Bk 2 - Chapter 1

What should have been an easy route to Cali had turned into a rest period. The jump drive remained offline, Kerry's orders. After our escape, my surgery and my slow healing the next jump we tried had me convulsing on the floor. It was enough to convince us all that conventional FTL was our only option, despite adding weeks to our journey and my overall recovery.

We were still three days out from our destination and Cali's expert medical facilities. The routine was simple: me resting, Kerry and Doli fussing over my neural readings, and the guys arguing over who took the command chair.

"Your neural inflammation is decreasing," Kerry had informed me that morning, reviewing my latest scan. "But the damage to your integration centers is still significant. "I have been talking with Dr. Chen though and they are happy with your progress."

It took me another week of this hovering around me to get them to let me sit in the command chair with Doli while they rested. Now I got a few precious hours alone, well, with Doli, sat in command of my ship.

My ship.

LEADERSHIP EMERGENCE ASSESSMENT:

Command Authority: 67% ↑ [ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY]

Strategic Vision: 84% ↑ [SEEING BEYOND SURVIVAL]

Team Trust Index: 91% [CREW FOLLOWING HIS LEAD]

Trait Unlocked: Wounded Command Authority [78%]

Trigger: Ship ownership acceptance + team coordination during medical restrictions

Function: Maintains tactical effectiveness despite physical limitations

Risk: Overextension could trigger neural cascade; delegation essential

Now, on the rare occasion that we all sat in the CIC talking instead of our different shifts, the communications array pinged softly.

Doli was the first to respond. "Unexpected," she said. "It's an Academy signature. "

I looked up from the diagnostics I'd been reviewing, exchanged a wary glance with Kerry, and then looked to Rob.

He went over the details from the command chair. "One we haven't used since..." He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to.

Sylvk moved from his position near the viewport, his posture tensing visibly. "Definitely a trap. The Brakers have well cracked Academy encryption protocols, that's how they ambushed us in the first place."

"It's Chezek's encryption," Doli confirmed, her voice tightening. "The same one he gave the Brakes... that got Ashley killed."

My jaw clenched. "Let it through, Rob." At his questioning look, I added, "I want to hear what lies the bastard is selling now."

"Setting up countermeasures," Nexus interjected, moving to a secondary console. "Deploying false location protocols and initiating trace-resistant buffers."

"Full screen lockdown?" Rob asked.

I nodded. "No data in or out. Audio only from us."

The viewscreen flickered to life, revealing LTC Chezek's weathered face. He looked tired but resolute. The background behind him showed what appeared to be a different office than the one he'd occupied at the Academy.

"Argassa," he said, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of me. "You look... better than expected."

I felt Doli's presence in my mind strengthen, a protective response as my heart rate increased. The neural integration might be damaged, but our connection remained, something the Brakers would and did kill for.

I kept my expression neutral, betraying nothing. "Lieutenant Colonel Chezek, what do we owe the pleasure for?"

If he was surprised by my tone, he didn't show it. "This transmission is brief by necessity. I wanted you to know—" He glanced off-screen momentarily. "Admiral Kuba and I successfully exposed General Torven. He's been taken into custody, along with seventeen other Braker operatives who had infiltrated the Academy."

<<Analyzing vocal patterns,>> Doli sent through our link. <<Stress indicators present. He's either lying or under duress.>>

<<Track the transmission source,>> I replied silently. <<Let's see where this snake is really hiding.>>

Out loud, I kept my voice even. "And why would Admiral Kuba work with you? Last I checked, you were the one who set us up."

Behind Chezek, I caught a glimpse of a status board with astrogation data. Rob saw it too—his fingers were already moving discreetly across his console, capturing and enhancing the background image.

Chezek's expression shifted minutely. "The situation was... complicated. Admiral Kuba understands that now. My position allowed me to gather intel that ultimately helped expose the full extent of Braker infiltration."

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"A double agent," Rob said, his tone making it clear he wasn't buying it. "How convenient."

"The Admiral is well?" I asked, watching Chezek's face carefully for any tells.

"As well as can be expected," Chezek replied, his tone softening slightly. "He's... grieving. We all are. But he's channeled that grief into action. Academy operations are under his direct command now."

<<His pupil dilation changed when mentioning the Admiral,>> Nexus noted through the ship's secure channel. <<Inconsistent with standard truthful patterns.>>

"What about the Brakers?" Kerry asked, stepping into view deliberately. "Are they still hunting us?"

Chezek's expression hardened. "That's why I'm contacting you. There's been a significant shift in the political landscape. The Brakers have withdrawn all forces from the western territories of Sol. Completely pulled back to their core systems."

"That's... convenient," I commented, my disbelief evident.

"Just strategic," Chezek countered. "They're consolidating. With Doli's architecture—"

"Which you helped them steal," I interrupted coldly.

Chezek paused, then nodded. "A limited version without the full ethical framework integration."

"And they have her physical body," Sylvk stated, watching for a reaction.

"Yes," Chezek confirmed. "And losing Nexus was a significant blow to their operations. Our intelligence suggests they're focusing all resources on merging these technologies, trying to develop something new."

<<Transmission origin traced,>> Doli reported silently. <<Not Academy headquarters. Signal is routing through three different relays, but source appears to be in Braker-controlled space.>>

I kept my face impassive, not wanting to give away that we'd tracked him. "So why contact us now? To ease your conscience?"

"This withdrawal creates an opportunity," Chezek continued, ignoring my jab. "The eastern sectors are open. The Krays have been reaching out, seeking new trade partners now that the Brakers have abandoned their outposts."

I glanced at Rob, whose expression remained carefully neutral, though I could see his mind working behind his eyes.

"The Krays have resources we could use," Chezek added. "Medical technology, specialized components..."

"And you're telling us this out of the goodness of your heart?" Kerry asked, skepticism evident.

"The Academy can't officially sanction any operations in that region, not yet. But if independent operators were to establish relationships..." He left the implication hanging.

"You're suggesting we become unofficial ambassadors," I said flatly. "Right into territory the Brakers want us to explore."

Chezek's expression remained neutral. "I'm merely sharing information about political developments that might be relevant to civilians operating a private vessel in neutral space."

"And I suppose you're also just sharing information when you tell us that these 'independent operators' might find support at certain outposts?" I asked, deliberately leaving the question open-ended to see what he'd volunteer.

"Exactly," Chezek said, a hint of something like relief crossing his features. "One more thing. The Cali system has been designated as neutral territory in all this. A medical sanctuary. Both the Coalition and even the Brakers have agreed to honor this designation."

I carefully kept my eyes from darting to our navigation display, which showed our false Port Wells destination. Let him think we were heading somewhere else entirely.

"That's reassuring," I lied smoothly. "Anything else we should know?"

"The Admiral wanted you to know that... Hope isn't foolish. Even against impossible odds."

My throat tightened despite trying to control myself. Using Ashley's father to manipulate me was low, even for Chezek.

"I'll keep that in mind," I said coldly.

Chezek nodded. "I need to terminate this transmission. Security protocols." He paused, then added, "Be careful out there. The universe is reshaping itself, and no one knows what new forms will emerge."

The screen went dark, leaving us in silence, broken only by Doli's soft, pretend breathing.

"Well," Rob said finally, his voice tight with anger. "That was informative, in all the wrong ways."

"He's still with them," Kerry stated, not a question.

"Definitely," Sylvk confirmed. "The transmission originated from a Braker facility in the Torus sector. And the navigation board behind him showed patrol patterns around Port Wells."

I allowed myself a grim smile. "So he took the bait. He still thinks we're heading to Port Wells."

"Which means they'll focus their search efforts in completely the wrong direction," Rob said, satisfaction creeping into his voice. "Buying us valuable time."

I leaned back in my chair, mind racing. "He wants us to go east. Which means that's exactly where we shouldn't go."

"Or it's reverse psychology," Rob suggested. "They tell us to go east expecting we'll go west instead."

"The real question is what they're trying to accomplish," Sylvk said. "Why direct us away from Port Wells, which they think is our destination? What's there that they don't want us to find?"

Kerry frowned thoughtfully. "Or what's not there? Maybe they've set a trap at Port Wells, thinking we're heading that way."

"All the more reason to continue to Cali as planned," I said. "But with extreme caution."

"He told us Cali is safe when Nexus detected Braker signatures in the system," Sylvk said. "That means we need to move, and soon."

I nodded, turning to look out the viewport at the distant stars. "We need to finish what we came to Cali to do—meet with Dr. Chen, complete my treatments. But we accelerate the timeline and stay on high alert."

"And then?" Kerry asked.

I turned back to face them, a new determination flowing through me. "Then we go dark. No registered flight plans, no predictable routes."

Kerry frowned. "Your neural pathways can't handle a jump integration yet. Without that, traditional routes into the Deep Dark would take months."

"Then we use the time to heal," I said firmly. "Dr. Chen's neural regeneration protocols are supposed to be revolutionary. If anyone can repair the damage and get me back to full integration capacity, it's him."

"And it gives us time to figure out Chezek's game," Sylvk added. "Why send us east? What's in it for the Brakers?"

I nodded. "Something doesn't add up. The Brakers don't just 'withdraw' from territories they've fought to control. And they certainly don't share intelligence out of kindness."

"Unless it's not intelligence at all," Kerry suggested. "But misinformation."

"Or a trap," Rob added.

<<Or a test,>> Doli's thought brushed against my mind. <<To see what we'll do with the information. Where we'll go. How we'll react.>>

"Whatever it is," I said firmly, "we're not playing by their rules. We chart our own course."

I pulled up the star map on the main display, highlighting the Deep Dark regions we'd discussed previously. "We follow our original plan. The uncharted sectors give us the best chance to stay off their radar while we build our strength."

I zoomed in on a particular region of the map. "Makers Point," Sylvk said, going over the plan he'd told me. "Then the Flairon Stations, and finally the mining colonies in the Vesta Belt."

"The Deep Dark," Rob suggested. "It's the last place the Brakers would look for us, especially if they're focused on Port Wells and the eastern territories."

"Exactly," I confirmed. "Which means I need to be able to handle jump integration again," I added, acknowledging what everyone was thinking. "Without it, we're limited to conventional shipping lanes—predictable, traceable."

<<Your neural architecture shows persistent damage patterns,>> Doli observed privately. <<But Cali's regenerative protocols have successfully treated similar injuries. Full restoration is possible.>>

"All the more reason to get to Dr. Chen quickly," Kerry said. "And to stay alert while we're in the Cali system. If Chezek lied about it being a safe zone..."

"Then nowhere is truly safe," Sylvk finished grimly.

"Misdirection," Sylvk nodded approvingly. "Give them a false trail to follow while we pursue our actual objective."

"That's the plan," I said. "Unless anyone has a better idea?"

I looked around at their faces, my crew, my family, and saw the same resolve reflected back at me.

"Then let's push our engines. The sooner we get to Cali, the sooner we can disappear."

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