Samantha entered a poorly illuminated circular room. Ten or so feet above her sat the ruling council of the Outcast nation, the Council of Dons. She had never been summoned before them in her entire military career, and could already feel the knot in her stomach drawing tighter. The doors closed behind her, leaving her alone with these men whose faces could not be seen. She approached a single column of light that encompassed a small chair.
State your name, rank, service number, and affiliation for the record, a gruff older voice echoed through the room.
Lieutenant Commander Samantha Martinez, service number 134-XD-7757, affiliation Maltese Navy.
So it will be entered, the voice replied. You stand today before the Council of Dons. The issue at hand is your recent mission in Omicron 85. You will answer any question presented by the Dons completely and truthfully, any attempt at deception will be met with swift retribution. Do you understand the terms of these proceedings?
I do, Samantha replied boldly.
Then be seated.
She sat in the small chair beneath the pillar of light, making her vision to anything outside the circle of light essentially useless.
We the Council of Don have taken a great interest in your mission. The cargo of your target is of vital importance to Maltese national security. Your report stated that a wingman detected a highly degraded ion trail, and that is what led you to the wreck. Is this correct?
Yes Don.
At any point did you detect anomalous readings that could be construed as another ship besides your own and the Falcata?
No Don, other than the already charted wrecks and the 101st patrols there was no sighn of other ships in the area.
So you had no knowledge of Corsair ships in our most secure system?
No Don I had no knowledge of their presence until they open fired.
The group of men sounded to be conversing amongst themselves, Samantha could not hear what they were speaking about.
You are excused Commander.
Samantha swallowed hard and stood up, Don if I be granted permission to ask a question.
Some more conversing she could not make out, Proceed Commander.
What will happen to them? The children that is.
They will be put into the most protective custody you could possibly imagine where they will continue to train their minds and bodies until a time where they are ready to assume posts in the Outcast Military. What are you getting at Commander?
Dons I would like permission to go with them, I feel . . . attached to them somehow.
Denied
Wait lets hear her out, A new, much younger voice said. Speak your mind Commander.
Thank you Don, you see I was raised without knowing a mothers love. My parents were slain by our blood enemies the Corsairs. I know what it is like to be alone in the world, and I dont want to see them go through that as I did.
Irrelevant, The older one said again, They are going to be Maltas new weapon against the Corsairs, not a couple of Care Bears.
She has a point though, the younger one said, We will be putting them through the toughest trials there are, they will need someone to go to. After all they are just children. And these training programs were geared to adults at least 21 years old. And Martinez is trained in the highest levels of our Martial Arts program, she can double as a personal guard for them. More deliberation took place, and again it could not be heard.
Samantha Martinez you hereby stand detached from your present command, you have two days to pack your things and report to Maltese Special Forces Division Sector 01 where you will be assigned to permanent guard duty of the aforementioned subjects. And you are herby promoted to the rank of Commander. Failure is not an option. Do you understand?