February 12, 1998
We started with closing arguments that day.
I recall what my lawyer said.
"We do not deny to this honorable tribunal the crimes and atrocities committed against the prisoners of the Presidio Concentration Camp, which stood just meters from this very courtroom," said Ross J. Kelly. "Some of who have actively fought against the Reich, but others who merely expressed dissent, and some who were even loyal followers but had to meet a quota.
"And we do not deny that the defendant in the courtroom has the same name as that last commandant of the Presidio, the same name, the same fingerprints, the same DNA.
"But that does not mean the defendant is that man. There is reason to believe that he is from a parallel universe, a parallel Earth. And while Commander Morton will remind you, sirs and ma'ams, that mere idle speculation does not constitute reasonable doubt, we have in fact presented evidence. We have the testimony of Army Captain Maggie Beckett, who had testified about seeing a woman who looked and sounded exactly like Wade Welles, who was not an identical twin, and who claimed to be from another dimension. You have heard testimony of he man whom the Army arrested, who looked exactly like Colonel Angus Rickman, and even had his fingerprints, and who disappeared from his cell- just vanished into thin air. This is no preponderance of evidence, let alone proof beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant before this honorable tribunal is from another dimension.
"But these two strange occurrences, especially the fake Rickman disappearing from his holding cell right here in the Presidio, just vanishing in full view of security cameras, does give this tribunal cause to believe that the defendant is not THE Maximilian Arturo who once commanded the concentration camp here.
"All of you are sworn officers of the Crown. About six hundred years ago, the English Crown signed the Magna Carta, guaranteeing basic human rights, accepting an encumbrance on their authority. The American Crown, as an heir to the English Crown, accepted these encumbrances, and these encumbrances bind you, as sworn officers acting on behalf of the Crown. Follow your oath, and find the defendant not guilty."
"The Crown may proceed with rebuttal argument," said the judge.
"What the defense said is science fiction," said Commander Chris Morton. "I mean, none of us have contacted this alleged other dimension on this alternate version of Earth to verify that we have the wrong man who just happens to look like Maximilian Arturo and just happens to have fingerprints matching those on file with the fallen Reich.
"This is a tale woven by an understandably desperate lawyer to defend a client desperate to avoid execution for the horrible crimes the Crown has just proven beyond a reasonable guilt. If the sad task of defending this man were on my shoulders, I might have had the duty to weave such a fairy tale. We ask again, find Maximilian Arturo guilty on all charges."
The Royal Navy judge advocate sat down.
"This tribunal will begin its deliberations," said the Army judge. "Counsel, defendant, and observers shall leave this courtroom."
He banged a gavel, and the military police took me back to my cell.
I was awoken from my afternoon nap by Ross J. Kelly.
"The tribunal has rendered their verdict," he said. "Let's go."
The military police then removed me from my cell. I got dressed in my tweed jacket, trousers, waistcoat, white short, mand bowtie, and then was taken to the courtroom.
My heart was racing.
I was sweating under my jacket.
I was in the courtroom. I glanced art the observes; Wade Wells, in her Army uniform, was among them. I then looked at the generals and admirals who would render their verdict.
"The defendant will rise," said the Army judge. "The tribunal will announce the verdict."
I looked at Commander Morton, and then at my lawyer.
A Royal Navy vice admiral spoke. "In the Name of our Dread Sovereign Lady, Her Majesty Sophia, Queen of the United Crown Commonwealths of America, Chosen of God, Defender of the Faith, Sentinel of Liberty, we pronounce the defendant, Maximilian Arturo, guilty of all charges and specifications, and sentence Maximilian Arturo to death by hanging, to be carried out upon royal assent," he said.
"Defendant will be remanded to the custody of the United Crown Commonwealths Royal Army pending a decision from the Crown," said the judge, banging his gavel.
The military police quickly took me away from the courtroom. Kelly accompanied me, still clad in his black gown and white wig.
"Now, the tribunal's judgment will be reviewed by the Joint Chiefs, the Secretary of Defense, and the Prime Minister," he said. Their decision will be sent to the Queen, and she will provide her royal assent."
"What kind of recommendations?" I asked.
"A royal pardon, a commutation of your death sentence to a period of imprisonment up to life, an indefinite suspension of your death sentence, or condemnation to be carried out the next business day."
"I suppose there is no higher authority than the Queen."
I lay in my cell.
