1st judgment: video

[civilservant]

Good afternoon. I'm Yuri Petrov, of Sternbild City.

[Yuri doesn't hesitate to use the video function. It's how he's used to communicating in Sternbild. He also doesn't hesitate to air his opinion, however much some might disagree. Someone is not in a good mood. Yet his tone remains, overall, polite, in spite of the stern nature of his words.]

I hope I'm not alone in finding this kind of conscription both morally and ethically insupportable. It doesn't matter what the reason for the war is. Not only is there no such thing as a just war, but a cause can never truly be just when supported through unjust means.

Furthermore, to meddle with the past in the hopes of affecting current events strikes me as patently absurd, if not outright foolish. Time is an interwoven series of events. Think of it as a cloth. Tug on one string, and others begin to unravel. Who knows what the unintended consequences may be?

I do not know if there are other conscientious objectors among the population, but they may count me as one of their number.

Comments

[video]

[knightoflight]

[This echoes what someone had hinted at, earlier, a discontent in their cause. Wing had arrived here and embraced the cause, the ability to fight for others. Now...?]

Wars can be just. Or do you never fight for what you believe?

[video]

[civilservant]

[Yuri isn't quick to trust anyone, especially not in such a suspicious situation.

And now he's talking to a robot, apparently. He takes it in stride.]

I fight for what I believe every day, in the courtroom, through peaceful means. Wars have casualties, and people die. Innocents die.

They may be necessary at times, or seem to be so, but I wouldn't call any war truly just, no, especially not one reliant on conscription. Warfare should be a last resort.

[video]

[knightoflight]

I've seen the courts corrupted, though, and 'justice' used as another weapon of power, not justice.

But is it conscription if we hadn't realized we were threatened by these United forces ourselves? Who wouldn't fight to defend their people?

video;

[sonofabyte]

Object conscientiously if you wish.

I find their practical failings of more concern.

video;

[civilservant]

So I shall.

I won't argue with you on that point. Practically speaking, their plan leaves much to be desired. But what in particular do you take issue with?

video;

[sonofabyte]

Many things. But I'll look to the future for the moment. Their plan is unsustainable. If they're not lying, they believe there will be a single climactic battle...one uprising that fixes everything. Presumably, then everyone will be sent home.

But it won't work that way.

[voice]

[oldsoldiersneverdie]

[Oh, it's the bureaucrat-looking guy again]

You have no idea how the timestream works, do you.

[...And there may be a touch of amused condescenion there, because he's spent the better part of his life dealing with it]

[permavideo]

[civilservant]

We have no time travel in the time I come from, so I wouldn't consider myself an expert, no.

You mean to tell me that altering events in the past never has unforeseen consequences? [Because he's not buying it.]

[permavoice, he doen't trust cameras]

[oldsoldiersneverdie]

Never? No. Always? Also no.

The metaphor of cloth is wholly wrong for time - there's a reason, after all, that it gets called the timestream. Like a real stream, if you throw a rock in at random, the chances of there being significant changes to the flow of water are tiny. The timestream resists changes. Chaos theory is bullshit, in at least this regard.

It's possible to alter things, though - but you have to know what moments are nexus points. What moments change hinges on. And that requires forethought and research.

[Text]

[for_guild_justice]

Don't like it, don't join in the war. Keep to your room to stay out of the rain.

Dying might send you back. No guarantees.

[video]

[civilservant]

I don't intend to keep to my room, and I don't intend to die.

If you have no issue with the fact that people have been brought here against their will to fight, including children, then you may carry on as you see fit.

I wished to make my opinion known, as I don't believe in keeping silent in the face of injustice.

[Text]

[for_guild_justice]

Then I guess you best get used to being forced on mandatory missions. They come around quite often.

I have no problem with children fighting. It's the way of life. Survival of the fittest after all.

Everyone in this place has an opinion.

video;

[fortissimos]

I don't really agree with how they brought us here, but... these people still need help. I'm not gonna abandon them because of something like that.

video;

[civilservant]

Those who wish to participate in the war may, of course, do so. I am objecting to the Initiative's behavior, not the actions of those who decide to help, though I had hoped to find someone with similar views. The people can perhaps be helped in other ways.

You don't think their questionable actions make what they've told us suspect? Would you say you trust the Initiative?

[fortissimos]

I don't trust them.

[ She sighs, then: ]

But I don't know any other way to help. Fighting's what I'm used to, so the missions aren't so bad.

video

[burnsinvisibly]

[ she's still getting used to this thing, but this hits close to home - or the mention of war does, anyway. ]

Sometimes you can't avoid war. Sometimes you just have to do whatever you can to make sure the people you care about stay safe. [ a pause. ] Maybe this is the only choice they have.

video

[judgmental]

Sometimes civilians cannot avoid war. It is natural for people to defend their homes, their families. I am not speaking about that.

[Here's another person who seems too young to be involved in a war. He isn't pleased by that. But he wouldn't patronize her.]

I am speaking of the group of people responsible for planning and executing a war. I somehow doubt that conscripting people from various times and worlds and waging a war by altering time could be anyone's "only choice". It's a rare conflict that has only one possible resolution.

video

[burnsinvisibly]

I don't know much about how altering time would work, or how dangerous it could be... [ to be honest, she's still not quite sure she believes it. ] But war is complicated, so I'm sure there's a lot of reasons why it happened. Even if it's unfair we were brought here without a choice, I think I can understand it a little.

voice;

[bratworth]

[ Well. The name of that city certainly rings a bell. It might be a long shot, but considering the teleporter's 'random' propensity towards bringing people who knew each other... it doesn't hurt to ask. ]

Sternbild. Would you know Brooks, then?

video;

[judgmental]

Indeed I do. In fact, Mr. Brooks and I are colleagues. One of my duties is that of Hero TV's curator, orchestrating their operations with the Administration of Justice to ensure their legality and safety.

Am I to assume that you're acquainted with him as well?

video; I wasn't sure if you wanted to continue this thread but I'm working through my backlog atm!

[bratworth]

That's correct. He's an Inspector of the police force, here. I work in the legal branch.

voice;

[frombrooklyn]

From what I can tell, the reasons for this war seem to have a lot more to do with the injustice carried out by the United Earth faction. Not to say that I agree with how the Initiative brought us here, though.

video;

[judgmental]

I do feel strongly about not allowing injustice to continue, but there is injustice on the Initiative's side as well.

I understand that the United Earth is supposedly a suppressive government, but thus far, I only have the Initiative's word for all this, and the way I was brought here doesn't make me feel inclined to trust our hosts.

I would be glad to be proven wrong, although I will never approve of the conscription of civilians.

text;

[devilsfruitdoctor]

[Well geeze, that sure is a whole lot of pushback. Ibin's not interested in arguing with strangers, so he's going to reply just to Yuri.]

I hear you. I'm a doctor. I won't fight for anyone.

video;

[judgmental]

[While it's a little awkward responding to texts with video, Yuri keeps it up regardless. He nods.]

I'm pleased I'm not the only one who thinks so. I'm a judge, myself. My concern is the public safety and the fair, just treatment of all individuals.