Lizzy James, Leader of Running Rogue Inc. (Page 153)

~~~(POV: Lizzy James)~~~

~~~(Location: Debris Field, Remains of Kelromera in the Techese Galaxy)~~~

Jessica stands next to me and watches the recording of what happened repeatedly. I had to do the same thing to wrap my head around something too powerful. With the Parasite having consumed all of Impyra, many Players and their companies have had to find new places to rebuild. I was one of the lucky few to have a moving company by now.

This Capital Ship, Rogue's Retreat, is our base of operations and keeps us moving and safe. It's the best investment I've ever made and has already paid itself off. Not to mention all the support ships and fighters in the fleet Rogue's Retreat leads. It's paid those off too. "Ma'am, there are no readings that indicate that it's left." That's the most puzzling thing to me right now.

One of my technicians updates us on another scan of the surroundings. It's certainly interesting. It makes me hope to get my hands on whatever they used to cover their tracks. "Is there a possibility they never left? What about cloaking technology?" Jessica thinks about something none of us considered. It's completely possible they're cloaked right now.

I give the order, and my bridge starts scanning and running tests to find any cloaked objects or Starships out there. "We've got a hit!! It's 21 Kilometers in size! It matches the shape of the Dreadnaught! They know we've scanned them!!" Another one of my technicians starts to yell, and I immediately sound the alarm.

Before we can move or start some form of protection, everything is shut down as a pulse from the Dreadnaught comes flying at us as its cloaking shields end. The ship rocks, and everything is turned off except emergency power and life support. The main terminal in the bridge lights up, and a holographic woman appears.

She has her hands on her hips with a slight tilt. Her look is confident and powerful, and she's incredibly beautiful. "I didn't expect some random group of Players to be smart enough to search for a cloaked ship. Try as I might. It's difficult to hide a Dreadnaught." Her voice is soothing and melodic. It has a hypnotic tone to it.

I step forward and place my hands behind my back in an effort to seem like I'm the one with authority here. " Are you the one that's in charge of that Dreadnaught?" She remains silent and turns her head. She's muted herself and starts to talk to someone. She's not alone over there. My eyes turn towards the window, and the Dreadnaught is imposing, to say the least.

She unmutes and turns her attention back to me. "My Scans are saying that you're designated as Running Rogue Inc., and you were hired to find out information about us. You keep fantastic logs in your ship's databanks. Rogues Retreat is a fine vessel despite its comparison to us." She's proving she has an absolute advantage over us.

This is a show of dominance right now, and there isn't anything I can do about it. "Normally, I'd be livid and ready to fight you, Mysterious Holographic woman..." I don't know who she is or what she is, so that's the best I've got... "But considering that you could destroy us with the press of a button. I have to play this your way..." I hate doing this, but it's the best option we have.

The smartest approach that we have and the best strategic outcome that we have is to have a peaceful and submissive discussion. "You're a wise leader for putting aside your pride. We've agreed to let you go, but if we find you following us again. It's goodbye fleet. Toodles." She gives a finger wave and disappears. Our power returns, and we watch the massive Dreadnaught.

It charges up in an instant and disappears into Hyperspace. It's superior to us in every way imaginable. "That could've gone worse... But that means this is the first mission we've ever failed..." Jessica nails my frustration right on the head. I can't help slamming my fist on the nearest console. Our perfect record is destroyed.

Jessica takes this time to head back to the elevator and make her way back to the hanger. It's time that we pick up our pride and report our failure. "Open a communications channel. I need to speak with our employer." The terminal tries to get the signal through, and it takes a second, but I'm through and looking at the man that hired us.