Staying On Elden Prime

As the meeting adjourned, the holograms of the admirals disappeared one by one. Only Conners and Dessel, who had attended in person, lingered in the room.

Conners, buoyed by his recent victory, wore his usual smug grin. "Well, it must have been a hard day for you, Rear Admiral Shedd. I truly appreciate all your hard work on Voidstar No. 1."

Dessel rolled his eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn't stick.

He'd always known Conners was a snake, but his audacity today was remarkable.

Lyra inclined her head slightly. "You're too kind."

Conners, eager to twist the knife, pressed on. "I must thank you—not just for defeating those ruthless space pirates and securing Voidstar No. 1, but for building such a strong foundation there. Thanks to your efforts, I can enjoy all the rewards with ease."

If he expected her to lash out, he was sorely mistaken.