[AUTHOR NOTE: Just a quick shout-out to let you all know that S.P.E.C.T.O.R is now over 80 chapters ahead on my Patreon.]
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"That's kind of you to say, Queen Riniya," Tessa replied before adding, "please allow me to introduce the two officers beside me.
To my left is Captain Andria Ororis, the Captain of the Imperial Down."
"Queen Riniya, Princess Liluth, welcome aboard my ship," Andria said formally.
"Thank you, Captain Ororis," Riniya and Liluth replied.
"To my right is Lieutenant Becky Starlover," Tessa stated.
"Queen Riniya, Princess Liluth," Becky said professionally.
"Lieutenant," Riniya and Liluth greeted before Riniya stated, "allow me to introduce the two ladies accompanying us.
"This is Keerla Orisandoral, the leader of my personnel security team and my old friend, while this is Shalendra Ellynn, Keerla's second in command."
"Welcome aboard," Andria greeted professionally.
"Thank you for the warm welcome, Princess Terrana, Captain Ororis," Keerla replied while Shalendra just nodded in response.
"Ladies, if you would like, we have prepared a tour of the ship," Andria announced.
"That would be lovely," Riniya replied; however, Liluth had a different suggestion.
"How about we put the tour off for a little later? I would like to request that we go someplace private."
"You already wish to begin our talks?" Tessa asked as everyone looked at Liluth in surprise.
"No, I would like to introduce my mother to her future son-in-law," Liluth replied.
"Excuse me?" Andria asked in confusion.
"Great, let's go," Becky said happily as her professional demeanour instantly broke at understanding Liluth's meaning.
"Really now," Tessa sighed as she looked at Becky.
"I was wondering how long it would take for you to drop the act," Liluth teased.
"Act?" Riniya asked in confusion.
"Becky's… I mean, Lieutenant Starlover was just playing the part of a dutiful soldier mother; her true nature is far more free-spirited," Liluth explained.
"I'm not sure free-spirited is the right term; perhaps chaotic would fit better," Tessa said with a teasing smile.
"Hmph," Becky pouted before saying defensively, "I'm just easily swayed by my emotions; it's the Succuba in me."
"I had heard that the current Empress and her children are part Succuba," Keerla stated with interest before asking, "does that mean you and Lieutenant Starlover are related, Princess Terrana?"
"That's correct," Tessa replied before adding, "Both Andria and Becky are my cousins from my mother's side."
"The Ororis family," Riniya remarked with interest.
"That's correct, Queen Riniya," Andria replied as she gave Riniya a quizzical look.
"Oh my apologies, I meant no offence," Riniya quickly said apologetically before looking at Liluth and stating, "you seem to already be on rather good terms with Princess Terrana and Lieutenant Starlover."
"We communicated a number of times during their journey here," Liluth answered simply.
"Come on, come on, let's go," Becky said eagerly before adding, "I want to see what Adam does to the one responsible for orchestrating the assassination attempt on Lorelie."
"Pardon?" Riniya asked in confusion as she glanced at her daughter suspiciously.
Riniya had originally believed that she would meet her future son-in-law on board the ship; however, she was starting to suspect that it wasn't that simple.
"I'll explain as we go," Becky said as she led the way out of the docking bay, saying excitedly.
"You know it's a strange coincidence how they were just discussing Dryad Eytelis right after we arrived at Solarian Prime."
Tessa sighed before asking accusingly, "were you watching Adam while you were supposed to be getting ready for our guests' arrival?"
"No," Becky replied before adding, "I was watching after I was finished getting ready and waiting for you.
It's not my fault it took you so long to put on that fancy dress and I got bored."
"My apologies, Queen Riniya; diplomacy is not exactly Becky's forte," Tessa said apologetically.
"More like the opposite, actually," Andria muttered just loud enough for the other women to hear.
Riniya chuckled before saying, "It's quite alright; it's nice to see how close you all are. Though I would like to know what people have been saying about Eytelis; she is my old friend after all."
As Becky led the group along one of the Imperial Downs corridors, she said, "Something about how Adam's AI made a mistake by claiming that she's on Flamyre. Honestly, it's quite surprising since I don't think Spector has ever made a mistake."
"Flamyre!" Riniya repeated while giving Keerla a look, before she added, "I've never heard of such a planet."
"It's a small moon that orbits a gas giant somewhere in the Ashes Galaxy, apparently," Becky began to explain.
"Apparently it's owned by a Pyroth named Fiere Lucent who is also a member of the secret organisation that attacked us."
"Would this be the same secret organisation that the Universal Senate has recently been discussing?" Keerla asked.
"One and the same," Becky confirmed.
"And this woman is the same one who orchestrated the assassination attempt on Diva Lorelie?" Shalendra asked.
"Yes, though it is believed that Drotas hired the secret organisation to kill Lorelie," Becky replied before adding in a relieved tone, "it's a good job they didn't decide to use the Yliaster DX Six."
"Yliaster DX Six?" Riniya asked as all the women showed looks of alarm.
Becky nodded before saying, "Apparently, this Fiere Lucent plans to give the Yliaster DX Six to Senator Arisu Kasai."
"The Reynard Galaxy Senator?" Tessa asked in surprise before adding, "what could Senator Kasai want with Yliaster DX Six?"
"No idea, but he's in for a let-down if he ever attempts to use it," Becky said smugly.
"What do you mean?" Tessa asked.
"Adam's already rendered it inert," Becky answered.
"Why not destroy it?" Keerla asked with a frown.
"No idea, I'm guessing he has a reason though," Becky replied before adding, "here we are."
She stopped in front of a door before pressing one of the buttons of the control panel next to it, which caused the door to slide open with a hiss.
"Please feel free to enter," Tessa stated before adding, "You're free to use this room while you remain onboard, though I'm afraid it's not much, since it's the best we could do on short notice."
"I'm sure it will be more than sufficient for the duration of my stay," Liluth said happily as she entered first and looked around.
Tessa turned to Queen Riniya before asking, "If you wish, we can arrange for you to stay in one of the adjacent rooms?"
"That would be lovely, thank you, Princess Tessa," Riniya replied before turning to her daughter and asking with a smile, "shall I assume this Adam that Lieutenant Starlover spoke of is my future son-in-law?"
"Naturally," Liluth replied proudly before adding, "do you really think your daughter would accept anyone but the best as her husband?"
"Best is subjective, my dear," Riniya replied.
"Indeed, so why don't you observe his capabilities yourself?" Liluth suggested before nodding to Becky.
***
Becky eagerly began to fiddle with her uniband before sending Adam's stream to the room's console, where it was displayed on a large holographic screen.
Adam emerged from a side alley and began to walk along one of the streets in the main dome.
After disembarking the transport, Adam flew down the tunnel until he found the maintenance access.
Spector had hacked open the access hatch and from there, Adam had followed it to the alley he had just emerged from.
[Superior4horns (Vinox 3): Now what's he going to do? He's being hunted by security after all.]
[OrangeeyedStace (Spector): He needs to stay out of sight.]
[1000yearsofdeath (Earth): He's not doing a very good job; I mean, he's walking down the street. Kekeke.]
[Gunlovergirl (Earth): He should at least change out of that dockworker's uniform.]
[Justiceistruth (Earth): Back into his combat armour because that's not suspicious at all.]
[Gunlovergirl (Earth): I mean, he should scan another set of clothing to disguise himself in, idiot.]
As Adam walked along the street, he scanned his surroundings and was surprised by how active and busy it was.
He had been expecting it to be almost deserted except for those who were using it to get where they needed to go.
However, what he found was people who were out with friends or family members.
They were window shopping, or sitting outside bars or restaurants, and there were even children playing in parks.
[Whostolemyduck (Earth): Are we sure this is a terrorist base? I mean, kids are playing in a park.]
[Lizziethetruepower (Palaxia): I'm starting to doubt that myself now.]
[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): Well, considering the fact that we're even asking that, proves how well hidden it is.]
[Lizziethetruepower (Palaxia): I'm still doubtful.]
[LadyErkath (Aqua Primus): It could always be what we originally thought, that this is just the home of a terrorist and that all these people either work for her or are family members of those who work for her.]
"So much for my original plan," Adam said with a sigh as he looked at the children playing in the park.
[OfficialLorelie (Spector): Plan? What plan, babe?]
"If this really did turn out to be one of their bases, I planned to overload the atmospheric generator," Adam replied as he turned away from the children and continued walking.