The courtroom remained deathly silent, everyone's attention drawn to the judge.
Zion's body trembled at the center of the room, the cold from the restraints making his hands go numb.
His eyes remained locked on the judge, too scared to look around at the other people.
"Prisoner Zion from the noble Arakiel family," the judge said, his voice echoing loud and clear. "You stand before this court accused of gross negligence, insubordination, and the willful sabotage of a highly valuable military operation."
As the judge finished, a ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd.
Zion felt his body stiffening.
"No—" he tried to say, but the cloth around his mouth muffled the sound completely.
Inside, Zion's eyes narrowed, anger flashing through them.
'They didn't even let me speak,' he thought, clenching his fists.
A panel lit up in front of the judge, projecting a rotating hologram of an ancient underground bunker in its full glory.
