"How do we go about this?" I asked Lev as we both sat nursing drinks, the remnants of a meal also sitting between us.

"There are over twenty thousand people here?" he asked.

I could only nod. "Manifesto shows that it was a fully functioning and working way station, most evacuated the last couple of days, when Dr. Martinez and her team sabotaged for Xian's escape." I nodded towards where I could see her talking to others she clearly knew.

"It's in a hell of a prime location too," he added.

<<We're docking now,>> Lia said. <<Do you wish me to come aboard?>>

<<No, not physically,>> I replied. <<But thank you.>>

"This is prime location?" I asked him.

"You never looked much at the strategics surrounding her?"

I sighed. "Sorry."

"Don't be, Lia?"

An image appeared between the both of us, overlaid on my HUD.

"Here is the area of space where we are," Lia said.

"We're right between two major hubs," I said.

"Bingo." Lev confirmed.

Sorrel walked over, carrying a small tray. She leaned heavily on her sore side. Lev was up in a second giving his seat up to her. "I don't need babying," she said, then ordered. "Sit."

"I'm not," he retorted, though there was a little pain cross his face as he sat back down.

I held up my thumb and forefinger about an inch away from each other. He frowned.

"Besides, no one's looked at your shoulder yet."

"Lev," I warned.

"Got carried away," he replied. "It doesn't hurt."

"I'll be the judge of that," she said and put the tray down. "Off," she waved a hand to his uniform.

I was about to make my excuses and leave them to it, when she cast me a glare. Almost a plead in itself. 'Don't go.'

"Run me through the report from Luna and the personell here," she said.

I nodded while Lev shook his tactical vest off and winced as it caught on the congealing blood.

Sorrel put a hand on his shoulder. "I've got it," she soothed and picked up the scissors.

"We'll need to replace a lot of uniform," I said. "Costs for this have escalated beyond anything I expected."

"War is expensive," Lia piped up between us. "I can give you a running count on our ledger, if—"

"No," I replied. "Not necessary, I don't want to see how in the red we are."

"Show me," Sorrel said.

When she went silent, I had to ask. "Can we recover?"

"Yes," she said. "But we're going to have to collect from everyone on the station."

"Indentured labour," Lev growled out.

"I won't do that," I said.

"Then how?"

I thought about it for a while. "We'll still put them to work, but make it a split."

"What's fair, Lia?" Sorrel asked.

"I would go for a 30% tax," Lia said. "Would you like me to draw it up?"

"Yes," I said, and who might we put in charge here?"

"You need an AI," Lia said. "One that would… could do the work Nyx or I would for Frosts."

"Nyx is needed on Ring-14."

"For now. Yes." He paused. "There might be someone though, but it would leave the Manta-S unstable."

"I can stabalise the Manta-S," Lia said. "Before they leave."

"Back to Ring-14?"

"I believe so, yes." Lev said. "Some of those injured here, need to be seen by Dr. Chen."

"How the fuck do we manage all of this?" I waved over the comparison chart, I could clearly see it now despite saying I didn't want too.

Category

Ring-14 (Biotech Hub)

Kepler Station (Forge / Alien Core)

Design Population

20,000

120,000

Hull Integrity

94% (minor patchwork)

76% (Rim-1 collapse, Rim-3 decompression)

Geometry

Single 1,250 m torus

Triple rings: 2.0 km / 1.8 km / 1.6 km + central spine

Gravity / Spin

0.5 g at rim, 0.95 rpm

Rim-1: 0.7 g • Rim-2: 0.5 g • Rim-3: 0.25 g (unstable)

Habitability

85% usable (1 wedge lit)

~60% habitable (bulkheads sealed, forests & dome damaged)

Power Systems

3 × 25 MW primaries + 4 × 15 MW auxiliaries (135 MW cont.)

8 × petawatt torches (alien-slaved); 5 online, 3 offline — ~60% output

Defensive Grid

4 × 100 MJ coil-guns; 32 PD lasers; EM debris curtain

Mine halo (60% active), Ghost-Wall jammer, Argus-Nine AI (offline)

Industrial Capacity

Biotech regen labs, med-manufacturing

Full fleet forge: destroyer hulls, jump beacons, hospital wings

Research Core

Neural regen & biotech (Dr. Chen equity)

Quantum lattice array (Martinez), alien Kepler Heart excavation, extraction tech salvage

Population (Current)

~1,000 crew & support (Growing)

~20,000 survivors (civilians, marines, yard-workers; majority fled or dead)

Refit / Repair Cost

≈ ₵1.44 bn (Chen-funded)

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≈ ₵5.2 bn (tri-ring rebuild + power + defense)

As-Is Sale Value

Not for sale (Chen stake)

≈ ₵7–9 bn (hull, torches, lattice array, alien Heart)

Projected Revenue

₵200–300 m / year (biotech, clinics)

₵0.5 bn / year baseline • ₵2–3 bn / year if lattice & Heart weaponised

Strategic Value

Stable, politically acceptable biotech fortress

Crown-jewel forge + alien wildcard; politically explosive but decisive

Equity Structure

12% bio-lab revenue to Chen

TBD (candidate Frost black-ops anchor)

"Matt?" Lev said, "Pulling you into our chat."

"Chief, Lia brought me up to speed on the situation, you want me in charge of Kepler?"

"Your unique talents lean heavily into AI integration, yes."

"I can scale up," he said. "Lia's already shown me how. But… I'm really not qualified."

"We'll make sure there are people qualified to help you," I said. "Let's get a list together of those who were helping to run this place and those who can help him."

Commader Torres walked over. "I'd like to co-ordinate now with the Coalition? Is that okay?"

"They won't come in and take over?"

"No, Lia's hired my team for your new owners security detail and as part of coalition military we can bring in those that would protect her for the right reasons."

"There's a lot of tech here we need to sequester away."

"I've spoken to Luna and the remaining scientists, we'll make sure those areas are locked down, and cleaned up over time."

"The money…." I said, my eyes locked on that balance. "How can we ever?"

That's when Mac walked in, well walk wasn't quite the words. He'd clearly ran for it.

He saw us and beelined straight to our table. "Can't have a meeting without me," he panted. Then he took a look at Lev's shoulder.

"Flesh wound," he and Sorrel said in unison.

"You both good?"

They also nodded. "Sit," Lev said. Mac sat down, and poured himself a drink.

"Did we lose anyone?" Mac asked.

"No one," I replied, though I knew my face told otherwise. "There are several who we're not sure will ever regain consciousness though. They're the ones that need to go to Dr. Chen."

"So the Commissioner did escape then? With…."

"With your mother, yes."

"I almost took them down," Mac said and lowered his head. "Lia managed to stop me."

"I wouldn't have blamed you," Sorrel put a hand on his shoulder. The finally started to apply healing salve to both entry and exit wounds on Lev's shoulder.

"Captain Crai's Retribution went after them though, she then took heavy damage."

"I didn't want her involved in a firefight."

"Are they docked?"

"Not yet, limping back."

"Her ships are low on fuel though, but then again, so are we. We should be able to fuel up here."

"The station has quite the reservoir for fuel." I did notice that. Some squared away too."

"Apparantly Crai has access to a quality of fuel we don't."

"That makes sense considering how long it took her to get here, and I knew she was heading to take Ring-14 down." I paused. "How are things there."

"We've quite the hub now," Lev replied with a smile.

"And who gave you the new title? Chief?"

"Master Chief, actually, and Nyx did."

Sorrel finished and sat next to him, "Considering you didn't seem to want to take him, you're talking a lot friendlier now."

"We had some long talks." Lev admitted. "What he went through under Braker control… well like Lia he is very complex."

"He is," Lia said. "I am glad you see that."

"I see both of you," Lev looked to me, but wasn't looking at me.

"Thank you," Lia replied.

Dr. Xian made her way across to us. "Medical status?"

"Those who were exposed to harvesting will recover completely," she replied. "The consciousness matrix's attempts to extract neural patterns caused some synaptic damage, but nothing permanent and Dr. Martinez is..." she paused, searching for words. "Remarkably resilient. Angry as hell, but she is fully intact."

"You're wanting to leave, now?"

She nodded. "I've been co-ordinating the medical teams with your Void Walker."

<<Our consciousness protection protocols held,>> Lia added. <<Everyone who went into that facility came out with their minds intact. That's not something we could have guaranteed twelve hours ago.>>

"Fleet disposition?" I directed to Mac.

"Medical ships are requesting immediate departure to Ring-14," he reported. "There are over four hundred people who need advanced procedures."

"Some of those people have been connected to harvesting equipment for weeks, we'll struggle to move them, but the ship can take them as they are, in beds."

I shivered, "I get the medical necessity but those ships…. Together we're a fleet no one would mess with."

"We're also needed in both locations," Sorrel added.

"Fuck," Lev said. "Don't split us again, please."

It was the way he said it, genuine pain there.

"Approved, the Void Walker and Crai's ships may return to Ring-14."

"How many ships does that leave us?" Lia asked.

"Seven vessels for station assessment and cleanup operations," Mac confirmed. "Plus, whatever intelligence gathering we can manage before Coalition investigators arrive."

"Station assessment?" I asked.

"This is a massive infrastructure not just for consciousness research," Dr. Xian said. "Quantum processing capabilities, advanced neural interface technology, medical facilities that could be repurposed for legitimate research." Her expression carried controlled anger, but her words hit home. "The bastards built something remarkable, then used it to commit systematic murder. With proper oversight, this facility could advance legitimate consciousness research by decades."

"I agree," Lia added, though of course, she couldn't hear her.

"Ownership issues?" Mac asked. "Brakers aren't going to just hand it over, its not 'throw them out, and take over the contracts'."

"No, but I doubt they'd want anything to do with it now," I said.

"Braker Corporation's assets will be frozen pending Coalition investigation," Commander Torres said, "But salvage law might apply to facilities used for criminal enterprises. We can put your names forward. It will help if everyon here is under contract to Frosts already."

"On it," Lia said. "Those who can are already pledging to your company. They've already agreed to 30% tax to help clear debts."

"That is good news," I said.

"What is?"

"The station is already pledging to us."

"Then ownership is likely just a formality." Mac said. "That's good news."

I was about to reply when Lia's presence receded.

<<Something wrong?>>

<<We have an urgent encrypted message.>>

It flashed up on my HUD. "I need to get this comm." I said and stood. "Lev, with me."

The others exchanged a look, but didn't move, they knew if I took Lev, it was a security issue.

"Follow the line," Lia said, <<there's a room at the back I can secure for you.>>

I led Lev into the small doctor's office, and he closed the door.

"What is it?"

I brought up the image between our HUDs.

"Coalition military quantum encryption," Lia said. "Tagged with several sets of authentication codes."

"Admiral Kuba," he said quietly, recognizing the signature even before the message began decoding properly.

"You know the codes?"

"Several, yes. Not the last few."

The display activated to show not the Admiral himself, but a text-only transmission routed through the Lynx Industries communication network—the same cover identity Mac had used to infiltrate Kepler Station.

PRIORITY TRANSMISSION - LYNX NETWORK RELAY

AUTHENTICATION: KUBA-SEVEN-SEVEN-BRAVO

TO: FROST ENTERPRISES FIELD OPERATIONS

FROM: COALITION FLEET COMMAND - OUTER TERRITORIES

Front line situation deteriorating faster than projected. The enemy offensive has broken through our defensive positions in three sectors. Fleet elements are retreating to secondary defensive lines.

Critical intelligence suggests Coalition flag officers have been reported missing under circumstances extraneous circumstances.

We're losing and I hate to ask this of you so soon.

Request Frost Enterprises deliver Major Kuba's research to my Naval Construction site - Outer Rim facility Sigma-Seven. Priority Alpha. Time critical.

WARNING: Distance to facility requires premium-grade fuel for sustained burn. Standard supplies insufficient for mission completion.

END TRANSMISSION

Lev stroked his growing stubble, the scratchy sound front lines were collapsing, Coalition officers were being subjected to consciousness extraction, and Admiral Kuba needed Ashley's research delivered to his shipyards for emergency fleet upgrades.

Which meant we couldn't go home to Ring-14. And we needed fuel we didn't have.

"Captain Crai has access to a super fuel," Lev admitted.

I looked into his eyes. "I'm sorry," I said and put a hand on his arm.

"You want me with you, and Sorrel back to Ring-14, right?"

I gave him a slight squeeze. "I really am sorry."

"I need to talk to her," he said.

"You do, really talk to her."

His eyes were searching me for more. But I didn't have it. I was the worst person to even think about relatiobships, Ashley and I had tiptoed around each other for months. "Go," I said. "Take her somewhere private."

"You're sure?"

"I am, and I mean it. Go."

We left the room together; Lev made a beeline straight for Sorrel. He didn't speak he just held his hand out and waited for her to take it. When she looked at me, then back at him, she did, and they left us.

"Plans change fast," I said. "CIC on the Faulkner, I need to speak with the fleet and Crai."

"Serious?" Mac asked.

I passed him the encrypted message.

I saw him close his eyes for a moment. He understood. "CIC."

Commander Torres looked at me. "Are…"

"To be honest, the Faulkner needs more crew, we've got used to having you around even if only for a short time."

"You're leaving?"

I nodded.

We made our way off Level Seven and down to the Faulkner. Lia met us at the docking tube.

"Outer Rim facility Sigma-Seven. It's... six weeks at maximum burn from our current position with standard fuel. Opposite direction from Ring-14."

"Six weeks?" I asked. "Admiral Kuba seems more desperate than that."

"Ring-14 is 8 hours with full burn," Mac said. "We don't have the fuel, nor do I know we could get it here."

"Crai has access to something, Lev said, hence I need to speak to her."

I felt something break inside my chest that had nothing to do with stress.

<<Peyton,>> Lia said, <<Your exhausted. This mission is asking everything of us.>>

<<I know,>> I replied silently. <<But if the front lines are really collapsing, and they're using consciousness theft against Coalition officers...>>

"Mac, link us to the Manta-S and Captain Crai on the Retribution. We need to discuss mission parameters and... logistics."

The holographic display activated to show Derek, while Captain Crai appeared in a separate window.

"I've had an urgent news from the front lines," I confirmed. "They need our tech, Major Kuba's research delivered to his naval construction facility at Sigma-Seven for emergency fleet upgrades."

"Sigma-Seven?" Derek asked. "Major Kuba?"

"Priority Alpha. Time critical. Traditional supply lines are compromised." I paused, knowing the next part would be the hardest. "And it's six weeks away with standard fuel. We need premium-grade for sustained burn or..."

Captain Crai's expression shifted to understanding immediately. "You need my fuel reserves and access to the tanks here, right?"

"I heard good things," I admitted. "Without it, we can't make the journey in time to matter."

"And if I give you my premium fuel," she said slowly, "my fleet limps home on standard reserves. Barely enough to reach Ring-14, with no margin for delays or course corrections."

The tactical mathematics were brutal but clear. My mission required resources that would leave hers vulnerable.

"Captain," I said formally, "I can't order you to risk your people for our mission."

"You're not ordering," she replied with quiet authority. "I'm volunteering. We'll get to Ring-14 just slower, and your mission might prevent the Coalition from collapsing."

Derek looked between his sister and me, understanding the implications. "Feath, if you run out of fuel before reaching Ring-14..."

"Then we drift until someone finds us," she said simply. "Admiral Kuba would not have sent that message if he wasn't desperate."

Mac rubbed his forehead. "Fleet disposition won't support splitting our forces this way. Half our ships are running on backup systems, and now we're talking about dividing fuel reserves."

"Split the fleet," I decided, though the words felt like admitting defeat. "Medical ships and damaged vessels return to Ring-14 with Dr. Martinez's teams. Combat-effective ships continue to Kuba's shipyards."

"That leaves you with maybe three operational vessels," Mac observed. "Against potential Braker interdiction along a supply route that's apparently compromised."

"Four ships," Derek corrected. "The Manta-S is coming with you."

I looked at him through the holographic display, seeing the determination that had carried him and his crew. "Derek, you don't have to—"

"You saved me and my sister," he interrupted. "This isn't optional."

The pain on Crai's face echoed Lev's from earlier.

<<He's right,>> Lia said through our neural link. <<The consciousness protection protocols we developed could be the difference between victory and systematic neural extraction of Coalition command personnel.>>

"Then let's get this moving as fast as possible."

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