Page 69 of Her Lawless Prince

Yevgen’s presentation continued, “What you are about to see is indisputable evidence of truth.”

“Is this a joke?” General Griggs demanded as Yevgen reappeared in a regal pose with a crown on his head.

“Evidence collection part one,” Yevgen said. “General Sten, disgraced Federation leader, admits his primary goal is to wait for the death of the Cysgodian people so that the Federation may lay claim to their planet.”

General Sten’s face appeared over the table as a series of recordings played. “Estimates show that they will all be dead in twelve years, and we’ll no longer have a Cysgodian concern. Once the virus clears and the planet is ruled safe to inhabit, which our researchers indicate should be in about a hundred years, no descendants will be left to lay claim to Cysgod. I believe the Federation is morally obligated to take over planetary rights.”

Payton remained standing by the table as the two guards who delivered the device left them. She had seen this footage before. It continued to show the general and some of his men making plans to poison the population’s food with a drug that caused an intense rage. Scientific charts and graphs replaced the general’s face. They flashed too quickly to study properly, but Yevgen’s voice narrated their importance. Then Justina appeared within a Federation prison cell in the images.

“You should know the medical scan found several abnormal growths,” a guard threatened her. “The growths won’t kill you right away, but…”

Justina reached to pause the recording. The Federation soldier’s projected smile froze, and it felt as if he glared at them. “That’s Sever. We have confessions of him admitting everything. This was when he tried to blackmail me into distributing the poison. Access to medical care was denied to many, even though working medical booths were just a short walk away from the city. Those, like me, who were allowed a scan were then blackmailed before care was given.”

When Justina turned the holograph back on, a series of conversations and images confirmed her assertions.

The scenes came in a montage of information.

“Evidence collection part two.” Yevgen reappeared in his crown. “General Sten, disgraced Federation leader, poisons the population and administers birth control.”

“Cut the food rations, up the dosage of birth deterrents, and post more guards around the city’s borders to keep the population from sneaking into the forests to hunt,” General Sten’s voice stated over images of ruin and decay, of poverty and pain. “Patience. This is a long game. Every death must be explainable and the Federation blameless. When Cysgod is once more inhabitable, if there are no living descendants at that time, as the last remaining governance of the Cysgodian people, the Federation Military will be able to keep the planet on their roster permanently.”

Sever’s voice took over, showing him being interrogated by the shifters. “We cut food rations, gave out the aggressive agent, and lied to them about the medical booths. No one will question our records if we document a slow downfall over time.”

Payton took a deep breath and released it slowly. Finally. It was happening. They were going to get rid of the Federation’s presence on Qurilixen. She fought the urge to shout in happiness.

Yevgen’s face reappeared, narrating a long list of shipping documents, memos, and other Federation documents as more proof of decades of wrongdoing. If anything, the cyborg was very thorough in his documentation. He included everything—calculated food logs, food simulator cycle counts, and medical booth scan records. He even added the Medical Alliance for Planetary Health’s recommended scan rates for optimum care for humanoid species recovering from a large-scale illness, which didn’t happen to be the never-amount-of-times some of the Cysgodians had seen a booth.

When proof of General Sten’s false data stating medical booth radiation would kill the Cysgodians, and that the population was not cured of their plague, General Griggs nodded at her ass-kisser who promptly reached forward to pause Yevgen’s presentation.

“I don’t think it’s necessary to go through every shipping document,” General Griggs stated.

“I think you would agree,” Falke answered, never once revealing what he was thinking in his stoic expression. “We need to be thorough.”

Payton’s lip twitched a little, as she thought,Shove that in your black holes, slargnots!

“Unless you are willing to admit you are in violation of the temporary settlement agreement and immediately plan to vacate this planet,” King Ualan offered. “We would welcome any Cysgodians who choose to remain with the understanding that they are no longer under Federation rule. They will be free to choose between leaving or becoming true Qurilixen citizens.”

General Griggs’s expression tightened, and she did not answer.

Falke leaned forward to resume the presentation. “We’ll be sure to pause for discussion.”

The general leaned to whisper to her soldier with the clipboard, “Go now,” who then nodded in return and instantly left the room.

“Evidence collection part three.” Yevgen did not wear the crown this time as he introduced the next segment, “Federation soldier crimes against women.”

24

Nyle staredat the door where Payton had disappeared for so long that, when it opened, for a tiny moment, he thought he’d willed it with his mind. Seeing a half shifted cougar-man quickly corrected the thought.

Everything inside Nyle begged to see Payton again. He felt the absence of her skin. The memory of her smell lingered softly. He hated hiding in the palace suite while she went to deal with the Federation. Not that he had a choice, but it felt like hiding.

“Come,” the guard ordered, the word between a voice and a growl.

“Where?” he asked.

“Come,” the guard repeated with a gesture of his clawed hand. It didn’t appear as if the man was going to be forthcoming with the details.

Nyle nodded and moved to obey the command. He became very aware of the cougar’s sharp claws as he stepped out of the suite. Though he doubted if the Var royals wanted him dead that they would ambush him in the hallway.

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