Tearing Off the Mask

"Balthazar Edison!"

Captain Kirk's eyes widened instantly.

Balthazar Edison had been one of the early heroes of the Star Federation. Everyone who graduated from Starship Academy had heard of him—not merely because he had been the captain of Earth's first starship capable of Level 4 warp drive and had become lost in the depths of space, but also because he had once been a high-ranking human military officer who had rendered outstanding service to the Star Federation!

To put it bluntly, he had once been the idol of many people. But how could someone who had fought tooth and nail for humanity attack a Federation starship and assault Yorktown?

Besides, if Kirk remembered correctly, he and his crew should have died more than a century ago. How could he have appeared here?

But Claw's expression had clearly confirmed it.

Captain Kirk strode up to him. "Are you really that Federation hero, Balthazar Edison?"

"A hero? Heh... Edison..."

The surprise gradually faded from Claw's face, replaced by a mocking laugh. "That's nothing but a lie fabricated by the Star Federation to deceive ignorant people like you!"

Kirk narrowed his eyes. "You once fought for the Federation, so what exactly turned you into this?"

"What turned me into this? Heh..." Claw straightened and looked coldly at him. "You did. You turned me into this! And not just me—you turned yourselves into this, too! I spent half my life fighting for humanity. Alongside the New Terrans and the Romulans, we sacrificed millions of people to create the Star Federation, yet you gradually abandoned us!"

Captain Kirk was stunned by his almost roaring tone. He raised his gun but had no idea what to say to him.

A mocking look appeared on Claw's face. "What did we do it for? For a Star Federation