Ghosts of the Past...

[Dab]

Captain Deiran walked into Luciaden's office. He stood there and saluted until Luciaden returned the salute. "Yes Captain?"

Deiran handed him a piece of paper... The location of the Chimaera. "And this was found when?"

"6:00 this morning Zoner standard time."

"And you say you did in fact find the bridge intact?" "Yes sir." Has anyone been inside it yet?

"No, but we did run a sight scanner on it, and we confirm that the equipment they scavenged is still there." "And where is it now?" "We attached it to the Caedo on its run to the Shipyards. It is in one of the repair docks."

"And what of its crew?" "Most of the crew was dead, all of those outside of the bridge section. The survivors are those who were able to get out of the bridge after the viewports were broken in. They stayed in the auxiliary control room and the medical bay with minimal life support. Captain Soren was found alive, though just barely. He is in critical care, and the doctors estimate he will die in a day or two."

"Prep the Sigtryggr, we will head out to the shipyards immediately. We must find out exactly what happened there. And that won't happen if hes dead."

"Yes sir." Captain Deiran hesitated. "Well sir.."

"You are wondering why I pulled the search off the Oblivion, yes?"

Surprise was evident in his expression before he got his emotions under control. He had not yet gotten used to his mind being open to his superior.

"Well, yes sir I was."

"Its quite simple. We do not have the time, nor the need to go after him."

At the Captain's puzzled look he pulled a drawer from his desk and pulled something out. It was a pulsating crystal.

"Do you know what this is?" As Deiran looked into the crystal his mind began to slow down. He barely caught the question he had been asked. With an effort he pulled his eyes off the crystal to look at Luciaden's face. "No sir." "This is the last piece of the puzzle. And why it is important that we get that equipment. This.. is a key."

Deiran's puzzlement grew, and he wondered why he was being led around like this. The obvious good mood of his Lord captain was evident.

"This is what we will use to finally capture one of those ships."

Deiran's puzzlement turned to surprise.

"Yes Captain, it is time for us to finally take care of our rivals. And to begin our ascension to power."


To be continued

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