[center][h2][b]The Indomitus[/b][/h2][/center]
[hr]
The last of the fires guttered out along the battered hull of the Shrike, venting slowly into the void.

Tractor beams engaged in measured sequence, drawing the crippled frigate into a slow drift beneath the looming mass of the [i]Indomitus[/i]. Across the lance’s tactical displays, hostile signatures winked out one by one. Those that remained burned hard for the system’s edge.

No pursuit was ordered.

Lucia stood a short distance from the central command pit, watching the tactical projection settle as Captain Ganishka managed the fleet. To her right, Prince Cassian had not risen during the engagement. He observed the shrinking battlespace with the air of a man watching an overly long performance, one gloved finger idly tracing the rim of his command armrest.

“Boarding action has concluded, your highness.” Lucia reported, scanning the information scrolling along her console. “One surviving crew member detained. The vessel is under Imperial control.”

Lucia allowed herself a satisfied smile. At least one problem had resolved cleanly.

“Well,” the prince said, clapping his hands together as he rose from his seat. “If that is the extent of all this, then I trust we may return to more productive matters.”

Lucia turned toward him, her expression composed but not unfriendly.

“With your leave, Highness,” she said, “I would like to convene senior staff within the hour. There were a few irregularities in the engagement that merit review before we make planetfall.”

Cassian regarded her for a moment, as though deciding whether this counted as diligence or unnecessary ceremony.

“Very well. An hour, then. Let us ensure our triumph remains suitably presentable.” He glanced around the bridge, seemingly less interested now that the fighting had wound down. “Just remember that this was a detour from our arrival at Praxion. Make sure that the lance is sufficiently well-prepared to meet with the governor.” 

Cassian paused, a slight frown as he glanced towards the back of the Captain. 

“All of them, Lucia. It won’t do to make a bad first impression.”

Lucia nodded, turning her head towards the lance’s acting captain as the prince left the bridge.

Make a former pirate presentable for a governor’s estate? 

Lucia sighed.

Thank the throne that she only ever received the [i]easy[/i] tasks.
[hr]
By the time Prince Cassian arrived, Lucia had already begun the debrief.

The conference chamber aboard the [i]Indomitus[/i] was austere by design: a steel table, recessed lighting, and a single holographic projector suspended above the center of the room. Tactical data hovered in translucent layers above the table, highlighting the outcome of the battle and critical damage reports.

Lucia paused mid-sentence as the door slid open.

She glanced briefly toward the chronometer mounted on the far wall before inclining her head in a restrained bow. Prince Cassian dismissed the gesture with an impatient wave as he stepped inside, his cloak settling behind him.

“Please,” he said. “Continue.”

Lucia did.

“Overall, CIC considers the mission a success,” she said, her tone calm and even. “All primary objectives were achieved, and friendly losses were minimal. Thanks to Mr. Hartwig’s efforts, both the [i]Percheron[/i] and the [i]Guildcrest Venture[/i] remain voidworthy. Their captains have agreed to accompany us to Praxion, where the [i]Indomitus[/i] will escort them for the remainder of their journey.”

The projection shifted. A damaged frigate rotated slowly above the table, its hull marked with glowing bands of crimson. 

“The pirate vessel [i]Shrike[/i], however, sustained extensive structural damage. Repairs will require drydock facilities. Our hangar facilities aren’t currently equipped to handle a ship of that displacement, though the bays could be upgraded if command decided the vessel was worth the effort.”

She paused briefly.

“For the moment, the Percheron has offered to tow the frigate. Assuming the hull is stable, we have two practical options: refit the ship for Imperial service… or sell it for salvage.”

Lucia touched the edge of her tablet and the hologram shifted again, displaying combat telemetry from the lance’s cores.

“Looking at the lance’s performance during the engagement: Lieutenant Dvalin and Sir Marcellus performed admirably when engaging the enemy. Their efforts drew significant attention from the enemy cores and gave the rest of the lance the freedom to maneuver.”

“In particular, Lady Tanne was able to screen the [i]Indomitus[/i] throughout the engagement, while also providing us useful information through a communications intercept.”

Lucia paused then, her gaze lingering on the data scrolling across the projection. Something about those transmissions had bothered her since the battle ended.

“We’re still working through the intercepted traffic,” she said, “but what we’ve decrypted so far suggests that part of the pirate force was focused on acquiring a specific piece of cargo from the [i]Guildcrest Venture[/i].” The projection dimmed slightly as new data scrolled into view.

“As far as we can tell, they succeeded before withdrawing from the battlespace.” A faint tightening appeared at the corner of Lucia’s mouth. “The item in question does not appear on the Venture’s registered manifest.”

Delivering incomplete intelligence was never pleasant. Part of Lucia’s role was to provide the lance with actionable information. But in this case? She was forced to deliver the team with a heaping pile of nothing.

“We’re hoping that some of the survivors that Commander Volger and Onyx-9 captured during their boarding operations may provide more clarity on the pirates’ true goals.”

Pausing, Lucia next turned her attention to the most senior member of the lance’s pilots.

“Baron Wilhelm.”

Her tone remained calm, though her tone had become sterner.

“Your combat performance during the engagement was exemplary.” She gestured briefly toward the telemetry still hovering in the air. “However, your biometric monitors recorded several readings outside acceptable safety parameters.”

A pair of small graphs appeared beside the Baron’s combat data.

“It is the recommendation of both myself and the [i]Indomitus[/i]’ medical staff that you reduce sustained neural load during extended engagements,” Lucia said. “Your performance was exemplary, Baron, but the margins involved were unnecessarily narrow.”

Dimming the projection as she glanced around the room, Lucia brought her debriefing to a close. “Those are the primary conclusions from CIC’s analysis of the battle. If there are any questions or additional observations, now would be the appropriate time.”