“You’re a decorated war hero, are you not, Captain?”

“I’m a veteran officer, but decorated might be self aggrandizing.”

“No need to be modest here. It’s no secret you’ve earned the nickname the Valkyrie of Tohruun. Your men look up to you. Trust you to make the right choices.”

Castien paused as if waiting for a response from her, but since he’d posed no question, she opted to remain silent. Though she had the feeling, this was more for the panel’s benefit than her own. She had the sinking feeling this is where he’d build her up to tear her down.

“So it comes as a surprise to me you’d betray that trust in you, the trust that Lt. Rayshe held in you, when you shot him through the heart with a void round.”

Castien faced her now, his back to the panel. Her throat went dry. She maintained her composure, but the knot in her throat was tight. She didn’t enjoy doing what she’d done, and knew she’d pay for it. But she saw no other route out of the situation.

“Couldn’t you have simply hit Lt. Rayshe with a dream bolt and thrown him in the brig for insubordination?” Castien finally asked. There it was. The line that painted her into the corner she’d conveniently made for them.

“In fact, you’ve even testified that you’d do what you did again. It’d be safe to assume that you harbored some kind of malice or ill intent with Lt. Rayshe.”

“Because she’s a murderer!” Allosius shouted, half rising from his chair until Admiral Brown swatted him down.

“Allosius I will break this off your damn thick head. Just give me the reason.” Brown said, brandishing his wooden mallet.

“As my mission reports and own testimony have already stated. Lt. Rayshe was a solid executive officer. We may have had our disagreements, but I always valued his perspective and counsel. However, his casual disregard for the lives of anyone non-Aeryn, and his view that those beneath him were simply fodder, often ran afoul of my orders.”

Castien nodded, clasping his hands behind his back, then sitting down. “No further questions, gentlemen.”

Brown eagerly banged his mallet twice. “This panel will break to deliberate judgement. We will reconvene in 10 minutes.” Brown clapped the mallet ceremoniously twice more. Morwen watched Allosius rise from his seat. She was certain if the man could shoot lasers from his eyes, he would have cored her through the heart. Admiral Brown stepped back from the podium to leave. Ilmont rose to follow and still looked as bored as when he first came in.

Castien rose from his seat to her left and approached the front of the plain, dark wood table in front of her. His hands remained clasped behind his back and his expression troubled. “For what it’s worth, Captain, I’m sorry for going so hard on you. You’re one of the few leaders in the Federation taking the fight to the Sauridius. Soldier to solider? This feels like a witch hunt.”

She wasn’t sure what witches were, or why they used to be hunted, but she’d assumed it was just one of the many animals the humans drove to extinction before leaving their homeworld. She nodded stiffly in reply, “Thank you, Col. Coming from someone with your prestige, that’s an honor.”

Castien about faced crisply. The movement was so snappy, Sgt. Sirsir might have fangirl’d had he witnessed it himself. She couldn’t argue with Castien’s professionalism. She felt certain Allosius arranged his being opposite her. There were so few actually doing any fighting against the Sauridius she sometimes wondered if it was just herself. With Castien gone, that left just her and her father.

Archpriest Eaulmont rose from his chair, golden spell staff in one hand, Lucinda’s hands draped across the opposite forearm. He approached slowly, as one might a wounded animal. She tried to read his expression but couldn’t discern if he was feeling anguish or discomfort.

“I thought you could use some support.” he said finally.

Her first instinct was incredulity. He’d put her up to that mission, and now, now, he thought she could use some help? She had to take a deep breath to rein in her temper. She must maintain her poise. Comportment was absolute. A force only fought as disciplined as its commander was. When she’d finally schooled her emotions into check, she understood his motives more.

“What do you want, father?”

He wilted visibly under the question. A small frown tugging at his lips, and she noted the smallest crease of his brows. “Ah, yes. Ever to business.” he said with disappointment. Not that he’d ever given her much choice. He’d never married his mother, who always seemed more invested in her work with the Artificing guild, than in any personal relationships. Eaulmont sighed softly and tried to raise his hand to shape several runes, but Lucinda stopped him.

“Sorry, dear, but the prophecy can wait longer, can it not? Morwen has a lot going on right now.”

Eaulmont looked about to protest then caught himself, giving the all too beautiful gladiator a faint smile. “Perhaps you’re right.” Morwen caught the look he’d given Lucinda when she’d turned to smile back at Morwen. There was a sadness there. He knew something. But what?

“For now, Morwen needs our support with this trial.”

Lucinda reached out to rest a hand on Morwen’s shoulder. The retired duelist gave her a gentle squeeze. Morwen gave her a faint smile and a nod. Lucinda had never tried to replace her mother, and the two had always had an awkward relationship. Morwen never thought of her as a mother figure, but she appreciated the woman’s impact on her father more of late. She gave him some stability when Morwen suspected he’d needed it most. Even if she’d driven a wedge between Eaulmont and Arefhel.

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“Let’s go get some wine while we wait for these unappreciative blow hards to decide Morwen’s fate.”

Lucinda wrapped a gentle arm around Morwen’s shoulders and led her away from the lecture hall turned court room. “You know they’re debating whether to execute me, right?” Morwen asked, a small knot in her brows. Lucinda’s eagerness to drink wine came a little too carefree for Morwen’s tastes.

Lucinda shrugged casually, giving Morwen a playful smile. “All the more reason to have one last indulgence. You never know when it might be your last.”

Morwen struggled not to frown, and Lucinda couldn’t help an amused giggle for it. The two were opposites. Lucinda lived in the now. Understandable considering she fought in the Leagues. Having once been a war slave who’d earned her freedom, she now lived out her retirement flitting from party to party. A well-earned retirement, in Morwen’s opinion. It just ill suited Morwen’s temperament. She found it difficult to relax and unwind like that when the Sauridius were out there still.

The trio retreated to a small lounge area outside, under the shade of several aged redwoods and smaller ferns. Lucinda held a bottle of wine with golden runes etched into the bottom. After emptying the contents into her glass, she channeled a point of her magic into the bottle, and the runes converted the raw magic into more wine. She settled back, holding her glass by the stem, and eyed Morwen curiously.

“If they decide to execute you, will you protest?”

Morwen puzzled over that for a long moment. After several long, silent minutes, she finally shook her head. “No. It was my choice. I won’t back down from it, or its consequences.”

Lucinda smiled with approval and handed the glass to Morwen. “Well then, can’t have you traipsing off to the realm of the dead sober now, can we?”

Morwen looked at Lucinda as though the woman had just defiled the Grand Temple and invited her to participate. “Oh, loosen up! You’re too bloody stiff. What else have you got to lose? You did the best you could and came out on top. If that’s that the note you punch out on, I’d say it’s a bloody good note!”

Morwen’s head swam as she sipped at the golden fluid. If she examined the glass closely, she could see sparkling motes of aether in the wine. Her lip curled into a smile of its own accord. Lucinda was right. That was a bloody good note to go out on. If she was to face down her death? She’d enjoy herself on the way out.

Someone cleared their throat, and she turned to find a gold and emerald armored spell warrior. It was one of her father’s escorts. “The panel has decided and is requesting the captain’s presence to render judgement now.”

“Of course. Tell them we’ll be right along.” Eaulmont offered with a subdued smile. Her father rose from his seat on the couch with a slow, measured grace. He helped Lucinda up to her feet, she then channeled a little light magic. Her eyes glowed for a moment and, just like that, she was sober again. Morwen recognized the healing spell, and used it herself.

18/19 AP

The toxins in her liver and the damage done repaired at the expense of a simple point of pool. It felt so trivial and easy, causing her to reflect on the casual ease that magic had on life compared to nulls. Nulls like all the Brotherhood marines she’d lost on Hidros. Such a large and expensive sacrifice for victory. The cost left a sour taste in her mouth and she suddenly wished she hadn’t used her magic to heal off the soft buzz she’d drank up.

Inside the makeshift courtroom, Ilmont, Brown, and Allosius sat at their panel’s table. Morwen took her assigned seat. Her father and Lucinda taking up the two spare chairs next to her table. Brown tapped his little wooden mallet twice, puffing with ceremony. He really liked that thing.

“The panel has reached a decision. It renders its judgement as thus. In recognition of her rescue efforts for the people of Hidros, all unit awards issued to the mages Private Akamori, Private Amara, and Private Sala are to be posthumously given to Lt. Rayshe. He is to be posthumously promoted to the rank of captain. You will amend your reports to reflect that Captain Rayshe died on Hidros in service of the Federation. You will be demoted to the rank of lieutenant and re-assigned when a position can be found for you. Do you accept this judgement? Forfeiture of the judgement renders an automatic execution judgement.”

Morwen swayed on her feet. She braced herself against the tabletop for support. Demoted? Lose the Crasher? Lose her mages? How was she going to continue fighting like that? Whether she chose execution or this judgement, either way led to death. She was not conceited or egotistical, but she felt certain that without her opposing the Sauridius, the Federation’s time was limited.

Brown eyed her expectantly. Allosius glared imperiously. Ilmont seemed marginally intrigued. Morwen swallowed hard, offering a faint nod. “I accept the panel’s judgement.” She tasted bile in the back of her throat. This was a betrayal to her people. Akamori and Amara, most of all, whom she’d fought to get and nurture to win that battle. It made her feel as though she’d used them up and allowed the political machine to devour them and spit them out. Her shoulders sagged as she deflated under the judgement.

Allosius preened victoriously in his seat. Brown banged his mallet twice officiously, then declared they concluded the panel. Allosius rose from his chair, looked at Morwen with satisfaction at his work, and departed. Morwen remained at her table a moment longer as Ilmont rose and left, studying the ceiling as he strode to the exit. When all that remained behind was the Admiral, she approached.

“Admiral, a question, if I might impose?”

He sighed, removing his hat and offering her a nod. “You’ve earned that much.” He suddenly looked about 10 years older as a weariness settled in he’d somehow suppressed during the proceedings.

“My demotion. I understand the impact on myself. But what of my team? My crew?”

Brown frowned, shaking his head. “Reassignment as well. Likely by whoever buys up their contracts.”

She folded her arms, more confused than agast. “So… the panel decided it made more sense to break up one of its most successful units against its single largest threat?”

Brown pinched the bridge of his nose. “Most of this was Allosius’ doing. Personally, I don’t have time for your politics here. You pointy’s like to sit around and talk too much. I don’t have time for that. I’ve read your reports. You do decent work, but, well?” He paused, searching for the words. “You’re full of yourself, too. All this talk of prophecies?” He sighed, rolling his eyes. “Is that all?”

She frowned and shook her head. “Sorry, one last question. You mentioned most of this was Allosius’ doing. I’d have thought he’d call for execution?”

“Oh, he did. It was Ilmont that saved your bacon. He’s the one who suggested the demotion, reassignment and awards. He convinced Allosius it would be an emotional execution. One you’d have to live with and carry around.” Brown eyed her up. “Seems he was right.”

Morwen muttered a muted agreement, and the Admiral excused himself. A soft pressure on her shoulder squeezed, and she turned to see her father. Had he known about the judgement beforehand? “Come with me.” he said. There was a softness in his voice she’d only just heard now. He’d never spoken to her like that and she’d not realized how badly she needed to hear that. The corners of her eyes shone as her career crashed and burned all around her. Slowly he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and drew her in to his side. She drifted along numbly. If her life was to end, then she could humor her father if he wanted to be a parent late in life.