CHAPTER 32
Suddenly Getting in a Lot of Trouble for Something that Happened a Very Long Time Ago
“You are under arrest for the reckless crashing of a fuel-less ship of Obotron crew members into the surface of the planet Lincra, the most populated and popular planet in existence,” blared the megaphone from the suddenly approaching battalion of the Kroonum Civility, Order and Peace Upkeep and Maintenance Division - Deltron Force Strike 9, sporting their spanking new crest and logo, freshly dubbed formal and binding by the Council of Eleven and a Half Thousand Different Coloured Robes in the most recent hammering out of the Treaty of Manderbatt. “You’re sure that’s them then?” blared the loudspeaker to someone inside the ship, clearly failing to turn off said loudspeaker.
“Oh yes, we’re sure,” grumbled thousands of eerie and ghost-like voices.
“Right, don’t try anything tricky like last time, you’re going in for a hearing, then an indictment, then another hearing, then a formal reading of the latest version of the Treaty of Manderbatt, any new suggestions more than welcome, then a cross hearing, then a formal hearing, then a trial, then a verdict, then a mandatory sentencing, then an even more mandatory re-evaluation of said sentencing, then a mistrial, then a re-trial, then a re-assessment of the whole process under the newest revisions to the Treaty of Manderbatt, then lunch, for us of course, not you; then a gruelling 14 day re-enactment of the whole ordeal so far for Kroonum Zoo Legal Wars – Series 19987.34 Part 2, then probably an all out war with those imbecilic crooks over on Persheron 8 and innumerable opportunities for you to escape without serving any actual punishment. But make no mistake, escape again… and you will be caught… again!”
“Well I’d say it sounds like going through the legal system is punishment enough,” suggested Rip.
“Indeed,” said Wilx. “Merely your summary of the possible preliminary aspects of it is enough to make me have nothing but regrets for the whole affair.”
“Hmmm, that’s a good suggestion. I’ll ensure that makes it into the next version of the Treaty. But for now, the law’s the law, so you’re coming with us.”
An Eealiotronic Wave Net was immediately cast forth from the battalion, encircling the Obotron 1 and its lone trailing ship. After an inspection of the contents of the trailing ship and some more murmuring from the mysterious hoard aboard the battalion commander ship, the trailing ship was cast free in orbit around the planetglomerate, the contents as of yet… unknown.