"I'm not sure which I'm more surprised about, that Diva Lorelie actually plucked up the courage to go out on a date with Adam, or that someone attempted to steal his ship," Victoria replied after hearing the story.
"Do you think it was the same people who orchestrated the incident on the homeworld?" Tessa asked.
"Unknown," Victoria replied before explaining. "While my Ororis family is still investigating the traitors within the imperial family, they have discovered the identity of the one in the TISF who placed the bounty on Adam and ordered the TISF to attack his ship."
"Who?" Tessa asked as Becky, for the first time, turned away from Adam's stream to pay attention to Victoria's next words.
"Admiral Dexter."
"Who?" Tessa asked curiously as Becky also showed a confused look.
"I'm not surprised you haven't heard of him. Few people know of him even within the imperial family. He is in charge of the TISF's ghost fleet."
"The what fleet?"
Victoria sighed before saying, "What I am about to tell you can never be repeated to anyone, do you understand?"
"Yes, mother."
"Of course, Aunt."
"The ghost fleet does not officially exist. Only a handful of people within the imperial family, the Terran council and TISF know of its existence. The ghost fleet is made up of military ships equipped with cloaking tech."
"But the Universal Senate law forbids it; only science ships can use cloaking tech," Tessa replied.
"Come now, daughter, think logically about this. Do you really believe that the other races and species in the galaxy don't have their own stealth fleets? Cloaking tech is way too powerful to be only used for scientific research."
"I see your point, so is this Admiral Dexter after Adam's ship because of the cloaking tech?"
"That doesn't add up." Becky interrupted before adding, "His ship was ambushed on the way to the homeworld, remember, he only revealed the cloaking tech at that point."
"Hmm, good point."
"I suspect that Admiral Dexter was originally interested in Adam's ship because of the rumours about how advanced it is. He used Adam's attack on the sky-towers to justify intercepting and trying to capture him and his ship. However, I suspect his interest only grew in it after learning that it also contains cloaking tech." Victoria explained.
"So what does the family plan to do?" Becky asked.
"Grandfather is preparing to send people to capture Admiral Dexter so that they can interrogate him and get him to reveal who within the imperial family is the traitor or traitors."
"I have a better idea," Tessa said after thinking for a moment.
"Oh, what do you have in mind, daughter?"
"We can use this information to heal some of the rift that has been created between our family and Adam."
"How?"
"We reveal this information to Adam and inform him of where to find Admiral Dexter. I believe that Adam will want to take care of the man personally."
"In doing so, Adam will be grateful that we have offered him this information," Victoria replied in understanding before asking, "But will he accept an offer from us?"
"Maybe not from the imperial family, but I think he will from Tessa Kirkmeld, after all, we have met before, and he knows I'm just a normal TISF lieutenant who happens to be his fan, all I have to do is ask him to try and extract the traitors' identities before he kills Admiral Dexter," Tessa replied.
"An interesting idea, do you think it will work?"
"If it doesn't, great-grandfather can just send people like originally planned."
Victoria thought for a moment before nodding and saying, "Agreed. Go inform Adam of this, and I will let grandfather know about the change in plans. Notify me as soon as he has made his decision."
"Yes, mother."
💫💫💫
"Look how that damn idiot's actions have allowed the fangs to turn the game around," Lorelie complained as she stood up and flung her hands into the air in annoyance at the fangs scoring yet another goal.
The Osis Fangs had truly capitalised on the five minutes that Murphy was not allowed back inside the water sphere. They had not only come from behind, but they were now well out in front in terms of points.
"It's still the first half, you told me that Water Sphere matches have two halves," Adam said in a consoling voice.
"That's true, I just hope that the Abes can perform as well as they did before that idiot was ejected," Lorelie said as she calmed down and returned to her seat on the sofa and leaning against Adam.
[Celebrityhunter69 (Earth): Diva Lorelie is a huge fan of this sport, isn't she.]
[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): Most aquatic races are, it is after all, one of the few sports that allow them to fully show off their mastery of movement in the water.]
[Tessisdabest (Imperial Down): Streamer, I have some information for you regarding who orchestrated the attack on you on Terrana Five.]
"Oh?" Adam said in surprise as he saw the message from Tessisdabest.
"Something wrong?" Lorelie asked.
"Tessisdabest, that TISF fan who I met at the Bounty Huter Guild back on Terrana Five says she has information regarding who attacked us."
"What does she say?"
"Are you sure you're ok with me getting the information from her now? I mean, we are on a date."
"It's fine, we can still watch the game, plus it's not like you can talk to her anytime since she can only speak to you when you're streaming. Also, I'm curious to know who ordered the attack on us." Lorelie replied as she pulled up the chat on her own uniband.
[OfficialRowena (Oceana 7): As am I.]
[Thewhitesoverign (Oceana 7): Me too.]
[OrangeeyedStace (Oceana 7): Same.]
[1000yearsofdeath (Earth): Oh damn, the girlfriends in the chat, are we going to see some fireworks since her boyfriend is on a date with another woman? Kekeke.]
[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): If that's what you're hoping for, I think you're in for disappointment.]
[Tessisdabest (Imperial Down): The one who ordered the TISF ships to attack you and also put the bounty on you was Admiral Dexter.]
[OfficialRowena (Oceana 7): The name doesn't ring a bell. Malacoss.]
[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): I also don't recognise it.]
[Tessisdabest (Imperial Down): We believe that Admiral Dexter used your attack on the Trillion Sky Towers as a front to try and claim your ship after hearing rumours about how advanced it was. The fact that you then used cloaking tech probably only increased his desire for the ship.]
"Do you know if it was him who hired the Noir Family to try and steal Spector?] Adam asked.
[Tessisdabest (Imperial Down): I don't know.]
[[I do.]]
"Spector?" Adam asked as Spector spoke up.
[[I have just completed my analysis of the Noir Family members ship and after scouring the records on both there unibands and the ships consoles, I have determined that the one who hired them was infact Director Drot of the Bounty Hunter Guild.]]
"So it was that guy again. Not only did he put a bounty on me that almost cost the life of Tephe, but he even wants to try and steal my ship." Adam said in an annoyed tone of voice.
[Prestigious3horns (Vinox 2): Wait, so the attack on Dragon Princess Tephe was really aimed at the streamer?]
[Thewhitesoverign (Oceana 7): Just Tephe.]
[Prestigious3horns (Vinox 2): Oh, my apologies.]
"So why are you telling me this instead of informing your higher-ups?" Adam asked.
[Tessisdabest (Imperial Down): I'm good, but I'm only a lieutenant. Do you really think I could find this shit out if they or the imperial family couldn't?]
"Good point, ok, so why are you telling me this then instead of those who discovered it?"
[Tessisdabest (Imperial Down): It was believed that if it came from someone connected to the imperial family, like Becky, that you wouldn't believe it or take much interest in it because of your aversion to them.]
[Beczontop (Imperial Down): 😭]
[Tessisdabest (Imperial Down): Becky and I are well known to be fans of your streams aboard the Imperial Down. I guess my superiors reported that fact, along with the fact that we met back in the Bounty Hunter Guild on Terrana Five, because I received a request from the imperial family to act as an intermediary. They wish to offer you this information as a way to make amends and only ask that you interrogate Admiral Dexter before killing him to try and ascertain who else was involved.]
"I see, so they're offering me this information as a goodwill gesture." Adam mused before asking suspiciously, "Why do they think anyone else is involved? I mean, Admiral is a very high-ranking position."
[Tessisdabest (Imperial Down): Unfortunately, I can't answer that while you're live on stream.]
[Beczontop (Imperial Down): I still have Lorelie's contact info from when she stayed here on Terrana Five. If you allow it, I can send the reason to her after the stream ends.]