Proceedings in the Senate of the Lakes against Kaiseress Salome

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Proceedings in the Senate of the Lakes against Kaiseress Salome began on 10.VIII.1739 with the Senatorial Inquisition bringing articles of indictment against Kaiseress Salome for waging an illegal war, war crimes, and crimes against humanity during the Shiro-Benacian war. After the Senate resolved it did not have jurisdiction to try her 20.IX.1739, the Inquisition moved to commit Kaiseress Salome to social harmonisation therapy due to the aggravated risk of violence and other antisocial behaviour and with view to her inability to display a stable-enough personality for participation in society. On 32.XV.1739, Salome was involuntarily committed to social harmonisation therapy in the care of Svetostrov.

Background

Kaiseress Salome ordered the deployment of the Bad Neighbour II nuclear strike system in response to the deaths of Princes Rubin and Ichirō. On 23.XI.1733 AN, a 350-kiloton nuclear warhead was launched, detonating in an airburst over the Ardashirshahr metropolitan area. The strike caused an estimated 599,300 fatalities and 224,940 injuries, severely disrupting military command and communication networks in the region. While the airburst minimized radioactive fallout, the attack left the area under the shadow of a massive 16-kilometer-high mushroom cloud and caused significant destruction and chaos. This also let to the Shiro-Benacian war, and the ensuing Mango Anarchy in Shireroth.

On the night of 10.XI.1737, Kaiseress Salome attempted a secret escape from Shirekeep to evade capture or assassination by the Benacian Union. Disguised as a working-class woman, Salome and her courtiers planned to flee via a circuitous route involving an electric airplane and a civilian jet. However, her plan was intercepted by Prince Yukio, who, in collaboration with Humanist-aligned elements of the Hurmu Fyrð, redirected her flight to Svetostrov.

Though officially presented as her exercising rights as a princess among the Lakes, Salome's stay was effectively house arrest, closely monitored by Hurmu Fyrð equerries. Yukio sought to pressure her into abdicating in his favour, while the Humanists aimed for Shireroth’s collapse into Benacian Union control. Meanwhile, the Senatorial Inquisition initiated an investigation into Salome's war crimes, including her nuclear attack on the Benacian Union, with prosecutors regularly questioning her.

The final report of the Inquisition was given to Marcus Avon-El Myksos on 1.X.1739, after which Marcus Avon-El Myksos initiated articles of indictment against Salome in the Senate of the Lakes.

Senate proceedings

Order of the Holy Lakes v Kaiseress Salome

On 10.VIII.1739, Marcus Avon-El Myksos, acting First Secretary, Commander of the Order of the Holy Lakes, acting on the advice of the Senatorial Inquisition, brought articles of indictment against Kaiseress Salome:

I, Marcus Avon-El Ayreon-Kalirion Myksos, Prince among the Lakes, Commander of the Order of the Holy Lakes, Senator, and acting First Secretary, do hereby bring articles of indictment against Her Magnificence Salome Ylva Octavia Ayreon-Kalirion ibn al-Majeed al-Osman bin Sathrati of Waffel-Paine, Kaiseress of Shireroth, Princess of Hurmu, Princess among the Lakes, etc.

1. Crime of aggression (waging of an unlawful war) That the accused, Kaiseress Salome, did knowingly and with premeditation initiate a nuclear attack against the civilian population of the Benacian Union, resulting in the deaths of countless innocents and the devastation of cities. This act violated the established principles of restraint, proportionality, and peacekeeping among the nations of Micras.

War Crimes

2.1 Targeting of Civilians

That the accused ordered the deployment of nuclear weapons against civilian populations in the Benacian Union, in wilful and deliberate violation of the principle of distinction, which requires combatants to differentiate between military and civilian targets.

2.2. Indiscriminate and Disproportionate Use of Force

That the accused employed nuclear weapons as a disproportionate reprisal for the deaths of two Shirerithian princes, knights of the Holy Lakes (may there be peace upon their memories), resulting in catastrophic civilian harm that far exceeded any conceivable military objective.

3. Crimes Against Humanity

That the accused did knowingly and wllfully authorize actions that led to widespread death, suffering, and displacement of civilian populations, actions constituting crimes against humanity under the evolving norms of the law of nations.

4. Bringing the Order into disrepute, dishonour or threat

That the accused, by her actions, brought disrepute, dishonour, or threat upon the Order of the Holy Lakes, violating the sacred principles of peace, harmony, and responsibility incumbent upon all members of this Order, and that the accused, by waging an aggressive war and committing atrocities, undermined the integrity and neutrality of the Order of the Holy Lakes, thereby exposing it to diplomatic and existential risks.

Prayer for Justice

If the Senate should find her guilty of any of the counts 1–3, that the Senate should consider committing her to social harmonization therapy in the care of the Realm of the Holy Island.

If the Senate should find her guilty of count 4, the Senate should consider expelling her from the Order under clause 1.2.5.2.2 of the Charter for the Order of the Holy Lakes.

I rest.

—Marcus Avon-El Myksos

Debate

Thereafter, the articles of indictment were met with opposition led by Mondo:

Mondo is uncomfortable with the idea of bringing sovereign rulers to trial for acts carried out while exercising their legitimate sovereignty. Holding a member to account for acts committed against the Order is another matter, and should be within the purview of this senate...but Salome has not made war against the Holy Lakes.

This position should not be understood as support for Salome's actions.

—Mondo Etzeterra

The acting First Secretary replied:

While Kaiseress Salome is a sovereign ruler she is also a citizen of the Order. In this case, even if she was not a member of the Order, the crimes she is accused of are so egregious that they harm the international community as a whole, transcending national boundaries.

Without universal jurisdiction, perpetrators of such heinous acts could exploit jurisdictional loopholes, fleeing to nations where they might evade justice. By asserting universal jurisdiction, the global community ensures that no safe haven exists for individuals who violate the fundamental norms of humanity, thereby reinforcing the collective commitment to accountability, justice, and the rule of law.

In Hurmu, Kaiseress Salome is not a sovereign ruler. She is subject to the Order as a member and resident. She is now in Hurmu and thus subject to the laws of Hurmu, both by her membership and by her physical presence in Hurmu.

A head of state should stand trial for egregious violations of international law, such as war crimes and crimes against humanity, because sovereignty cannot be a shield for impunity when actions threaten the fundamental norms of the global community. Allowing sovereign immunity to prevent accountability would undermine justice, encourage lawlessness, and erode trust in the international legal order.

For this reason, Kaiseress Salome should stand trial, and the Senate is a competent court.

—Marcus Avon-El Myksos

Again, this was met by opposition by Senator Mondo. As such, acting First Chancellor declared as follows:

With the objection of my esteemed colleague, Senator Mondo, I believe the first questions for the Senate to resolve are as follows:

1. Does the Senate have jurisdiction to try a head of state of a foreign state for criminal acts committed as a head of state, if that head of state is present in the jurisdiction of the Order, and also a member of the Order?
2. If yes to question 1, does the Senate have jurisdiction to try the same person for offences against the law of nations known as crime of aggression and war crimes?

If the two questions above are answered in the affirmative, then the Inquisition will continue its criminal case on counts 1–3.

—Marcus Avon-El Myksos

A heated debate followed. The central issue debated was whether the Senate had jurisdiction to try Salome, both as a former head of state and as a member of the Order of the Holy Lakes, for alleged crimes of aggression, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

Senators representing the United Ayreonist–Traditionalist Faction (Mondo, Anastasia and Lystasia Steerswick excepted) emphasized the Senate's authority over its members, regardless of their political roles abroad. Marcus Avon-El Myksos argued that the Senate could hold Salome accountable as a member of the Order while ensuring due process. In contrast, the Humanist representatives, including Senator Viric Merrick, questioned whether the Senate's jurisdiction could extend to actions undertaken by a sovereign in a foreign context. Merrick cautioned against setting a precedent that might position the Senate as an arbiter of global affairs.

The debate also addressed the legality of Salome's actions. Marcus Avon-El Myksos contended that the charges focus on waging an illegal war, as well as specific war crimes and crimes against humanity. Merrick countered, questioning whether a sovereign's decision to wage war could be deemed illegal under international law.

Several senators raised concerns about Salome's mental state. Mondo Etzeterra and Merrick both suggested that her recent actions indicate potential instability. As a compromise, it was proposed that, should the Senate decline jurisdiction, Salome could be placed in social harmonization therapy to address the risk she might pose to herself or others.

Vote on jurisdiction

Following the debate, the Senate voted on the so-called question 1: Does the Senate have jurisdiction to try a head of state of a foreign state for criminal acts committed as a head of state, if that head of state is present in the jurisdiction of the Order, and also a member of the Order?.

Voting occurred on 20.IX.1739.

Senator	Faction	Vote
Utas Ayreon-Kalirion	H	Presiding
Marcus Avon-El Myksos	U	Aye
Valde Einhorn	H	Nay
Jaya Prabhu	C	Absent
Saurabh Farrah	C	Absent
Mondo Etzeterra	U	Nay
Rosamund	H	Nay
Anastasia	U	Nay
Muhammad Furkorn Mat Jeen	P	Nay
Ahmad Abdullah Inzun Shah	P	Nay
Samira Avon-El Myksos	U	Aye
Viric Merrick	H	Nay
Kamran al-Osman	H	Nay
Tonugawa Takashi	C	Absent
Jacob Utherion Lewis	V	Absent
Avina Mira Avon-El	H	Nay
Matilde Einhorn al-Osman Kåveland	H	Nay
Vahid al-Osman	H	Nay
Khoga Maral	H	Nay
Malachi Wythe al-Osman de la Gardie	U	Aye
Malliki Castanucci Nur Pinito	U	Aye
Velibor Jovanović-Smičić	U	Aye
Lystasia Steerswick	U	Nay
Meera Hakimi bint Alsalam	H	Nay
Enhei	U	Aye
Mikhail Maksimilianov-Shvinnskiy	U	Aye
Yukio	U	Aye
Anisa Vaykok Nur Pinito	–	Aye
Total "aye" votes		9
Total "nay" votes		14
Total number of abstentions		1
Total number of absentees		4

As such, the Senate had resolved that it did not have jurisdiction to try Kaiseress Salome. Subsequently, the Inquisition dropped its charges.

Move to commit Kaiseress Salome to social harmonisation therapy

Following the dropping of charges against Kaiseress Salome, on 20.IX.1739, Marcus Avon-El Myksos, on behalf of the Inquisition, moved instead to commit Kaiseress Salome to social harmonisation therapy due to her aggravated risk for future criminality, violence or other antisocial behaviour, and her inability to display a stable-enough personality for participation in society. Debate and analysis took a while for the Senate, mainly regarding the implications of committing a head of state into involuntary care.

On 32.XV.1739, the Senate finally voted on the question. The overwhelming majority voted to commit her to social harmonisation therapy. The decision was effected immediately.

Senator	Faction	Vote
Utas Ayreon-Kalirion	H	Presiding
Marcus Avon-El Myksos	U	Aye
Valde Einhorn	H	Aye
Jaya Prabhu	C	Nay
Saurabh Farrah	C	Nay
Mondo Etzeterra	U	Aye
Rosamund	H	Aye
Anastasia	U	Aye
Muhammad Furkorn Mat Jeen	P	Nay
Ahmad Abdullah Inzun Shah	P	Nay
Samira Avon-El Myksos	U	Aye
Viric Merrick	H	Aye
Kamran al-Osman	H	Aye
Tonugawa Takashi	C	Nay
Jacob Utherion Lewis	V	Absent
Avina Mira Avon-El	H	Aye
Matilde Einhorn al-Osman Kåveland	H	Aye
Vahid al-Osman	H	Aye
Khoga Maral	H	Aye
Malachi Wythe al-Osman de la Gardie	U	Aye
Malliki Castanucci Nur Pinito	U	Aye
Velibor Jovanović-Smičić	U	Aye
Lystasia Steerswick	U	Aye
Meera Hakimi bint Alsalam	H	Aye
Enhei	U	Aye
Mikhail Maksimilianov-Shvinnskiy	U	Aye
Yukio	U	Aye
Anisa Vaykok Nur Pinito	–	Aye
Total "aye" votes		21
Total "nay" votes		5
Total number of abstentions		1
Total number of absentees		1

See also

• Streïur uis Faïren
• Mango Anarchy