SEC #3
Roy had opened his mouth to begin asking questions a few times, only to be interrupted by outbursts elsewhere in Security. Once Izzy left, he stood shaking his head, and then turned to Maris.
"Not gonna sugar-coat this for you, Maris. At this point, you're pretty much dead, no matter which direction you go, because we can easily get word in the wind that you sold out Ge-Fi, and that you tipped us off about the Freeshippers. Doesn't matter whether it's true or not, because the people in charge of the other side don't have any patience with maybe-turncoats and possible double-agents. Rather than take the chance that you might betray them again, they'll just kill you. Maybe feed you to the Demons."
He shrugged, continuing in a casual, conversational tone, "And, frankly, I don't think your odds of getting out of this alive on our side are very good, either. I mean, you're a collaborator, you conspired in the death of your wife and her crew. That's high treason, and during time of war, that's a capital offense. So...yeah. Pretty sure you're going to be dead very soon, one way or another." He shrugged dismissively.
"Thing is, there are truly shitty ways to die. So, right now, you're playing for a clean, decent death, which is maybe more than you deserve, but we've gotta have something for an incentive, right?" He raised his arms in an exaggerated, "Whatcha gonna do?" shrug, then gestured to Shadow.
"Now, the LC here...I'm pretty sure he's got some very clear ideas of what kind of death you deserve. And if you don't cooperate with me, I'm gonna let him do his very best on you. And when he's done, you'll be dead...but you'll also be a few VERY painful days older before it happens. Just so we're clear on the whole playing field, here, and because I'm not a deceitful toad like you. You know the objectives, and you know the options for helping to achieve them, or for failing to cooperate. The rest is up to you."
He stepped up, reaching down to grab Maris' stump in a crushing grip. "So...tell me everything you know about Adem's forces...how many, what kind, where they were at when you left Verian space...I know you're not much of a military mind, but I'm pretty sure you know what basic strategic information we want. We'll start there, and see just how cooperative you're willing to be." For all the calm, almost kind tones in his voice, his eyes were like granite, and his fingertips dug into the traumatized flesh at the end of Maris' arm with relentless pressure.