Admiral Prechkov felt the back being torn off of his head and immediately recognized the familiar surroundings of the counsel chamber. As his eyes quickly adjusted, he could see that every counsel member was present as well as all of the fleet admirals. What caused him pause in his stoic facade was the Keeper envoy and his attaché, sitting quietly in the designated dignitary booth. What could the Empress possibly be trying to accomplish here? Then he heard her speak.
"Councilmen, before you sits the traitor to our species, the man whose family hid secrets from our society for hundreds of years! Look them in the eyes Admiral. Look at the men and women you and your lineage has betrayed!"
"Never!" Spat the Admiral. "I would never betray the very species that has given me so much hope for a better future!" The Admiral attempted to stand and face the Empress. Her guards lashed out with their energy speaks, a weapon made for detaining violent criminal. It had enough shock and power to cause a large man to stumble, but not enough to render unconsciousness. The Empress continued with her rant.
"I ask you now, honored councilmen, how shall we deal with this traitor?" Her voice raised an octave. "Shall we grant him impunity, mercy and grace and allow him to live his life in exile? Or will he be condemned to death along with every member of his family. So as not to contaminate this universe with his evil spawn?" The chamber roared with approval with the second option. Council members rose and began clapping and yelling obscenities at him. But one person sat stone still. Blue eyes fixated on the Admiral. Defense Minister Mauchanan. The Empress quieted the chamber down once more.
"Defense Minister Mauchanan, you have not moved since you heard the news. Could it be you are in such shock you cannot react?" The ice in her voice was clear as day.
"Frankly, My Lady, I don't believe he is solely responsible for his heinous act." Mauchanan responded. "The Admiral, while not releasing this secret to the councilmen and his Empress, was not direct responsible for the deaths of the lower class Earthlings during the exodus of Earth. He was merely an instrument of secrecy. Quite possibly bound by family code to keep quiet." How odd that the Defense Minister would defend him. It was clear he was lying with the Empress, yet unlike the other councilmen, he did not wish to see Prechkov dead. What did he know? And why was he protecting him?
"Then you vote for exile?" The Empress questioned.
"Aye. I vote for exile." Mauchanan said. The room once again erupted with activity. It took what felt like hours but had to only have been seconds to once again quiet them. "Councilmen, we will take a vote upon the next rising of the sun on the fate of the Admiral. Guards, take this filth away!" And with that, Prechkov was once again blinded and drug out of the chambers to the deepest pits of detention the planet had.