Knight stood outside of the entry way into a beige pavilion tent, the flaps were loosely closed and on either side stood neatly dressed security personnel from the Internal Security Bureau. The camp itself was near a training center for walker pilots, a camp that did not exist whenever Knight had joined with the New Imperial Order in the days before the Muunilist offensive. The agents wore helmets that obscured their faces though Knight doubted he would have known them without the obstruction. The population of the New Imperial Order had exponentially grown with every system brought into the regime. Knight stood at rest in front of the flaps while the agents continued their stoic forward facing pose "
Send him in." a woman's voice ordered from within the tent, at once the ISB Agents took a step to the side while one held open the right flap. Knight entered and saw a simple table and a woman sitting in a chair who wore a white uniform and the seal of the Internal Security Bureau on her right shoulder. The walker pilot stood in front of the desk and rendered a salute to her "
At ease, Sergeant Knight." she gave him a stiff nod "
Do you understand that this interview ill be recorded and archived for an undetermined amount of time and that anything said during said interview may be used against you in a court either military or civilian in the pursuit of justice?" the words hung over the veteran's head for a moment "
Understood ma'am."
The Human woman activated a small spherical probe that floated a few inches off the desk "
Interview Kresh one, one, two, Aurek. Station Chief Tara Eislin with Sergeant Knight." the Station Chief motioned towards Knight then "
Sergeant Knight how long have you served with the New Imperial Armed Forces?" Knight inhaled deeply, the noise mostly muffled by his helmet which he did not remove during duty as per regulation "
I have served in the New Imperial Armed Forces since 858 ABY." the probe emitted a scan over Knight's figure and a green light flashed on top of it. Perhaps it was some sort of biometric reader that was akin to a polygraph. Knight could not be sure "
You have served since Muunilist, is that correct Sergeant Knight?" the tone of her voice was vague, Knighty couldn't get a read on the purpose of this interview nor the intent "
That is correct. My first deployment was the invasion of Muunilist." the Station Chief folded her hands on the table and leaned in a bit "
What was your rank during this invasion?" to which he responded promptly "
Corporal, ma'am." the Station Chief's eyes looked over the armored man for a moment "
What is your species, Sergeant Knight?" for a moment the sergeant hesitated "
Sergeant Knight, did you understand my question?" she asked with a bit of pressure "
Yes ma'am. I am a Human hybrid. Human-Umbaran." what was she setting him up for he could not discern
"You are not Human, is that correct Sergeant Knight? Not fully." Knight's eyes narrowed on her through his visor and his voice was a tad strained
"No ma'am. I am not fully Human."
"
Sergeant Knight the current date is 867 ABY. It has been 9 years since your first deployment as Corporal. Your records show that you have had no disciplinary actions taken against you in those 9 years. You have been promoted only once, correct?" Knight thought over her summary of his service and he nodded "
That is correct." the Station Chief gave a reassuring smile "
The people of the New Imperial Order honor our loyal, courageous, soldiers who stood against the Empire. Do you feel honored, Sergeant Knight?" the question was strange and Knight's suspicions were raised once more, was she testing his loyalty? "
Yes ma'am, there is no greater honor than serving the people of the Order and the Imperator." the woman's expression remained unchanged though her hands came up to bridge under her chin "
Of course. A very patriotic answer. Though I wonder if you feel that you have been passed over unfairly for promotion during your long career. Most of your peers have been promoted time over yet you are only a Sergeant? A record such as yours leaves me perplexed, Sergeant. Do you feel you are undeserving of a progression to a higher station?" Knight's hands clenched one another behind his back.
This is it. he thought to himself
She's going to paint me as a dissident. "Sergeant Knight?" the Station Chief asked with a stern tone "
Answer the question; do you feel you are undeserving of a progression to a higher station?" then he answered her with restraint "
A soldier's place isn't to question the organizational choices of the chain of command, ma'am." he countered "
A careful parry, Sergeant Knight, but ultimately deceitful. I will ask again and you will respond without misdirection." she leaned back in her chair with a confident glint to her eye "
Do you feel that you are undeserving of a progression to a higher station?" Knight's head tilted upward a little more with all the dignity he could muster "
No ma'am. I do not feel I am undeserving of a progression to a higher station." the Station Chief motioned again towards the sergeant "
Are you aware of the investigation into Colonel Wuxlar, Sergeant Knight?" he was surprised to hear that name, it was the command officer of the unit that Knight had been serving in for years by this point. One of the first few hundred senior officers to defect to the New Imperial Order "
No ma'am. I was not aware there was an investigation into Colonel Wuxlar." the Station Chief said nothing for only a handful of seconds that felt like minutes to Knight "
Colonel Wuxlar has been accused of Subversion against the New Imperial Order and the Destruction of Imperial Records. There is evidence to suggest that the Colonel has been a purveyor of ideologies that strike at the core of the New Imperial Order, holdovers from archaic Imperial society. Have you been approached by Colonel Wuxlar or his staff in a way that would lead you to believe that he was withholding promotions, privileges, and recommendations from non-Humans in the unit in which Colonel Wuxlar was the commanding officer and you, Sergeant Knight, are a member of?"
Her accusations against Colonel Wuxlar hit Knight in a way that felt like he had the ground pulled out from beneath him. Had he ever suspected anything? He had only ever seen the Colonel but never spoken to him. The Colonel's staff officers were mostly professionals, in Knight's opinion "
Ma'am with respect the staff officers of the unit have been professional in the execution of their duties." the woman pointed an upturned hand at Knight "
And what of the Colonel, Sergeant? Was he professional in the execution of his duties?" Knight's quick response surprised even himself "
Ma'am I am unable to accurately answer your question because I have not had sufficient contact with Colonel Wuxlar." the Station Chief almost cut him off her response was so swift, pressuring the sergeant "
Do you feel that the Colonel was avoiding you?" "
No ma'm, I-" "
Did you ever notice the Colonel did not address you in your 9 years of service under him? "Ma'am, my-" "
Sergeant your history shows a sterling record and nearly a decade of continuous service. Why were you not promoted sooner?"
"I do not have the infor-" the Station Chief put up her hand sternly which silenced the sergeant immediately "
It is because you are not Human, Sergeant. In manifests obtained by the ISB you are named as a low priority. In Colonel Wuxlar's personal memoirs the ISB has obtained your name as a point of contention with the Colonel attempting on numerous occasions to have you removed from service via injury or death." the rapid exchange the revelation left Knight stunned. His bearing loosened and he appeared dazed "
Alashan 858 ABY, no support units rendered, sent alone to engage the enemy. Troska, Operation Watchtower, 858 ABY assigned to a Special Operations Command mission without Special Operations training and with no recovery team memo should your vehicle become inoperable. Your name in the operation was scrubbed from the Imperial Army's records on the order of Colonel Wuxlar, luckily the ISB has our own archival process that Colonel could not touch. Troska system, high orbit, 858 ABY you were again assigned away from the Imperial Army to the Stormtrooper Corps to assist in the boarding action of the HIMS Baneful. Records scrubbed, no recovery plan in place for the Kezia-class walker. Presbelt IV, 858 ABY, assigned to a mission objective without support. Made contact with Imperial Stormtroopers. No recovery team memo. No Imperial Army record." Knight felt his blood running cool and a swelling in his throat as if he was about to cough up his organs the Station Chief stood and leaned forward with her hands on the table, her tone cold
"Dathomir, 867 ABY, assigned alone to secure a landing zone. No recovery memo. No Imperial Army support. Rallied with a training unit from the Stormtrooper Corps. Your career has been an attempt to remove you from service by Colonel Wuxlar who referred to you as 'The Umbaran' in his personal documents and 'Symbolic of decline'." the silence between them was stifling and Knight was thinking over every little thing he could remember about his time in the Imperial Army. Was he really being sent off to die? Not to fight but to be butchered by a spiteful command officer? "
Sergeant Knight you are being re-assigned to reserves effective immediately by the order of the Imperial Army high command by the recommendation of the Internal Security Bearu. Collect your personal belongings and report to the spaceport for relocation to Bastion until further notice. Is that understood, Sergeant Knight?" Knight had never felt a moment in his life were 'surreal' was fitting, normally it was hyperbolic at the least. A term used by zealous officers to inspire their troops
"I... understand." he managed to reply "
End interview Kresh,one, one, two, Aurek."
