Fallible Leader

"You're going to kill us all, aren't you?" The disheveled-looking chief technician from the Caged asked as soon as Ves and Mayra sat down on the other side of the table.

Ves glanced at the data pad in his armored hands. "Chief Glayce Retton-Fukumoto, is it?"

The grey-haired man gestured with his cuffed hands. "Just call me Glayce."

"Chief Glayce…" Ves stared at the face of the man who knew his ultimate fate. Against such a self-conscious man, lying wouldn't accomplish anything. "Unfortunately, there is very little animus among the Flagrant Vandals and Lydia's Swordmaidens to extend any mercy to your forces. Neither your Caged nor your Red Tong allies have given us any reason to spare any of you. All I can say is that you played your games but lost."

A fatalistic mood struck the captive chief technician.