There sat an Imperial Sir Magistrate. Quietly deferring his well-earned oversight of the room’s subject matter, he gestured to a more junior member of his committee. From her quick glances I could sense a tinge of remorse. Her mouth moved surely to form the sequence of sounds that would stick a searing brand into the haunches of my future. And though they lodged deeply, my awareness of that affliction would soon be overshadowed.
Having remained quiet, I decided not to counter her judgment, but to benignly request an explanation. She took a quick half-breath in, and apart from a few painful sounding coughs, I’d hear no more from her. She’d been my representative to the committee and had presently and narrowly over-saturated her utility in that regard.
As quickly as he’d deferred, he scooped up the control he’d relinquished by formally introducing himself. I offered my hand and he received it as warmly as the occasion allowed.
“The fact that you are here today,” he managed, “indicates to us that there has been a failure at some node in The System.” His timbre was soft, but confident. “As a result, we need to query your private banks, and perhaps execute a few metadata generators on the output.”
“Sure,” I complied. It’s not like I had an option.
Sir Magistrate was different than the senior level officials I’d encountered in my own district, known for their word-gushing, hot-headedness. I could tell his arguments were won respectably—with reason and patience. More than anything, this meant I had my work cut out for me, if I expected to hold my own.
My duty in The Imperial Special Forces had just passed the two year mark and I was due for a review. I was a diligent and talented operative. It was evident to my immediate officers that I stood out.
“Madame Magistrate has informed me that you are a diligent and talented operative.” I nodded, with a reserved grin. Those few words sprinkled throughout my two year run might even have prevented this very judgment. But it’s like I said, he knew what he was doing.
I cancelled the interference emission and initiated a connection to the querying terminal Sir had placed neatly on the table. Sir enunciated in to the terminal. “Having presided over your inquiry and passed our judgment, we are left wondering about your ability to participate as an effective operative.”