Sarek and Dansk
Chapter Nine
The next day Sarek was again with Dansk and was uncharacteristically tapping on the large conference table top. Sarek sat next to her and Dansk's hand rested on his other arm not so occupied. The closest description that could be given of his mindset would be impatience.
They were in the waiting room outside o one of The Federation Courthouse's courtroom. The two of them had worked tirelessly on the case Sarek would present against the hooligans who had attacked Zaa'in., The young Vulcan had been greatly outnumbered, cornered and overpowered by the group of raciest thugs. The male had suffered two broken legs, several broken bones in his face caused by a wooden baseball bat and also Injuries inflicted by repeated kicks and blows to his body. He was attacked while wearing his Star Fleet uniform but the Federation had determined that instead of Star Fleet taking jurisdiction they would. So the defendants crime had become a Federation matter. This would allowing Sarek, as a Federation representative to act as the prosecutor. This would, unfortunately be for these youth their one second of so-called fame just being in the presence of the legendary Sarek or be mentioned in a news article that would publish the name of Sarek of Vulcan. There was no doubt that poetic justice was about to be administered.
The attack victim was under the express care of Star Fleet's acclaimed xenophysicians, Drs McCoy and M'Binga and primarily a Vulcan healer assigned to the Vulcan embassy in San Francisc . The injuries were being dealt with by Zaa'in's entry into a Vulcan Healing Trance. Because of the extent of his injuries he had to be brought into that state by the healer who had also determined how long he would have to remain unconscious and also the exact time he was to be roused. The doctors agreed that the extent of his injuries would have been fatal for a Terran.
Dansk had done extensive research on the background of each of the defendants, especially their families' historical information—from where their ancestors had migrated and into what areas of the country that at that time was called The United States of America.
This attack had held up Sarek's return to New Vulcan and the resolution of that matter having to do with the children that had come out of the many Vulcan/Terran bondings. Thus, it had also held up his appearance before the legislative bodies of New Vulcan and his subsequent announcement in regards to Dansk.
Sarek had contact Ka'nu at The Settlement and requested his appearances along with his wife, his brother-in-law and members of other tribes.
Although Sarek had researched the history of all colonized lands he had specifically researched historical documentation In regard to colonization of lands that had been held by the tribes indigenous to The United States, in other words, the entire country. History revealed a long list of atrocities; genocide, massacres, the outlawing of native tradition, language, intentional infestation of these who had no natural immunity to diseases safely tolerated by these illegal settlers, outlawing of celebrations, destruction of the family by the kidnapping of children, forced re-education of said children and forced migration,
The Cherokee Nation's forced removal from ancestral lands after gold was discovered there, was labeled by them as Nunn Syk Raunye The trail When They Cried ( 'The Trail of Tears'). The relocation deliberately scheduled to coincide with brutal winter weather started in November started out with 17,000 Cherekee. Although horses, wagons and oxen were supplied many of the horses died and it ended up that the trek was basically on foot under the supervision of armed soldiers. Included in the group were the old and even the very young—infants as it were. The desired end result desired by the government was the diminishing of the numbers of the Native American foot travelers and that result was indeed reached, the group's numbers was reduced by five to six thousand, one of every four died either from starvation, or disease of as reported, the most brutal winter remembered. After the signing of The Indian Removal Act by President Andrew Jackson, other tribes were also forced off of their ancestral lands.
A female settler who witnessed the trek and apparently was deeply sorrowed by what she saw, reported that these sorry souls who had converted and even had built churches on their ancestral lands, sang as they walked on the outskirts of her town, the hymn, "Guide Me Now Thou Great Jehovah"
Based on his very thorough research, Sarek was also able to determine that every treaty the government made with Native Americans had been broken and only the Seminole had never fully come under the government's control. It was with this tribe that some runway slaves found sanctuary.
When Sarek, Dansk, their assistants and witnesses entered, there was a hush that settled on the courtroom. Sarek observed that many male eyes had turned to observe Dansk who had presented herself in her native dress with her hip length hair displayed in a braid down her back. Sarek suppressed a growl.
The entire room stood with the announcement of the judge's impeding presence on the bench. The judge, was an Andorian that Sarek had had extensive dealings with as a Federation representative. He nodded in recognition as she took her seat. The judge signaled the bailiff to announce the case for consideration.
Vaek Nil Zaa'in of Vulcan VS United Terrans For Terra, all it's splinter groups,
their officers, and individual members thereof.
As her antennae unfurled and with the characteristic lisp common to her people Judge Vinoss stated,
"I have read all documentation particular to this case and have double checked
census records referred to therein."
Turning to personally address Sarek she asked,
"Osu Sarek, would you advise the court of the present condition of the victim?"
Sarek's reply was,
"He remains in a healing trance."
The judge's further inquiry was,
"Is not this an extraordinary length of time for such a treatment?"
Sarek advised the court,
"His injuries were serious and extensive and so there is the need for him to remain in the trance even up until this time. His progress is being monitored so as to bring him out at the optimum time that insures complete recovery."
Since the jury included not only Terrans, Sarek's opening statement was,
"Members of the jury, who represent the Federation, including Terrans and off-worlders the purpose of any testimony given by the prosecutors in this case is to discredit the claim that the members of the group called, United Terrans for Terra, have as to exclusive rights of their race to certain areas of the planet Terra and that thus they feel compelled to remove persons from Terra that they, with limited foresight, have determined do not belong here. The focus of our arguments and testimonies will prove very few persons have the absolute legal right to stay where they have come to view as their own lands or homes. I am going to use the history of the Native Americans to prove my point and have representatives of such tribes who will be the voice for all.
We have done extensive personal research on each one of the persons on trial here and will present convincing arguments against their by-laws, creed, and stated purpose and will request substantial amounts of credits to satisfy not only the victim of violence against his person, but also members of the indigenous people of California."
The Defense attorney stood and looked about and stated,
"Excuse me your honor, Freedom of Speech and thought are foundations of The Federation…"
The judge interrupted with,
"While that is true, the forceful implementation of the ideas behind vicious speech and thought is certainly not part of such foundations."
Sarek nodded and Ka'nu gestured for one of the males in his entourage to step forward so he could be sworn in and identify himself.
Dressed in his full tribal regalia. He was a tall, bronze skinned male whose finely chiseled features were indeed handsome. He looked to be in Terran years in his early fifties.
He placed his hand on the printed copy of The Federation's Constitution and was sworn in.
The judge instructed him to take the witness chair and welcomed him.