Space Odyssey: Spectre

Salem walked into the meeting room. It had a long table that had several people on either side of it. A few of which she recognized form criminal records and were wanted people. There were several empty chairs including the ones at either end of the table.

"Welcome back Shepard." One of them called out from the other side of the table. "Nice for you to finally join us." He chuckled, "what took you so long?"

"Alcatraz." Shepard answered and moved to sit across from this person, who was oddly wearing a full face mask. "My identity got burnt so I ended up getting captured. Figured you knew."

"I did. Who are these two?" The man asked.

"You already know Marcus Trentwood. The other is Salem Wintry, the spy we had managed to get into the Emperor's faction." Shepard explained as Salem pulled down her hood and mask before removing the goggles. Salem frowned as she moved to the side and stood out of the way.

She figured she might as well stay out of the way for now. But Marcus moved and plopped down into a seat.

"She will be joining our operative teams now. Salem and Shepard were discovered because the emperor's people started investigating all people who were in potentially damaging positions. Many of my contacts and spies got swept up. But it seems that they left alone any who are set up to damage the first prince and the Tyranus Society." The masked man explained.

"I will have to check but I have a feeling it will be a similar case with my spies and contracts." Shepard informed them. "But did I lead them to Salem, or did Salem lead them to me?"

"You led them to Salem." General Trentwood answered. "A few of the contacts you had in the emperor's faction went quiet." He explained.

"It was going to happen eventually. What did you need me here for?" Salem asked as she leaned against the wall. She was looking at the General as she asked. She felt covered in sand and wanted to get cleaned off as soon as possible. But first she had to deal with this. Unfortunately she could not read their minds and figure out what was going on.

General Trentwood tapped a panel on the table. The lights in the room dimmed and a holographic projection appeared from several nodes that were on the walls. For a moment a few of the nodes blinked on and off causing the projection to lose its figure. Then they stayed on.

This must be part of the negatives of working outside of the law. All of their technology was miles behind military tech. Back on the Puddle-Jumper there was a hand held single point projection device that could do the same thing as this multi-node holo projection was doing. It is not a massive leap in technology but it is still pretty disorientating.

"Haa… this damn tech. At the moment forces are gathering at Vexical Prime. The first prince at the moment has control of the space surrounding the planet. While on the planet there is a stale mate between the first prince, the princess, and the emperor. Other Union groups are announcing their own impending civil wars as well." General Trentwood began explaining. Salem looked over the holographic image which was of Vexical Prime and it showed several ships surrounding the planet on all sides.

"We were thinking we could take advantage of the situation to kidnap some high level enemy assets. But we also wanted to know how weary we should be of the emperor's faction since we do not have a complete grasp of their manpower." General Trentwood looked toward Salem at this. "Which brings us to why you are here."

"It is a trap." Salem tells them honestly, "the Emperor's Loyalists have control of two warships. The Nightfall of Requiem was just the prototype. Then there is the new one which has Spectres aboard. I have no clue about the name, but I know the plan was to have most of the Spectres aboard that second one. It was getting its finishing touches when we left the Echo System."

"That does not explain why you think it is a trap." One of the people around the table pointed out. She did not know this specific person, but she could read his mind. He was already making plans to sneak past the blockade.

"They are holding their soldiers in reserve. General Trentwood, what is the current status of the Rena System? How many soldiers are guarding against the Crystoph Federation?" Salem asked towards the Union General. She had a feeling she already knew.

Instead of answering the general looked toward someone else who straightened up. "It is 'guarded' by a single of the prince's Cutter-class space ships. It is honestly worrisome because I reached out to the Union that is in the Crystoph Federation and they are nowhere near a point where they would have a civil war. As it is they have some plague breaking out in one of their systems that is more worrisome."

"What about the Victorium Colony?" General Trentwood asked.

"They gave up on reclaiming it." The man shrugged his shoulders. "So they do have the soldiers and space ships to spare. If you are thinking that the Crystoph Federation is planning on attacking Vexical Prime. I would say you are right."

"Actually, it is more likely that the Tyranus Society is working with the Crystoph Federation. Archduke Beltrum has connections with the federation. It was a large part of what I was investigating before I was exposed and imprisoned." Salem cut in, she had learned a lot of things that connected the Archduke to the federation, even about a promise to let him continue to rule the Rena System if he defected to the Crystoph Federation.

"So it is going to be a multi-way fight with the Crystoph Federation, the Tyranus Society, the Princess, and the Emperor's Loyalists." General Trentwood frowned, "that is even more reason for us to get involved. Civilians will get caught in the crossfire."

"It would be suicide if you joined the fight, so I suggest focusing on evacuating the civilians if you really want to get involved." Salem sighed and shook her head, already knowing it would not go well. "The Emperor's Loyalists will at least assist you with that."

General Trentwood nodded, "then that is what we will do. But Salem Wintry, I have a different objective for you and my son. I need someone to investigate the disappearance of an xenoarcheologist that was in the field." General Trentwood tapped another button and the hologram disappeared and the lights in the room got brighter. "Head back to the main lobby, I will have someone come with the list of supplies and information you will need."

Salem lazily waved as she walked out of the room. She already had a feeling about what they were going to talk about next. Unfortunately they have mental protections so she is unable to read their minds, so she could only guess.