Page 27 of Neverwylde 6
“Come with me.” Pivoting on his heel, he left the landing bay. The others followed in single file. Kelen took position behind Kyber, and several guards brought up their rear.
Because all of them wouldn’t fit in one, they had to take two elevator cars to another part of the station. Along the way, people stopped to stare at the imposing Seneecians. In spite of their restraints, they walked confidently with their heads up.
Walking behind her husband, Kelen allowed herself the opportunity to study his body. It was evident by the way he held himself and by his stride that he’d been healed of the wounds he’d suffered on the planet. He was also back in his dark red uniform, and looked very much the way he had when the Terrans and Seneecians had first encountered each other soon after crashing.
Despite her silence, Kyber must have sensed her scrutiny and glanced back at her. She threw him a quick smile, which he didn’t return. The omission slightly stung, but she shook it off. They had to be very careful not to divulge any information that could be construed the wrong way.
Eventually, they arrived at a small auditorium. On the short stage, a table had been set up, along with several chairs. Kelen and the others were led to the two rows of seats directly in front of the stage as several officers entered from a side door and sat in the chairs. At the same time, two rows of guards sat behind them, and more took a stance around the room’s perimeter, every weapon at-ready.
Pfeiffer sat at the table in the center chair. He rapped the surface with his knuckles and the room grew silent. Checking around the auditorium, he cleared his throat.
“This meeting will come to order. I have called this hearing for two reasons.” The man’s gaze dropped to those seated in front of the stage. “Lieutenant Fullgrath, please stand.”
Fullgrath got to his feet and clasped his hands in front of him.
“You said you are currently the highest ranking officer, is that correct?”
“Actually, Colonel Pfeiffer, all of us survivors, with the exception of Second Lieutenant Dox, are lieutenants. I just happened to be the closest man to the helm when we were hailed.”
“Who is the high-ranking officer for the Seneecians?”
Kyber slowly got to his feet. At the same time, the men at the table could be seen inserting translating earbuds into their ears. Kelen bit back a smile when her husband casually remarked, “There is no need for those. We can speak Terranese.”
The astonishment on the officers’ faces was priceless. Clasping his hands together and setting them on the table before him, Pfeiffer cocked his head.
“State your name and rank.”
“I am D’har Kyber Nau Kil, formerly of the Seneecian warshipIst Umberu.”
Pfeiffer pointed at him. “Your emblem is that of a Por D’har. According to my information, that’s a rank below D’har.”
“It is. I earned my new ranking while on the planet where we crashed. I have not had the chance to change it.”
One of the officers leaned over to whisper in the colonel’s ear. Pfeiffer nodded, then made a few movements over the table’s surface. Although she couldn’t see the embedded screens in the tabletop, Kelen believed there was one in front of every officer.
“Until your new ranking is confirmed, I will refer to you a Por D’har,” Pfeiffer stated.
Kyber gave a slight nod of acceptance.
“I am letting all of you know now that prior to our sensors picking up your space craft, we received a wideband dispersal message from an unidentified Seneecian ship. Let me read it to you.
“’This is a Code Five alert. Be aware that a group of wanted criminals have escaped from Seneecian custody. They are guilty of assault, theft, murder, and treason. The group consists of four Seneecians, led by Por D’har Kyber Nau, and seven Terrans. These are dangerous felons and must be approached with extreme caution. Shoot on sight. Do not try to apprehend. Shoot on sight.’”
He clasped his hands again and looked up at them. “I guess it’s obvious that we did not shoot on sight even though we suspected you were these wanted criminals mentioned in this message. I’m letting you know that we have sent a message back along that same wideband to let whoever broadcast it know that we have located you.”
She heard the sound of finality in his voice, and cold fear began to creep into her lungs, stealing her breath. At the same time, an invisible hand slid its icy fingers around her heart and began to squeeze it. Dread, like a black blanket, settled over her as Kelen listened to the officer’s next remarks.
“What happens in these next few hours will determine whether or not we will return you to your people, or if you will face charges here. As for you, Lieutenant Fullgrath, you and your fellow crewmembers have already been tried and convicted of treason. You each have been sentenced to spend no less than forty, and no more than eighty years on Orboros. Your sentences began the moment you set foot on this outpost. We have contacted Central Command to make them aware of this situation.”
Sitting up straighter, Pfeiffer consulted the monitor on the table again, then cleared his throat. “What we will accomplish now is to get your individual testimonies on record, in order to bring this case to a satisfactory conclusion. Lieutenant Kelen Chambliss, please stand. We will begin with you.”
