The commander came to the gate because the timed query had reached her twice.
Once through the retained technical line, with the instrument traces and rejected sample attached. Once through security, labeled as another demand from Eli Voss. She read both before speaking to him. The second description made him sound like a threat using technical language to reach a door he had failed to force. The first contained enough ordinary detail to make that easy description inconvenient.
She stopped on the inner side of the bars.
“Your party includes a person wanted for questioning about the artifact.”
“Mira is here to explain its observed behavior,” Eli said.
“After removing it from its custodian.”
Mira stepped forward. “Yes.”
The commander looked at her, then at Eli. “And you want independent operators admitted during a restricted phase while your people contest the command holding the chamber.”
