Thanks to RG-Guest, "jimmy", TaliaAlGhul77, "Guest", & for their feedback. First off, RG-Guest: you're almost too good with continuity (including mine XD), always one step ahead of me, lol. ...As to your question about the "Big Bad/Bads"... Well, the answer to that will take time.
As to the point both of the contrasting treatment of the Arrancar and the Quincy... To start, the Shinigami weren't in a position to take a hard line, and the mood of the general populace of fatigue. And when the conflict abruptly halted, the people on the ground had a reprieve to see each other as "people. Also, the efforts of the Arrancar in the immediate aftermath, and the Shinigami's acceptance of their help, lead to the perception of the former enemy to gradually soften and change to make peace possible.
TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW
Chapter XXXVII:
"Judgment, Part 2"
Soul Society...
Central Chamber, Gotei Council...
A number of officer- Shinigami, Vizard, and Arrancar- were all gathered around the squared circular table in the central Chamber, in order to discuss various topics...
"I expect you all will be wondering as to the main reason we were summoned." Kensei Muguruma began, his tone steady as he addressed the others. "Given that one of the main functions of the Ninth is the security of this organization, there are certain matter I believe should be addressed."
The captain took a moment to clear his throat. "To begin with, we have received multiple reports from our agents, regarding the Wandenreich." Kensei continued. "According to their reports, there has been some kind of disturbance in their Realm of origin- and that it is significant enough that a large number of Quincy have fled into the living realm in a mass exodus."
"Do we have some idea as the cause of this?" Toshiro Hitsugaya replied.
"More to the point," Shinji spoke up. "We might also do well to consider just what sort of effects that this mass displacement have on the Living Realm." The Vizard pointed out.
"Both good points." Szayel answered. "The truth is... that so far, we don't have any solid information as of yet, only theories." The Arrancar revealed. "Right now, our agents are monitoring the Quincys in the Living Realm- that is, the ones we know of." He continued. "However, what I find rather interesting in all of this- is the type of individuals making up the majority of the displaced."
"Among the confirmed pockets we're currently monitoring, the groupings vary in size- in most cases, ranging between a few dozen, to a few hundred." Kensei resumed. "And in each instance, the majority of individuals appear to be either non-military or low-ranking Sternritters." The pierced, white-haired Vizard continued. "And personally, I find the lack of warriors in their numbers significant."
"The reports indicate a fair portion are teenagers and children." Szayel elaborated.
Jushiro Ukitake shook his head, folding his arms. "For non-combatants- and children no less- to be in a such a vulnerable position..." He started. "...something is badly wrong."
"Captain Muguruma," Byakuya Kuchiki began. "Do you believe these Quincy pose any threat to either the stability or to the denizens Living Realm?" The Officer and noble inquired, setting his teacup down, his keen gray eyes looking impassively toward the other man.
"No." He replied, shaking his head. "There's no evidence, so far, to indicate that this is anything other than some kind of mass-migration." Kensei went on. "My instincts tell me that something happened in their native dimension, something that they're now trying to get away from."
"Some kind of upheaval or cataclysm, perhaps..." Shunsui mused.
"Given the losses they suffered in Karakura..." Nelliel commented. "The deaths of several prominent members of their elite Sternritter, including their Military Supreme Commander, and the ones we have in our holding cells," the green-haired female Arrancar recounted. "The Wandenreich's overall military power would surely have been markedly diminished and fractured."
"In other words, vulnerable." Jushiro chimed in. "But to what?"
"We still need more information." Byakuya spoke. "In regard to the displaced Quincy, it might be best that we continue observing them discretely." The elegant man reasoned.
"He's right." Toshiro remarked, folding his hands and his chin on them. "The Arrancar, for the most part, are positively disposed towards us." He continued. "The last thing we need right now for some of them to start getting... ideas, especially when we can't afford further conflict with them."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Detainment Center, Debriefing...
"...in order to better address the various issues regarding the charges against me, I would first remind you that my superiors in the Wandenreich had declared war." Yohanz Van Leitner stated. "I'm a soldier, I was trained to follow orders. And as the Commander-General of the Soldat, it was my duty to see that those serving under me carried out the orders handed down to me."
"And I would remind you that there was no formal declaration of war." Hisagi Shuhei countered, as he sat across the table from the man. "You were carrying out an illegal war."
"Is there such a thing as a legal war?" Van Leitner answered back. "Before you condemn me, I would like to point out that you that war is- by its very nature- inherently aggressive. One does not enter into a battle without ensuring the greatest possibility of victory... And history has shown, time after time, that an attack is always most effective when it comes unexpectedly." The Quincy explained. "In war, what matters most is the end result. The rest... is merely quibbles for historians to debate."
"Is that also your personal view as well?" Hisagi asked.
"My personal views are immaterial." Van Leitner fired back. "I had my orders, and I carried them out. To do anything else would be a violation of the oath I swore- as a soldier and officer."
"And what of individual responsibility?" Hisagi pointedly asked. "When does that finally start being a factor in all of this?" He continued. "Invariably, we're all accountable for our own actions."
"Tell me," Van Leitner leaned back. "Would you like an apology?"
"What we would like is an acknowledgment." The Shinigami bluntly responded.
The Quincy took a breath, then exhaled. "I'm no politician, I'm a soldier." He started. "I've spent half my life on the battlefield, refining the art of conflict..." Van Leitner paused. "But even I know enough to know what would become of me if I were to disobey orders."
"And yet, all that said, I carried out my orders. And I did so, fully understanding the implications of what I was doing, down to the human level." Van Leitner continued evenly. "If that was a mistake, then it was my mistake- which I alone made." He paused, rubbing his chin. "I gave the orders to the Soldat, and it is upon me- as their Commander- that ultimate responsibility must rest."
Elsewhere...
Yoko Watase, Fifth Seat of the Eleventh, looked across the table, to the figure of Askin N. LeVaar...
The Quincy was casually seated at the other end of the table, facing her. "Yesterday, you were present with formal documentation of the charges against you." Yoko began. "You stand accused of the second and third charges: Carrying out Acts of Aggression Against the Piece and the Stability of the Realms; and of Committing Acts in contravention of the Article of War."
"I understand." Askin replied with a nod. "Third Lieutenant Watase, is it?" He added with a smile.
"Third Lieutenant?" She repeated, slightly quizzical.
"Well, your Commanding Officer holds a Captain's rank." The Quincy answered. "Below that, is the rank of First Lieutenant, and then Second Lieutenant... So, you, as the fifth-most senior officer of your Company, would be equivalent to a Third Lieutenant or a Chief Warrant Officer."
The female Shinigami shook her head. "Anyway," she responded after a moment. "Before we continue, do you presently have any statements, mitigating or otherwise, that you would like to make- perhaps in your defense- while on record?" She offered, gesturing to a digital recording device on the table.
"Not right now." Askin replied. "But I'll let you if anything comes to mind."
"Noted." The dark-haired woman resumed. "For this session, I have some questions I'd like to ask you, to better clarify your involvement in the invasion of Karakura." Yoko explained to him, before turning on the main recording device within the room.
"First off, what were you- a Lieutenant of the Wandenreich's elite Schutzstaffel- doing, participating in a field operation?" The Fifth-Seat Asked. "After all, the function of the 'SS', as I am lead to understand, is handling internal affairs and the security of the Wandenreich- is it not?"
"Indeed, it is." The Quincy answered, running a hand through his dark hair. "But surely, you and the other Shinigami will have realized that the invasion was only the first step in a much larger operation- one with implications for the entire Wandenreich." Askin explained. "The reason that I was there, was as a representative of the SS... Had things gone as planned, I would have returned to SS Headquarters and reported my observations back to my superiors."
"But things didn't go to plan..." Yoko began with a slight smirk. "Or, perhaps it might be more accurate to say, that events didn't follow any plan of your superiors."
"Touché, Officer Watase." Askin replied, himself smiling.
"And now," Yoko continued. "Moving on to my next question..."
In another room...
Yumichika Ayasegawa sat in silence as the audio played...
"...the people in the white uniforms, the Quincy, they attacked us. One of them, a blonde woman in a skimpy outfit, she fired a bolt of... of lighting into the living room."
"And what was the effect of this?"
"My friend, Tatsuki, she was badly hurt by it... And, my pet birds... they were killed by it."
"And after seeing this... this was when you say you fought back?"
"Yes... I was so angry. All I could think about was getting back them... Without even thinking, I just cast Koten Zanshun... And I killed one of them. ...The blonde Quincy woman got pretty upset then, and tried to use her lighting on me... But, I cast Santen Kesshun, and deflected it back at her."
"And this was when-"
Yumichika pressed a button on the audio device, stopping the playback. "What you just heard was an excerpt, taken from the testimony of a young woman." The purple-haired man explained.
"During which, she recounted the events of the home-invasion and the ensuing attack- of which, you were a party to." Yumichika continued evenly. "And there you are: a first-hand retelling of all the nasty sordid details- straight from the mouth of the victim, herself." He stated to the irritated blonde woman across from him. "After listening to it, it all seems pretty cut-and-dry. Well?"
Candice gave him an annoyed look in response. "First off, Mister Pretty Boy, my instructions were to capture that redheaded girl and bring her to our base." She explained, arms folded. "But then, she lost her shit and fired at us with those weird powers of hers- killing Lucian!"
"Well, to start with, Miss Thang," Yumichika began with a smirk. "Inoue-san was defending herself." The Shinigami continued coolly. "The way I see it: you and your comrades provoked her, causing her top lash out in response to your attack." He reasoned. "So, how am I doing, so far?"
"Shit." The blonde cursed inwardly, chewing her lower lip, uncertain as to how to respond...
Yet another room...
"Tell me something," Baldur Krebbz spoke from his seat. "What of the Arrancar, who you've been fighting for so long... What charges did they face?" He inquired.
"What do you mean?" Lieutenant Zhao Shengcui (aka "Shenkai") replied.
"I am being charged with 'exploiting' the very same creatures that you Shinigami have spent countless centuries trying to eradicate." The Jägerdarmee Officer answered. "How is that you can now charge me with 'Crimes Against Sentient Life' when your kind did the very same for so long?"
"That's a flawed assertion." Shenkai replied flatly. "We fought, and we continue to fight, the Hollows that were and are a threat to us." The Chinese Shinigami continued. "The Arrancar continue to evolve, and so too must we- if we are to see the future... While your Wandenreich has spent the last thousand years in a state of stagnation- hence why you have no future." He added bluntly.
"I, and those like me in the Hunter-Corps," the Under-Commander started. "We were simply doing as we were instructed, as we were taught." Krebbz insisted.
"And therein lies the problem," Shenkai replied, unmoved. "There's no future in that line of thinking." He continued. "You either change and evolve, or you stubbornly resist and ultimately perish."
"And so, I'm being indited for following orders?" He fired back, aghast.
"On the contrary," the Lieutenant countered. "It's not a matter of your loyalty and dedication to duty." Shenkai offered, his posture and expression easing a bit. "This isn't punishment, the reason you're here right now is because you are being held accountable." He explained pointedly.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Detainment Center...
High-Threat POW Holding Area...
Renji Abarai, the Lieutenant of the Sixth Division, was seated in a chair, located near the entrance of the metal cell. Across the room from him, stood the form of a young-looking slender woman, with long thick black hair and brown eyes, looking intently at him.
She was dressed in a variant of the typical monochromatic Sternritter uniform: a light gray military dress-blouse, along with a white skirt and a pair of black knee-boots. To the side of her, a hooded cloak and a three-quarter length trench coat hung from a clothes rack on the wall, while a military cap- with the Quincy emblem on the front- and a pair of gloves rested on a small table.
The woman's neck and wrists were bound with metal cuffs, inhibitors- designed specifically to stop her from utilizing her Quincy abilities. In addition to these measures, further precautions had been taken- visible by the fact her wrists and ankles were were shackled and chained to the walls.
"I apologize for your arrangements," the redheaded Shinigami began. "Normally, I'd be apposed to the idea of treating a lady like this." Renji continued amiably. "However, given everything we know about you... Well, we can't afford to take any chances." He explained. "You're simply too dangerous for us to to risk putting people in danger by extending normal courtesies to you."
"Judging by all these shackles you've got on me..." The woman replied, smiling darkly at the tattooed officer. "Even with my powers sealed away..." She observed. "Well, I must really scare the shit out of you Shinigami." The dark-haired woman continued. "You flatter me."
Renji grinned, nodding. "Now then, First-Sergeant Bambietta Basterbein," he started. "As established during our last meeting... you'll be coming before the War Crimes tribunal." The Lieutenant continued, not breaking eye-contact as he spoke. "Because of your rank, you couldn't have been involved in the planning of the invasion, so you won't be facing the First Charge." He paused.
"However, because of your involvement in the actual conflict, you have been charged with the Second and Third Counts: Carrying out Acts of Aggression against the Peace and to the Stability of the Realms, and Committing Acts in Direct Contravention of the Articles of War, respectively."
"Goodness." Bambietta retorted, almost flirtatiously, with a smile.
"I'm afraid, there's more." Renji cautioned, unfazed by the casual- at times almost flippant- demeanor she had adopted since being taken captive. "You also caused a great deal of harm- to both the people in the city and to our agents- before you were finally captured."
"If I hadn't suddenly lost my powers..." The female Quincy retorted. "Then I would've done a lot more than just harm you guys." She intoned. "But then, that's the past... I suppose it doesn't do much good to be worrying about what might have happened." Bambietta lamented, still smiling.
"Indeed, but you did enough..." Renji countered. "Certainly, at least enough for the Gotei Council to decide to charge you with the Fourth Count: Crimes Against Sentient Life."
"Oh my..." Bambietta replied.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Detainment Center, Debriefing...
Lisa Yadomaru looked across the table, to the seated figure of Robert Accutrone. The older Sternritter stood out from his fellow Quincys- with his rectangular glasses and neatly-trimmed mustache framing his stern features, and his silver hair combed and slicked back smartly.
"Captain Accutrone." The female Shinigami started. "By this point, I expect that you will have fully reviewed the charges against you?" Lisa asked, receiving a nod from the man. "I have a few questions that I'd like to ask you." The Vizard continued. "During the course of this session, you'll also have an opportunity to offer any statements you might wish to make- mitigating or otherwise."
The hybrid Shinigami had surprised during her first meeting with the man. The case file on his capture during the closing moments of the botched invasion indicated that- upon realizing he'd lost his powers- he'd calmly surrendered. This made sense to her, in the wake of her first meeting with him, as Lisa had quickly discerned that the man had a pragmatic and practical nature.
Lisa turned on the audio recorder on the table. "For the record, please state your name, and also your military designation and rank within the Wandenreich."
"My name is Robert Accutrone, and my designation is 'N'." He replied, setting his cup of tea down on the table. "I served as a Company Captain within the Wandenreich's elite Sternritter Forces."
"And would you please explain your role in the invasion of Karakura City." The bespectacled Vizard Officer instructed the man across from her.
Again, the Quincy nodded. "In regards to my function during the invasion of Karakura..." Accutrone started calmly. "I was one of a number of Field Officers- each of which reported directly to the overall Operation Commander, Julgram Halshwach." He explained. "I oversaw Bravo Company."
"And what was your objective?" Lisa asked.
"Bravo's objective was the capture of the young woman Orihime Inoue." The Sternritter answered the woman seated across from him. "My function, along with the man identified only as 'Dario', was to see that the mission was successfully carried out to its completion."
Elsewhere...
"I was in joint-command of Charlie Company, along with a member of the Brethren- a woman, who only gave her name as 'Jinx'." Meninas McAllon recounted for the benefit of the Shinigami across the table from her. "Our objective was to capture Sado 'Chad' Yasotora."
"And this was part of the overall operation?" Rangiku asked.
"Correct." Meninas replied nervously. "Alpha Company, lead by Lieutenant Cang Du, captured Uryu Ishida, from his family home... While Bravo Company went after Orihime Inoue."
"Thanks, that's been noted..." Rangiku replied in a neutral tone. "Now, Major, I'd like you tell me more about what happened... Specifically, when you confronted the young man."
The pink-haired Quincy, dressed in her frilly uniform, nodded. "There was this Shinigami, wearing a striped hat and robes, who showed up." She continued. "The woman I mention, Jinx, she'd insisted on taking point in order to catch Yasotora... But right as she gave the signal to move, the guy in the funny hat suddenly appeared- with his spirit sword already drawn and powered up."
"You're referring to Kisuke Urahara," the buxom Shinigami informed her. "He was formerly a Captain of one of the Gotei's elite Court Guard Divisions."
"Yes, well... from what he was saying, it seemed like someone had alerted him ahead of time, and he'd reached Yasotora first." Meninas reasoned to her. "Before I even knew what was going on, Jinx pressed something on her wrist- and a secant later, she was gone!" The Quincy explained emphatically.
In another room...
"...from your previous statement, I take it then that you were present in the Sternritters' Joint Operation Command when it came under attack?" Lieutenant Chojiro Sasakibe asked.
"Yes, and for the duration of it." Jaochim Schneider replied. "From the moment the first 'blast' hit, the Com-Officer began receiving reports of a 'horned, bat-winged demon' rampaging through the JOC." He went on. "Julgram Halshwach was also present, attempting to relay commands to our men throughout the complex, including to Hunter-Commander Quilge and the Jägerdarmee with him."
"And this was when this 'Mr. Crowley' made his move?" The older Shinigami Officer asked.
"Precisely." The Intelligence Officer replied. "I was a bit distracted amidst the mayhem, but I do recall him appearing, and that Halshwach confronted him." He recounted. "And , just as suddenly, the man in the hooded sweatshirt- Dario, I believe- he appeared and knifed him in the back."
"And why didn't you try to 'make a run for it', like so many of the others?" Sasakibe asked.
"Run where exactly? And more to the point, how?" Schneider countered. "That Hollow, the one you call Ulquiorra Schiffer, was out for blood... He'd wiped out the Jägerdarmee Over-Commander Quilge and his hand-picked Hunters." He continued cautiously. "The others, they tried to run- like panicked ants, fleeing from a disturbed mound- but I knew that it was all futile... No, we were finished."
"By the time your people arrived, it was clear to me that we had been outmaneuvered, the troops were powerless and we were being rounded up, like cattle." He continued. "So then, I ask you, what would you have done in my place?" Schneider asked. "What other choice did I have?"
"Yes, well, given what you've told me," the Shinigami answered. "I don't suppose you would have had much choice, other than to peacefully surrender..." The Lieutenant continued. "Though, I was under the impression that the Wandenreich's war with us was an ideological one."
"Ideology is far from a religion." The Quincy replied, relaxing in his chair. "Whether you think of it as discretion or cowardice... for better or worse, the end result is the same."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Detainment Center...
High-Threat POW Holding Area...
Lieutenant Katsuro Onigiri, the Red Leader of the mixed Fourteenth Division, sat comfortably at the far end of the metal and concrete holding cell. "Lieutenant Cang Du, I was assigned to you because of your nature." The Arrancar stated. "You're simply too dangerous to be trusted."
"And while, no doubt, you take that as praise," Onigiri went on. "That same vicious effectiveness in battle has left you rather... unpopular with the very people who now hold your fate in their hands." The powerful warrior observed coolly- a glint in his piercing blue eyes. The handles of his countless swords were also visible, projecting out of the red sash around his waist.
The Sternritter had a shaggy mop of black hair, a slender brow and narrow angular eyes, and- perhaps most notably- a small vertical scar visible across his slender lips. "...Just get on with it." The stoic man stated simply, meeting the Arrancar's penetrating gaze head-on.
Onigiri nodded at this. "Well, then, looking over your dossier..." He started, the horn-like projections from his bright scarlet main making his resemble an ogre. "I can say, honestly, that things aren't looking good for you." The Arrancar stated with a small smirk. "As it stands, you are charged with Counts Two, Three, and Four..." He stated, scanning the folder in his hands.
A quick glance to another offer, standing at his side, prompted the man to speak. "Acts of Aggression Against the Peace and the Stability of the Realms; War Crimes; and Crimes Against Sentient Life." The Shinigami recounted, reading from the copy of the document in his hands.
"Now then," the Hollow paused, taking a sip from a cup of hot tea. "Do you have any statements that you would like to make on your behalf?" Onigiri inquired.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Central Chamber, Gotei Council...
The five Captains of the Second, Ninth, Tenth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Divisions were seated at a small circular table in a room that had been set aside as a Judges' Chamber.
"Then, it's decided," Captain Hitsugaya stated to the others at the table. "Any final decisions regarding the prisoners will require at least four out five votes in order to pass."
"Agreed." Captain Ukitake replied.
"That... sounds fair." Kensei offered as they looked to him.
"Yes, agreed." Nelliel added with a nod.
"Agreed." Soifon replied simply. "But before we get ahead of ourselves, don't forget that some of these people have a predisposition towards violence and even psychotic behavior."
"Captain Soifon is correct." Kensei commented. "Right now, with their powers sealed away, they may seem harmless... But we can't forget that any of these people- given the proper motive and opportunity- could be just as dangerous as they were before we rounded them up."
"Duly noted." Jushiro replied. "Now, first off, I'd like to discuss..."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Central Chamber, Main Hall...
Following the discovery of the purging of the 'Central 46', the grand chamber that formerly housed the nobles that comprised it had been renovated in the wake of the Winter War. The massive octagonal hall was no longer shrouded in a murky veil of darkness.
The tiered rows of seats that encircled the chamber (save for the 'northern' facet) had been expanded upon, now serving as seats for the assembled onlookers- about a hundred, in total, composed primarily of the Officers from each Division, as well as a number of guests from both Huecco Mundo and from the Living Realm. The northern facet was dominated by a large dais. A panel of five judges sat behind the elevated dais- three Shinigami, one Arrancar, and one Vizard.
Situated at the base of the southern facet, facing towards the judges, was a modestly-sized docket that had been built to seat the twelve Sternritter prisoners now before them.
"Josef Keinholtz." Captain Hitsugaya called, prompting a blonde-haired man (in a standard Sternritter uniform) to rise to his feat, before swallowing nervously. "It is the decision of this Tribunal... that there is insufficient cause to find you guilty of Count Two." The young Captain went on. "You are remanded to two years of supervised release in the Living Realm, after which time- pending a formal review- you will then be eligible for full release." He finished, to the man's relief.
The delivery of the lenient sentence hardly came a surprise for those watching. Lieutenant Keinholtz's function was as the com-officer in the building that the Wandenreich forces had occupied- in to serve as a bridgehead- during the Karakura Invasion, so his involvement was limited.
"Meninas McAllon." The young Captain next called, prompting the pink-haired woman to rise up and stand at attention as he spoke. "This Tribunal finds you Guilty on Count Two..."
"However, it was felt that your guilt on Count Three was limited." He continued calmly in his address to the woman. "And so, you have been sentenced to five years supervised release in the Living Realm, after which time- pending a formal review- you will then be eligible for full release."
Meninas nodded, relieved, before wordlessly sitting down. "Bambietta Basterbein." Hitsugaya spoke, looking to the woman as she stood. "This Tribunal finds you Guilty on all three Counts." The young Shinigami continued in a steady tone. "Following the conclusion of this trial, you will be transferred to the maximum security wing of the Mukin, where you are to be held indefinitely."
At this, there was a rush of murmurs throughout the courtroom...
The woman gave a bitter expression in response to hearing the sentencing, before she simply slumped back in her chair without a single (audible) comment, her arms folded.
"Candice Catnip," Soifon called, the next of the judges to speak up, watching as the curvaceous blonde briskly stood up to meet her dark-eyes with her blue ones. "You have been found Guilty of Counts Two and Three." The petite woman announced, to the surprise of the other. "You are sentenced to five years observation in the Seireitei, followed by ten years of supervised release in the Living Realm."
Candice looked as if she was about to say something, before seemingly thinking better of it, ultimately opting to sit back down in her chair, a defeated expression on her face...
Soifon didn't waist any time, moving to the next person. "Baldur Krebbz." She called, getting the man to stand up (a nervous look on his face). "You have been found Guilty of Counts Two and Four, and are hereby sentenced to Imprisonment for Life- with a minimum of twenty years in maximum security."
Krebbz' mouth was agape at this, and he seemed stunned. "N-no..." He murmured inwardly to himself, while Van Leitner shook his head as the Quincy eventually managed to stagger his way back toward his own seat, slumping into the chair just in time for the next judge to speak.
"Robert Accutrone." Nelliel-Tu called, causing the man stand up smartly. "This Tribunal has found you Guilty on Count Two, and to a lesser degree on Count Three." She continued. "You're sentenced to five years of supervised release in the Living Realm, after which time- pending a review- you will then be eligible for full release." The green-haired Arrancar announced.
Accutrone's expression remained neutral the entire time. The older Sternritter's only reply was to give a simple polite nod in response, before wordlessly sitting back down.
"Elise Bartlett." Nelliel continued, directing a brown-haired woman to stand. "On Count Two, it has been decided that your guilt was limited." She explained. "And so, you have been remanded to serve three years of supervised release in the Living Realm..."
"And after which time," the former Tercera Espada continued. "Following a formal review, you would then be- potentially- eligible for full release." She finished.
The next of the five Judges to speak was Captain Ukitake. "Roxanne Whitaker," he started, causing the redheaded Sternritter to stand and nod politely. "Regarding the Charges against you..." the white-haired man continued. "On the first Count, due to insufficient evidence, the Tribunal finds you not guilty."
"On Count Three... The Tribunal finds you guilty." Jushiro continued calmly, as he went on to address the uniformed woman standing before the panel. "You are hereby sentenced to ten years of supervised release in the Living Realm." He finished, watching as she nodded and sat back down.
Captain Ukitake cleared his throat, before moving on. "Yohanz Van Leitner," he started, the Soldat Commander-General standing up in response. "This Tribunal finds you not guilty of Count Three." He announced, to the surprise of some of those watching the proceedings. "However, on Counts One and Two, you have been found guilty." The Shinigami further revealed.
"You are hereby sentenced to ten years imprisonment, followed by ten years of supervised release in the Living Realm." Jushiro continued. "However, the period of supervised release may be reduced," he went on. "Should you be deemed eligible, pending a positive assessment by a formal review."
This done, Van Leitner sat back down, a look of resignation on his face. For the Commander-General, there was some degree of solace- as his men would not be charged. At the same time, Jushiro wasted no time as he gave his next sentence- calling out "Askin LeVaar."
The Wandenreich SS Officer stood up.
"You have been found not guilty on Count Three," Jushiro went on to say. "Though, this Tribunal has found you guilty on Count Two." The Captain announced. "However, given your limited involvement in the invasion, your sentence has been deferred- in lieu of ten years observation in the Seireitei." He continued. "At which time, your status will be reassessed."
At the completion of his sentencing, the Quincy nodded and sank back in his seat without comment.
Only two people now remained undressed on the docket, as the last of the five Judges, Captain Kensei Muguruma, took this moment to speak. "Cang Du." He began, prompting the Lieutenant to stand up to meet his gaze. "On Counts Two, Three, and Four... you have been found guilty."
"You're hereby sentence is imprisonment for life." Kensei continued steadily. "You will be transferred to the Mukin, to serve a minimum of fifty years in maximum security." He announced, Cang Du sitting down as he went on to address the remaining person on the docket. "Jaochim Schneider." The pierced, white-haired Vizard spoke, as the Intelligence Officer stood up.
"On Count Three, you have been found not guilty." Kensei announced. "Though, on Count One, you have been found guilty." He continued. "You have been sentenced to Ten years of supervised release in the Living Realm... After which, following a formal review, you will be eligible for release."
With that done, Toshiro Hitsugaya cleared his throat. "This Court now stands adjourned." The young Captain announced to everyone inside of the eight-sided hall.
(- End of Chapter XXXVII... -)
I wanted to address the point by "Guest", about how Lil Barro was taken out, since it speaks to a larger issue in the story. The 'long' answer is that I never planned for the Sternritter to be major threat, as their presence would only serve to get in the way of the story I'm trying to tell. And the truth is (as far as I'm concerned), from the moment that the events of the Winter War changed, everything changed- including the future. It's all a matter of cause and effect, the idea that everything effects something, a bit like the butterfly allusion often mentioned in "Chaos Theory".
Still, to be perfectly honest, the 'short' answer to all of this is that while I've done my best to try to- at the very least- acknowledge the continuity/continuities of the source material and the relevant spin-off material... I don't want to be shackled to it. So, I'm sorry if I get some things wrong. And I hope you guys will be patient with me as the story unfolds. Because I've put a lot of work into making this something (that I believe is) unique.