Commander Yarric stood inside it.
He was larger in person than in the records, wearing heavy command armor with a dark coat fixed over one shoulder.
A thick scar ran from the side of his forehead to the edge of his jaw, and his right hand rested near a metal key unit attached to the main console.
Around him stood nearly thirty soldiers.
More waited across the outer ring.
The moment Aurelian entered, every weapon in the room turned toward him.
Rhoswen raised her shield.
Yarric did not order them to fire.
Instead, he looked at Aurelian across the chamber.
"So you are the Human commander."
Aurelian stepped into view behind the shield.
"Aurelian Arcturus."
"I know the name now."
"Then you also know why I am here."
Yarric looked toward the tactical display, where the lower preservation halls were marked in blue.
"You are here because you believe those people belong to you."
"They belong to themselves."
That answer drew a quiet laugh from Yarric.
