Chapter 13

Tilyer thought to snarl defiantly at the bitch standing before him, to tell her that she could kill him, but his death could not diminish the glory that was the Empire. He wanted to face death with a brave face and proclaim his allegiance to the Emperor, to tell her that she and her rebel friends would meet their makers soon enough. He would not be afraid.

But he was. All he could do was stare down the barrel of that blaster. She snarled something at him, but he didn't pay attention. If this was the end, he would do his utmost to die with the bravery fitting of an Imperial soldier.

And then it spoke. He saw the ignition flash, and then that searing hot bolt of energy leapt from the muzzle. Tilyer strove to stay stock still, but in the face of that imminent blast, his resolve broke. He knew it would be too late to avoid the inevitable, but his instinct for self-preservation took over. His knees faltered and he pitched his body forward, raising his arms to defend his face.

But all that time, the ultimate blow never came. Another blaster report sounded, and behind him he heard an animalistic scream.

He turned to see the giant insect that had so recently been trying to make a meal of him. It collapsed to the ground just behind him, twitching uncontrollably with a smoking blaster wound in its skull.


"Ensign Taulin. I trust you have news?" Standing beside her work station, Commander Venka inclined his head inquisitively at the young officer.

She nodded. "Yes sir. The maintenance crews report that they have been able to repair the Enforcer's short-range communications."

"And the long range communications?"

She shook her head, "Chief Harlow says he can't get it working without replacement parts."

Venka frowned and clasped his hands behind his back. "In that case, contact the locals on the planet and see if they would be willing to furnish the necessary components."

"What if they don't wish to comply, sir?"

"I have more inventive measures in mind to persuade them, should they attempt to shirk their civic duty. Just relay the message and await their response, Ensign." He allowed himself a small smile as he turned away from her station and strode toward the forward view screen.

As Linia set about her task, Urtis Dusat stood up from his station next to her. She gave him a perplexed look, but he hardly seemed to notice as he approached the Commander at the forward bulkhead.

"Sir, may I have a word with you?" He asked softly.

"Certainly," Venka replied, still gazing out at Belsavis' icy sphere.

"In private?"

Venka frowned, turning toward Urtis. "What is this about, Lieutenant?"

He licked his lips before answering. "The captain, sir."

The commander's face froze for an instant, as if trying to decide how to react. "Very well," he said finally. "We can discuss this in my quarters."

Linia was perplexed by the enigmatic conversation, but before she could even attempt to make any sense out of it, Commander Venka turned to her.

"Ensign Taulin, you have the bridge. I shall return shortly."

He didn't even wait for a response as he led Urtis out the door and into the hallway.

Commander Venka motioned for Urtis to be seated as he slid behind the desk in his cramped office. He fixed the junior officer with a cold stare as he folded his arms across his chest. "Did you do as I asked?"

Urtis nodded, "Yes sir."

"Good. Though, I doubt you brought me back here just to tell me that. What is it?"

Urtis kept his eyes averted as he pursed his lips, searching for the right words.

"Spit it out, Lieutenant."

"I . . . I know. I know what happened."

"What?" The words were barely above a whisper, not any where close to the angry outburst he had expected.

"I know about the captain and his . . . his death."

"Why are you telling me this?" Venka asked slowly.

Urtis shook his head, "I don't know, but . . . it's eating me up inside, knowing the truth. It wasn't right, what you did. The Captain didn't deserve that." He spoke haltingly, unsure of himself. "You . . . you need to turn yourself in."

"The Captain nearly destroyed us all," Venka said, steel evident in his tone. He stood, looming over Urtis. "What I did was for the good of this crew—for the good of the Empire."

Urtis shook his head again, refusing to meet the Commander's eyes. "It wasn't right."

"I'm not worried about right and wrong, Lieutenant Dusat. I'm worried about life and death. Captain Ygra's actions put every life on this vessel in jeopardy."

"But you didn't have to kill him!" Urtis protested, raising his voice for the first time.

"Don't you dare try to pass judgment on me, you little whelp," Venka growled, stalking around the desk toward Dusat. "You're just as complicit in this as I am."

"What? No!"

"You deleted the files. You covered up the evidence."

"No," he protested dumbly.

"What do you think would happen if you told High Command about this upon our return? You actually think they would believe you when you have nothing to support your claim but your own word?"

"It's the truth. They'll have to believe it. Someone else has to know."

"Why? What good would it serve? Ygra is dead, and we're better off for it."

"That's not how we do things in the Empire. We're better than that."

"This isn't about morals, Lieutenant. This is about survival. In case you haven't noticed, we have a rebellion on our hands—and it's not as trivial as the Emperor makes it sound. They won't hesitate to kill any one of us on a whim. They're not worried about right and wrong. They're beyond that now. They'll do what is necessary to topple this Empire, and in turn we have to do what is necessary to make sure that does not happen. They have set about destroying the foundations of the very society we have helped create, and we can either be complacent in our ideals, in our morals, in our tactics, or we can meet them head on. The weak have to be culled in order to make room for the strong, or else we will flounder and drown in our own stagnancy." Venka pounded the table for emphasis.

"It just wasn't right," Urtis repeated again.

"I chose you to help me in this because you are one of my best officers. I know you believe in the Empire as much as I do."

Urtis nodded uncertainly, "Of course, sir."

"Then you have to realize that nothing good could come of letting the truth be known. We've taken a step forward in bettering the Empire, but to go back now would send us two steps in the other direction. You're at a cross-roads now, Lieutenant. You can either face forward and embrace what must be done for the future of our Empire, or you can turn away and allow your weakness to undermine the galactic order we have fought so hard to maintain." Commander Venka leaned close, his voice a hoarse whisper. "But which ever route you take, Lieutenant, you must take this secret to your grave."

Urtis looked up at Venka with fear-filled eyes, grasping with full realization the underlying threat inherent in those words.

"You know what has to be done—for our sake and for the Empire's sake," Venka intoned softly. "The question is, will you be man enough to look past your frailties and do what has to be done?"