Chapter 382 05.0381: "Defense of Innocence"

After getting the judge's approval, Horatio defended the knight in a loud voice:
"I can prove with my actions that the Battle of the Airport was not commanded by the Imperial Navy. All tactical action decisions and plans were issued to various combat units in the name of the Astra Militarum staff team that stayed behind at the time.

All the Astra Militarum staff officers at the time can serve as witnesses. Next to me is their representative, Major Weston. I would like to request the witnesses to speak.

Horatio looked at the battalion commander he had chosen to join the staff team and smiled.

"You are allowed to speak." After whispering for a while, the leading judge nodded.

"Of course! My colleagues and I can prove that there was absolutely no heresy on the battlefield at that time where the Imperial Navy interfered with the command of the Astra Militarum.

Captain Cochrane has always conscientiously performed his duties as the flagship aviation commander of the Imperial Navy's Gothic Squadron, using Imperial naval aircraft to bravely attack, blocking and severely damaging enemy forces, while the ground battles were all carried out efficiently by the Astra Militarum Officer Corps. "

“Yes, Judge, we can all testify.

The Imperial Navy has absolutely no suspicion of interfering with the command of the Astra Militarum, but is firmly fulfilling its duties, and so are we." More than a dozen Astra Militarum lieutenants also stood up and said in unison.

During the trial, if Sir Wellesley is really found guilty, then the other Astra Militarum officers will inevitably bear joint liability.

To clarify these interests, Horatio had already coordinated statements with the major and his subordinate officers.

Moreover, he did not take all the credit for the victory. Every Astra Militarum officer who performed his duties conscientiously under him shared the credit. The name of every staff officer was on his report.

After all, as two different systems, whether or not to add military merit points to oneself is jointly supervised and decided by the Imperial Navy's Gothic Fleet and the Fleet Military Supervision Bureau.

And they certainly had neither the authority nor the interest to calculate the contributions of Astra Militarum officers.

Therefore, sharing military merits with Astra Militarum officers will not reduce his military merit points in the Imperial Navy system.

If that is the case, then it is just a favor, everyone has a share, the more the better.

"As an interested party in this case, if the witness's testimony is to be recognized by the court, it needs additional guarantees. Is there any military supervisor to prove your claim?"

Horatio politely took out the video recorded in advance by Military Supervisor Farida, and after obtaining her consent, he publicly played it in court.

Except for Anya Farsha, no one present knew the deep relationship between Farida and him.

And after Horatio told the whole story, Farida, who was already cynical, also felt indignant about it.

I think that convictions should not be based solely on dogma. These civil servants should at least analyze the specific circumstances.
Therefore, she adhered to her inner judgment of justice and made an exception to do a "post-facto proof".

As a member of a prominent naval family and having made significant contributions to the Abyss Port incident, she is considered by everyone to be a woman whose loyalty has been fully tempered.

Even though she is currently only a senior trainee military supervisor, her words carry a lot of weight.

In addition, she was the only military supervisor present at the time, so her testimony was regarded as important evidence by the court.

Sir Wellesley turned his head to look at Horatio, and the naval captain nodded to him slightly.

The man raised the corner of his mouth, snorted and laughed, then straightened his back and looked at the judge.

Then, the matter was settled regarding Sir's command conduct during his tenure as commander of the 1st Brigade.

Before the trial, Horatio had used his status as an Imperial Navy officer and the favor of providing air and ground support to bring in the rescued Commander Modian and senior staff officers.

These Mordians, who were rescued in time with the help of the British, still had their characteristic seriousness and arrogance on their faces, but they also honestly told the great value of the First Brigade in tactics and strategy, and how it alleviated the crisis on their front line.

Finally, under the overwhelming testimony of witnesses, the military court was forced to declare Sir Arthur Wellesley not guilty after a two-hour recess.

However, they still dismissed him from his post as commander of the First Brigade and his rank as brigadier general on the grounds of disrespecting the Military Supervisory Commissioner, and sent him to manage the fortresses captured along the way.

Although General Cornwallis expressed firm and vehement opposition to the decision, it was directly rejected and the judgment was required to be enforced.

The judges then selected a senior officer from a shortlist to continue as commander of the 1st Brigade.

Later, Horatio heard that the new commander was actually a politician who lacked military achievements and practical experience, but because he was good at playing political tricks, he became a senior officer by currying favor with important people in the Ministry of War.

With this in mind, the military court's insistence on removing Sir Wellesley from office is worth pondering.

"Thank you, fellow naval officer." After the trial, Sir Wellesley, who was acquitted, stepped forward and stretched out his hand to Horatio, saying from the bottom of his heart, "You are so kind."

"Being honest with friends is my principle, and seeking truth from facts is the justice I insist on implementing." Horatio also stretched out his hand and clasped his two white gloves together.

“The experience of fighting with you is a memory I will never forget, and I will tell it to my descendants in the future so that they will remember it for generations to come.

I see you like that horse very much, and that RV very much. I know this cannot express one ten-thousandth of my gratitude, but please accept it anyway.

The former is Attila's best improved horse, and the latter is a model specially customized by Britain from Rolls-Royce Forge World, and then assembled with Britain's best silk and daily necessities. I hope you will continue to like it in the days to come. Of course, I still owe you a big favor. "The knight smiled.

"Well, that black horse is indeed a good and obedient horse, and the RV... is also very comfortable to live in. At least that's my experience."

"It seems that it only listens to you. When I tried to tame it, dozens of my servants were thrown to the ground and trampled and injured, and three unlucky ones were bitten and severely disabled. It cost so much to make it only slightly docile."

While the two were talking, Horatio's communication rosary suddenly rang.

"Captain, what are your orders?" Horatio saluted Captain Peru in the shadow.

"Captain Horatio, please return to the flagship Indefatigable immediately. The entire fleet has been put on level 2 combat alert. The aurora department has detected that the enemy fleet is approaching. All naval officers must be on duty immediately."

"Yes! Captain, I will return to the ship immediately."

After Captain Peru nodded, the two ended their brief communication.

"It looks like you'll have a lot to do," the Jazz lamented.

"It seems so."

"Goodbye, Britain welcomes you wholeheartedly."

"I will go when I become captain."

"Well, it looks like we'll be meeting again soon."

They both laughed out loud.

Just like that, the two officers, one in blue and one in red uniform, belonging to different military organizations of the empire, saluted each other with a smile, turned around and went their separate ways until the day they met again.

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(End of this chapter)