Kaanjah Tuq: Records of Glory and Battle!

90432.57
"Changling Spy Trial"

His feet dragged along the floor, as he slouched over, blood spilling from the wounds on his face. The stomping of boots echoing down the corridor as distance shouting ahead broke the ringing in his ears. Watching the lights drift by one after another, dazing in and out of consciousness. Suddenly he came to a stop, drifting his head up as he glanced around, before the two warriors who were holding him suddenly let go, dropping him. He let out a painful lurch as his body crumpled to the floor, holding his sides and he braced himself. Glancing up, still in a daze and he came too.

He was on the bridge, the Colonel, Zygor, Seated in the Captains chair. His hands folded together as he leaned back, glazing into him with a cold lifeless glare. Standing by his side was Captain K'thoto, with matching glare out of his one good eye, as he stroked his beard. The crew around the bridge got up from their stations, gathering round to watch the spectacle, but keeping their distance. The two security officers whom had dragged him in, stepped back, their disruptor rifles drawn, and trained upon him.

A sharp buzz sounded, as a red hue surrounded him, a forcefield. He lifted himself up, still bracing his sides, and he looked desperately around the room, sputtering out a few words. "Where.... why... what... what have I...." he moaned as sharp pains pierced into his sides, the beating the security officers had bestowed on him when they took him from the mess hall still too fresh.

"You know why you are here..." Another voice sounded. He turned to look. It was Commander Migh, the Colonels Brother, and one of his Adjutants. "Or do you still deny what you truly are...Changling!"
A Chorus of grumbling irrupted from around the room at that statement, as The Colonel and the Captain continued to gaze at him coldly. "Wha...." The Prisoner stammered out, still in a daze, but in genuine confusion. Security said not a word when they seized him, only beat him into submission, then dragged him here.

"Technician Third Class... Gurav... an Orion. Transferred here three weeks ago. Not courageous to disguise yourself as a warrior I see..." Migh began to pace around the forcefield, seeming to be speaking to the audience on the bridge as much as the accused. "Or not brave enough to face us in battle, but to sabotage our ships behind our backs... Did you not think we'd catch you?"
"What?" The prisoner continued to stammer in confusion, staring blankly into the floor as Migh spoke on.

"The Containment failure, on the Auxiliary impulse reactor... Did you not think we'd realize that you were in the area prior to the explosion?"

"But... Thats my station?" The Prisoner responded, a hint of desperation in his voice...

"Or that you were on duty, the shift prior to the act?" Migh continued.

"...So were dozens of crew..." The Prisoner pleaded "Please... You have to believe me?"

"Silence Changling Spy!" Migh exploded. "We should dissect you right now cowardly Pahtak! See how many ways we can subject a Changling to Pain!" Another chorus of grumbles and shouts sounded from the crew around the bridge.

A sudden thump caused Migh to turn around. Colonel Zygor, reaching down, drew forth a D'ktag, snapping the blade out, before setting it on the arm rest of his chair.

Migh grinned, walking up to the Con, taking the blade, and stepping back towards the forcefield. "Perhaps there is a way then"

With a gesture of his hand, the forcefield dropped. Migh tossed the blade to the floor in front of the prisoner, before the field was raised again.

"Take the Blade... And Plunge it into your chest... Prove your honour, and die like a warrior..."

"...WHAT!?" The Prisoner gasped.

"Of course... A Changling Pahtak would not die with a blade... Only make the appearances of the act to put on a good show." Migh Continued. "If you live, it would only further prove the fact that you are the Changling Saboteur... Extensive torture will no doubt be required to expose to full extent of your crimes..."

The Prison paused, kneeling on the floor, as he glared down the the blade, his breathing quickening the realization of what was happening came into his mind.
"But... But I haven't done anything..." He pleaded.

Migh snapped the the prisoner, pointing at him aggressively, stabbing the air with his finger tip. "The Time for words is over Pahtak! Act and die as a true warrior, or expose your guilt and face the consequences of your crimes. Do it now!"

Rubbling irrupted from around the bridge again, and the thumping of fists on consoles and boots on bulkhead echoed. Migh screamed his order to act again, and the Colonel and Captain glared the prisoner down.

Tears formed in the edge of the prisoners eyes, and he picked up the blade, his breathing quickened to the point of hyperventilation, and his pulse pounded in his ear. The cries around the bridge died as he had to make his choice... His final choice.

"Do it! Pahtak!" Migh screamed again, and the rumbling and pounding on the bridge continued. "Do it!"

The Prisoner snapped, let out a small cry, and he trust the blade out, then plunged it down into his center of his face. The noise of the bridge silenced in that instant, and the crackling of bone and the cleaving of flesh was clearly audible. The Prison dropped his hands, and let out a horrifying scream, which was quickly drown out in the gargling of blood, and he collapsed to the floor, convulsing for a few moments, before falling silent and still.

The Bridge fell quiet, as all around glared at the corpse, expecting it to morph leap up at any moment.

After a few moments had past, Migh let out a frustrated groan, and waved his hands to the guards. "Dispose of it..."

The forcefield was lowered, one of the guards drew his disruptor rifle, and fired. The Corpse vaporised, leaving only a faint mist, and a few scorch marks of the hapless victim.

K'thoto stroked his beard, a stoic look on his face, and he pondered what he had witnessed. "I thought we might have had it that time..."

"Indeed..." Colonel Zygor responded, as he continued to glare ahead, arms crossed and he slouched back in his chair.

Migh walked up, bringing his fist to his shoulder in salute. "My Appologies brother... I will continue my investigation... We will expose the saboteur..."

"See that you do..." Zygor responded coldly "I would hate to come to believe these recent equipment failures were the results of your procurement of faulty components, and not this 'Changling Sabotage'..."

"Yes, Brother..." Migh responded again "Ka'pla!"

Zygor grumbled and waved it off as he walked away, K'tholo speaking up before he left. "Should I contact Strike Force High Command for casualty replacements?"

"No..." Zygor responded, and he stepped off the bridge. "I do not intend to ask those... creatures... for anything... Set a course for Drozana... We will take up more mercenary contracts for replacements..."

"Yes my Lord..."