“It’s deplorable, a complete abuse of power. All them Capsuleers are like that. They think they’re so much higher than the rest of us. Elitism, plain and simple. Every time I watch the holos one of them is fouling something up. I think he needs to be made an example of.”

“I’m still in shock. I just can’t believe it. It’s like a nightmare I can’t wake up from. I mean, he’s a Hero of the Republic. My kid has his action figure. No way did he do anything wrong. It has to be a setup.”

“Me? I couldn’t care less. Doesn’t affect my life either way. I go to work, I come home. Life goes on. People need to get over it already.”

“Opinions vary across the Republic, as the trial of Colonel Roc Wieler continues. Love him or hate him, he has become the very symbol of Capsuleers throughout all New Eden. Regardless of the final verdict in this hearing, a new level of awareness towards pod pilots has been raised, and it’s one of strict accountability and consequence. This has been a Scope News exclusive.”

—

Maleatu Shakor turned off the holovid in anger. Things were not going according to plan. He had designed the trial of Colonel Roc Wieler to have a twofold purpose:

1. To humble the arrogant soldier into a more pliable tool for the Republic.
2. To serve as a distraction from the sad state of the Republic’s war effort against the Amarr.

He had intended for the Colonel to come through this unscathed, to learn and grow, to live up to his full potential and become a driving force against the Amarr.

Instead, he had been blind-sided (pardon the expression). In the years he had now known Roc, the man had been infallible, following a strong moral code without fail. Shakor couldn’t imagine him having dealings with any Amarr let alone a slave trader. Someone had taken advantage of the situation. He himself was using Roc Wieler, but for a noble purpose. Someone else doing so at Shakor’s expense, for unknown gain, didn’t equate to irony in his mind; it had the potential to bring complete devastation to the morale of the Republic.

He looked over the records on his desk once again. He had obtained a full copy of the evidence submitted by the prosecution, the accounting dockets of Philip Wessam. Shakor’s finest fraud specialists had been over the records thoroughly, and could find no trace of inaccuracy or deception. They were legitimate.

Roc Wieler had been responsible for the selling of fellow Minmatar as slaves.

—

“Of course not. I would never do such a thing.” Roc Wieler said to his attorney, Shiaz Starr. Starr didn’t know what to think anymore. The damning evidence was there, yet still his client cried innocence. He didn’t know Roc Wieler from a hole in the wall, but he did know that everyone in prison was innocent, at least according to them.

“Listen.” Starr began. “The records are crystal clear. Your broker, one Minara Dawn I believe,” Starr paused while referencing his notes for clarification, “Yes, Minara Dawn, your broker. She’s been handling all your funds and investments for almost three years it shows here, from even before your time in the military.”

Roc nodded in agreement.

Starr continued. “Well, she’s the one that’s been employing this Philip Wessam. On your behalf, she’s been dealing in slavery for your profit! And since you signed off on it, it’s your liability.”

Roc shook his head. “I’d never sign something like that. Ever. Get Minara here. We’ll sort this out.” Roc sounded a little shaken. Granted, he’d primarily spent the last few days in this cell, cut off from the rest of the universe.

“There’s nothing I’d like more than to get here and put her on the stand! The problem is, she’s gone underground; nobody can find her. And we’re dead in the water if we can’t debunk this.”

Roc Wieler rested his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped with his chin on them, deep in thought. He was thinking to himself about whom he knew that could help him in this situation, if anyone. His first thought was Mynxee, or one of the Bastards, but he rebuked himself for falling into old thought patterns.

Clearly his mind had faltered if his first thought for assistance was pirates. Where had he gone wrong? When did he cross that line, if only mentally? He needed to set things straight. He needed to get through this and prove to himself more than anyone, that he was still worthy to serve the Republic.

“Show me what I signed.” Roc said finally.

Starr quickly fumbled through his attache case, finding the appropriate document, and pointing to the signature of his client at the bottom of it.

“Is that your signature?” Starr asked.

After a moment’s inspection, Roc replied. “Yeah, it is.” He leaned back against the wall of his cell. “I’ve never asked her what all the stock exchange short forms were; I just assumed they were all legit, as I always specified. She always delivered.”

“Never asked?!” Starr nearly screamed. “Yeah, I can certainly go in there and tell that to the Tribunal! ‘Oh, your honours, my client claims stupidity and ignorance, placing billions of isk in assets into the hands of his broker without thinking to ever read the fine print or get the details.’ Yeah, THAT is going to go over oh so well.”

Roc sighed.

—

Shakor sighed. There had to be a way to get around this. He wasn’t going to let things go sour because of one man, no matter how much he liked him personally.

Maybe he was going to have to do what he had been pretending to do all along. Maybe he was actually going to have make an example of Colonel Roc Wieler.

Shakor rested his hands on his desk, leaning his weight on them heavily. “Forgive me, my friend.” he said to nobody.