Muruta's Persuasion

The air in Dominion's inner corridor carried the faint chill unique to new equipment, mixed with the scent of metal and coolant.

Strips of lighting ran along the junctions of the ceiling and walls, casting cold white bands of light that stretched the shadows of the five people long behind them.

"I am Natarle Badgiruel, appointed captain of Dominion, the second Archangel-class vessel."

Natarle Badgiruel's voice held not the slightest excess emotion. Every syllable was as measured and precise as if it had been marked with a ruler.

She wore a brand-new Orb Army colonel's uniform with a crisp collar, yet her posture and tone still embodied the model Earth Alliance major.

"This is Second Lieutenant Char La Flaga." She turned slightly and gestured toward the blond young man beside her.

"I am Char La Flaga," Char replied calmly. His steady voice contrasted strangely with his overly youthful face.

He wore an Orb uniform as well, but even its tailored fit could not fully conceal the ease about him that seemed wholly at odds with a soldier's bearing.

His gaze settled on the man who had come to receive them. Deep in his amethyst-like eyes was a meticulous observation and assessment of the person before him.

He said not another word, yet everyone present could feel that the name itself carried extraordinary weight.

Natarle's introductions continued as her hand turned toward the other two.

"This is Nicol Amalfi."

"...I am Nicol Amalfi." A gentle voice rang out, though the tension in it was unmistakable.

The green-haired boy lowered his head slightly, his shoulders somewhat stiff. He wore a gray jumpsuit without rank insignia, clothing intended for technicians or noncombat personnel, but everyone knew who he had been.

He did not dare meet anyone's gaze directly. His eyes merely drifted toward