Terra Dawning by Ben Winston Page B

Bittertree.”
    Elrond looked a little shell shocked. “Uh, Prime Council, when it comes time for me to answer before the Imperial court, could I call on you to defend my people?”
    ––––––––
    “From ye question, good Captain, does that mean ye wouldn't want yon Prime to speak to your defense as well?” Councilor Carlyle asked.
    “No, Councilor. Although I did what needed to be done to save my people, I still gave the orders. The responsibility for those deaths is on my head alone,” Elrond replied, once the translation had been made.
    “Be that as it may; we are not here to render that judgment today, Captain,” Ben said smiling kindly at the man. “We have a decision to make in regards to your people and we need more information.”
    “Forgive me, Prime, but if one of those decisions involves the deaths of my people, then that is exactly what you are deciding today,” Elrond replied. He wasn't belligerent or even challenging; he was simply stating a fact as he saw it. ““You told me that part of your original mission was to simply destroy our base and leave sufficient evidence as to imply we did it to ourselves.
    “In that way you would stop the search for us and in so doing, remove the risk of your own discovery. You would have been correct, it would have removed the threat of your imminent discovery, even though you will eventually be discovered.
    “However, you didn't find the nest of evil men you thought you would find. Instead, you found a group of humans huddled together for safety against a tyrant that forces them to perform atrocities simply to stay alive.
    “Now, you find that you are faced with a dilemma; kill a couple hundred innocent people to ensure your own freedom, or surrender us to the authorities and hope that our reports of you will go unheeded. Perhaps you are hoping that by turning us over, the Emperor will be more inclined to listen to your claim to this planet?
    He nodded. “I can well understand your dilemma and I'll offer what aide I can in order for you to make an informed decision. I can only hope that you will choose not to allow our loved ones to die beside us,” he finished.
    As usual Mother performed the introductions of the Councilors that had questions.
    “Councilor Yoshi wishes to speak.” Ben pointed to the appropriate monitor, helping Elrond face the person questioning him.
    “Thank you for helping us today, Captain.” Yoshi said bowing. “As I understand the issues before us; you have left out some important options available to us. We can simply relocate you and hope you remain undiscovered. Although that would seem very improbable at this point.
    “We could return you to your base and abandon this instillation. Which would pose some rather tricky logistical issues that we may not be able to solve. Thus still leaving some of us exposed to discovery.
    “Or, lastly, we could simply absorb you and your people and shelter you until such time as we are prepared to emerge from our exile. We understand that, by doing the last, we are also becoming accomplices after the fact, to any and all crimes you may have committed, even if we surrender you when we emerge, it would still have an effect on our claim.
    “We could also make it so those guilty parties among you turn yourselves in if we offer to shelter and keep your loved ones safe with us.”
    “Councilor Yoshi, May I interrupt you? I believe I have some information that we need to have before we continue,” Ben asked. Yoshi bowed his head in acceptance.
    Ben read some more on his screen before he sighed. “Councilors, as per the original mission parameters, I had Mother invade and interrogate the pirate base’s computer system. I also added a further objective to her after Captain Elrond and the others were taken, which was to discover any traces of the messages Duke Tammerain had sent to these people.
    “She has finished her initial analysis of the information she has gleaned. She has prepared a