The next morning, Scott and Darjeeling were in a rapidly familiar position, Darjeeling hovering over the toilet and Scott rubbing her back. When Darjeeling finished, she leaned into Scott's embrace, eyes barely open. Scott thought for a moment, then he stood up, it may be four in the morning, but he was sure that Lothian would be awake.

As luck would have it, Lothian quickly answered, "Mr Lothian, would it be possible for Darjeeling to skip today's proceedings? She's not feeling well."

Lothian thought for a moment, "My Lord, you may send a representative with Rukuriri, I do not believe you need to have everyone come today."

Scott sighed in relief, "I'll let everyone know, we'll decide on who to send."

Hanging up the phone, Scott went back to Darjeeling, "you can have a lay-in today dear, Lothian said we can send a representative for the rest of the trial, Rukuriri still needs to testify so she'll go with them today," he said, lifting her and carrying her back to their bed.

Once it was a more decent hour, and after getting up a few more times that morning, Scott walked down to the lobby where he found most everyone was there, "I talked with Mr Lothian this morning, if one of you will go with Rukuriri today, we can just send a single representative to the remainder of the trial."

Josh frowned, "Is everything okay Milord?" he asked.

Scott sighed, "Morning sickness is kicking Darjeeling hard, we spent most of the morning in the ensuite because of it."

Elizabeth spoke up, "I'll go with Rukuriri today, then we'll go from there."

Scott thanked her before hurrying back to his room. Everyone grew concerned at this but didn't say anything. Elizabeth and Rukuriri soon arrived at the Peace Palace where they were greeted by John Lothian himself, "Lady Rukuriri, Miss Wellesley, if you'll both walk with me, I need to impart some concerns that cropped up this morning."

Sharing a look, Rukuriri and Elizabeth joined him in the garden, "Now, I'm sure you have seen what the news is reporting about foreign reactions to this trial?"

Elizabeth shrugged, "Just that the American President is upset about this. Why?"

Lothian sighed, "The British, German, Japanese, and Russian governments have signed a resolution stating that 'the governments that sign this resolution do hear-by declare that they are willing to see the Court's decision maintained in accordance with International Law by force if required'."

Elizabeth's eyes widened, "There is International support for an invasion of America if they do not abide by the Court's decision?"

Lothian nodded, "They're not the only ones, other countries are signing it as we speak, last I heard even the Vatican City was putting pen to paper and signing it."

There was only one phrase that came to mind at that, and Rukuriri put it quite elegantly, "Holy Shit!"

Lothian chuckled, "Quite literally in this case."

Elizabeth though kept her wits about her, there was a reason she had been sorted into Ravenclaw on the Pottermore site after all, "What has the American reaction been thus far?"

Lothian shrugged, "So far, silence, Trump hasn't tweeted or even made a public remark, not even the White House press secretary has held a briefing."

There wasn't much else to say, so they headed for the courtroom. After the judges entered, Lothian called Rukuriri to the stand, "Lady Rukuriri, we've heard from the command staff of the St Gloriana led alliance, would you please tell the court what the lower rank officers' reaction on the first of March were?"

Rukuriri nodded, "In regards to the battle, we shared Lord Perkins' outrage at our air support, in regards to hearing that Mister Hall and Lady Assam were missing, everyone was worried. The girls may not have known Joshua that well and the same with the boys and Lady Assam, but we knew the other very well and knew that they wouldn't just get lost."

Lothian nodded, "And of the first of April?"

"Joy that they were found, but worry about what had happened in that month," she replied.

Lothian bowed, "Prosecution yields your honours."

President Yusef nodded, "Defense may cross-examine."

Witfield stood up and walked over to the stand. Elizabeth may not have had Scott's years of political experience, but she could tell something big was about to happen. "Lady Rukuriri," he began, "Would you say that you are a trusted member of Lady Darjeeling's staff?"

Rukuriri thought for a moment, the question puzzling her, "I would say that Lady Darjeeling trusts me, but I am not a member of her staff, no."

Witfield blinked then changed his line of questions, "Would you say that you would call Lady Darjeeling, and by extension Lord Perkins, friends?"

Rukuriri nodded, "I would."

"So then," he questioned, "Why is it that upon the conclusion of the tournament, you attempted to commit suicide?"

The crowd gasped, and Elizabeth's eyes widened, surely he wouldn't use that dirty tactic. Lothian tried to nip this in the bud, "Objection! The question has no bearing upon the case!" he called.

Witfield wasn't dissuaded, "The truth is, you didn't consider them friends as you never had anyone, nor will…"

Yusef realised what was happening a moment too late as Rukuriri burst into tears on the stand. "Objection sustained! Mister Witfield! I believe I told you what would happen if you attempted to slander the witnesses again! I call a twenty-minute recess!" he shouted, banging his gavel harshly.

While Elizabeth was shocked at what had happened, the recess allowed her to push her way to the stand as the international press had descended upon Rukuriri like a flock of vultures. When she got there, she took Rukuriri into her arms and gently began to rock her, as she would for when her baby cousins were being fussy. The glares she sent to the press kept them back for enough time for Yusef to call guards to escort them and Witfield from the room. He and a few of the other justices walked over while the others waited just off to the side, anxious about what had happened and how it could have affected Rukuriri so badly. Finally, Elizabeth spoke, "It was a week after the tournament ended and one of the other pilots said the same thing to her."

Yusef called a huddle of the justices, then returned to them, "Please resume your seats in the gallery, you'll see why in a moment."

Heading to their seats, well Elizabeth carrying Rukuriri to their seats, she continued rocking Rukuriri and rubbing her back. Soon, everyone was back in their seats and waiting for the justices to speak. Yusef didn't disappoint, "After all that we've heard, we have come to a decision," here he paused for dramatic effect, "John Witfield, for repeated slander of the witnesses, in particular, Lady Rukuriri, and being in contempt of court policies, you are to pay a 15000 USD fine, that fine will be paid to the Lady Rukuriri. Furthermore, we find the accused, Vladimir Lavrinenko, guilty on all counts and herewith sentence him to death!"

Banging the gavel, the justices walked off. Elizabeth pulled Rukuriri along, fighting through the press until they finally reached their hotel. The bus-boy noticed their plight and quickly let them in and slammed the door in the faces of the press, even if that did little to dissuade them. However, Scott met them at the lobby, "There you are! We've been worried, Darjeeling would've come down, but she's still hovering over the toilet," he said while drawing Rukuriri into a hug, "How are you feeling Rukuriri?" he whispered.

Rukuriri didn't say a word as she clung to Scott, but he got the message, she was hurting bad. Taking her up to his room, they found that everyone was waiting for them. "We've got a choice Milord," Foster said, "We can either stay here until the Ark Royal arrives in two weeks, or we can get on the plane and head home now."

Scott looked around, "Somehow I get the feeling that we all want to head home," he remarked. He wasn't surprised to see everyone agreeing, "Right, pack your bags, we head for home!"

As everyone left, Scott took a look around the room, so much had changed since that late August day when they rolled out the Centurion from the C-130, and yet, he wouldn't trade any of it for his old life. He was already looking forward to the next chapter of his life, being a married man and a father…

Right, Chapter 18 up, not much to say on this one.

Reviews weren't really ones I could respond to bar one, Cpt. Linx, none of the officials knew that East High would do such a thing, as the rules prohibited them.

Until Next Time: Panzer Vor!