as written by barney_fife and Cream
The Argosian Legate put her hands briefly on her hips as she stared at Miley. "You don't know that." She said flatly. "You don't know the specifics of the case or how his punishment was decided. You're here disturbing the peace and disrespecting the culture of another country." She said, narrowing her eyes.
"This kind of behavior would get you scourged on Argos!" She called out. "So put a stop to this madness before someone gets hurt." She demanded.
Miley frowned at the Legate, her expression challenging. "And why don't we know anything? Because there was no trial. There was no options to find out what happened. There was no media coverage until he was brought here to die! I'm disturbing the peace that was already disturbed from the beheading. We deserve the truth. We deserve to know that if we ever find ourselves in trouble, that we'll have a fair trial first and not just be judged and punished."
And then another thought occurred to her. "The man that died up here wasn't even avorian. He wasn't even from here. What's to say that Volaria hasn't disrespected the country he's from. What about his rights? I don't care if you disapprove of my behaviour. I'm standing up for what is right for all people, Avorian's and others."
The Legate scowled. "You want to know the truth!?" She called out. "Josh was tried In Absentia by an international tribunal, under the laws of the AXIS Cooperation Forces. The evidence was weighed along with his defense, and he was found guilty of the crime by an international jury of AXIS Delegates." Livia explained.
Miley laughed. "You want me to believe that bullshit. Where is the evidence? Show us evidence of this!"
"Available to the public, all you had to do was ask, but you didn't think to do that did you?" She said, laughing. "Why don't you come to Argos and spout off like this? You want to yammer on about rights? Disturbing the peace; twenty lashes with a flagrum, speaking out against the monarch? You could have your tongue cut out and be crucified for your actions." She spat.
"You're nothing but a profligate, dissolute!" Livia shouted
"You've got no evidence to show. Shanthi deserves justice for what was done to her. Something like that should of had nationwide coverage. We should have seen and heard what Joshua had done to her. But it was all kept under wraps until that day. That only means one thing. That there is something to hide! Something we're not been told! Or that the Matriarch went against all rules and laws because of her personal involvement."
"I don't care about Argos and their punishments. What I care about is our rights. I want to know what gave Avantia to pass up on all the rules and laws and behead the man. He didn't even know he was going to die! Not until he was up on this stage and prepared. Where were his rights?!" Miley shouted back, refusing to stand down on the whole thing. She was here to prove a point.
"And this ladies and gentlemen is the face of the Terran National Government!" Livia shouted, turning away from Miley. "Their Citizens trampling on your individual identities and culture! All in the name of their own percieved rights!" Livia shouted.
"It's all there! The Terrans send agents to disturb this great nation! To spread distrust and chaos!" She shouted. "These Terran Profligates don't care about your individual cultures! All they care about is making themselves look like your betters!" People had began to agree with the legate. It was then Livia grinned.
"Maybe I'll go to Aslund and start a riot, way to represent your nation, lady."
"This has nothing to do with me or that man being Terran! If he had been avorian, I would have still been up here questioning why it was done. I am a charity worker from Wing City. I came here over six months ago to help the poor. I have enjoyed my time here, mixing with everyone. I have both avorian and human friends. I have enjoyed being a part of your kind and peaceful nation. Right up until I saw the horror three days ago that had a man on this stage begging for his life on national television. Tell me everyone. If that had been your brother, father, uncle or friend up there with no warning whatsoever, would you all be standing here today agreeing with me, or still with your Matriarch?"
"Why not tell me, had Shanthi been your sister, your mother? Your Daughter?" Livia called out. "Shanthi deserved justice! Not only should Josh have been on that stage, but that Wastrel O'Leary, and Miles Hagan too!"
"Like I've always said. I want Shanthi to have justice. The right justice!"
"Justice is not causing chaos, i'm done with you, Profligate, speak to me again and I'll cut out your tongue." She snapped, before she turned to a pair of Legionaries. "Venite et eamus" She ordered, and then turned to leave.