The mondagi captain ordered his vessel to cruising speed and left the bridge. He was determined to extract vital information from their prisoners, deciding to oversee the interrogation personally. The humans were amassing a defense in his sector of space and he would do anything to break through their lines.

“Leave us,” the mondagi commanded as he strode into the ship’s holding cell. The guards saluted, a snap of the heels and a nod of the head, before filing out.

“They are prepared for your questioning, Captain Marn,” the chief interrogator said as he marched out.

Marn looked over the prisoners, several small humans in matching military uniforms, running an appendage along the table of metal utensils. They had been shackled along one wall. The four were bound by the hands and feet, tight enough to prevent any movement.

The mondagi was a frightening sight, standing a foot above the tallest human prisoner, his green skin glistened with sweat from the bright light of the chamber. He wore no uniform, only a belt and several holsters adorned with military insignia. His arms appeared boneless, only a sensitive feeler at their end of his tentacle where fingers would be on a human.

“You will tell me what I seek to know,” the captain’s voice said, unquestioningly. The words were breathy, filled with a guttural sound, startling the men and women. He spoke to them in English, “There is no choice.”

“You won’t get anything but our names!” One of the humans shouted, fear overpowering her voice.

Marn could tell by her uniform that she was the commanding officer in this group. He would make an example of her, he thought.

The woman started screaming as Marn freed her of her shackles and wrapped his wet tentacles around her body, easily holding her in place.