Chrysalis Visits The Hague

by Dan The Man

Defence Internal Memo sent Friday November 20, 2015

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Transcript for those unable to see the image file:

M E M O R A N D U M

To: ICC-01/15-01/15 immediate defence team (Filippo Garibaldi, Lyra

Heartstrings, Helena Stephanidou, Lars Krogstad) - Office of the

Public Counsel for the Defence

From: Alexander Estermann, Defence Counsel

Date: 16.11.2015

Subject: Appeal to HRH Chrysalis’ defence team

The Current Situation

As you may have heard, the date of the first hearing of the pre-trial chamber under Justice Suruma has been set for the Monday the 19th. This means that the investigation phase will soon turn critical.
It is during these few pre-trial hearings that the official charges against the suspect are discussed and set. As is to be expected, the prosecution intends to push an entire array of accounts, essentially throwing as many at the judge panel as they can get away with.

Even as the Prosecutor, the press and public opinion all have indulged in labeling her guilty of every conceivable crime, I want you to make no mistake; the Queen is a victim of circumstance, and her actual complicity is beyond uncertain. A majority of the charges are based on unreliable and presumptive evidence supplied by the Equestrian government.

Our Duties And Our Attitude

At this point it is clear that it’s the defence’s foremost duty to stifle all of these attempts through well-researched discreditation and firm dedication to the current body of evidence.
As the case may be, the inviolability of the Queen will remain paramount throughout the pre-trial session and beyond. Every charge the judge panel concedes to would extend the courtroom action by several potential months - to avoid these complications in time for the actual trial chamber is in the interests of both the suspect and the court, not to mention yourselves.

I do not want you to perceive this task as a mandatory court-appointed counsel. We are not in the process of ‘closing the stable door after the (metaphorical) horse has bolted’. We are here because there is literally no one else our suspect could trust with to treat this matter with our professionalism and integrity. It is with this outlook that I wish to see you conduct your work.
Defeatism and lack of faith in the defence’s abilities will not be appreciated. Should you experience any ‘qualms’ or ‘moral complications’ about carrying out your duties; now would be the best time to swallow them (alternately, you might want to make an appearance in my office next thing tomorrow). Of course, attempts to hinder the work of the defence or downright sabotage it will be dealt with through severe disciplinary measures, no matter your intent.

The Prosecution’s War

While all these things might appear self-evident or unnecessarily harsh to any long-time employee of the ICC, I repeat them for the reason that the Equestrian issue is a controversial matter that requires a careful and ever-skeptical approach.

By current estimates, the conflict between the changeling and pony races of Equestria has raged on for as long as one thousand years. The amounted casualties promise to be enormous, and the tensions between the sides are rooted deep in their history and society. The war won’t simply end with one of the main warmongers entering a court of law; It is more likely that the frontlines will move to the bench. As uncomely as this idea might seem, litigation is going to become the war’s weapon of choice, and the parts of the soldiers will be played, nolens volens, by the defence and the prosecution.

Even as you may not feel like fighting a war, you will inevitably be seen as enemy agents by Equestria either way, so you can expect to be treated by the co-plaintiffs in this manner. Attempts to muddy the issue through i.e. fabricated evidence, abuse of court assets, perversion of court protocol, slander, personal attacks, or even threats against the suspect and the team, cannot be ruled out!

So in light of this, a little soldierly wariness on your behalf would certainly not go amiss.

Privacy Takes Priority

As for the next few weeks, I likewise require as much confidentiality as confidence from every one of you. With this, I mean to ensure perfect radio silence on every measure the defence takes. This is to protect our suspect, any possible witnesses and sources that might come forward, and to prevent any leaks that might, in any shape or form, damage our progress in the investigation.

To this end:
- Do not discuss any details of your work with friends, family, or colleagues outside these offices. Court officers and judges are, obviously, exempted.
- All communication between HRH Chrysalis and you will from now on flow through me, and only take place via secure channels.
- All newly received pieces of evidence will pend my review before(!) they can be submitted to the Registry.
- Make backup copies of every document you come in contact with, and keep a close eye on existing copies. Nothing that hasn’t been encrypted or secured in some form is to traverse the office doors, even if (!) copies of it have been brought into circulation by the Registry. Our files and notes are sacrosanct.
- Likewise, any official communication given to the press and the public require my approval. This includes press conferences and interviews.

Feeding The Press

Seeing how, in the light of the Prosecutor’s recent revelation by way of the ‘Everfree Collage’, a statement on our part has consciously been withheld, you can expect press enquiries on the Queen’s position to become much more intrusive. Those, as well as any other unofficial prompts you should either ignore entirely, or build your replies on the following short statement which I have taken the liberty to type out earlier today (Ms Stephanidou, this primarily concerns you in your function as press & external relations secretary):

“Her Royal Highness has been following the recent developments with great concern. Both as a political leader and a mother, she immediately expressed her sincere shock and sorrow at the goings-on and condemned them for the atrocities they were. These revelations caught her as off-guard as any other equine or human bystander, and so she was nothing short of horrified when she found herself at the heart of the Prosecutor’s investigation. Currently, she wishes nothing more than to clear her good name from those ugly allegations of complicity once and for all, and clarify her actual, passive role as Changeling regent. As a matter of fact, she looks forward to aiding the ICC in its search for the true culprits and would gladly see them being held to account for their past actions.”

I think it also goes without saying the choice of news outlet is integral in itself:
If it’s respectable and renowned for neutrality, it’s a decent platform - if it’s known to report benignly on our work, it’s an ideal one.
On the other hand, papers and stations that have been known to attack us or excessively criticise us will categorically receive no comments - supplying the yellow press with fodder is not going to make them change their attitudes towards us.
When in doubt about the their intentions, just remember: a slip of the lip can sink a ship.

Postscriptum

I would also like to take this opportunity to address each and everyone of you personally. Even though we have been working together for one week, I don’t think I have taken the time to interact with you on a personal level.
Despite this, I’d like to say: Thank you for your continued work. She’s counting on you.

Author's Note:

I decided to have a little fun with this one. Most of the other defence workers were lacking quite some characterisation anyway.

Props to Waicure for all the svenska sprinkling!

Comments

[Dan The Man]

7479319
...Oh well, sleep is overrated.

[Dan The Man]

7479339
Internet Relay Chat?
How do you mean?

[xoid]

It appears that shenanigans are going on inside the archives and, surprise, surprise, Pierre is as contemptible as ever. Did Edith actually swear fealty to Luna, or merely service? If the former her home country may have objections to that.

[Dan The Man]

7479373 Oh, I have no idea. I never used it once (which may or may not answer your question).

[Dan The Man]

7479418
...Not that I know of.
Well, maybe once, out of curiosity, but I never posted anything there yet.

7479386

[Oliver]

This document is a very nice touch.

[bloons3]

7479423
I'm really happy that you updated. This is a true 'shades of grey' morality, where neither side is pure.

[xoid]

Funny how everyone is saying that there’s shades of grey here. Changelings in this story are akin to a vampire/succubus/xenomorph hybrid with all the worst traits of each. They’re social parasites that do not understand the meaning of the word “moderation”. They’re remorseless killers, deceit incarnate. They’re led by an unrepentant, insatiable, irredeemable monster whose delusions of grandeur and hubris alone would damn her entire species were it not for the vagaries of time, her amoral defence lawyer, the rule of law, and the fact that human law simply isn’t set up with unageing demigods and magic in mind.
The absolute worst thing the Equestrians did was round up a bunch of war criminals and lock them away. We’ve hanged people for the sort of shit Chrysalis and her hive has done.

[Jack Kellar]

The amount of Swedish dropped by Lars makes me feel utterly left out of the loop. That ain't cool, Dan.

[Sweetblue]

7482091
And this comment here is the exact reason why we have international courts which make a true attempt to look into truths of the matters from NEUTRAL standpoint. If you have read the story you cannot say there is not many MANY worrying things in how this all is going down, and many people in the story (Luna especially) are walking forward with their eyes closed but head held high. (I mean look at that Archivist flip out after she read the page.)

True magic and immortals do not mix well with human law, i wonder how Luna would fare in the said justice system? How about Celestia herself if all their deeds would be brought to light? Discord i bet would get a pretty bad end of a stick.

“May its magic shield her and guide her in her quest for the truth."

I can barely contain myself until this comes to bite Luna, if i recall she was planning another campaign, seeking to wipe out Changelings once and for all.

Anyway awesome chapters, keep up the good work!

Edit:
Wait, did that archivist not technically STEAL evidence from the investigation team as she ran off with it? Am pretty sure that is not cool. And she is working for the council of harmony no less.

[xoid]

7555452

If you have read the story you cannot say there is not many MANY worrying things in how this all is going down,

And I never said otherwise, did I? Feel free to note that ALL of the worrying things are about procedure, legality, and reliability of witness testimony that’s 1,000 years out of date. Not one of the worrying things on Equestria’s behalf are moral ones as they’re all about technicalities. From a moral standpoint there are no shades of grey here.

And this comment here is the exact reason why we have international courts which make a true attempt to look into truths of the matters from NEUTRAL standpoint.

Have I been reading the story⁉ Have you even been reading the fucking story? We, the readers, have seen — firsthand, no less! — proof of each and every thing I claimed about her and about changelings in general. If I simply told you to reread the story instead of wasting my time you’re going to take that as a baseless attack, not do so, and claim some horseshit about how I’m letting the ponies’ propaganda compromise my objectivity, aren’t you? I’m going to have to hold your hand through this one, aren’t I? Joy.

Changelings in this story are akin to a vampire/succubus/xenomorph hybrid with all the worst traits of each.

Remember when we, the readers, followed that U.N. investigator into that mini‐hive? It has been established that Changelings drain emotions like a vampire drains blood, leaving their victims’ minds with a lack of emotion that has parallels with how a vampire’s victims are short a lot of blood; the victims’ bodies are a broken husk, like how men end up looking when drained of their life‐force or soul by a succubus; the parallels between the xenomorph and changelings are obvious enough that I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt in that you recognise and admit that said parallels exist.

They’re social parasites…

They fit the very definition of social parasites, the subset of parasites that trick their host society into believing they are one of them, and act as a net drain on the host society. Social parasites are like that species of ant that mooches off another species of ant. Look up parasites on Wikipedia.

…that do not understand the meaning of the word “moderation”.

As seen when the U.N. inspector found that mini‐hive they also drain their victims until death — does that sound like “moderation” to you?

They’re remorseless killers, deceit incarnate.

They drain their victims to death and have to be deceitful in order to impersonate a victim credibly. They can pretend to be their victim, lying to a mother’s face while wearing her daughter’s, all the while their victim is slowly being drained to death. These aren’t the actions of beings who are remorseful for their excesses, nor are these the actions of beings who aren’t deceitful. It… it almost sounds like, gee, like “they’re remorseless killers, deceit incarnate”.

They’re led by an unrepentant, insatiable, irredeemable monster whose delusions of grandeur and hubris alone would damn her entire species…

You’ve heard it before straight from the bug‐horse’s mouth — she’s not only admitted to her defence counsel that she did the deeds she’s charged with but she’s proud of them. And you’ve seen her inflated sense of self‐worth, her megalomania, her humiliation and denigration of the man trying to keep her head off the chopping block, her inability to accept the fact that there’s a damn good chance that her crowing at her past misdeeds at trial as gleefully and pridefully as she did to her defence counsel will result in her being imprisoned indefinitely and deprive her goddamned species of the one being who’s willing to stand up for them!

…were it not for the vagaries of time, her amoral defence lawyer, the rule of law, and the fact that human law simply isn’t set up with unageing demigods and magic in mind.

This is such a simple statement of fact that not even you should have issue with it. Feel free to prove me wrong though.

[Sweetblue]

7555606

Simply put no. You are seeing this too much in terms of black and white, Chrysalis is evil so Celestia must be good. No matter how evil and how detestable things Chrysalis has done she has right to justice, and justice is NOT revenge.

There is many worrisome aspects which are present in the current time, the 'study' which proved changelings as animals, the lynch mob of ponies and what they did and now latest and not the least the planned war of EXTERMINATION of changelings. Not to even mention that they have been driven to wasteland. These all tell us about attitudes of ponies towards changelings, how long has this been going on? What is the historical ties in all this? Is Chrysalis reliable source of information of Celestia's actions? Has there been more of such things? WHO started the conflict and why.

“they’re remorseless killers, deceit incarnate”.

All conflicts have two sides, and more often than not both of them are messed up beyond belief and both have committed vile atrocities. You are saying that the changelings should be lynched as animals for what they have done? Read history, many people have been called evil savages only worth the sword in their guts. And when that has happened it has not been proud moments in human history. If you can please find me ONE happy occasion of Genocide. Where all the world rejoiced and it was just.

As Chrysalis herself goes? Sure she has done bad stuff, why? Under what circumstances? As result of what? How did it all play out? How did others retaliate? For all we know Chrysalis just wanted a hug and Celestia needs changeling blood for her potion of youth so she keeps stomping them. We do not KNOW what has transpired in past, and this is why it needs to be investigated. Problem is that there appears to be only evidence from pony point of view, and Changelings are driven underground and are fighting for their survival. Is there other options for them? Why not? Sure she needs to pay for her actions but we need the full story.

This is WHY we have system of justice which is blind, and people who defend people no matter who they are to the end. Justice needs to be blind. It needs to be NEUTRAL, and very calm.

Also it is inherent part of system of law that accused gets (in theory) a lawyer who fights for her to bitter end. If you do not agree that accused should have such i do not really know what i should say. Being amoral here is being moral.

Edit:
And if any Xenomorphs, Succubus, vampires other parasites show proof of being sapient they should get a lawyer too if their actions break laws, they have a right for trial. We use what tools we have, might be laws need adjustment to take in consideration immortals in future. And all in all human laws in my own opinion might not even apply as most if not all crimes were done before humans showed up and let Equestrians know what they were. To me it is a bit iffy but such is life.

[Vitae]

7555606
7556341

I'd like to say that neither side is right and neither side is wrong. Naturally, the changelings are a predatory species and the ponies are their prey so to actually claim them as evil is to call all predators evil in a sense.

The key reason that this ruling is so difficult is that to condemn them for hunting would be akin to telling someone that they cannot eat meat because it hurts the feelings of others who do not eat meat and outlawing meat or the killing of prey animals to appease the minority.

Of course this doesn't work with humans as we do not eat each other in large quantities (at least, I hope we don't!) But I digress, these are two species that are predator and prey and whilst the acts of slavery and such should be addressed, the equestrians have also committed genocide in response to this and wish to label them as "pests" when in truth, they are the anathema to each other, they are natural enemies.

To condemn one for their actions is to allow the other side to grow uncontrolled and unchecked and will answer a very old question of the cycle of life.

Which is more important, the prey, or the predator?

[Cakebomb]

7567797 I guess you're right.

[Dan The Man]

7569085

The spelling you meant was "bitey" (bite-y).

So I did. I'll get on it right away.

"Mr. Author, are you giving your characters reason to be hard to comprehend?"

Just keeping you on your toes.
Lest things'll become too straightforward around here.

as a UI/UX (User Interface/Experience) design guy, I really need to point out that, if you have to say "Don't let X scare you off", you've already lost

...Thanks.

[tsaukpaetra]

Yeah, this letter speaks of a high level of confidence for sure...

[Zh3sh1re]

7569280 Are you Swedish? Because if you are, I am disappointed in you! There are some grammatical errors there in the text, you know. Oh well! Spänningen stiger! ;P

[Bahamuttone]

7556341
The thing is... the changeling are preying on ponies, their WHOLE lifestyle is enslaving and mooching ponies dry. At that point IT IS PERFECTLY justifiable to defend themselves.
As Chrysalis DOESN'T broker any kind of compromise, it is clear that the only options available to the ponies are eradicating the menace or getting eaten...
What should they do?
The comparison to HUMAN HISTORY genocide, do not compare, as there is NOT a compulsory biological reason of conflict...

[Toneri]

8253235

7555606
Why do I get the feeling that by the end of this the lawyer would bullshit his way to winning the trial

[BurningSkies]

Lars getting caught snarking on the doc reminds me of when a classmate of mine admitted to cheating on homework in the chat of a class google meet in full view of the teacher.