Excerpt: Points of Light

Renday Andellan had not pulled anyone apart like this since his days in the military over thirty years ago. But he was just warming up.
"You dimwit! You know the laws under which we live, and by which we maintain control! No person, outside of the security officials, the superiors, and the Civilians are permitted to remain within this colony! Is this not so?"
Triller did not flinch. "It is so." He replied sullenly.
"And do you know the penalty for disobeying any or all of these laws?"
"I do."
"Yes, of course you do." Andellan paced along the length of the office, running the fingers of his left hand along the top of the desk. He turned abruptly, and pounded the desk, rattling everything on it. "And what has happened here?" He fairly shrieked.
"A person, outside of the security staff, superiors and Civilians has remained within this colony."
"Don't use your sorry wit on me!" Roared the governor, "I could have you disposed of in less time than it takes to walk from here to the edge of this sector. With a word I could have you eliminated! So don't even think about being witty at a time like this."
He was around the desk in a flash, his finger pointing menacingly up Triller's nose. His eyes blazed like a madman's and flecks of spit glistened on his lips. The lights blinking around the surface of his headset seemed to add to his great and terrible persona. He raised a hand level with Triller's face and slowly balled it into a fist, his eyes never letting Triller's go. A half-smile crept along his lips, splitting them apart to reveal his teeth on one side. His fist lowered and he turned away, toward the window. The artificial light streamed in from the broken window glass and fell on his head and shoulders. For a long moment he stared out before he turned back, the half-smile now a sneer of grim anticipation.
"Find them, Mr. Triller. Find the man who has caused this trouble, and find those of our people who have helped him. Take a platoon and search every barracks and every storeroom. Don't let me see your face until you have them all."
His upper body was silhouetted against the light from the window, so Triller could not make out his expression when he finished his instructions.
“I want them back in here, alive, or dead.”
He walked back up to Triller and nodded slightly, squinting into his face.
“I‘m giving you a chance to redeem your self, Triller. Don’t disappoint me - for your own sake, don’t disappoint me. Because let me tell you, my friend: heads will roll if you don‘t come up with those fugitives for me.”
Triller swallowed and nodded. “Yes sir.”
Andellan waved a hand. “Be off. And remember what I’ve said.”