Go without resistance

They were escorted of their ship put onto a small rowboat which promptly headed towards the navy command ship.

There was only one reason they would do this. They turned left at the last moment and although it probably saved many lives – they had disobeyed orders.

She was sat close to Marcus. He whispered to her under his breath

“We need to be smart here. I know your angry – but now more than ever I need you to listen to my lesson. I know you are strong – I have always told you to be strong. But confrontation will not work here. Keep your wits about you and look for an opportunity. It will come”

His words struck fear into her – which was not something she often experienced. They struck fear into her because they sounded like parting words. Like parting advice.

She opened her mouth to respond but was quickly shoved up by the soldiers. And led up onto the deck of the command ship.

A solider pushed his rifle into the small of her back which caused her to stumble.

“Yeah keep going princess” the guard spoke under his breath behind her softly. She fumed even more and felt the urge to turn around and spit in his face – but remembering the words of Marcus – she controlled herself.

They were shoved into the fleet commanders quarters. The room was opulent with various gold fixtures around the room smelled vaguely of tobacco and cooked meat . Dennis was sitting on a chair behind his desk and his son was standing behind him. There were various guards around them with electric batons and gunpowder pistols.

“Marcus and Eyya” he spoke in an ostentatious and overly dramatic way . “I gave you a direct order to keep the ship steering towards the right”, you have disobeyed the order and as such done irreparable damage.” He paused again “Lives were lost on the the S.S Errora which was too your left as a direct result of your disobedience. Twenty of our brave navy soldiers lives were lost. Twenty. Before we even began our operation an enemy from inside our ranks murdered our own brothers.” Dennis took out a napkin to dab at the crocodile tears forming on his right eye.

Eyya knew it was bullshit. They had both handled the collision and Eyya knew navy ships inside out. There was no chance that what they did killed anyone. But Dennis wouldn’t be able to make this claim without real bodies. Everything in the navy is recorded and written down which means -

Did he kill them?

“As such I have no other option as to sentence you with treason” He spoke overly gravely – but his eyes never stopped smiling.

“Given we are on live operation and you are a previous commander – I cannot risk any potential mutiny. I have no choice -”

Marcus – who had been watching him intently interrupted. “I take full responsibility for the decision. Eyya tried carry out the orders but I overruled her has captain”

Eyya looked towards Marcus with her eyes wide. There was a subtext to their speech. Marcus and Dennis were dancing around the rule book here. By claiming he overruled her – Dennis could not push culpability onto her. Dennis tutted “Well then – nonetheless – Marcus, as is stated in the navy code. In active operation the punishment may be determined by the fleet commander. As such I sentence you to death.”