“Mission failed,” the message kept blinking in bright red bloomed text. It must’ve been hours since she fell asleep in the cargo hold after taking a break from mapping systems with scans.

“Commander, you have an urgent correspondence to review,” whispered what would sound like a small child, as holograms begin projecting a young teenager donned in early 21st century fashions. Shimmers in the projection start uncovering details from top to bottom in a gray mono color: long, loosely tied up hair, small pupils, and a soft face atop a slender frame wearing a t-shirt, overalls, with boots. Her appearance emits a faint glow about the cargo hold. Revealed is a mess with random articles of alloys, weapons, circuit boards, wirings, batteries, and coils. The most prominent item in the room is an escape pod, opened, which lay the woman this figure whispers to, “Commander.” She leans in closer to the woman’s ear, “Commander?”

The image’s commander stirred, awakening. Dark brown hair lay frizzled and untied, caught up in the visor upon her face. The visor doesn’t hide her grotesque scar over her left eye. It stretches from her forehead to her cheek. Her attire was lazily addressed; a black robe hiding her built frame. The red blinking notification hurt her eyes as she opened them. Removing the visor, revealing her right brown eye and left cybernetic eye, she scoffed. Pinning the peripheral to her hair like sunglasses, she wiped drool from her mouth and checked her watch, noticing the message and who it's from. “The Legion?” she questioned, in disbelief, furrowing her brows.

She stumbled out of the escape pod, rolling out and hitting the deck back first. “I’d offer you a hand, but you know,” joked the long-haired one. “Ha. Ha. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Tell you what?” said a raspy voice from inside the escape pod. The Commander’s eyes widened, and the gray projection stood still, both staring at the escape pod’s opening. A gentle feminine hand with black nail polish came from the shadows within the pod, but before they could climb out the Commander slammed her hand down on the pod’s hatch controls. The hatch slammed shut and the hand retreated into the pod. From inside, muffled screaming and profanities are directed to one Tish Arnesen.

A deep sigh from Tish, as she sits against the pod, looking up at her intangible companion. “Juliet, prepare the Wolf,” she clamors, “we may be summoned.” The AI projection nodded and disappeared, as the cockpit blast doors slid open. Dim red lighting, the console panels, and the ship’s HUD now lit up the cockpit, as Juliet started reporting system statuses. “Power Core. Online. Thrusters. Online. Frame Shift Drive. Online.”

Disregarding the system checks, Tish pulled herself to her feet, disrobing in front of the now violently shaking pod. She’d pay closer attention to the systems checks, but Juliet is programmed to really get one’s attention should a problem arise. Throwing the article into a closet compartment between the cargo hold and the cockpit, Tish reached for her flight suit. Grabbing her black Remlock Suit and zipping up she smirks at the escape pod. “Crazy,” she giggles to herself, wondering what the local Administrative Contact will pay for the bounty. “You’ll never bother Landstrider miners again, cur.”

Loosely pinning up her hair, she stepped into the cockpit and took the helm, reviewing the transmission from the Legion. She rested her wrist on the throttle and leaned onto her right elbow, staring at the Inbox Panel.

<\…DATA_AUTHENTIFICATION_COMPLETE
…
<\…DECRYPTING_FILE

Landstrider Legion, Division of Intake & Recruitment

Greetings, Commander. This is a Landstrider Legion transmission

Your Dossier has been reviewed and your application has been accepted. Your assignment is the Phalanx Division Wing and your designation is Gladiator 108. You are to report to your Commanding Officer, Witagfrey [Imperator 04], ASAP. Their long-range communication frequency is attached. Also, you will find the local Laws and Regulations within the Landstrider Legion. There is a disclaimer to this position. Let it be known that your history with the Empire and Federation has been noted and while we are an Independent outfit, the Legion will not tolerate disobedience.

Welcome to the Landstrider Legion

This message will expire in 29 days

<\…END_FILE

“Juliet, transmit a reply,” Tish immediately barks after reading it over. After beginning the transmission for Tish, she resumed her duties silently preparing the Sidewinder, also known as [0000] Asteroid-Wolf-1. The power harmonized, then began favoring the Engines. Orbital correction kicked in, sending the ship into a slow orbit around Fomalhaut 5, the Class II gas giant. Juliet ended all preparations, as soon as Tish began speaking.

<\…DATA_AUTHENTIFICATION_COMPLETE
…
<\…DECRYPTING_FILE

Commander Arnesen

Salutations, Imperator Witagfrey.

I have received a transmission from the Legion, placing me in the Phalanx Division and have received the designation Gladiator 108. I wanted to take this opportunity to inform you that I am not the same individual you read about in my file. The mistake made will not be repeated. Thank you for this opportunity. My current location is in the Fomalhaut system, collecting astrological data for an Engineer by the name of Felicity Farseer with promise of module modification training. I await your orders as I continue my endeavors to develop my ship to better serve the Legion.

This message will expire in 29 days

<\…END_FILE

“Well, let’s get back to making money and pleasing Miss Farseer, Juliet. We’re in desperate need of a new Power Plant,” Tish exhaled, moving a strand of hair from her face. Placing her right hand on the stick and her left hand on the throttle, she slowly ignited her impulse thrusters to maximum. “Juliet?”

“Yes, Commander?”

“Jettison all cargo.”