The woman recoiled with a gasp and backed even closer to the wall.
"Root-Diggers!"
Sten stepped forward. "No, we're not Root-Diggers. We're the men of
Boru. We've come to lead you and others like you to freedom."
"Barbarians!" the woman snarled. "You're planning to overthrow
Panamia!" She lunged wildly at the switch that would have turned on her
view-screen. Sten caught her and pushed her back against the wall. The
woman screamed once before Sten slapped her, then she sobbed into her
hands.
"Shut up!" Sten commanded. "We mean no harm. We have come only to lead
out to freedom those who wish to go."
"You are against The Leader."