"Imperatrix."

"Eliese." She slightly inclines her head in acknowledgement. "And... visitor."

"My usual name is Acererak."

"Acererak, then. Which of you accomplished this?" She gestures at the featureless glass plain.

"You don't want to guess?"

A slow blink on a smooth face. "Rather, I wish to see if you will be truthful with me."

"I don't kill and tell."

"Hmm." Her gaze swings to Eliese.

"It was me."

She frowns, glancing at Eliese out of the side of her eyes then back to the Imperatrix. "You're not trying to intimidate my friend, are you?"

"She doesn't have to try..." Eliese mutters.

Acererak's stance is of someone who is thoroughly confident she's the most terrifying in the room.

"What do you want."

The Imperatrix is entirely unconcerned by whatever Acererak is implicitly conveying. She focuses on Eliese.

"Your instructions were to neutralize the Whitespawned on this planet so its people and position might be fully exploited. Instead, you have eliminated terrestrial life and existing economic investment. Why?"

"Because I'm done. Consider this my resignation from your army."

"You have heretofore been an effective agent. Is there no compromise you are willing to accept?"

A whisper, in Eliese's ear: "You do not have to compromise. We can leave this world fairly trivially. If she escalates and turns out significantly more powerful than me..." A pause, then another whisper: "I'm impossible to permanently kill and can resurrect arbitrary people. And I can make even the powerful regret annoying me."

A pause, and - "You have choices here. I will hear your return messages; focus on the intent to send it to me."

"I think you're underestimating her power level," Eliese replies.

"I won't cause trouble for you that you'd rather not court," she says after a small pause.

"...What kind of compromise?" she asks the Imperatrix.

"If the army is no longer to your liking, our academy is always in need of teachers. Your experience would be invaluable for the younger generations." She pauses. "Perhaps after a leave of absence. I can spare you a decade or two, if you agree to return at the end."

Acererak stays silent. (A lot can change, in a decade or two...)

"That seems too easy."

"You are worth it. As this demonstrates."

"Fine. Accepted."

"Very well." She nods. "You know where to find me." And in another flash of darkness, she vanishes.