Chapter 59

Idavoll Asgard Home World

Standing above all other structures on the heavily forested and highly developed home world of the Asgard was the Hall of Gladsheim. Constructed of three upwardly spiraling crystalline pillars that met eight hundred upwards the three pillars supported hammer shaped platform adorned with multicolored Norse runes. From the three pillars brilliant shafts of light rose skyward. The Hall of Gladsheim was home to the Asgard High Council.

Sitting on a raised platform in their high backed chairs the High Council's seven members were seated. Odin, Penegal, Freyr, Thor, Sigyn, Tyr, and Fenrir reviewed data recovered from the mission to capture the Vanir. Had they been a more emotional race revulsion might have been felt. As it was the only feeling that was closely approximated was one of contempt. Moving a control stone Penegal initiated the holographic communications link. In seconds a holographic representation of Mimir stood before the High Council.

"Mamir, you stand before the High Council to answer for your actions these many thousands of years" began Penegal.

"What was done cannot be changed. It was done to secure the future of our race" answered Mimir simply.

"This council holds to be true that you and your followers appropriated vessels of the Asgard Fleet and established a presence in the Pegasus galaxy in direct contravention of standing instructions from this Council. A galaxy under the domain of our allies the Ancients" stated Freyr.

"These facts are known and I do not deny them" replied Mimir.

"After your entry into Pegasus you engaged in unauthorized genetic research on life seeded by the Ancients instead of aiding our allies in a war they would later find themselves defeated. This life seeded by our allies could be considered as their offspring. This is no different than if you kidnapped and experimented on the Ancients themselves" accused a clearly irritated Thor.

"These facts are already known" was the bland reply from Mimir.

"You have brought shame upon the Asgard with your actions time after time. Moving forward several millennia you attacked our allies in the Tauri and the Ancients with your provocative actions towards Atlantis. Atlantis was the capital of the Ancients civilization, and the Tauri have interceded on our behalf successfully in the past. For these reasons alone your punishment will be far more harsh than it seems you suspect it will be" pointed out Freyr.

"My followers and I will not beg for leniency from this Council. Our views have greatly diverged over the eons. Whatever term of sentence is passed down will only be a temporary measure" stated Mimir.

"There is little point in continuing these proceedings when it is clear the Vanir steadfastly refuse to see the harm they have caused. I move that we immediately pass judgment" urged Thor.

"I too am in agreement with this Thor. Mimir of the Vanir, for the offenses you have committed in the name of solving our genetic degradation we see only one fitting recourse. You and your follower's consciousness will be transferred into bodies that do not have the benefit of our ill gotten research. Instead you will be transferred into cloned bodies that still harbor the genetic degradation issue. You and your followers will not be permitted transfer into examples of the bodies you see seated before you for the very fact that you waged aggressive action upon the creators of the technology that saved our race. In these flawed bodies you and your followers will serve at the lowest ranks of minor technicians. Three hundred years from now your status will be reviewed" clearly stated Penegal before breaking the holographic link with the accused.