[ WP ] Your ship comes across the aftermath of an utterly devastating space battle . You are tasked with finding out what happened .

`` What is it Fornax?'' Andromeda said gently as I stared out of the observation deck of our makeshift runner ship. She gently placed a hand on my shoulder and I turned to face her. She definitely looked nothing like the girl I met at The Academy all those years ago, but then again, I certainly did n't either. Years, of salvaging and smuggling had taken their toll on us as was evidenced by the deep, sadness that now always seemed to linger in her eyes. 
 
 `` Fornax?'' She repeated, stepping closer now and running her gloved hand down my face, bringing me out of my trance. `` It's nothing I replied taking her hand, just lost in thought.'' I replied with a half smile. `` You were just staring out of the bridge, I thought something was wrong.'' She said, her expression growing distant and worried. I shook my head and turned away, walking to the captain's chair and sitting down. I turned back to her and raised my hands in exasperation `` We just do n't have the money to keep our operation running without a good find.'' 
 
 `` I'm sure we will, just have faith.'' She said as she sat down in one of the other seats in the dirty bridge. Smiling at her optimism I sank back in the chair for a moment before a signal came up from the lower deck. Andromeda looked at me with a look of `` I told you so'' that she gave me more than I'd like before she put the transmission through. 
 
 The transmission came through, distorted by the low quality of our crews equipment. `` Hey Fornax it's Corvus,'' The transmitter crackled in protest but left Corvus' voice full of excitement nonetheless. `` What is it?'' I asked. `` We got something! Something big!'' He practically shouted. For the first time in months I was genuinely excited, I quickly got up and practically dragged Andromeda into the lift with me. 
 
 `` What did I tell you?'' she said as she placed a loving hand on my shoulder. `` Well we still do n't know anything yet.'' I told her as the lift doors opened and we stepped into the even more cluttered Engineering Deck. Before we took two steps, Corvus was on top of us, frantically talking and pointing toward his scanners. His manic attitude suited the young man's messy appearance. I calmed him as best I could but he led us over to his find still talking a mile and minute. 
 
 `` Well I picked up the first signals this morning, on the UNESFEC communications broadband'' He sputtered as he threw his body into his chair and began typing. `` It sounded like a big engagement or something, they lost a bunch of ships.'' Andromeda and I exchanged looks of concern before Andromeda lightly spoke up, `` Corvus... I know you were n't at the Academy as long as us... but UNESFEC does n't just leave their ships for junk runners''. 
 
 Corvus grabbed her arm and pointed at the glowing green monitor, `` But see, they gave an order to vacate the area!'' He said getting more excited by the second. `` Plus the Rebellion has n't given orders for their search crews to move in either!'' Andromeda looked to Corvus and then up at me `` Why would they do that?'' 
 
 As she asked, a door swung open and Pyxis, the youngest member of our crew came out with a holographic tablet. `` It's simple really'' she spoke in a voice I would have thought a girls if I did n't know better, `` They fought to a stalemate, and both sides had to retreat, so they left the wreckage.'' She grinned, proud of her intuition. 
 
 `` Still that does n't make sense!'' Andromeda insisted while turning to face me. `` You know that! We took the same classes together, UNESFEC protocol states that a fleet may never level a ships wreckage in a battle-space!'' I put my arm around her lovingly but I knew we'd never be able to get a score like this again. `` I know'' I reassured her `` But if they're right, we'd be set for a long time. Besides we only have 3 days of fuel left; we do n't have a choice'' 
 
 She pushed away from me obviously upset but she nodded in understanding, this was our only shot. I turned back to the others and tried to put the authority back into my voice. `` Corvus, can you isolate the coordinates of those wrecks?'' He nodded excitedly and began sending the data to our computers. I turned to Pyxis, `` Pyxis, how long will it take you to get the engines ready for a Warp Jump?'' The teenager in her came out when she smiled and pulled on the straps on her oil covered mechanic jumpsuit, `` It's already done.'' She told us. 
 
 Andromeda and I turned and headed for the bridge and told the others to get ready. We were going to do this quickly and make off like Millionaires. Once we Strapped ourselves in, the new Warp Engine got us to the skeletal remains of the fleet in minutes. 
 
 The wreckage was extensive. There must have been at least a hundred ships floating aimlessly in the void. Andromeda squeezed my hand and looked into my eyes, grinning and said, `` Fornax... We're going to be rich.'' I grinned back, ecstatic beyond belief, `` We do n't have to do this anymore. We can have a real life together.'' I replied, much to her delight. 
 
 We left Corvus in control of the ship while Pyxis, Andromeda, and I took the ships heavy exo-suits into the wasteland. The first ship we entered was a massive Saturn Class Battleship. Or half of one at least. Cautiously we made our way through the dark hallways full of floating metal and bodies to the engine room. Once inside Andromeda and I attempted to access the ships computer system while Pyxis searched the room for parts to sell. 
 
 After precious minutes ticked by with no progress on the computer I floated to Pyxis who was raptly studying the ships engine core. `` What's going on?'' I questioned her. She looked at me with wide eyes, `` Do you know what this is Fornax?'' She replied. `` No, you're the Engineer for a reason'' I told her. `` Well this is a Pulse Drive Engine. It's worth A LOT on the black market.'' 
 
 `` How much?'' I inquired, waiting anxiously for her response. `` In this condition'' she said while wiping the moisture off her visor, `` At least a few Billion Dollars, maybe even Trillions.'' My heart went to my throat when she said those words. `` Did you say a Trillion?'' She grinned like a kid on Christmas, `` Yep, and we're lucky, They must have really been in trouble to leave this kind of equipment lying around.'' 
 
 Andromeda pulled herself across the massive engine room to us. `` The computers a lost cause,'' she informed us. `` What's going on here?'' Still speechless I gestured to Pyxis who spoke up. `` UNESFEC left us a trillion dollar present.'' Andromeda did n't respond immediately, she floated in shock before breaking down into tears and hugging first me and then Pyxis. 
 
 It took a long time for us to get the massive 100 ton reactor out of the twisting maze of metal but the 0 g made it possible at least. Corvus was happy beyond words when we gave him the reactor to put on board before heading back out into the ship graveyard. 
 
 However it was n't until our twelve trip into the destroyed fleet while entering a Destroyer that I noticed something was off. `` Hey have you guys noticed that?'' I asked the team. `` Noticed what?'' Andromeda replied, still giddy from our finds. `` The ships,'' I said, `` All of these ships are UNESFEC, there's not a single Rebel ship here... Look around next time we go outside.'' It suddenly became very clear that something was very wrong. `` This is our last trip.'' I decided, suddenly feeling very apprehensive about our situation. 
 
 Again we found a reactor, perfectly preserved, still attached to its core. Pyxis went to work on removing the reactor and this Andromeda and I decided to have another try with the computers. This time the computer blinked to life, displaying the Eagle and swords logo of UNESFEC. All the files were wiped except for one flashing intensely on the screen labelled `` CAPTAINS REPORT''. We opened it, scared as to what it might contain. The entries though did n't make much sense. 
 
 April 30-2117 
 The fleet received a distress call in a strange language today. The symbols suggested it might be Arabic or Hindu but Arabic is extinct and the Hindu is n't used by this quadrants fleet at all. We took 104 ships to investigate possible rebel activity. 
 
 May 3-2117 
 Arrived at the source of the transmission. Nothing was here but space we plan to search the local clusters. 
 
 May 4-2117 
 A strange signal has been jamming many fleet electronics and messing with the computer systems, we are investigating the disturbances now. 
 
 Finally the last message cut off half way through, `` Probably happened when the ship broke up.'' Andromeda murmured. 
 May 6-2117 
 We engaged the enemy in combat this morning, Nothing we have can even scratch it. All our engine cores have gone offline as well as many computers. We are being torn to pieces. The enemy ship is very clearly not { END RECORDING } 
 
 `` What the Hell?'' I whispered as I stared at the text trying to comprehend it in my mind. Andromeda seemed to arrive at a conclusion before I did `` The ships! They're torn to pieces!'' She glared at me terrified, `` No Rebel fleet could do that to this fleet with no casualties.'' Her breathing accelerated to a panicked pace. I looked back to her and finished her thought. `` Plus there was no ballistics damage or carbon scoring on the hulls...'' 
 
 `` Corvus! Scan the system for any electromagnetic signals!'' I practically screamed, my voice cracking. `` What? Why?'' He replied, obviously confused. `` Just do it!'' I ordered. I heard him pounding on his keyboard before he spoke to himself, `` No... No that ca n't be right...'' 
 
 `` What is it!?'' I demanded frantically. `` I'm picking up a ship Fornax'' he responded, `` But it's big as at least 10 of the biggest Carriers combined, and it's not listed on any human systems databases.'' I locked eyes with Andromeda and we knew. Her breath got even faster and more labored and I frantically pushed my way to a porthole and looked out and saw it. 
 
 It was a massive silhouette of a big black ship, bigger than anything I'd ever seen. 
 
 `` Oh my God'' 
 

