcast

The TV News studio is well furnished and well equipped. It should be for one of the largest TV news stations in the country, the Needed News Network or NNN. The studio was filled with the cameras, lights,microphones and million and one things a TV broadcast needs.

On the actual stage is a large desk in burnished metal. On the front of it is a logo that says “Curt Certainty with Courtney Courtney”. Behind the desk were some chairs and a large projection screen where various images could be shown.

It was a popular show featuring the latest issues. It was a simple format really, the host, one Courtney Courtney, invited an equal number of guests from all sides of an issue and they had it out live on air.

This time it was about the Shift.

In the middle of the long slightly curved table, sat the buxom blonde Courtney Courtney in a nice blue skirt suit. She was smiling broadly with her perfect white teeth at the camera as they began the nights broadcast.

“Good evening I am Courntey Courntey and now it's time for Curt Certainties!! Tonight we discuss the … event...that has shaken this country to its foundations. The event that has come to be known as the “Shift”. And tonight have two very important guests. On one side I have Mr. Don Dougal, a lobbyist and spokesperson for the Firebrand party of which Senator Glynn Camydn is a lead member of this party which has come out against the “Shifted”. Even going so far as to file suit against current policies in place and force the issue to come before the supreme court.”

The camera pans over to Dougal, he is a man of average height but is handsome and with a winning smile that draws you in. A perfect spokesperson in a charcoal grey suit and tie.

“And on the other side we have Doctor of Theology, Rachel Hunningberg, the Marshite Foundation for Political Theology, and Current Chair of the Department of Politics at Saint Patricia’s University Doctor, a pleasure to have you.”

“The pleasure is mine.”

“So to begin, what is your position on this entire affair Mr. Dougal?” Courtney asks Don

“Well it could not really be more simple. These “Shifted” as they are called are no longer human as we boilogilicaly understand the term so they are not protected under the Constitution or any of our laws.”

“An ... interesting and strong position to take Mr. Dougal. Dr. Hunniberg, I will now ask you the question, what is your position on the current ongoings?”

“The Constitution, like many other similar documents of prodigious intellectual weight and of equal importance, cannot be construed so simply. When it was drafted, the existence of sapient life that was not human in nature was unknown. Therefore, the fact that the Marshites and those otherwise Shifted are no longer human is inconsequential to their legal protections. The document assumes a level of sapient intelligence behind the use of the term human, and Shifted qualify in that meaning. This has been the reading of similar issues across Greater Dienstad with The Shift, and it stands to reason that the constitution of this great republic is similarly intellectual astute enough to adapt to the events of the modern era.”

“Another strong and firm position” Courntey said suppressing a smile. Tonight's debate was going to be fierce and she could tell which meant ratings gold for her.

“Do you care to respond to this position, Mr. Dougal?”

“Of course.” Dougal said now taking on a slightly patronizing tone “While that might be considered a legal position in other countries, in the Timocratic Republic, we have the tradition of plain meaning rule. The document says what it literally says. Nothing more nothing less. And under such traditions, I am afraid that my position carries the greatest legal weight.”

“The tradition of plain meaning rule is that- tradition. And not always one that has been followed. And in the aggregate, it is intellectually dishonest to suggest that the founder of our nation was ignorant in the manner of a state’s evolution, and of the tides of change that will come to every nation’s shore. This Shift is simply the first of what could be many such waves that will arrive on our shores, a glimpse of the wider world that awaits us. To suggest that we will be living in the dark because of our great constitution is an insult to both it and the Republic. It is stronger than that, as was our Great Founder when he claimed it as a right after victory. It is a beacon that shines bright. It is strength. It is only weakness that sees it as incapable of change, incompatible with current events. That is a weakness that we can expunge here and now.”

“O’Conner himself even stated in various other papers he wrote that the document was not open to interpretation. It meant what it said and said what it meant. While one is able to amend it, it requires all three branches working together to pass such. He wanted the document to be a firm foundation for the new nation to be built on. And any builder worth their salt knows you do not go and compromise the foundation because you think the living room needs remodeling a bit.” Don snapped back “Plus there is the small matter of the unilateral action that President Marai Overhill took in the aftermath of the Shift. That was blatantly unconstitutional and an overreach of power worthy of impeachment!!”

“Which assumes that the foundation is not suffering from a flaw that needs correcting. New materials are always discovered, flaws in how the foundation is being laid are always discovered. Taking citizens of the Republic, some who have fought for our freedoms, and removing their rights is not sticking to the foundation. It is removing a part of it with a sledgehammer because you don’t like the color of the wall, or the style of furniture that is in use. This nation was founded as one against the overreach of tyranny, against the overreach of those in power. To remove their rights now based on nothing but base biology is the very definition of tyranny. Rights paid for in blood should never be taken away. Would you be the one to tell our veterans that the freedoms they fought for come with an asterisk, to be decided not based on character or the gift of our intelligence, but instead on the whims of politicians? You speak of an overreach of power, sir. But what I see in your argument is the long, terrible reach of tyranny.”

“The President over reached her authority with an executive order and should be punished for it. And I am truly sorry for them-” Dougal said without sounding like he meant it at all “- but the law is the law and the documents say what they say. We cannot go around making exceptions for things.”

“So what you are saying-” Courtney interjected “Is that you were against the Executive overreach and a unilateral ruling by the Supreme Court but would you be fine with an amendment to the Constitution changing such that the Shifted are thus covered by it?”

“Well...uh… Sure, it would be a long and difficult process that could just as easily fail but- Sure. That would be ...acceptable” Dougal replied

“Interesting” Courtney said “What about you Doctor? Would that be acceptable or would you prefer to have the Supreme Court rule on it?”

“It would not be required should the Supreme Court rule in a manner that is appropriate. Having said that, failing that, Marshites in general would be amicable to such an amendment. It would be less than preferable.”

“Because of the length of time it would take, Doctor? And would leave the Shifted in such a vulnerable legal state in the meantime?” Courtney asked eagerly

“No. Because our country has better things to do than come up with amendments and all the time and hassle that would be, eating away at taxpayer money, chewing away at more important issues, when it could simply see the truth as I have spoken it tonight and leave the Shifted where they belong- covered already.”

“What of the international implications? I am sure the Marshite would take a dim view of us - more or less- tossing the Shifted out in the cold.”

“We never let other nations opinions or such affect our internal matters.” Dougal said in a haughty manner “We are a nation founded on blood and principle and would never let anything compromise such things. We shall stand where we stand.”

“Another strong position to take and somewhat awkward given the fact we are allies with Marshite. Doctor your thoughts?”

“Let us be frank. We would find ourselves with no real allies in this argument. Not only would we anger the Theocracy and the rest of that Union, from Solisia to Romandeos, but friendly states such as Mokastana as well. How could we hope to have an honest political discourse with AHSCA if we deem that species such as dominate that nation are not given rights here? Whether it is The Greater Throne or even the Holy Empire of Stevid, the major players in this region that are our allies would find our position untenable. And while the political and potentially economic impact should be enough to give pause, if violence were to be directed at Marshites due to this result and we found ourselves not treating it as would violence against any other citizen, that invites the Law of Protective Retaliation. And for no other reason than an intentionally constrictivist and activist interpretation of the constitution to satisfy a political, racial, and speciest agenda. No freedom defended; only acts of tyranny.”

“I am sorry viewers, with that statement we must cut to a commercial break.” Courtney said “but we are not finished yet!!”

[Patrick OConner]

O’Hair National Museum

The facility is a massive complex that is the O’Hair National Museum. A total of 15 buildings make up the main complex on the main campus with many more satellite buildings. The main building is a large affair with well manicured lawn dotted with bushes and marble path leading up to the large glass and steel entrance. Flanked on either side of the front doors are large granite statues of wargs, legendary giant wolves of the nation. The front of the building expands outward into wings, and surrounds the front lawn while the rest of it sprawls around, people come and go with a regularity, most of them appear to be academics and tourists.


Upon entering the front door a massive atrium is seen. Dominating the middle of it, is another statue mounted atop a massive marble pillar. The statue is another warg but this one is different. It is larger than those outside and is leaping through the air. It is armored with small plates of what look like steel riveted to leather and saddle and tack are attached to the armor. The armor covers the chest legs and side of the massive wolf. An iron helmet covers the beast's head and snout with holes cut for its ears and nose. The jaw is free to open and close. A man is riding the beat as well. He is tall and well muscled. His face is frozen mid shout and the warg leaps through the air. The man clutches the reins in one hand and a massive sword in the other. His armor is chain male with arm guards and grieves. The statue is over 25 feet tall. The floor is white marble shot through with seam of what looks like gold and the walls are paneled in a native hardwood that is a rich red color with views of sap that has crystallized and is a dark, but seeming to glow, yellow. The ceiling is a massive skylight made of multi colored glass. Beneath it is a help desk for lost people, manned by several people. Hanging from the walls are banners declaring the various exhibits, from the Devils of the Sea to Legends of the Land. A sign proclaims all of the exhibits in the main building.

Pirates off the Starboard Bow!!: To the Right
Ragtag Rampage at the Yards :To the Left
Bloody Tybee: The True Story: Straight Ahead
Monsters of the Land and Sea: Straight Back and to the Right
Last Stand of the Highlanders: Straight Back and to the Left



Bloody Tybee

The group is forced to stop at a closed door and a museum employee. She is a pretty woman in her late twenties, blonde, wearing a red collared shirt, khaki pants and flats. She wore a name tag that declared her name was "Shelly". Stood behind a podium and looked up as the group came. She was startled seeing the President General and a large entourage of clearly important people. She gulps then smiles

"Welcome to the O’Hair National Museum. We proudly present Bloody Tybee: The True Story. The first part of this is called Hell's Half Acre. Be warned this is a very realistic depiction of the first landing using the latest technology. It will seem very real and e very very graphic. Easily rated R or higher. If you have any health issues like a weak heart or constitution or such conditions as PTSD be warned this may not be for you. If so you can skip to the exhibit if not then proceed through this door."


As the group enters the darken room there is little light and when the door is closed there is less. Suddenly words start scrolling up the farthest wall in white block letters.

They read:

Tybee was a small island off the coast of the Republic and was the last hold out of the defeated Anti-republican forces. The Repbulican forces though having won the war were exhausted and tired from the long fighting but the island had to be taken because it sat in a critical location outside a major port.

It was believed that it would be an easy fight but that was a misconception. The island had been steadily fortified and built up over the whole ware turning it into a hidden fortress that the Republican Forces were completely unaware of. A single Marine Assault Division, the 1st M.A.D “Spartans” and collection of shipping and warships was tasked to seize the island and mop up the remnants of the enemy.

It was a disaster. This is their story. The story of Bloody Tybee and Hell’s Half Acre.



The room is pitch black and the door swings shut behind them and the light from the atrium is cut off. The floor feels soft gritty like sand. The group's feet sink slightly into it. The air fills with the smell of the sea and the sound of waves lapping on the shore. And then walls and ceiling light up.

To the left and right more beach stretches into the distances with white sands and oceans waters. In front a line of trees, scrub brush and sand dunes that covers the land. Some of the sand dunes are massive, from the size of cars up to houses. Behind them, the ocean stretches far out all the way to the horizon. Doting the sea, fairly close to the shore over all, is a fleet.

It is a motley collection of ships, transports, landing ships, old destroyers and frigates, a few more modern destroyers, some freighers and landing ships, the largest one is a modern heavy cruiser Wolf. With her new sleek design and unmistakable rail cannons and missile batteries. She is a lethal package and overshadows the rest of the ships. However, all of the ships are flying a wide variety of flags from their masts. The largest one was a skull and crossed harpoons flying from the mast of the Wolf, herself.

Suddenly a whoosh is heard over head followed by a whistling and then a massive explosion. The whole room seems to vibrate and sand is tossed into the air and shock waves seem to compress the people in the room. It repeats again and again and again. If one looks up, one can see the planes swooping overhead. Off shore the warship's turret rotates then the gun barrel elevates. Then they fire. The old chemical driven guns make large booms and clouds of white smoke while the Wolf’s cutting edge railgun just emits the sonic boom of large shells flying through the air.

The freight train rattle of artillery rattle through the room as the shells fly overhead and land inland generating more but distant explosions. The bombardment goes on and on and eventually stops. The silence is deafening.

From the landing ships, massive hovercrafts, carrying armored vehicles, emerge and amphibious assault vehicles , otherwise known as AAV and helicopters take off from the decks as well, loaded with troops.

The massive hovercrafts skim over the water and the AAVs chug through it and the helicopters swoop in overhead. Like before, they leap off the screens in the form of holograms as soon as the hovercraft makes it to the shore followed by the AAVs but the helicopters hold back. Everyone looks so real, like one could reach out and touch them, even though they are mere illusions, the guns, the uniforms, even the faces of people are clear as day. Only the slight see thoroughness gives them away as not real.


The AAVs ramps drop and disgorged troops and the hovercrafts come a chore and there skirts deflate then drop their ramps so tanks and other armored vehicles can roll of. The troops are clearly marines with their forest digicams and kevlar helmets, Marine Assault Corps and the following anchor, globe and eagle clearly showing on patches under the flag of the Timocratic Republic. There body armor is worn but repaired and in good condition for the rifles and the rest of the gear. The tanks and AAVs are the same, many of them showing recent hard fought action that has only recently been repaired but it is they are fully functional.
The heavily armored tanks and AAVs have trouble with the white sand. The troops spread out and form a perimeter as the tanks and AAVs as those tracked vehicles struggled through the soft white sand. The armored vehicles were making progress but it was slow and difficult. Something happens, someone probably radioed back, and the helicopters moved in.
They come in low for a landing. Wind gusts around the guests wiping the sand up and the holographic helicopter comes off the ceiling and moves into land. The massive hovercraft inflate their aprons and head back out to meet with the ships. Out at sea, the second wave launches from the landing ships

Then the world explodes.

Missiles leap from hidden launchers, streaking skyward at the helicopters. Some of the missiles impact and the helicopters explode in a fireball and crash to the ground in a horrendous noise, the smell of burnt pork and screeching of metal. The screams of the injured fill the air.

At the same time, mortars start to fall on the troops, exploding sending shrapnel through the air slicing men up and injuring them, more screams. Some strike the AAVs and they go up in flames, some of the crew bail out of them, most do not.

Simultaneously, the freight train rattle of artillery fills the air and then ends in massive explosions. Tanks explode, men are tossed into the air and torn apart.
Machine guns open up from hidden positions tearing men apart.
A man looks around for his own arm then picks it up and carries it. A man struggles on a shore with no legs. One marine stands up to return fire only to get cut in half, his intestines and blood flying everywhere and landing on his qaud mates. A man struggles to keep his guts inside himself. Medics struggle to aid the wounded. The white sands run red with blood.

Large anti ship missiles streak over the beach, having been launched from father inshore and streak toward the ships in the first wave. Several impact a landing ship dock and it disintegrates in a massive fireball as all fuel and ammunition on board explodes. An old destroyer explodes from the impact of a missile. The ship breaks in half with the forward part exploding. A freighter takes a single hit and it becomes just a series of explosions and fire.


Artillery reaches out for the AAVs and hovercraft. Splashes mark misses and explosions mark hits. The second wave , or what is left makes it ashore and drops its load as some of the craft struggle back for more troops.

At sea, the Wolf leaps forward now moving as close into shore as it can, her keel scraping bottom. As the next wave of missiles fly in, the Wolf’s defensive weapons reach out and pluck them from the sky in a series of explosions. At the same time, her own missile batteries belched flame and lethal ordnance as the crew of the heavy cruiser had hopefully localized the anti ship missile batteries and was returning fire.

As the Wolf’s missile streak away a third wave comes in, much much larger than the previous ones. Again the Wolf’s defensive weapons reach out to defend the ship and task force. But this time two missiles slip through. One strikes the stern of the ship and another bridge. Her masy lurches to the side and is engulfed in flames. The Wolf is damaged and on fire, flames spewing from the massive whole in the bridge and stern. But her flag emerges from the fire and flames, still attached to the crooked mast, the ship does not waiver.


The Wolf’s missile batteries belch again and here main battery turrets rotate and elevate the guns and pour fire out at the possible location of the enemy missile batteries at a rate that is dangerous to guns themselves.

Aircraft and attack helicopters swoop in launching bombs, missiles,guided rockets, and firing machine guns and cannons at the enemy positions.
Another wave of troops and vehicles launched from the remaining ships, this time with landing craft in the mix, carrying more infantry and vehicles.

Another wave of anti-ship missiles streak in low. Again the Wolf reaches out and plucks many of them from the sky, however, she is now prioritizing the other ship’s protection over her own, another missile slips through.

The Wolf is rocked once again as she is struck amidships. This time secondary turrets and metal can be seen leaping into the air from the fire ball. The ship shudders her lights blinking off then back on.

Now the ship shudders to a halt for a time then swings back into action. Picking up speed and opening fire with everything she has. She swings around, brings her undamaged starboard side to bear and re aims her main guns.

This time her main battery swung into action going to maximum fire fate. Every possible inch that could house the batteries is shelled to hell and back. The paint begins to burn and blister on the barrels.

Missiles stream from the Wolf’s batteries until none are left.

A massive explosion rocks the island as a huge mushroom clouds billows from the center of the island, then its followed by a series of smaller but still large explosions. The Wolf had hit her mark. Now she returns her attention to the coastal situation.

On shore the men struggle forward firing their weapons into the dunes and trees. The remaining tanks struggle forward firing into the woods but they make little progress, some of them explode as they run over mines. The men seem trapped on the beach. The third wave lands, drops off its troops and supplies the retreats out to sea that is slowly turning red.
The destruction and death goes on and on as the men fight inland.

In front of the group a man wearing the silver oak leaf of a LT. Colonel, a small upside down V decorates his left. He is speaking into a radio and somehow the group can hear him over the chaos and carnage.
"I am sorry General Vadergrif. We cannot retreat at this time. We must continue the assault."
The man ducks to dodge an incoming mortar shell that lands near him. It explodes taking out several more men but the colonel remains unharmed. He continues speaking as if nothing has happened

"We will not retreat sir. We always finish the mission. No one has bested the Spartans and no one will. We will continue the attack, sir."

More waves of the invasion are launched from the ships and the warships and aircraft locate and attack the enemy defenses, destroying them as fast as they can.
More troops storm the beaches and charge forward. Tanks grind forward firing as fast their crews can manage, same for the other armored vehicles. None of this is without cost and casualties. Bodies and burned vehicles litter the beach and the dunes. The sand has turned red from blood and black from fires. Literal streams of blood flow down sand into the ocean turning it red.

But slowly the men push forward and off the beach and the fighting move inland.
The lights come on to reveal that the group has been standing in an extremely large room with the floor carpeted in sand. The smell of burnt pork, gunpowder, sea salt and death still lingers in the air.

The overhead lights come out and slowly ramp up there brightness revealing the large empty room with a sandy floor and the exit door on the far side open.



The Bridge of the Wolf

The group exits the room and climbs up a set of stairs then walk down a walkway into a large glass room suspended over and another room. The room below is empty. The lights slowly dim and when they are completely dark, a message appears in the empty room appears in block white letters. The message slowly scrolls up.

It reads:

The Wolf was the lead ship in a new and revolutionary class of nuclear powered rail cannon armed heavy cruisers designed to perform a dual role as main fleet combatants and landing support ships. The Wolf herself was laid down before the Civil War in the O’Malley Heavy Construction and Ship Yards Number 1.

When the Yards, as they are colloquially known as, were captured by the Republican Forces, she was completed and put into service, entering the service of the Republican Forces near the end of the Civil War.

This was the vessel's first real action where it encountered serious resistance. By the end of the battle the Wolf had received multiple hits from anti shipping missiles and survived.

She Not only survived but continued to fight. By the end of the battle Wolf had expended all of her missiles and ammunition for primary and secondary batteries. She had earned a nickname from the Marines on shore...they called her the Rain Maker.

Now we present their story, Hell’s Half Acre at Sea.

The last of the message scrolls away into the wall. Then the room below lights up. Holograms begin to appear forming the bridge of a warship.
It's a large grey semicircular arrangement, with the helm in the middle of the bridge, it being a console with a joystick and a throttle and readouts, which give bearings and depth information and other such important statistics.

To the left or port was the Tactical Station, consisting of several consoles with controls for weapons systems, active defensive systems and displays for sensors such as radar, lidar and sonar. To the right or starboard is a console for communications and engineering with necessary controls and readouts for such positions. Everystation has a chair bolted to the deck with a four point harness for the crew to strap into during battle

In front of the stations is the thick bullet proof windows looking out over the bow of the ship. Behind the stations is the bulkhead with a set of two hatches. One of them is marked as malfunctioning, it will not close and seal.

Also on the bulkhead is the intercom system and phone system and chair with a harness bolted to the wall for the captain to sit in during battle.

The people begin to appear. It is a motley looking crew with patched cover all uniforms and they do not all match.

The last man standing in the back is different. He is 6 foot 4 inches tall and broad across in the shoulders and was well muscled. His face was ruggedly handsome and was tanned from exposure to the sun and windburned as well with bright sea green eyes that shined intelligence and humor. And a nose that was once straight but had been broken one too many times in the past and now had a slight crook.

The eagle insignia of a captain sits on his collar. The name Wayne is on his name tag. Under it is an oddity, a skull and cross harpoons. It was shiny brass and clearly not regulation but no one was going to argue with him. After all it's the symbol of the Sea Hunters, where Wayne learned to sail.

Wayne stands at the back of the room where he can see most of the consoles and see out the windows to observe the fleet. Off to port and aft is one of the landing dock ships and in front is a collection of 5 frigates and 5 destroyers and another three landing ship docks and a freighter.


Wayne stands calmly with his arms crossed behind his back and he waits for orders. A man from the communication stations looks up and removes a set of headphones from his head.

“Sir, we are to begin bombardment.”

“Very well.” Wayne says “Tactical begin pre planned bombardment against possible enemy targets.”

“Yes sir” a chief petty officer in the tactical section says then issues orders “Rotate main battery to 270 degree relative bearing, elevation 19 degrees, fire HE”

A sailor at a console calls back “Bearing 270, elevation 19, fire HE, Aye.”
The sailor inputs commands at his console and from the through the windows, the forward 3 triple turrets rotate to port and elevate then fire. The rail cannons do not have the massive flash and boom caused by chemical powered weapons but instead just have the massive super sonic crack of the shell leaving the barrels and a small flash from electrical discharge.

The forward 9 rail cannons plus three more from the single aft turret fired for 10 minutes, raining high explosives shells on its targets ashore.

“Cease fire” Wayne orders as the pre allocated time arrives. And Wayne and the bridge crew watch as the first wave the invasion force launches from the landing ship docks and hits the beaches.

The helicopters jump into the air, while the rear of landing ship docks drop open and the hovercrafts exit in a spray of sea water. Behind them the AAVs exit the launch bays, chugging through the water.


Wayne calmly watches as the sea borne wave hits the beach.

Suddenly the radarman blurts out
“MULTIPLE MISSILE DETECTED!! INBOUND ETA 9 SECONDS!!”

“Active defense online and targeting.” Another sailor responded clearly surprised but training had kicked in so he was nubbly responding and following standard operating procedure.

Again, through the windows at the front of the bridge, one can see the defensive weapon turrets spin around and elevate in an abrupt snappish manner then spew a stream of bullets skyward.

But it's too late for the other ships. The freighter in front of the Wolf takes a single hit. It was an ammo and supply ship. The ammo and fuel on board exploded. The ship was a total loss.

Then a landing ship dock took 3 hits and exploded and finally a destroyer took a single missile and disintegrated into flying metal and fire.

The bridge crew is stunned at the sudden and violent death and destruction before them.

Wayne snaps out a series of orders
“Helmsman!! Ahead one third!! Take us close into shore!! Tactical! Re-prioritize defensive fire to defend the task force!! Secondaries are to load proximity fused shells and target airborne threats!! Tactical Isolate the location of those missiles and return fire with our own. Retarget the main battery to the beach installations. Those Marines are getting slaughtered. We need to stop it!!”

The orders snapped the crew out of their shock and began to follow their orders.

The Wolf jumps forward as the helmsman pushes the throttle up and manipulates the joy stick causing the ship to turn toward the beach.

“Sir!” The helmsman begins “Depth indicator shows that there is less than a foot of water beneath our keel!!”

“Noted” Wayne responds “Sail on, we will risk grounding to protect the task force and shell the enemy positions. Once we reach the end of the beach, swing out into open water and come back along the beach.”

“Yes sir” The helmsman responds.


“Another wave of missiles incoming, ETA 10 seconds” the radar man calmly declares this time.

“Defensive weapons prepped and ready. Solid lock. Firing.” the same previous sailor managing the defensive weapons system responds. The visible defensive turrets realign themselves and again spew fire into the sky. This time the secondary turrets get on a shot each and black puffs can be seen in the sky as the shells explode. Much larger black clouds materialize as anti-ship missiles and destroy mid-flight.

“All missiles destroyed” the defensive weapons system sailor declares.

“Third wave incoming. Much larger than the previous two. ETA 8 seconds.”

“Targeting incoming missiles, solid lock. Firing.”

Again turrets adjust position and spew fire but this time the Wolf’s luck had run out.

The ship shudders as the first missile hits the stern. The bridge crew is thrown around but they are seated and strapped in. The captain is not. He is thrown about and hits the malfunctioning hatch and flies through it. The hatch slams shut behind him.

Wayne is the lucky one. The next missile hits just below the bridge. It exploded tearing the bridge and the deck below open and flinging sharpel everywhere.

The windows are blow out and a massive whole in opened in the floor. The consoles are torn up and thrown out the starboard windows. The bulkheads are buckled and the ceiling is ruptured with a whole so massive that one could see the mast of the ship which was now slightly crooked, leaning to the starboard side. Electrical wires spark and fires burn.

No one survives as what's left of the bridge is painted blood red with chunks of human flesh in it.

Another missile strikes the Wolf amidships and she is rocked again, this time power blinks out. The Wolf slows to a stop now.

But in a few minutes it blinks back on and the ship jumps forward again and swings about presenting her undamaged side to the island.




The other hatch flies open and off its bulkhead moments later as a damage control team enters the bridge.

The team works its way over to the hatch, putting out the fires with special foam as they enter.

“Any survivors?” The lead sailor bellows and a loud bang echoes from the malfunctioning hatch with muffled curse words.

A sailor tries to open the hatch but it is jammed so another raises a large powered claw saw like tool and simply shears the bolts holding the hatch to the bulkhead off. The bolts ping off the bulkhead and into the destroyed bridge. Once all the bolts are cut off, the hatch is ripped off the bulkhead.

Captain Wayne emerges now, severely bruised and with his left arm hanging limp, his shoulder dislocated, and bleeding from multiple cuts to his scalp. His nose is swollen and broken and one eye is swelling shut.

“Captain!! You’re alive!!” The lead sailor exclaims.

“Yes, Now get me to the CIC.” Wayne ordered

“But, sir you are injured!”

“It's just a few bruises. I have a ship to command and battle to win.”

Combat Information Center

The bridge holograms fade away and then another room is brought up. This time it is Combat Information Center or CIC. It's a larger version of the bridge but with tv screens instead of windows. The CIC has a similar layout to the bridge with the position of the stations except there are more of them displaying more detailed information for the crew of the CIC to process. The large screens currently show exterior camera feeds showing various parts of the ship and sea around the vessel.

The Executive Officer or XO is in the position of the captain but this time strapped into his chair.

The power is on and the Wolf is moving again.

The rear hatch swings open and Wayne enters now bandaged and his arm in a sling.

The XO nods to the Captain.

“Status?” Wayne asks.

“Secondary turrets 5 and 6 destroyed and CIWS turrets 3a through 5a destroyed. Bridge destroyed. Hull breach adminships between frames 6 and 8 and aft between 11 and the stern. Junction 7a is out and damage to power lines. No flooding yet. Reactors online and all capacitor banks functioning. We have power and steering.” The XO reports.

“Understood. New orders, all missile fire target the enemy launchers, main battery go to maximum fire rate. Blanket the area with shells. Delayed fuse now.” Wayne orders. He was aiming to breach whatever bunkers and defensive structures had been built to protect the enemies launchers and ammo storage.

“Sir we might-” The XO begins but Wayne cuts him off.

“I know but damn that. To hell with the damage to the guns. You have your orders.”

“Yes sir.” The XO responds “You heard the captain.”

The sailors follow the orders. On the screen you can see the missiles exit their launchers in a cloud of smoke and fire. While the main battery turrets begin to fire and then adjust position and fire again as fast as they can. The paint on the barrels begins to burn and blister.

Suddenly a massive explosion is seen on one of the screens and small mushroom cloud forms, it is followed by a series of smaller explosions.

The Wolf’s fangs had found their mark at last and felled her prey.

Wallace grunts in satisfaction.

“Do we have a location on the enemy’s artillery?” Wallace asks

“Possible areas have been isolated.” XO said as a map appears on one of the large screens with areas circled on the map of the island “Drones have spotted what could be artillery or advanced decoys in these areas. It was further narrowed down with triangulation.”

Wayne reel off a series of orders “ Good, Tactical, target the eastern most area with a spread of shells.Three salvoes from each main turret then move to the next area to the west and repeat. Repeat until all areas have been shelled. Retarget the secondaries. Direct fire on beach targets. Communications get us patched into the Marines raidos if we lost them earlier. Engineering see to it the missile launchers are reloaded … and get me a chair to sit in please.”

With that the sailor chuckled lightly and went about their orders. Raining fire and destruction on the enemy.

[Patrick OConner]

Timocratic Republic
Statesboro
Taigh-òsta Grand

The day had come so that meant it was time to get dressed and the events meant one thing, dress uniforms.

The Warden dress uniform consists of a pair of sturdy drakon hide brown leather boots that come to about mid shin and is decorated with brass buckles and leather straps, on the inward facing portion of each boot are some odd looking small brass knobs. Khaki colored pants and a brown leather belt with many vertical loopholes each which contain spare rounds for the handguns. On each belt, a hostler on the right side for a gun and on the other side a sheath for a large knife and each one of them are armed with an identical high caliber revolver and large knives resembling Bowie knives present as well. A jacket made cotton dyed dark green with a row of brass buttons up the middle of the jackets and cape of drakon leather died the same green as the jacket covers the left shoulder and arm and hangs down level with the belt while partially covering the front and back of the Wardens. A broad soft brimmed brown hat with a simple green band was worn on the head. On the right shoulder a strip of green drakon leather stretches form the base of the neck to the end of the shoulder and is held in place by more brass buttons. Every bit of brass from the buckles to the bullet casings has been shined to the point that it hurts to look at them. On the right sleeve was a number of hash marks signifying rank. Ali had 4 and Rory had 3. Completing the ensemble was a simple silver star over the right breast with the word "Warden" emblazoned on it.



Feild of Honor
Statesboro
TimoCratic Republic

The Supreme Court building stood on the left side of the Field of Honor. The Field of Honor itself is a large rectangular field of grass with the Red House at one end and the Diplomats Dock at the other end. Near the dock is a black granite monolith surrounded by concentric rings of more black granite monoliths gradually decreasing in size and etched on to the monoliths are the names of dead soldiers from all the wars as such it is known as the Circle of Fallen or the Fallen Monument more colloquial .

In the middle of the Field of Honor is a tall marble obelisk salvage from the old capital and moved here. It was renamed the Freedom and Victory Memorial by the victors of the Civil War. Even now one could still see the bullets whole from the Rebellion. The rest of the Field of Honor is just open grass.

The Supreme Court House is modelled on an ancient greek temple with its many marble steps leading up to a massive stone building with a triangular roof supported by large marble columns. The roof is engraved with various scenes of courts throughout the ages.

Atop the peak of the roof, is the statue of a tall beautiful woman wrapped in a dress with an armored breastplate with a helmet upon her head. In one head she holds an upraised sword and in the other she thrusts forward a set of double pan scales, these clearly unbalanced, and at her feet are the weights needed to right the scale

If one peers around the side of the Supreme Court House, one can see what is known as the Field Of Punishment. Crosses can be seen standing forlorn and empty. They are joined by gallows that swing empty in the light breeze. A set of metal bleachers and platforms, for broadcasting equipment, are erected along the perimeter of the Field of Punishment.

The Field of Punishment was where the treasonous were taken to be executed and if they were lucky they would only be hanged. The whole Field is another reminder and warning to everyone, not just citizens but also people visiting from other lands that while the Timocratic Republic is in many ways a modern and advanced country there are still things that shall not be tolerated on the sentence of a most painful death. And then they would broadcast it for the whole world to see.

There is a massive double set of carved ironwood doors, the dark black wood shot through with silvery veins, set with massive hold handles. Above the door is carved the phrase “Veritas autem iustitiae Super Omnes”. Truth and Justice Above All.
Carved into each door is a set of double pan scales with weights wrapped in an unwound scroll with a sword at the foot of the scales.

Two either side of the door stands a Marine guard in dress uniform beside a much smaller normal-sized door, through which people are entering and exiting through.



Outside the courthouse were assembled two distinct groups of people representing both sides of the argument. Both sides were chanting various slogans and waving signs and posters with various slogans printed, painted or written on them. Both sides were separated by barricades and a large clear cordon maintained by a large number of Statesboro Police Officers in full riot gear with shields. The city and the Federal government were extremely serious about maintaining the peace in this situation. So serious that riot vans were visible besides the court house but that wasn't the most ominous threat.


Wardens in body armor rode large wargs, also wearing kevlar armor, rode around the event, patroling looking for any trouble. Both the riders annd mounts looked grim and serious. Order and civilty would be maintained this day...or else.



The pro-shifted group was on the left side of the courthouse and the anti-shifted were on the right side.

Currently both sides were relatively calm and just chanting at each other and waving signs, most of the crowd was just milling around with coolers and picnics. There were even food stands set up. There was an atmosphere of a pseudo carnival.

But the blood of the Merikcans can run hot. And worse it can go from stagnant to a raging boil in a matter of seconds given the right provocation. And such mass scale violence was something many people wanted to avoid, not only on this day but in the coming ones as well as the massively important issues were settled and important precedents were set.

Inside the Court

Through these doors is the Main Lobby/Foyer of the Supreme Court Building. The floor is polished stone tiles of various types of rock and minerals. Each type is taken from various states of the Republic, all brought here as a symbol of unity. The roof is far overhead lit up by light from various hidden sources to give the place a soft glow. Benches line the wall for people to sit in. three halls radiate off the foyer into the building.

The only odd thing in the room is the large glass case. Inside is the upper portion of a large cross made from wooden beams and nailed to it is a skeleton that was wired together. Nailed above the skull is the phrase “Cave proditores” Traitors beware.
At the foot of the cross is a plaque listing who this traitor was and his crimes and how long he suffered before finally perishing.

Justice is harsh and absolute in the Republic.

Carved into the arches over each hallway is a name. The one across from the doors is “Judicii”, Judgement. To the left is Veritas, truth, and to the right is Lex, law.

The hall has a floor of polish marble shot through with streaks of gold and with columns, similar to the ones outside, spaced evenly apart. Arches support the roof going from column to column. Ironwood doors lead off the halls to various other rooms and such.

But the most interesting things are the crosses attached to the walls every so often. A Skeleton is nailed to each cross, held together with wire. Nailed to the top each cross is the word “Proditor” traitor. At the foot of each cross is a plague with the name of the person, date of execution and an exact list of crimes committed by them as well as how long they suffered down to the exact second. The whole assembly is encased in glass.



At the end of the hall across from the main and secondary doors is the Supreme Court Room. It’s smaller than one might think. At one end rises a large oak desk that runs the length of the room with doors behind it at either end. Comfortable chairs rest behind it for people to sit on. Is the bench for the Judges.

A raised dais with a chair sits on it, behind that is a set of two desks with more chairs then a bannister separating the gallery from the rest of the room.

In the far left corner sits a row of 3 official Supreme Court Reporter sit ready with their stenographic machines to take note of the proceedings. Also ready are discrete microphones built into the benches to record the judges as well as a microphone built into the stand to record testimony from any such individuals called to give it.

Next to the court reporters is a sketch artist and a photographer. Both have small workstations built into the room for them to work from. For the photographer he has access to the rooms' cameras, which were built into the walls and well hidden. The cameras cover the entirety of the courtroom. He also has a chemical and a digital camera at his disposal with various lenses and attachments so as to document the proceedings.

All of the audio and visual recordings are also backed up digitally in the building and a secure sight for archiving or use in the future if they were needed. Even the court reporters' stenographic typings, which are written in each one's own shorthand, would be digitized and stored along with the physical copy of the note, both shorthand and longhand, and even the ink tape for future use if need be.

The Timocratic Republic was nothing if not through, bordering on obsessive, in such matters as these that it took so very seriously.

Thick red carpeting covers the floor, and thick red cloth is draped from the walls to lessen the echoes.


Built into the walls of the room was a speaker system capable of drowning everyone out with a thunderously amplified voice, if the Chief Justice chose to activate it from her seat at the bench. The Chief Justice could even use it to amplify various judges' voices so they could be heard over any noise in the courtroom however it was rarely needed.

Looming up behind the desk is another skeleton nailed to a cross encased in glass. The word “CAVETE” Beware. Again a plague adores it stipulating his crimes and punishment and how long he lasted.

Around three/quarters of the room, the space behind the judges already taken up, is another sent of polished wooden benches for more people to sit on as well as platforms for various news organizations to set up camera and sound equipment. Today the benches and platforms are all taken.

Stationed around the courtroom are various federal law enforcement agents from both the FBI and the Wardens. They are to act as crowd control/bailiffs/ security. And all are grim faced and serious today. No one was in any mood for any shape, kind or form of nonsense from any person, creature or being.

The room was now filled with various people, everyone dressed in nice suits or business skirts, or as some would put it ‘sunday morning best’. A Warden in full dress uniform, standing next to be Judge’s Bench issues commands.

“All rise for the Judges of the Supreme court!”

The left door behind the bench opened and the 7 Supreme Court Judges walked out.

First out was Justice Tadhg Rourke a small man barely breaking 5 and half feet and 120 pounds soaking wet, he nonetheless had sharp green eyes, a wicked tongue and fiery attitude that matched his bright red hair.

Next was Justice Naill Newman, a far more average looking man with brown hair and a bland look on his bland face. He was average height and average build.

Next came Justice Liam O’Tool, a massive man with a scarred right cheek and a pronounced limp caused by old injury from the Rebellion when he survived a nerve gas attack.

The next one was Chief Justice Aoife McKibben. A tall amazon of a woman with a scarred face and eyepatch and prosthetic arm. She was a survivor of the Amazon legion from the Battle of the Plains. She started out a sergeant and ended up commanding the remnants of a company.

The 5th Judge was Justice Aedh Ainmire, another fire plug and a tall and broad one at that though not as big as O’Tool he was known for his temper and biting tongue as well.

The 6th judge was Justice Ailill Molt, a smooth looking individual, he was a lifelong Judge Advocate General or JAG man, a military lawyer.

The last judge was Justice Caira McDonn the only other woman on the court and a pretty one at that. But she was a hard bitch as well, known for being just as tough minded as she was pretty.

All the judges took their seats behind the bench. There is a shuffling of paper and pen as each judge produces such items to take notes. Then there is a polite cough from the Chief Justice McKibben who produces a simple wooden gavel then bangs it on a raised circular block of wood called a sounding block.

Then she speaks in a firm projected voice that reaches everyone in the room without amplification.
“I hereby call this court into secession. The Supreme Court of the Timocratic Republic will now hear the case of Federal Government Versus Senators McDougal, MacAlister et al on the matter of the Legal Standing of the Shifted.”
She could make you hear the capital letters with her voice.

“Representing the Federal Government is Ms. Amanda Torres” - an average sized woman with long black hair and tanned completion with a pretty face and piercing blue eyes nods at the judges- “,representing the Senators McDougal, MacAlister and et al is Mr. Harvey Specter.” A tall handsome man with slicked back hair and smile full of perfect white teeth nods at the judges. He is the perfect image of a lawyer

“We have a long docket of experts from various fields who will be testifying over the course of the proceedings. I am aware of the importance of these proceedings and the large impact they will have, however, I will not have them rushed, done in a hasty manner etcetera etcetera. These will be done in a thorough and thoughtful manner so as to see the outcome is both correct and well argued. I want it so firm and concrete that a mile high skyscraper could be erected upon it.”


And McKibben sounded dead serious which given what has transpired in this room could be very literal. The wall decoration behind the judge’s bench testified silently to this.

Chief Justice Aoife McKibben gazed around the room for a minute so that everyone knew she was serious.

“Good then we shall begin with opening statements from both sides.”

[Patrick OConner]

The Opposing Side, was allowed to go first by common legal tradition. Harvey Stood and walked around his table to stand before the Supreme Justices.

“Ladies and Gentleman of the court, I am here today to present to you and to convince you of the rightness of my side. For we are not only right on one account but many!! For we have many legal issues all tangled together like the fabled knot but I am here to give you the knife to cut it!! It is really quite simple.”

Harvey starts now to slowly pace in front of the bench.

“ First we have what is clearly an overreach by the executive branch. The sheer gall of the President to declare the shifted protected under the Equal Treatment Laws!” Haverys voice rises with his passion now and fill the entire room.

“She assumed the power of the Senate in modifying the law and the power of the Supreme court in the interpretation of the Constitution!! This is an outrage!! And even worse she is wrong. For the founding document clearly does not protect the “Shifted-” Harvey made air quotes around the word “- when it makes no mention of them or even non humans. She was wrong on so many accounts that after you Justices have concluded this deliberation, the President deserves an immediate reprimand and an arrest and trail for treason. That is all I have to state.”

Harvey returned to his seat smirking now.

Ms. Torres now rose and calmly moved to stand before the justices.

“It is good to be here in this hallowed place of our nation.” Her voice is soft but firm and carries to the whole room despite her not speaking that loudly at all “This is a great place of history and power. This building dates all the way back to the Second Republic itself. So many momentous decisions have been made here.”

Torres eyes sweep the room as she turns around taking it all in.

“Precedents and ruling were laid down right here in this room that affect to this day despite a nation having come and gone and a new one born. Our new nation traces its roots all the way back to the Second Republic that was founded on simple principles. Among them was that all stood equal before the law, no matter what.”

Torres' volume begins to rise now as her passion infuses her voice.

“Birth, station, job, money, family, friends. None of that mattered. Everyone stood on equal legal footing with the same rights as everyone. And now we face an obstacle to this principle!! A wholly unanticipated event has not only rocked our country but the world as a whole!!! People have been radically altered but that does not change who they are nor does it change our founding principles!! The President acted quickly -maybe even hastily some would say- but she acted in the right. She was following not only the Constitution but very principles it was meant to enshrine. She did nothing wrong and the only thing that has changed are the looks of our citizens.”

With that Torres spun around and marched back to her seat. Her face was slightly flushed from her passionate speech.

Chief Justice Aoife McKibben nodded
“If there are no more opening statements we will move on to the testimony and presenting. As such are there no more statements to be made?”

She looked around the room with an expression of curiosity. She was honestly wondering if someone else would speak. But no one did.

“Fine, them opening statements are hereby closed.” She banged her gavel softly but with a solemn finality that rang through the room.

“Mr,. Harvey may call her first witness to the stand.” Chief Justice Aoife McKibben said

Mr. Harvey nodded and stood. He smiles and spoke
“We wish to call Dr. Du Pont. Professor of Biology at the University of Savannah.”

And with that the debates began. The long tedious boring debates, interviews and questions. It lasted for some time until it was time for witnesses and experts.