War Logbook Entry 1

"You stand to be judged before the Council."

Three figures sit at a table enshrouded in shadow, opposite a hulking man chained in six-point restraints, gagged to prevent interjection.

"Your actions have caused irreparable damage to the Company, sir."

"You broke the LAW! We should have just locked you up, instead of playing out this farce."

"For someone in your position, this will not look good on your record."

The three figures berate the man in turn. In their eyes, his crimes are unforgivable.

"We seek to keep a sense of Balance here, and you have upset that precarious position we attempt to maintain. You were not called, you were not summoned, you were not ordered to do anything. Yet here you stand, with your mess now ours to clean up."

The man lets out a low, rumbling growl, made unable to speak in his own defense.

"He's nothing but a rabid dog. Just kill him and get this over with."

"We understand your job can be stressful. Sometimes mistakes happen, but this is too big to ignore. We cannot have your loyalty in question."

The man bites down on his gag, allowing him enough room to speak up.

"I was summoned. I performed my DUTY. I serve only the Council. Only the balance. As we always have. I remain LOYAL!"

"Then prove your loyalty, sir. We propose an idea. A penance. A UES rescue mission is soon to be underway. You will board that ship, and aid in its mission to the best of your ability. If you attempt to flee or fight out of turn, their security will be authorized to put you down. If you return, we will consider this... mishap to have never happened. You will be forgiven."

"Or he dies, and our hands will be clean."

"We believe you'll prove a great asset to the UES, and Us by extension."

And so the man was sent out to ride once more, and the Council believed themselves rid of him.