[hr][center][h2][color=0076a3]Commander Aamra Tulez[/color][/h2][/center][hr]

Aamra stepped onto the platform alongside the Captain, wincing slightly as the white-light holograms filled the space in front of them, some pleased to see the two of them, others decidedly not so. The Galactic Council was a lot of things, and mercurial was certainly one of them. Still, Aamra bowed her head in respect as Chase did, clasping her hands together in the traditional Tazygos gesture, and remained quiet as Chase was interrogated by the Council, with the captain constantly bringing up the loss of Anderson and the Council continuously demanding to know about the "cargo" they sent the crew to retrieve.

[color=lightblue]"Enough for us to figure out what was in it."[/color] Chase finally declared, letting the idea stew for a moment before continuing. [color=lightblue]"A whole lot of nothing."[/color]

Now there was a silence that spoke volumes. As a couple of the council members shifted in their seats, Aamra exchanged a glance with Chase, admittedly an uncomfortable one on her part given the circumstances. Wordlessly, she turned to look at Bruma, who hadn't taken her eyes off of the Tazygos since the conversation started, and had been fixing her with the same gaze one might use on a curious and dangerous animal in the zoo. A gaze she got far too often from superiors in the past, who saw Tazygos as primitive brutes, saw their tradition and faith as backwards superstition, and felt their race would have been little more then cave-dwellers were it not for the Tu'Veeri holding their hands. 

Aamra being here, standing in front of the council in this uniform, was supposed to break that gaze, to show that the Tazygos deserved to be among the stars and treated as equals and someone like her could become an officer of the interstellar fleet. And yet here she was, fabricating a lie to the highest officials in the galaxy. The part of her that wanted to prove she could be that officer begged her to come clean, reveal the deception. She would earn the favor of the council and become the hero of her people, everything she could have wanted, right?

At long last, G'Pol cleared his throat and turned his attention to her. "Is this all true, Security Officer?" Aamra did not hesitate for a second.

[color=0076a3]"I was present upon the retrieval of the designated cargo, sir, and personally inspected the crate to ensure it matched the designations that you provided,"[/color] Aamra announced officially. Subtly, she turned to look right into Bruma's eyes as she continued.

[color=0076a3]"The crate, by all measurements, did not contain anything of note. Outside of the aforementioned debris, of course."[/color] The reaction by the council was even more pronounced, especially from Bruma, who rose to her feet so quickly that the hologram projection stuttered.

"Then clearly you have made a mistake!" Bruma said strongly, barely restrained from shouting. "Not that I'm surprised..."

[color=0076a3]"I've gone over all the identifiers and biometric signatures twice, Councilwoman,"[/color] Aamra declared coolly. [color=0076a3]"This is definitely the crate that you sent us to collect, unless you believe the Ulnar are acting completely contrary to everything Council Intelligence has observed about them."[/color] Getting a burst of inspiration, she reached into her suit pocket and pulled out her info-pad. [color=0076a3]"I can go over my procedure in detail if you would like, Madam Councilwoman, as well as the indicators and communiques from Intelligence to back up my observations. I will need to delay my next cargo inspection but if it soothes your concerns I would be more then happy to postpone so we can settle this matter."[/color]

"Ah, that won't be necessary," a Tu'Veeri council member interjected in a diplomatic tone of voice. "We had no intent of judging your competence as an officer, Commander Tulez. Admiral Dalize's faith in you has not been misplaced."

[color=0076a3]"Thank you, Councilman,"[/color] Aamra said humbly, slightly bowing her head. Bruma made a sound that might have been a scoff as she sat back down, no longer intent on speaking.

"In any case, it seems we have some deliberation to do," G'Pol declared, more to the council itself then to Chase and Aamra. "Return to base and get ready for the next assignment. We'll be in touch." In the blink of an eye the lights dimmed and the holograms fluttered out of sight.

[color=lightblue]"Send the real report to the Admiral. Right now she's the only one I trust."[/color]

[color=0076a3]"I was going to suggest that myself,"[/color] Aamra responded. [color=0076a3]"One wonders what the Council knows that we don't about this matter..."[/color]

Chase nodded solemnly. [color=lightblue]"Come on, we got other things to attend right now."[/color]

---

Chase's speech to the crew in memory of Anderson was very touching. Still, Aamra held back slightly, hovering near Rae as she made those grilled cheeses that humans were so fond of (and had to admit they sounded pretty good). Quietly contemplating all that had happened, she didn't really consider whether or not she would join the game. She had respect for Chase and a few of the crewmen, but at the end of the day, she was still an officer, and they were...well, the Marauders.