"Does this have to be recorded?" I asked with a bit of reluctance, this part of my life I would not like to be documented.

"Yes, Surveyor Ke'tal. Your story may be used to gather more support for Steel Meridian. We may also be able to recognize other defectors before they are discovered by the Queens, if what you said is true."

"Alright, as you wish." I took a deep breath, the air in the relay was crisp and filling, not thin and filled with dust as my lungs were accustomed to.

"As you already know, defectors, at our advent of enlisted life, feel an urge to defy the Grineer around us after we are cloned into existence. I had the same feeling of rebellion, but quelled it soon after I saw another Grineer whisked away for standing up to his handlers. I was a female clone, and after my time of being trained and conditioned, I learned to use my power held in this matriarchy to gain standing and reputation. I eventually became a Surveyor for a colony on Mars."

I held my head low for a moment, gathering the strength to continue. "I was in charge of overseeing and reporting activity of both Grineer and Human activity on that colony. Now, I tend to not be as strict as many Grineer are, nor as harsh. It was most likely due to my defect, or just... an ounce of pure kindness that somehow livind in my cloned form." I looked back up to the Steel Meridian recruiter, and continued, "The colonists did not scowl as much to me as they did to some other Grineer marines, but I tried to ensure we simply kept the colony in order... not gripped in iron as the others were. I had to be subtle, had to... change reports given to the Queens... but... In my time at the colony, I discovered their were two other defectors who stayed hidden from the everlasting gaze of the Queens. The Queens soon found out about my tampering with reports they found out eventually what I was doing, but tested me..."

"What was this test."

"They ordered me to round up the colonists, and... have them killed... by a firing squad."

"Did you do it?"

"I had to... or at least... I had to round them up..."

"What do you mean?"

"There are those barbarians. The firing squad had killed the colonists before I could have my two defectors kill them. I slipped up, and I saw the colonists fall and bleed... the eyes of that child... the sweet boy... he looked at me... trying to call for help..." I covered my face in shame.

"But that night... we took vengeance... I contacted your Steel Meridian transport, I killed the savages who murdered the colonists, then fled with my defectors onto your ship... and here we are."

"But... why tell this story."

"To prove that we Grineer are not always bloodthirsty war mongers... defectors want to protect those who cannot protect themselves... that is your purpose right? To act as the shield?"

"It is."

"Then let me and my men be your sword..."