Page 17 of Neverwylde 6
Kyber paused. Noticing his brother’s questioning look, Duruk grinned. “Surely, as D’har, you would be knowledgeable about such planets.”
“As Por D’har, I was not made privy to that information. And, unfortunately, once I obtained my ranking, I was not given any additional training by my predecessor.” It was a major effort not to sound disrespectful in answering, even though the comments made to him were scathing. “If I may inquire, what is a neverwylde planet?”
“A planet that has suffered a cataclysmic event, yet continues to maintain the ability to support life,” D’har Trant offered.
Kyber lifted his chin slightly. “We were patrolling the edge of Seneecian space near the Plamof Nebula.”
“On whose orders?” Duruk challenged.
“On D’har Plat’s orders.”
Gormac leaned forward. “You were not outside the boundaries and encroaching on Bav Torian space?”
“Not to my knowledge,” Kyber responded.
“But is that not your job? To know your exact location at all times?” Duruk questioned.
“At the time I was assisting in the engine room, again on D’har Plat’s orders. I had not been on the bridge for several hours when the fighting began.”
“What fighting?” Jeha asked.
“We were fired upon by a Terran warship. At that time I hurried to the bridge to find us fleeing from further confrontation.”
“D’har Kyber, did you not find it unusual to befleeinga measly Terran warship instead of directly engaging it?” D’har Obbleest wondered.
They continued to refer to him as D’har, even though they believed he had not legitimately earned the title.
“Yes, I found it unusual, but I did not question my D’har.” He had followed strict protocol. He couldn’t be faulted for that.
“What happened next?”
“I heard the alarm go off, signaling an anomaly. That was when I saw the wormhole opening and knew we were inevitably going to be swallowed up inside it.”
“What did you do?” D’har Bluv asked.
“I ordered for communications to send out our coordinates and signal for help. I then instructed everyone to abandon ship, and to go directly to the lifepods.”
“What did D’har Plat do?”
“That, I cannot tell you. He was no longer on the bridge at that time.”
“Are you telling us he abandoned his own ship before you gave the orders?” Jeha questioned.
“I am telling you I do not know where Plat was at that time. Only that he had left the bridge soon after the wormhole had been detected.”
“Do you realize you are accusing Plat of desertion?” Trant narrowed his eyes at him.
Kyber dodged the obvious trap. “I accuse him of nothing. I am only stating the facts.”
The men took the next minute or two to discuss his testimony among themselves. They were too far away for him to overhear, but he doubted any of it was positive.
Nothing he did now could exacerbate what he knew their final decision would be. Which was why he chose to pursue his own inquiry.
“D’har, if I may.”
“No, you may not,” Duruk stated. The man didn’t raise his face to look at him when he answered.
“We went through a wormhole. How did you find us? Did you receive our emergency beacon?”
