Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 409: Hidden Spies

As they landed they were met by Shepard at the landing area. Salem stepped out firt and looked around in confusion at the flurry of activity that was going on around them. She looked at Shepard and he shook his head.

"We are moving bases. Leaving these ones as shells for now." Shepard explained as she held up her hand to stop the others from getting off the ship. "I actually have an immediate assignment for you. You are going to go deep into the Imperium."

"Why?" Salem asked as she sighed and looked around. She was still wearing her cowboy-like outfit. It had become one of her preferred outfits. "It is not like there is no shortage of things to do out here."

"Because of the Victorium. We do not know enough to do anything just yet. So a large portion of us are going to the Kaiser Imperium Kreiger. With Marcus’ intel we think it is possible to cause a cascade effect that would collapse the entire Imperium. We already have a contact that is willing to help us and has a lot of spare support and even found a secret base we could use." Shepard began explaining as he held out a data pad to Salem.

"So we are just turning our tail and running? What about reclaiming our country? We are just going to let them get away with absorbing our people and planets into their... their..." Marcus began yelling in annoyance.

But Shepard waved him off while shaking his head. "That is just the point I am trying to make. We have no clue what their plan is or how they plan to rule. For all we know they could be doing exactly what we hoped or they could just be playing possum until we let down our guard. Until we know which, it would be best if we moved to a distance and observed them with an unbiased decision."

"These are orders to move you and a unit of spies into the Imperium. I think I see what is going on. We are being sent as a possible advance team to break apart the Imperium." Salem nodded her head before stepping away and grabbing a data pad from the ship and handing it to a confused Shepard. "Read it, do not send the message anywhere. I think this information falls under the category of being too dangerous to be handed out openly."

"Classified. Got it." Shepard nodded as he quickly skimmed through the data pad. His expression went from confusion, to annoyance, to worry, to fear, then finally it landed on terrified. He looked at Salem. "Is this real?"

"Very." Salem answered with a nod of her head.

"Okay, then let’s get this ship overhauled while that is happening. I want you and your team to get equipment for a long term operation. I am talking about sustainable gear like material printers and converters." Shepard declared as he looked over the pad again before nodding. "As for this... treat it like it never happened. I will debrief all of you later, once we are deep into the Imperium territory."

"Understood." Salem nodded and then waved at her squad. "You heard Shepard. Grab the appropriate gear and get ready." She then stepped out of the ship herself and walked over to a set of gear. She might as well do a few augments for her gear as well.

As she was looking over it. Ram and Artillo walked over to a group of engineers and began getting their ship repaired. She could see that they were talking in depth with them about the necessary repairs.

Atlas, Yuti, and Dag were doing the same thing she was. Finding and checking out possible equipment. A lot of it would probably end up being redundant or need modifications. But it did not hurt to look around and get a few ideas. Especially since it was sounding like the Union was sending them deep into the Imperium.

Salem suddenly looked over her shoulder with a raised eyebrow at Marcus Trentwood. The headache that she has had for over a month now. For one, he was needy and paranoid. For another, he was having problems with accepting that destroying the Vexical Imperial family was not the Union’s main objective.

She had not had a chance to report this to Jace yet. But that was because someone like Marcus who was clearly uncontrollable was a clear target to Jace. Although that would more end up the Union’s problem if they let him spiral out of control. So she was split on whether or not she should report this.

"Salem. Are we really going to leave the Vexical Empire in the hands of... a bunch of unknowns." For a moment there it almost sounded like he was about to say something racist. Not to mention he exposed his other new problem. His overreliance on Salem as a voice of reason.

Salem could care less about him. But for some reason he thought the world of her. In a way it was both adorable and annoying. "Yes," Salem answered. Which was clearly not the answer he wanted to hear because he frowned. Salem rolled her eyes and began explaining a second later. "Shepard is right, we have far too little information to act in regards to the Victorium. We could bash our heads against the wall. But it would only give us a headache." Salem declared as she picked up a sniper rifle. It was completely mechanical but she could make some minor modifications to make it work.

Marcus scoffed as he looked around. Probably hoping to find an ally in his difficult acceptance that what he wanted was not anything anyone else wanted. "This is not right. My father is being far too lenient. I mean the emperor died but what about the first prince and the princess? Or even the third prince?"

"The third prince is being protected by his mother. Whose very location is shrouded in mystery. Although she is probably at a high secure and safe location. The latest intel blurb suggests that the first prince was captured by chance when they went after the New Hexarian Republic. As for the princess... She was last seen on the colony station and Victorium Military base, Princess’ Pride." Salem explained, as the squad leader she was privy to details of major asset locations.

Marcus frowned but stopped arguing for the moment. "Okay.. but don’t you think it is strange they are sending us away?"

Salem stopped and thought for a moment before nodding her head. "Yeah, I do think it is weird. But I also think they have their reasons and that they also have reasons for not telling us." Salem told him as she walked back toward the ship with her new toy in hand.

"Are you serious?" He asked with blatant whispered sarcasm. "Aren’t secrets still a large part of why those governments failed? Not to mention what they are hiding that could help a lot of normal people."

Salem rolled her eyes as she walked up the ramp and put the weapon by her gear. "Not always. You are forgetting that normal people can end up as monsters as well. I have seen plenty of your ’normal people’ abusing the power they have. If they had more power it would only get worse." Salem explained as she turned to Marcus.

"Except they are not even given-"

Salem clapped her hands to interrupt him. "Okay, Marcus. I get you are upset. But this is not the time. Instead, you should be preparing for our new assignment. Because we will leave whether or not you are prepared." Salem needed him to get his part done, not to mention his doubt was starting to annoy her. Maybe she should not have slept with him.

Marcus frowned and then huffed and walked down the ship ramp without a word. He walked toward another area and she watched him to make sure he would not do something else.

"He is getting worse." Salem heard a voice and looked over to see Yuti. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"So it is not just me." Salem asked as she began moving around the equipment. If they were going to talk on the ship then she was going to keep busy.

Yuti immediately began assisting her. "Nope, actually I think Atlas was asked specifically to keep an eye on him."

"I know he is. I think Marcus knows it as well." Salem pointed out as she moved something else.

"This won’t end well." Yuri grunted as she glanced down the ramp. "We might end up with a big issue. Especially if we end up separated or out of contact with the main branch. We are looking at a possible split group, especially if he gets the radicals on his side."

"I know." Salem sighed, "So have you told your superiors in the Oda Empire? Or not yet?" Salem asked now that she was absolutely confident that no one could hear them.

"When did you know?" Yuti asked as she continued like everything was normal.

"Mind reader, remember?" Salem answered. "I also know the reason. But we should be more concerned with what is going on in the Imperium that the Union is so interested in."

"I know." Yuti answered as she looked out the ramp. "I agree with your assessment."