Fifty-One cadets in their dress uniforms sat on the prosecutor’s side of the gallery. Each one of them was holding two viewscreens with a picture of a departed cadet. Tara and the members of Paragon Squad, the official name for Peregrine’s squad, sat with them. The engineer may not have been part of the attempted murder, but she was with them in solidarity, and had been a victim of the Red Moon Mercenaries. A military trial was usually limited to military members only, but an exception was made for Tara since she had involvement in the incident. Kiera and Locke made sure that their prosthetics were on full display. Natalie, the intelligence cadet who had been maimed was killed by the storm. The trial took place on Quasar first, two months after the cadets were rescued.

Lieutenant Colonel Mack Laney was the first to be tried. He was brought into the courtroom in handcuffs escorted by two members of special security. He paused for a moment when he saw the cadets and had the audacity to smirk. Anger flowed from each of the cadets.

“All rise for His Honor, Jestian Bvendic,” the bailiff called.

The cadets stood in perfect synchronization as the judge, a turalyon with gold-orange skin, red quills growing on his head in place of hair and coal black eyes stepped into the room and paused as his unreadable eyes washed over the cadets. Turalyons were known for being immune to emotional manipulation and telepathy, valued law and justice beyond all else and being impartial in negotiations and judgment. Their quills could be flung from their heads and were laced with a potent neurotoxin.

Judge Bvendic sat down, his stony face unreadable. Kiera tried to sense his emotions but it was like he didn’t even exist. “Lieutenant Colonel Michael Eugene Laney, you have been charged with one hundred and twenty-five counts of murder, sixty-two counts of attempted murder, two counts of conspiracy to kill members of the Imperial Royal family, and high treason for the murder of a member of the Imperial Royal family. How do you plead?” He spoke clearly and without emotion.

Laney stood, he looked back at the cadets with a smug expression on his face, “Not Guilty.”

The cadets roared in protest. Locke and a moderate wolf moreau leapt out of their seats, racing towards Laney, Koda was a heartbeat after them and other cadets began to charge. A forcefield was raised around the courtroom floor, stopping the murderous rush. Riley fumed and shouted, still not not able to move well. Corbin pounded his fist against the forcefield along with an enraged Kida, and a dozen others. Each time Corbin's fist struck the field it and the lights flickered. Judge Bvendic was trying to shout something and bang his gavel but no one could hear him. The anger threatened to overwhelm Kiera. She released her soothing Radiance with all the strength she could. Members of special security were starting to enter the gallery, their instructors were on their feet, just as outraged but controlling themselves much better and moving towards the mob.

The Radiance cut through the anger and a minute after Kiera activated her ability it took effect. They all calmed down enough for the judge or their commanding officers to be heard. “Order. Order. I demand order. If you cannot contain themselves then you will be removed from this courtroom.” The command was delivered with the same steady monotone that he had used when he read the charges. “What just happened?” He asked.

Kiera stood, “I did, your honor. I’m a nymph and I used my soothing ability to calm the rage my fellow cadets are feeling.”

“Can you sustain this effect, Cadet Sol?” Bvendic asked.

“Yes, your Honor, at least for several hours.”

“Your fellow cadets will be allowed to stay if you maintain the effect and there are no more violent outbursts such as that one. All of you take your seats,” Bvendic said.

The cadets didn’t need to be told twice. While the nine women had been enraged as well, they hadn’t charged the courtroom floor and wordlessly decided to keep their violent friends on a tight leash. They positioned themselves so each woman was sitting between two men and had their arms linked with theirs. They ended up needing two rows.

Robyn sat at one end with an arm linked through Calvin’s. Kida sat between Calvin and Koda, Kiera sat between Koda and Locke,Tamalyn sat on Locke's other side next to Tara. Jaina sat on the next row with Corbin. Alyxia sat between Corbin and Edgar, Riley sat between Edgar and Garreth, the moderate wolf moreau, and Kinsley sat on Garreth's other side.

“You seem to have made some enemies, Colonel,” Bvendic said, “The prosecution may begin.”

The trial began with the prosecution presenting the evidence they had, the recordings of the orders that Laney was given and the equipment that was supplied, including the sabotaged survival packs and damaged flight suits with their holes blasted into the parachutes from obvious plasma fire. Both Major Peregrine and Captain Feren took the stand, telling the courtroom what they had experienced onboard the Everlight and their search for the cadets on Pantarus. Major Farosh gave a full report of the injuries that were inflicted upon the cadets, including the causes of death for several of the cadets, including Hailey and Jin.

The cross examination was fairly weak for all three witnesses, only clarifying some things and attempting to cast Holt as a villain who staged a mutiny, disobeyed orders and struck a superior officer. His response of “I’m not the one on trial” shut down the examination and put a smile on Kiera’s face.

“The prosecution would like to call Cadet Lochlan Seamus Mickelson to the stand.”

Kiera and Tamalyn released Locke’s arms and he stood up. Captain Feren met him in the aisle and escorted him to the stand. “By the Emperor’s will do you pledge to speak only truths?” Bvendic asked.

“For the Empire, I do so pledge,” Locke said sitting down. Feren stood next to him.

“Cadet Mickelson,” the prosecutor Lieutenant Commander Rand MacPherson, a human male said, “Would you tell us what happened on Meteor twenty-ninth?”

“The armored special forces squad leaders were contacted by Colonel Laney with orders to get our squads prepared to make a drop in fifteen minutes, drop pods were not to be used. We were also told to launch the lifeboats without anyone on them. We were ordered to ignore anyone in the Mechanized Combat Corps and the Navy Starfighter Squadron. I questioned these orders and was told to shut up and obey. I alerted the bridge to wake everyone on the ship, the orders were suspicious.

“Ten minutes later we were told plans had changed and we were about to be dropped. We were instructed to suspend all rescue operations except to grab some and I quote “Navy whores” and that everyone else, including our medics who were attached to our platoon were expendable. The medics did not have powered armor. Delta and Gamma squads were reminded of a special mission and the rest of us were told not to get in their way. Colonel Laney told us to get everyone to the location of an IR beacon within ten days or we would be stranded on the planet. I refused the order, issued a counter order and had a bounty placed on my head. Then the ship came under attack.”

Locke paused, “I rescued Cadets Tamalyn Larenthal and Kinsley York. During the descent I saw members of the Special Forces attacking other cadets, the Everlight firing upon the Calm Before the Storm, lifeboats being destroyed, mechas exploding and our pods were revealed to be homing bombardment missiles. Colonel Laney contacted me and informed me he was going to kill me and I would have been set up for life if I had just followed orders and helped kill the princesses. A missile streaked towards me. I let Larenthal and York fall and used my pulse blaster to detonate the missile. The blast flung me towards the planet and I used my jetpack to retrieve my fellow cadets before my armor lost charge. I turned myself so that I would impact the ground and keep my fellow cadets safe. If Cadet Larenthal hadn’t been with me I would have been murdered, like the other one hundred and twenty-five cadets.”

“You arrogant, disrespectful insubordinate little asshole!” Laney roared, throwing aside the defense table, “I gave you farking everything and you sit there painting yourself some kind of farking hero! You got lucky you murderous alien loving farking bastard!” He charged the stand, only to be intercepted and restrained by Captain Feren. She caught the fist he was throwing and used his momentum in the same move that Koda had used to beat Vandreg. She slammed his face against the floor and put her knee on his spine, immobilizing him, all with a nonplussed look on her face.

The bailiffs came over and took him from the captain and brought him back to the overturned table and held the man between them. Locke had risen to his feet and prepared to defend himself but otherwise didn't react. Kiera could feel his loathing and anger, only suppressed by her Radiance.

“Console, control your client or he will be removed from this courtroom,” Bvendic droned.

“How did you survive?” MacPherson asked, after the defense table was set upright.

Locke turned a steely gaze on the man, “With our training and luck. Most of us didn’t. Between the dangers of the planet, a thunder cryoeborsisk wreaking havoc and being attacked by mercenaries who were in league with the Colonel and his accomplices, it was a death sentence. We survived together. Cadet Sol was an inspiration to everyone, continuing on when she lost a leg. Cadet Larenthal kept us alive, healing our wounds, tending to our sick. We worked as hard as we could facing everything that was thrown at us to the best of our abilities. Paragon Squad did everything in their power to find and rescue us, including deploying an exploration base that saved everyone who survived from pneumonia. We were sabotaged from the very beginning. We put together a leadership council formed of representatives of each of our branches.”

“I’m going to kill you with my bare hands, you alien loving piece of karg shart!” Laney snarled, struggling against his restraints.

Locke briefly glanced at him as if he was going to reply. Leiella touched his shoulder and whatever Locke was about to say died on his lips. He turned to look at MacPherson. Leiella kept her hand on his shoulder.

“Out of curiosity, who were the members of this leadership council?” MacPherson asked.

“Cadet Kiera Sol, who we looked to as our Commandant and Cadet Corbin Malut from the MCC. Myself, who was given the title of Commodore and placed in second-in-command by Cadet Sol, and acting Lieutenant Riley Dax for the ASF. Cadets Kida Oso, Captain of the Calm Before the Storm, and Senior Bridge officer Robyn Lindquist for the Navy. Cadets Natalie Garner and Jaina Seisman for Intelligence and Chief Medical Officer Tamalyn Larenthal for Medical.”

“I see,” MacPherson said nodding, “In your opinion, Cadet Mickelson. What do you think would be an appropriate punishment for these crimes?”

“Five minutes alone with me in a windowless room. Then five minutes alone in that same room with my battle brother and fellow cadet Gargax ut Vox. Then dropped on Pantarus with nothing but a prison jumpsuit. Let him face rak’mar, diceros, kalashtar, a brakenskor, and an eborsisk. Cadet ut Vox was also targeted for death according to information that was retrieved from the Everlight’s logs.”

“You wouldn’t last ten seconds you arrogant little shart,” Laney growled, “neither would be that stupid oaf.”

Kiera scoffed. The despicable man had no idea what he was talking about. She knew for a fact that Gargax would wipe the floor with him, and Locke was the farthest thing from arrogant. He almost beat a fellow cadet to death with one arm.

“No further questions, your honor,” the prosecutor said, returning to his table.

“Defense, your witness,” Bvendic said.

The defense attorney approached the witness stand, he opened his mouth to speak and then closed it. He looked at a datapad in his hands and then back at Laney before addressing the judge, “Considering my client has all but incriminated himself, no questions.”

Leiella escorted Locke back to his seat between Kiera and Tamalyn.

“I’m so proud of you,” Kiera whispered.

The next two witnesses were Ryan Mercer, captain of Gamma Squad and Josh Williams, Captain of Delta squad were called to the stand and testified that they had been given orders to kill the princesses the day before they left for the planet.

“Were you successful in your mission?” MacPherson asked each of them. Kiera’s presence answered part of the question. Mercer said that he wasn’t because he couldn’t find Kiera on the ship or on the planet after he landed. After the storm he made his way to the beacon.

The Delta Squad leader had a much different answer. “Yeah, I was. Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon squads were given extra power packs and orders. Colonel wanted us to make sure we got some of the whores and took care of the princesses. I found out where the half-breed starfighter pilot was and made sure I got her on a lifeboat when the ship was attacked. Two other navy guys managed to make it before I was able to launch. A transponder I had kept us from getting attacked. Once I was on the ground I killed the navy guys and had some fun with the princess for a couple days before I slit her throat and took her corpse to the rendezvous point.” Williams had the audacity to wear a look of satisfaction on his face.

Kiera lost it. “You bastard!” She shouted and leapt out of her seat, fully intending to climb over the barrier and beat the former cadet to death. Locke stopped her, immediately grabbing her around the torso and held her back. Koda had to do the same for his sister, Robyn and Calvin were held back by Corbin. Garreth stopped Tara and Kinsley, Edgar grabbed onto Alyxia. Jaina didn't react violently, and Riley couldn't move well enough to try to charge the bench.

Bvendic called for order but didn’t follow through on his threat to remove them. He did call for a recess and to bring in another nymph. Saia Pellagos, the newly reinstated captain of the Everlight. She was one of the few nymphs in the military and was at the station within the hour. Once court resumed, Williams once more took the stand.

“Do you have no remorse for your actions regarding Princess Astria?” MacPherson asked, the disgust in his voice palpable.

“Only that I didn’t get my million chip payment and my life of luxury. I was given orders by the highest ranking officer in my chain of command and followed them,” Williams replied.

“No further questions, your Honor,” he said sitting down. The defense lawyer likewise had no questions for Williams. He was the last of the prosecution's witnesses and taken out the same side door by the bailiffs that he had entered in. Only Laney seemed to care that the man was commpadding it in.

Laney himself was brought to the stand and given the chance to defend his actions. He denied everything, claiming the recordings had been fabricated by Roderick who was obviously the criminal mastermind. Given his earlier outburst and threats against Locke it was a weak defense, especially given his other two cadets testimonies. He also denied being a member of the Red Moon. The jury was gone a total of five minutes finding Laney guilty on all charges.

“Michael Laney, I hereby strip you of your rank and dishonorably discharge you from the Imperial Astrian Military. I have a particular fondness for poetic justice, and hereby sentence you to a life sentence on Pantarus for the crime of high treason, a life sentence for each of the one hundred and twenty-five counts of murder, a life sentence for each of the two counts of conspiracy, and one hundred years for each of the sixty-two counts of attempted murder.” Benedit slammed his gavel, “Court is adorned.”

The cadets reacted in different ways, some of them cheered at the result, Kiera heard a couple complaints that he got off easy and they should sneak Gargax onto the planet. Some wondered if the Preservation Society would pitch a fit, and another complained the planet was less dangerous, unless they dropped him somewhere else. Kiera was still seething at William’s confession. Locke put his arm around her waist and escorted her to the cafeteria. That was only the first trial of the day.

=+=

Quentin Roderick’s trial was that afternoon, the Empire believed in swift justice. It was also presided over by Judge Bvendic. Roderick was given the same charges of Laney, and like the despicable man pleaded Not Guilty. There was no riot this time thanks to Saia’s soothing. The orders from Rear Admiral Blake was the most damning evidence. Roderick’s defense was that he was just following orders.

Majors Peregrine and Farosh took the stand. They answered questions about what had happened on the Everlight, and about orders they received and if they had ever questioned them. Peregrine had replied that “Immoral orders should always be questioned.”

The defense tried to use a holo recording of a confrontation between Roderick, Laney, and Peregrine to slander Peregrine’s character, but it only showed Laney throwing a punch at the Major, and getting dropped from two strikes, before Talbot Meteor entered and relieved Roderick from active duty.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

Roderick was found guilty of the same charges. The jury made the comment that he knowingly abandoned the cadets on a Preserve world, fully knowing that it wasn’t a sanctioned training world. Judge Bvendic gave Roderick the same sentence.

Kiera rather liked the judge. He may not have shown any signs of emotion, or even having them, but he had a strong sense of justice. Kiera wasn’t sure if he took Locke’s suggestion of dropping them on Pantaurus or if that was always his plan. He didn’t give Locke his five minutes alone with Laney.

Most criminals charged with treason were sentenced to Tartarus. It was an inhospitable planet full of barren plains, harsh deserts,near unscalable mountains, and plagued with storms and howling winds. Spacecraft didn’t land on Tartarus; prisoners and supplies were dropped in pods.

Locke continued to hold Kiera as they left to board the shuttle back to Danelar, and Kinsley took her hand. All the cadets were brought back to the academy, with the exception of the eleven traitors, to await the decision about their future. Its proximity to Rowan Memorial meant Elise and Dr. Farosh could meet them on the moon within an hour. They all were to have continued sessions with the nymph counselor. Instead of being separated into their individual branches, all the cadets were moved to the main navy campus. Commander Madison Bright had arranged for the Second Year cadets to move into the First Year dorms in an attempt to not rub salt in the wound of losing their fellow cadets. She was in charge of the Naval Cadets.

The military had not reached a decision about their futures yet, and they had been allowed to retain access to all the academy’s facilities. Gargax and Alyxia returned to the academy after a month and everyone was overjoyed to see the pair. Kiera kept herself busy, rising early and exercising, getting time in the simulator, sparring and anything else she could do to keep herself occupied. There were nightly trips into town for whoever wanted to go. She and Kinsley ended up as roommates; Elise recommended that all cadets room together so they wouldn’t have to be alone during the night. Kiera turned seventeen a few weeks before the trial and Emily threw her a birthday party that was attended by her friends and some of her fellow MCC cadets who survived the planet. It was a fun night and a good distraction as they impatiently awaited both the trials and the decision about their futures.

Kiera had learned in confidence that Admiral Snowden had been put under investigation as part of the incident; he was the one that assigned the Everlight to Roderick. Rear Admiral Blake signed off on the cadets piloting their own ship to Matatasia at the Admiral’s suggestion, agreeing that it would be a good idea for the cadets to get some real experience. Commander Bright didn’t like that the cadets had no officers to support them, but was overruled. Blake was also investigated but neither admiral was found not to be part of the conspiracy; Blake point blank asked, “Why would I be part of something that could kill my son and the princesses at this academy?” Sheldon had always denied being Blake’s son, the truth only revealed at the funeral.

The trial had taken place on Astrian Space Station, the headquarters of the military. Despite the sentencing the mood was somber; the trial revealed how loathsome both of them were and served to remind everyone of the friends that they had lost. Before they were dismissed from the shuttle Major Peregrine walked to the front. Kiera expected him to reprimand them for their outburst at Laney’s trial.

“Today has been a difficult day,” he began, “I hope it brought some closure but from the looks on your faces it has stirred up anger, resentment, sorrow and a dozen other emotions. I would like to invite you all for a night on the town, the first round of drinks are on me.”

=+=

Kiera sat around a table with Corbin, Koda, Tamalyn, Riley, Locke, Kinsley, Tara, and Isaac. It was a military bar letting them relax without having to deal with any of the various locals or students from local universities. Although she wasn’t a cadet, none of the officers had stopped Tara from boarding the shuttle with the others or joining them at the bar. When the bartender learned who they were he refused to accept any money from the cadets and was rather generous with his top shelf pours. It was a sympathetic gesture especially in light of the recent events. The results of the trials came on the viewscreen and the news did a segment on the cadets and their reactions. The bar let that play before turning it off. The bartender made a call and in an hour had a dozen bottles of Jinxing Xho; he poured a generous amount for whoever wanted it; at least for the first one. Any others were normal portions. It was a violation of Honeymooner club rules, but neither he nor Kiera cared.

Kiera turned to the next table where the officers were sitting, “Where is the ship that belonged to the mercenaries?” Kiera asked.

“The Astrian Station Naval base,” Captain Marley said without any hesitation.

The Astrian Station Naval Base orbited Ilianos the next planet from the system's sun from Orlan. It had a shipyard attached to the base where both mecha and spacecraft were assembled. The planet it orbited was one of the central research and development locations in the empire. All cutting edge technology was created and assembled on the planet before being sent to the Astrian Station.

There was no follow up question from either of them. No question as to why Kiera wanted to know where the ship was. The mood of the bar was dour. The Navy cadets were throwing back shots like they were nothing. Kiera was still nursing the first drink that Peregrine had tried to pay for. She kept thinking about the conversation between her and Locke, how the Red Moon Mercenaries may have answers for them.

Kiera only finished her drink and two more because Corbin raised a toast to Hailey and Jin, then to those who had fallen, and finally to Major Holt and those that broke rules, laws, and noses to get them off that Void cursed planet. They had all heard the tale how he had ordered the Everlight to land on the planet, got all the cadets aboard, blasted his way through a Preservation Society blockade, ignored control tower instructions, and landed the ship directly in front of the hospital, while ordering them to have all emergency personnel waiting. He didn’t receive any punishment due to Royal Knight-Captain Leiella Feren saying he had her approval to conduct those actions. They returned to the dorms in various degrees of sobriety. More than one couple blew off the no sex rule; including Kiera and Locke. Kiera found out the next morning Gargax and Alyxia had hooked up.

Alyxia wandered into the bathroom with her hair disheveled and happiness oozing off of her. Kiera grinned at her as the kylaxian walked in. "You look happy, Lixxy. I take it no hangover?"

"No hangover and I got laid!" Alyxia grinned back, heading into the stall.

"Oh? Can I ask who?"

"Um, Gargax." Alyxia's mood shifted from bliss to embarrassment. She came out of the stall and washed her hands.

"I bet you had a good time," Kiera said, "He's a great lover. But I get the feeling that something is the matter. If you're worried about me being mad, don't be. I'm polyamorous. I like having multiple lovers and don't mind if they have multiple lovers. I vaguely recall something last night that he said in orkish after he'd had a few."

"He told me that; he talked a lot about you while we were in the hospital. I visited him a lot, he would visit me. We were getting close at the academy, and the hospital brought us closer and I fully intended to talk to you, but I didn't know how to bring it up without coming off as a complete bitch."

Kiera gave Alyxia her full attention. She could feel the kylaxian's anxiety. She reached out and took Alyxia's hand. "With that kind of statement I'm going to guess that you're not okay with your lover having another active lover."

Alyxia shook her head, "I'm not, but it's not fair to you. You've known him and have been dating him longer. Last night was an opportunity I couldn't pass up."

"Can I still be affectionate with him?" Kiera asked. "Hug him, kiss him? Maybe not full on make out, but a quick kiss, or a tender one"

Alyxia looked dumbstruck, "What?" she asked. "Are you…Kiera, I don't know you well. What are you saying?"

"That if it makes you and Gargax happy I'll stop having sex with him. He is my friend though and my lover, so I still want to be able to hug him and kiss him and hang out with him. We go swimming and I don't wear a top. I want to make sure that you would be okay with that," Kiera explained.

Alyxia just stared at Kiera for several minutes, "That…I think that we need to go find Gax."

"Let's go!"

Alyxia took Kiera to her room where Gargax was still asleep on the bed. Alyxia walked to him and shook him awake. The ork responded by grabbing the kylaxian and pulling her into the bed and in a tight hug, while giving her a kiss. "Gargax, Kiera's here!"

Gargax sat up with Alyxia in his arms, "Two mate at once? I not sure, I only have one—"

"No, no—" Kiera paused and shook her head, "No, we need to have a talk, Gax."

Gargax laughed, "I tease. What talk Sunbeam? I think you okay with more mates? Talk at bar last night? You say okay?"

"I am, and I happy for you," Kiera replied in orkish. "Lixxy not want more one mate. Maybe Gax and I not mate, but skill give hug and kiss? That okay?"

Alyxia's face was red with embarrassment. Gargax looked from her to Kiera, "You are mad at me? No more mating? Is because I mate with Lixxy?" he replied in orkish.

"I still love you. Not mad. You want more with Lixxy?"

Gargax nodded, "Yes. can be stronger with her, not afraid to hurt. I afraid to hurt you while mating."

"Then Lixxy want only you to mate her. I okay, if you and I can still be affectionate, still hug and Kiss," Kiera said in Imperial. "If that is okay with you. Honestly, I've been a little afraid of us mating, too."

"I don't want to make you choose, but I'm too jealous to share," Alyxia said.

"If I can still hug and kiss Sunbeam, then I okay not mating with her. We both not want you hurt. Is okay with Lixxy?"

"Yes. I can share you that much. I feel awful for you two, I don't want to break you up."

"It sounds like we were both thinking that we weren't quite compatible when mating," Kiera said. "I think this will work better. No hard feelings at all," Kiera grinned. "I'm going to get out of here, I can sense that Gax wants to continue from last night and I've got my own boy to get back to."

She slipped from the room and returned to Locke's room. He was awake and looked like he'd just come back to the room. "So Gargax and I are no longer sleeping together. The good news is, he's sleeping with Lixxy and I can still be affectionate with him" She gave Locke a hug and a kiss.

"I'm sorry?" Locke asked.

"No, it's for the best. Now, we've had cave sex, drunk sex. Are you ready for morning sex?"

Locke lifted Kiera into his arms, "Definitely."

=+=

Two weeks passed after the trials of Laney and Roderick before the decision about the DNOA cadet’s futures was made and announced.

The trials for the other eleven cadets had been completed during that time. The only one that Kiera attended was Josh Wallace's the squad leader who said he'd raped Liandra over the course of a couple days before killing her. Josh was found guilty of regicide, rape, and conspiracy to commit regicide. He was sentenced to Tartarus. Just like at Laney's trial he didn't seem ashamed and even began to describe exactly what he did to Liandra. Locke physically took Kiera from the room, and Gargax took Percival. Wallace never knew how close he was to death with Percival in the room. He didn't even know that Amadeus and Tiberius were in the audience. Perhaps he wouldn't have been so flippant.The other ten cadets were found guilty of different charges and they were all sentenced to penal colonies depending on their final charges. Kiera was surprised when Tiberius visited her after Wallace's trial.

“That rapist got off too easy,” Kiera complained while they were walking through town.

“Rest assured that he didn’t,” Tiberius replied. Kiera gave him a long look, she fully understood the implication of his words.

“How?” Kiera asked.

Tiberius looked around making sure there was no one in earshot, “Just know that in his case there was a difference between his sentence and what was carried out. I am a particularly vengeful person, Kiera, much like our father."

Kiera nodded her approval, the use of her name told her just how serious her oldest brother was, “Whatever you're doing to him, do one for me,” she said without remorse.

“Of course. There is a long list of family members who want a piece of him, and they will each get one, in spirit at least."

The cadets made sure to assemble quickly when the order came for all cadets to assemble in the DNOC’s auditorium, the one that was used for campus-wide ceremonies and announcements. There was no dress code requirement and the auditorium was filled less than half an hour after the order came through. Seeing Uncle Jassok standing on the stage was surprising; Kiera had expected that their individual branch heads would give them the news, not for the Head of the Astrian Military to deliver it himself. Most people had only seen his image welcoming them to the Academy. The murmurs were quickly silenced when he walked to the podium. Rear Admiral Blake, the three branch heads of the academy and all their instructors were standing on the stage behind him. Kiera didn’t know who the Colonel from the ASF was.

“Good Morning,” Jassok began, “I apologize for the long delay in reaching our decision regarding your continuation within the Danelar Naval Officer’s Academy and Astrian Military. The events of the Pantaurus incident have been heavily debated including your recovery both physically and mentally. The official stance of the Astrain Military is those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are given an honorable discharge. There isn’t a single person among you that was not traumatized by this event, therefore, all fifty-one surviving cadets have been discharged from Astrian Military service for trauma induced medical reasons. Those of you who are gathered here have been given an honorable discharge. Your service to the military is considered complete, and due to the nature of your discharge your military careers are over across all branches.

“We have arranged career counseling for any of you who are interested, your instructors will assist in making travel arrangements, and you will all be receiving a pension as well. You will also be permitted to remain on campus until the conclusion of the semester. On behalf of the Emperor, I thank you for your service.” Jassok paused for a moment. "I know this is not what any of you want to hear. I can only imagine your rage and frustration. We failed to protect you. I know from Doctor Sol that all of you have been suffering. I don't know the details due to doctor-patient confidentiality but we felt it would be to your detriment to let you continue in the military. I know everyone here planned for a long career."

The auditorium remained quiet after Jassok finished speaking. None of what he said was particularly surprising. The pensions were the Empire’s way to insure that all of its citizens were taken care of, since every citizen was required to serve. The amount of the pensions varied depending on years of service, but at minimum an individual could live in a single bedroom apartment on a middle class planet without needing an additional job. At least that was the intent, planetary cities had different costs of living. There were Imperial Aid programs in place to ensure no one went without food or a home.

The former cadets began to file out of the auditorium, quiet conversations sprung up; everyone had to face the decision of what to do now. All of them had planned for a military career, to be officers and serve well beyond the four year minimum. Kiera remained in the auditorium her mind drifted back to the planet, to the mercenaries. They had answers for her. She couldn’t just assault them, either. She had no idea how large the organization was, or where they were located. Their ship likely had all kinds of information on it, but that was in a military impound yard and it was off limits to civilians. She had researched the Red Moon during the last two weeks and only came up with their bounties, no contact information. Her requests to speak with their captain or the two Snowden brothers were denied. Dandelion had been with them as had his brother; how did they join? Was their father somehow involved?

She needed access to the ship records. Kiera approached the stage as Jassok was descending, “Uncle Jas, do you have a moment?” Kiera called. A few people who hadn’t left looked over at her question and familiarity.

“For you? Always. What can I help with?”

“Giving me the data that was recovered from the Red Moon mercenary ship, including the location of one of their bases and contact information?” Kiera asked.

The question stopped the warlord dead in his tracks. He turned his head to stare at Kiera, surprise plain on his face, “Why do you want that?” He asked.

“They were hired to kill me, Uncle Jassok. I want to know why. If that’s too much, can I have ten minutes with Arun Snowden?”

The surprised look returned to his normal stoic neutral, “I won’t give you that information, Kiera. The people responsible for your attempted assassination will be handled by the military and the Imperial guard. That is nothing for you to worry about. Those blackguards will be found and dealt with. Given your history with Snowden, I have to deny that one as well. While you would be safe in a cell, I don’t want to put you in one.”

Kiera could feel that there would be no changing his mind, no way to convince him to give her what she wanted, to let her venture into space to find her own answers. She gave her best smile, “I promise I won’t hurt him.”

“Kiera, go home and rest. Either to Orlan or to Albion. Cael Feren will be your assigned bodyguard and I may assign another. I have a very promising young man that has exceeded all expectations who would be very suited to you,” Jassok said.

“I’ve got a couple boyfriends that will be just as good as anyone you assign, Uncle Jassok, girlfriends, too,” Kiera replied.

“At least go home and visit your father, he is anxious to see you.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

Kiera left the auditorium. She wanted to know who hired these mercenaries, who hired Laney and Roderick to kill her. Both former officers had denied being members of the Red Moon Mercenaries, and Trosk didn’t know who hired them, only that he was given the contract. The assassination attempt wasn’t the reason she wanted to know. Whoever this was killed her friends, disrupted their lives and was responsible for Liandra’s assassination. She had to find this person. She didn’t want to sit around and wait for someone else to take care of this problem, to leave her forever wondering who this blackguard, as Uncle Jassok put it, was.

She found her small group waiting for her. “Hey,” Kiera greeted, putting on a smile, “Guess we have our futures to plan.”

“We do,” said Corbin, “What were you talking to the Warlord about?”

“The Red Moon,” Kiera said, “They have answers, at least some answers. I want to know who is responsible for killing our friends and classmates, for turning two high ranking officers against us, and for killing my niece. My gut says that everything is linked. They admitted to wanting to kill me and didn’t care about the collateral. He shut me down flat. After that question he’ll probably take extra measures to keep me from contacting anyone that can be sweet-talked into giving me a location.”

“Anyone in the military,” Kinsley said, “Even if we had the information we’d need a ship.”

“And you’d need a crew,” Kida said.

Kiera looked around at her gathered friends, she felt excitement from them, confidence and a deep desire for both revenge and answers. She shook her head, “No, I couldn't ask any of you to take that kind of risk!”

Locke stepped forward and took her hand, “Then I guess it’s a good thing that we’re volunteering, Commandant. You're not the only one that wants answers."

"And revenge," Koda said. "I'm not going to pretend it's justice I want, Sunbeam. We've all agreed. This little group is prepared to go all the way. There might be a couple others that will join us."

"I know where we can get a ship," Kinsley said. "How about we go home and discuss it over dinner."