Riposte

Liao turned his obsidian gaze toward Justin. "Justin Xiang, I require a service of you."

Justin's head came up proudly. "I live to serve."

Smiling, Maximilian Liao gestured to one of his bodyguards, then nodded at the Duke. "Execute the traitor."

Justin wrapped the Duke's long braid around his left hand and used it to haul him to his knees. Accepting a pistol from one of the bodyguards, Justin eared the hammer back and pressed the gun's muzzle to Michael's right temple. Seated deep within his throne, Maximilian Liao nodded his head and the sound of a single gunshot filled the room.

Maximilian Liao watched Michael's braid slither through Justin's black metal fingers, then motioned to his bodyguards. "Get that thing out of my sight, and take the maps and notes with it." Leaning forward from his throne, the Chancellor smiled solicitously. "Now, Justin Xiang, refresh my memory on what you learned from the Rangers' raid on Axton, and tell me again how it will allow us to destroy Hanse Davion and his precious Federated Suns."