Atonement by Kirsten Beyer Read Free Book Online Page B

The Skeen Lightcarrier and the Karlon Denizen are continuing their perimeter sweeps. The other three Kinara vessels we still can’t identify, but they are positioned to protect the Manticle ’s flank.”
    â€œWhat about our ships?”
    â€œ Galen is holding position to port. We are standing by to extend our shields around Voyager on your order.”
    â€œThen we are as ready as we could possibly be,” Farkas noted. “Ensign Jepel, route the Manticle ’s transmission to my ready room.”
    â€œAye, Captain.”
    A familiar face was seated at her desk, already watching the show when Farkas entered her sanctuary.
    â€œHello, El’nor.”
    â€œRegina.”
    â€œCan I get you anything? A borst ale? Maybe some pretzels?”
    â€œThis is the first chance I’ve had to sit in thirty-six hours,” Doctor El’nor Sal replied. “And this ,” she added, gesturing to the small desktop screen, “isn’t my fault.”
    â€œIt isn’t mine, either.”
    The captain’s oldest friend favored her with a withering glare.
    Farkas perched on the front edge of her desk for the second-best view in the room of the transmission. “I realize I didn’t give you enough time to yell at me before I ordered you over to Voyager. I’m sorry about that, El’nor.”
    â€œI know Admiral Janeway gave the relevant orders, but as far as I’m concerned, if we’re under fire, you failed to do your job, Captain.”
    â€œI agreed with you the first time you made that pithy observation. Thirty-five years later, I still do.”
    â€œGood,” Sal began, then paused as on-screen Admiral Janeway was ushered into the room. The admiral’s hands were shackled by heavy metal circlets connected by a short bar. Her shoulders were pulled forward by their weight, making it difficult for her to walk in her normal poised and steady gait.
    More alarming, her personal security detachment, Lieutenants Psilakis and Cheng, were not present.
    Farkas heard her breath catch. Wordlessly, Sal placed a comforting hand over hers and patted it gently.
    A lump was forming in the captain’s throat when a face Farkas had grown to dislike intensely, Devore Inspector Kashyk’s, appeared, taking up most of the screen. Compassion wasreplaced by fear. Anyone who could lie that easily and convincingly scared the living daylights out of her.
    â€œGreetings to our friends of the Confederacy of the Worlds of the First Quadrant and our former acquaintances of the Federation. Prior to turning herself over to the custody of the Kinara, Admiral Janeway requested that her appearance before the tribunal established to weigh the charges presented against her be transmitted in real time, and we have agreed that it is only appropriate that you bear witness to it.
    â€œThe tribunal empaneled to hear evidence of the admiral’s illegal, immoral, and unjustifiable acts of aggression against current Kinara members consists of myself, First Minister Odala of the Voth, Magnate Veelo of the Turei, Commandant Dhina of the Vaadwaur, and Rigger Meeml, representing the Skeen, Karlon, Muk, and Emleath. Once the charges have been read and answered, a swift verdict will be rendered.
    â€œOur goal is not revenge, but justice. As you will all realize once you have heard the charges, Admiral Kathryn Janeway, formerly captain of the Federation Starship Voyager, has personally transgressed against us. The time has come for her to answer for her past actions. Once this matter has been resolved, we look forward to continuing our peaceful negotiations with the Confederacy.”
    Everything about the scene before her, particularly Kashyk’s obvious relishing of his position as arbiter of Admiral Janeway’s fate, suggested that what was about to unfold was worse than Farkas had yet dared imagine.
    MANTICLE
    Lsia tried to focus on Emem.
    Kashyk , she reminded herself again.
    She