Chuck sat at the desk of the suite that Freeport 5 had provided in their Captain's Row. He was staring blankly at the display.
Just like that, Star Enterprises had ceased to exist. People he had known and worked with had just stolen the base while all of the Corporate officers were tending to affairs. He was startled out of his daze by a message ping from the Freeport. Habit made him scan the message, even though his mind was still replaying the news report.
The base had just recorded an explosion at Sleipnir's last recording location. Emissions consistent with a vessel de-cloaking had also been recorded, along with battleship class weapons fire. His ship, and more importantly, his crew, gone in a single blow, and the irony that the only people that sold cloaking devices in the area was the company he'd just stopped being a part of was not lost on him.
Where the Chief of Research and Development was not prepared to deal with this, the naval officer was. He turned back to the display and punched up Shadowcat. As soon as the comms were answered, he started talking, running right over the bridge watch. "Get a hold of the Freeport, and see to it that they reprogram the IFF. The ship needs to not be [Star]-Shadowcat when we leave. Have them rename it to...." his sense of history came to the rescue, "Silk_Road. We just became a wandering Zoner trader, at least until we get clear of the hostilities. Being flagged to Star Enterprises is no longer safe in these parts."
The man nodded and severed the connection, and, in the dimly lit room, Commander Alestone went away while tears streamed silently down Chuck's face at the loss of his family.
