Razors Edge: Sci Fi Progression

Nyx piloted the skiff into Ring-14, while Lev made some calls. Mobilizing the people he knew as fast as possible, there was only one thing he could do. Pay them, and pay them handsomely enough, and they'd drop or move contracts they had already signed.

Talia had been the hardest to pin down.

"I can't just leave," she'd said.

Lev sent over his offer.

Silence.

"I can't just leave, even for that."

"Since when did you have morals?"

It was clear she didn't want to give up her security job. But there was no one else he would trust with this.

"Tee," he said, his voice low. "What's coming will split Cali in two. We need you on this side."

"You and Alex were always trouble." She sighed, deeply. "Nothing you ever did wasn't."

The name of his brother stung, but he shook it off. "Tee…"

"Don't Tee me anymore," she'd said and cut the comms.

"Fuck," Lev cursed.

"Shall I contact her again for you?" Nyx asked.

Lev glanced at the AI and frowned. "No. She'll come around."

"You know her that well?"

"I did," he replied. "a long time ago, yes."

"You spent three years here?"

Lev nodded, "A long time ago, yes." His hand instinctively went to his scar. "Some of my best years were running the gauntlet that was the underground."

"And Talia?"

"She was fresh out of training, took to orders like a duck to water." Nyx guided the ship in for docking. "I shouldn't have left it so long to come back."

"But you were following orders, right? General Torven?"

"I was reassigned, yes, but not because of the General. When my brother died…. It was senseless. The other men died doing their duty. He died because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

The skiff's comms pinged. "No ID."

"Put it through."

"This is serious?" Talia asked.

"As serious as it gets," he paused. "You know, Rob and I wouldn't ask if it wasn't."

"You want the whole crew?"

Lev swallowed. "Every single one you can call in. Yes. Leave no one behind."

"It won't be cheap."

"Don't worry about the funds."

"That's som—"

"I said, don't worry. Getting Ring-14 in full swing is the priority, and we need guns. Lots of them. You and the crew have them."

"We'll be with you in an hour," she said, and once again cut the comms.

Lev smiled. "Fkin knew it."

"Within the hour?" Nyx cocked his head to one side. "That's not possible. Isn't she on Cali?"

"No," Lev said. "She already knew."

"But you didn't tell her anything? I don't follow."

"Nyx, show me what's really moving out there," Lev said, settling back in his seat. Something in Talia's voice had carried certainty beyond confidence.

The skiff's main display activated, showing a tactical overview of Cali's system. Immediately, Lev could see he'd underestimated everything.

CATEGORY DETAIL Braker C-Raiders 3 vessels Vector D-315 / Incl −0.4° (closing) Δv +12 m·s⁻² ETA Ring-14 Unknown Boarding SOP Likely – Data-lift Talia's Fleet 5 spec-ops ships / 200 personnel ETA 47 m Loadout Military-spec weapons & defense hardware Medical Haulers 8 ships / 200+ personnel ETA 1–6 h Cargo Trauma kits, neural labs Supply Runners 12 ships Support Capacity 1,000 personnel worth of supplies ETA Staggered (0–8 h) Supplies Food, water, life-support gear Crai Squadron 3 ships (probable ID) Mass Signature Heavy ETA 16 h δ-Wave Bursts Detected across 3 systems / 6 h duration Coordination Synchronised fleet deployment confirmed

"They're burning hard toward Ring-14. ETA Forty-seven minutes. "

"Forty-seven minutes? That's before I even called her."

"Correct. I'm also detecting massive δ-Wave communications bursts across three systems. Someone has been coordinating fleet movements for the past six hours."

Lev leaned forward, studying the display. The five ships had signatures suggesting modified military hulls, spec ops configurations. "What else?"

"Emergency supply runs launched from twelve different systems," Nyx continued, overlaying additional data streams. "Food, water, life support components. Estimated cargo: supplies for 1000+ people, thirty-day duration."

"A thousand people?"

"Dr. Chen has been extraordinarily busy while you were away," Nyx said. "I'm tracking medical personnel departures from seventeen different facilities across four systems. Conservative estimate: 200+ specialists also."

Lev's confusion gave way to a grin. The display showed a web of movement converging on their position—supply ships, personnel transports, what looked like an entire mobile medical facility. Lev had thought he was making desperate emergency calls. Instead, he'd apparently activated a sleeping military and medical empire.

"And Talia's network?"

"Her five ships carry approximately 200 personnel—combat specialists, technical experts, support staff. Equipment manifests suggest military-grade weapons and defensive systems worth approximately 50 million credits."

Lev felt something cold settle in his stomach. "And Dr. Chen's people?"

"Medical equipment worth an estimated 75 million credits. Advanced consciousness protection laboratories, trauma surgery suites, research facilities for 200+ specialists." Nyx paused. "Chief, based on current convergence patterns, Ring-14 is about to become the most significant medical and military installation in this sector."

"How long have they been planning this?"

"Unknown, but the coordination level suggests extensive preparation. Dr. Chen's medical network appears to have been positioned for rapid deployment. Talia's military assets were also staged at optimal intercept positions."

Lev stared at the tactical display, watching dozens of ships converging on Ring-14. He'd thought he was gambling everything on desperate measures. Instead, he'd discovered he was already commanding something that could challenge most opposition.

"Time to Ring-14?"

"Eighteen minutes. And Chief? I'm detecting approach signatures consistent with Captain Crai's fleet. Three ships, ETA approximately twenty hours. She's early."

"Then we'd better be ready." Lev studied the convergence pattern one more time. "Nyx, can Ring-14's infrastructure handle 1000+ people?"

RING-14 CORE STATUS

Value

Defense-Grid

92 % Δ+6 % / 10 min (Target ≥98 %)

Fusion-Cores

Nominal — Core-1 97 %, Core-2 98 %

Life-Support

241 % load (Fail @ 280 %)

Population

289 online → 1,050 incoming (+263 %)

Failure-Risk

12 % (drops to 7 % @ Grid ≥95 %)

"See the display."

"Brilliant. And Nyx?"

"Chief?"

"Chief, really?"

"What should your military status be?"

"I do'—"

"You'll be in command of this whole section," Nyx stated. "Master Chief has a ring to it, don't you think?"

Lev could only nod. "Start calculating what it means to operate a military and medical complex of this stature. Because apparently, that's what we're building."

"Already on it," Nyx said. "Full financial report is pooling now."

Lev brought up the projections and stared at the scale of it all. "We've got this, Alex."

Ring-14 hove into view minutes later, and he was ready, both emotionally and physically.

"Get us docked, we need to get the station ready for guests, a lot of guests."

"There's not enough of us." Nyx simply replied.

"There soon will be."

They had twenty-four hours until Captain Crai arrived. Not anymore. Now he had twenty hours to integrate a small military empire, complete the Manta-S, secure the station, and convince a pirate captain that honor mattered more than payment.

"Are you hooked up to the station's computers?"

They disembarked together. "Of course," Nyx replied.

"Then get to work, Lia gave us a head start with the statistics, you good with that?"

"Yes, Chief."

As they walked through Ring-14's corridors, Lev could already see the transformation beginning. Emergency construction crews were installing what looked like military-grade defensive positions. The medical bay had expanded into three adjacent sections. And everywhere, people moved with the focused urgency of professionals preparing for war.

Dr. Chen met them at the main hub, his usually calm demeanor replaced by barely contained excitement. Behind him, Derek stood with a tablet displaying ship schematics—the Manta-S and three other vessels Lev didn't recognize.

"Master Chief," Dr. Chen said, extending the tablet. "I may have... exceeded my initial authorization regarding resource allocation."

"Show me."

"We've spent 180 million credits in the past four hours," Derek said, highlighting completed projects. "Emergency life support expansion, defensive systems installation, and rapid deployment facilities for incoming personnel."

"That's more than we had?"

"I err spoke to some friends," he replied.

"You mean the friends who are on their way here, right now?"

Dr. Chen smiled. "Yes, Chief."

"So we still have funds?"

Dr. Chen was nodding, and Derek was grinning too.

"The Manta-S?" he asked.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"She'll be fully operational in eight hours," he confirmed. "But that's not the impressive part. Show him the other project."

Dr. Chen activated a holographic display showing three damaged hull signatures. "The Frost Enterprises contract—three damaged ships requiring restoration. We've mobilized every salvage operation in Cali's system to complete the work."

"Every salvage operation?"

"1,847 active processes," Nyx interjected. "I'm coordinating resource flows across the entire system. No one has ever attempted coordination at this scale."

"How?"

"You asked," Derek said. "The system's been waiting for this for a very long time."

"Waiting?"

"I spoke with Talia earlier," he replied. "She knew with you back in the system, there would be waves, waves they wanted to ride and to be honest so do we."

Lev studied the holographic display, seeing supply lines, personnel movements, and resource allocation flowing like a vast circulatory system centered on Ring-14. "What's the system-wide reaction?"

"Corporate intelligence operations are going insane," Derek said with satisfaction. "Coalition Navy is requesting explanations. Independent networks all want to know what we're building. And Braker Corporation has dispatched three response teams toward us."

"We're not hiding anymore," Dr. Chen added quietly. In twenty hours, Ring-14 becomes a regional power that either stands against Braker Corporation or falls to them. There's no middle ground here."

"Personnel status?"

"Current station population: 89. Incoming in the next six hours: 200 military specialists, 200 medical personnel, plus support staff. Total: approximately 750 people."

"And we can support them?"

"For 72 hours with emergency protocols," Dr. Chen replied. "After that, we need sustainable revenue streams or we collapse under our own operating costs."

Lev stared at the numbers. "What's our total asset value when this is complete?"

"Military hardware: 50 million credits. Medical equipment: 75 million credits. Station infrastructure: 20 million credits. Skilled personnel: 40 million credits." Derek paused. "Total operational value: 185 million credits."

"And Captain Crai is arriving to what she thinks is a small research station."

"She's going to be very surprised," Dr. Chen said with a slight smile.

Derek led them to the main engineering bay where the Manta-S sat in its repair cradle, surrounded by the controlled chaos of the bonded crew's restoration efforts. The ship looked different. No longer the battered hull they'd extracted from Merdan Shipping, but something approaching military specification.

"Matt's been interfaced for six hours straight," Derek reported, exhaustion evident in his voice despite the stimulants Dr. Chen had provided. "Neural load at 140% of safe parameters, but the ship's responding. Navigation core is online, life support stable, and we've got basic propulsion."

Lev studied the holographic display showing the Manta-S's systems. Yellow and red indicators had shifted to amber and green across critical functions, but the jump drive still pulsed angry red.

"Jump capability?"

"Another eight hours minimum. Maybe less if Matt can maintain interface coherence, but..." Derek's expression darkened. "Dr. Chen says he's approaching neural cascade threshold. We might lose him."

"Dr. Chen!" Lev called through the comm system. "Medical assessment on Matt?"

"Neural fatigue is approaching critical levels," he replied. "His brain activity suggest he's compensating for system failures through pure willpower alone. It's not sustainable beyond another few hours."

Lev felt the weight of command settle on his shoulders—the same pressure Peyton must feel when lives depended on impossible decisions. Keep Matt connected and risk killing him, or disconnect him and lose their only chance of getting the ship operational before Captain Crai arrived.

"Can I talk to him?"

"Direct communication only. His consciousness is too integrated with ship systems for physical conversation."

Lev activated the neural interface channel. "Matt, this is Lev. Can you hear me?"

The response came through the ship's speakers, Matt's voice carrying electronic harmonics. "I hear you, Chief. Systems are... challenging, but manageable."

"Derek says you're approaching neural cascade. We can disconnect you now, work on consciousness protection modifications."

"How long would that take?"

"Four hours total. Maybe five."

Matt's laugh carried static interference. "Captain Crai arrives in twenty hours. Without a continuous interface, this ship will be scrap metal in two. I can hold for another six hours, maybe eight if I'm careful."

"Matt, you could die. I can get Nyx to interface instead."

"Chief," Matt's voice grew steady, determined. "You need him doing things there. I've been dying slowly for six months, watching my neural patterns degrade while I kept my friends alive. These people gave us our freedom. If I can give them a ship that's worthy of that gift... that's not dying. That's finally living."

Lev felt something tighten in his chest. "You sure about this?"

"I've never been more sure of anything. Just... if something goes wrong, tell the crew I chose this. No one forced me. I chose to be free."

***

Two hours later, emergency klaxons echoed through Ring-14's corridors as the first wave of Talia's fleet approached. Lev stood in the command center, watching tactical displays as five military-grade vessels requested docking clearance.

"Ring-14, this is Midnight's Edge requesting priority docking," came Talia's crisp voice over comms. "We've got 200 personnel and 50 million credits worth of hardware that needs immediate deployment."

"Granted," Lev replied. "Bay 12 through 16. Security team from the Manta-S is standing by to receive."

DOCK-QUEUE SIGMA

PERS

CARGO

ETA

BAY

Midnight's Edge

12 kt