Planet: Talus
Region: Fort Keen
Story: (Written by the Galactic News Agency, Ramona doesn't write IC).
The 4th day of the trial against the Holowood Galactic Studios started with an exchange of barbs and insults between the defense and the prosecution before the session even started, a testament to the less and less civilized manner in which the trial is held.
An attempt by the defense to have Dr. Eabha Brea testify about various spices and their uses, but the witness was disqualified since Dr. Brea is actually under contract by HGS and therefore not an unbiased expert by any means. As a replacement another doctor was called to testify, a bothan named Caer.
Dr. Caer confirmed that there were variations of spice which are used for medical needs, particularly the type that was administered to Mr. Medjai - Sedative H4b. As expected Dr. Caer stated as well that she'd break the law and perform unlicensed surgery to save human lives, as O'Fey had done. Since this was just her personal view it was, after an objection by the Prosecution, deemed irrelevant and struck from the record.
The next defense witness was bothan holostar Khalana. Originally mute from birth the sentient recently had a cybernetic implant installed which allowed her to speak. In a touching scene she stated, upon being questioned by the defense, that she had done this - allegedly dangerous and invasive procedure - since "her voice is needed to be heard to help her friends in the studio in this trial". This statement was not challenged, though Mr. Scorpio was almost filed as in contempt of the court when he asked the judge to focus on the performance of the Fuse in question, not their members' past.
Another exchange of barbs followed over the matter of whether or not the prosecution already charged Miss Khalana with impersonating an Imperial officer or not when the prosecutor tried to have those charges added.
Then this exchange was overshadowed by the next witness of the defense, Lieutenant John Koizumi, of the ISB, currently assigned to the Fort Keen garrison under the command of Colonel Amodeus DuCar, catching the prosecution by surprise.
The officer had been personally present at the Imperial Yell show in Aventine, and was questioned about his personal opinion on that show, and whether or not it was, in his opinion, an attempt to spread rebellious propaganda.
The agent replied that he had taken the show as humoristic and done in complete jest, and that he did not object to HGS' existence, nor its entertainment shows, even despite the fact that he disliked a few of its members. Then the defense's final question dropped a bomb, to borrow a more military term:
Asked why HGS was on trial, Agent Koizumi answered “Because they are Aliens”.
The defense did not have any more questions to the witness.
The prosecution tried to respond by inquiring if the agent was bribed to give these answers while the imperials present were obviously displeased by the testimony, but
Judge Kartzer reprimanded Symane for such insulting comments towards a superior officer and a distinguished ISB agent before he adjourned the court.
Opinions about those events varied. Some who followed the trial claimed it was proof that this was a staged trial, done to either create publicity for HGS or to discredit certain xenophic elements within the Empire, or both, and was directed by the ISB. Others did question Koizumi's integrity, wondering whether or not he would still be around by the 5th day of the trial. A few muttered about shapechangers impersonating various people involved in the trial for goals unknown.
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