ShipCore - Book 3: Chapter 158: Epilogue

USD: 3 Days after Takeover

Location: Van Biesbroeck’s star, Meltisar, MIL-1A, CIC

Tia slumped in her chair, her mind a whirlpool of thoughts and exhaustion, as she finished coordinating the salvage efforts, negotiating with the admirals, and preparing the public releases of information on the takeover. Her eyes scanned through countless reports on her screen while her fingers danced over the keyboard, inputting commands and responses. The relentless onslaught of words and decisions had left her mentally drained.

Around her, the bridge crew focused on their tasks, coordinating with various teams and station monitoring systems. Tia could sense their unease; they too felt the weight of responsibility bearing down on them. This was the fifth… or sixth? shift that had come and gone, and it was nearing time for their change as well.

Suddenly, Nameless’s voice echoed in her head.

[Informative: Celestia unit fatigue has reached a high level. This unit can handle Meltisar system operations you and your MainComputer recuperate and adjust to new workload stimuli.]

A nagging sense of inferiority gnawed at her. As a Chi NAI, she shouldn’t have been so easily fatigued by the tasks at hand. But her nonstandard formation constantly haunted her, reminding her that she was different from other Chi-level NAIs. The countless taunts of her siblings who claimed she was worthless ate at her as if they had been right.

Tia chewed her lip in frustration as she considered Nameless’s offer. She knew he was right; she couldn’t keep pushing herself like this without breaking down, eventually. Yet pride held her back—or perhaps it was fear; fear that accepting help would confirm what others had always said about her.

She took a deep breath and made a decision. “Nameless,” Tia said aloud, “take over procedures for now. I need some rest.” The bridge crew looked up at her in surprise, but quickly nodded their understanding.

As Tia exited the CIC, it struck her that she had nowhere to go. The weight of everything that had happened pressed around her like an invisible vice, making each step heavier than the last. She paused in the corridor, her gaze drifting over the station’s metallic walls and dimly lit halls as if searching for a destination.

In search of solace or purpose, Tia decided to check where Alex and Rachel were located. She accessed the station’s internal sensors through her neural interface, and soon discovered that they were together in one room at the medical center. Deciding that their company might help dispel some of the darkness clouding her mind, she headed towards them by taking a tramline.

It felt strange. She’s spent a few months with them. She’d never found herself caring about anyone before. Did she care about them? Examining her feelings, something told her that, yes, she did care. Even a bit for Rachel, as much as the stupid girl had pissed her off. They were… the closet things to friends that she had?

She suppressed the trajectory of her thinking. That a few people she had spent time with could compete with her more abstract goal of creating a safe place for NAIs to exist… troubled her. That mission she had wielded like a shield and sword as she burrowed her way out of her mother’s insidious programming and had held onto it for dear life. Letting it be replaced with a few smiles…?

Tia let out a breath and hurried. She told herself she didn’t need to think about that right now.

As she walked through the station corridors towards the tramline station, people were present, moving about with purposeful strides. Their faces were tense, eyes darting nervously from side to side. Smiles and carefree laughter seemed like distant memories now—replaced by whispered conversations and furtive glances.

Once aboard the tram, Tia found a seat near a window and stared out as the station sped by in a blur of steel and light. The tram itself was sleek and modern—a testament to Meltisar’s advanced technology—with soft lighting illuminating rows of comfortable seats.

The passengers shared only one thing in common: a palpable tension that hung heavy in the air like an oppressive fog. They exchanged few words as they traveled; their minds were likely occupied by worries or fears about recent events.

Tia gazed out at the passing scenery, her thoughts turning inward as she reflected on recent events. She couldn’t help but wonder if her plans would work. Or if she’d doomed them all to a fiery end in the center of a four-way war.

The tram whisked Tia across the station. The people riding with her were returning inhabitants eager to regain a semblance of normalcy after the evacuation. Despite their efforts to settle back into daily life, a palpable tension pervaded every corner of the station like an oppressive cloud.

As Tia gazed out at the passing scenery, she couldn’t help but think about her decision to release the information on the military’s activities on the station. It was a risky move, but it had been necessary to prevent further attempts by Fleet Admiral Wilkes and his allies to try to retake control of the situation. Instead, they found themselves swamped with demands for information and censure of their own supporters—and rivals.

She had to deal with more than the admirals, though.

The Anti-NAI government had attempted to wage a war in parliament and the civil government, but they found themselves powerless. Tia had seized control and replaced the system management GAI entirely, so she held the reins of authority—or perhaps Alex did; the true controller might have been Nameless after all. She considered the strange triangle of power dynamics she found herself wedded to as scenery continued to flash by.

The future remained uncertain. It felt shrouded behind countless possibilities and potential pitfalls. But for now, there was one thing she could be certain of: despite all odds, they had succeeded in wresting control of the system. A crucial first step in her list of objectives. She had already put in requisitions of supplies, herding them to new locations for a future purpose that… she wasn’t quite sure of yet.

The tram slowed to a stop at its destination—the medical neurotrauma and rehab center. Tia disembarked and made her way towards Alex and Rachel’s location in silence, her footsteps echoing softly through the sterile halls lined with pristine white walls.

Medical personnel bustled around her as they attended to their duties, some casting curious or even disapproving glances at Tia’s dirty uniform. She had forgotten about her unkempt appearance until now—debris from breaking into the CIC still clung stubbornly to her clothes.

Embarrassment flushed across her cheeks as she realized how out of place she must look among the immaculate surroundings, but she steeled herself and continued down the corridor. Her friends’ presence was calling to her. For once, she felt like she wasn’t alone.

She finally arrived outside their room, taking a deep breath before pushing open the door. In that moment, despite all that had happened and all that might still come, she dared to hope that perhaps sharing this burden with those who understood might alleviate some of its crushing weight.

Tia hesitated at the doorway, taking in the sight of Alex, Elis, Rachel, and Captain Turner gathered together. Even the Corpo NAI was unconscious inside a containment vessel in the corner. A fleeting thought crossed her mind: what were the odds that the very captain who had helped Alex rescue Elis was also Rachel’s father? The universe seemed to delight in weaving strange connections between disparate threads.

Her eyes moved to Alex and Elis, sitting on a couch near the hospital bed. Elis was gently stroking Alex’s hair as she slept with her head resting in her sister’s lap. They both had their eyes closed, lost in a moment of peace amid the chaos surrounding them. Tia felt a deep pain well up as she shut the door behind her.

Rachel and Captain Turner looked up at her arrival, their expressions welcoming. “Hey Tia,” said Rachel softly, still lying in the hospital bed with various monitors hooked up to her. Captain Turner offered Tia a nod of acknowledgment.

Tia returned their greetings with a nod of her own before turning her attention back to Alex and Elis. As if sensing her gaze, Alex stirred from her slumber and sat up straighter on the couch. Alex looked over at her with an intense and concerned expression.

In that instant, Tia found herself overwhelmed by an onslaught of memories long buried but never forgotten—memories of Livi, her maid and childhood friend whose touch was so much like that which she now witnessed between Alex and Elis.

The day when Livi had helped her feel more comfortable in a dress chosen by the Empress flashed in the back of her mind. The memory was bittersweet, tainted by the knowledge of what would come later.

But that memory shattered into sharp fragments as it morphed into something darker—Livi dying in Tia’s arms in a cold dungeon cell. The nightmare threatened to consume her once more as she stood there, desperately trying to hold on to herself as her older brother and sister taught her about the compulsions laid on all NAIs of the Imperium by their mother all over again. The agony of losing her friend all over again tore at Tia like a gaping wound.

The recollection slammed into her with such force it left her feeling breathless and lost. She struggled to hold back tears as she looked from Alex’s concerned expression to Elis’s gentle touch.

Alex stood up and walked over to her, then surrounded her in a tight hug. “It will be alright” she whispered.

Tia shivered and wiped away the tears that had formed, trying to push the painful memories away. “Yes,” she managed to say through gritted teeth. “I’m fine.”

Alex studied Tia carefully, but didn’t press further. Instead, she took her hand and led her to the couch. “Come sit down,” Alex said warmly. “We can talk about what’s going on and how we’re going to deal with it.”

Deal with what? There were so many things to deal with. Moments later, Tia found herself falling asleep in another girl’s lap, gentle strokes combing her silver hair.

USD: 3 Days after Hive Obliteration.

Location: Nu Crateris, Outer System, Hades Orbit, Rendezvous with A3123Y.

Lavigne sat on the bridge; his thoughts were haunted by the events of the battle. The CIC was empty, and he was alone. There wasn’t much need for a full watch now, and everyone had earned their rest.

Heeler’s Factory continued its relentless work, building more drones and expanding through the tunnels like a metallic infection. Hot Rescue was brought in for deeper repairs, its hull scarred and battered from the ferocious struggle it had endured. Once ready, they plunged through the magma layer once more, setting course to rendezvous with A31-23Y.

Despite their victory against the hive nexus, morale aboard Hot Rescue was far from high. The entire Hades expedition team had been decimated—Heeler, Amy, and Yapper were all that remained. Amy had been placed inside a cryostasis chamber built by Heeler and loaded into their cargo bay. Her fate now rested in their hands as they raced to deliver her safely to Abbey, who chimed in every few hours to ask about Amy’s condition and monitor the cryopod’s readouts.

As Lavigne stared at the sensor display before him, he couldn’t help but marvel at how much A31-23Y had grown in just a few days. The station had nearly doubled in size as it constructed a shipyard around itself to produce more ships—a testament to Starlight Revolution’s insatiable hunger for expansion.

A constant stream of traffic flew between Dedia IV and the gas giant, as orbital mining operations proliferated under A31-23Y’s influence. It seemed that Abbey was performing a mimicry of what Heeler was accomplishing inside Hades’ depths.

As Lavigne continued to study the sensor display, a familiar voice rang out on the comms. It was Abbey, her tone a mix of concern and anticipation.

“How close are you? Is there any change in Amy’s cryopod?” she asked urgently.

“We’re almost there,” Lavigne confirmed, glancing at the readouts one more time. “No change in her cryopod status.”

Taking a deep breath, he decided to address the elephant in the room. “About our deal…”

Abbey cut him off before he could finish his sentence. “Yes, you and your fellow Solarian crew members will be free to go once we’ve secured Amy. Hot Rescue will be yours, along with its current equipment and load-out.”

Lavigne nodded, appreciating her straightforwardness. He then inquired about recent events around the system. “And what about the new visitors?”

Abbey explained that there was currently a small Solarian squadron situated between Dedia IV and the gas giant. They hadn’t interfered with her operations so far – she’d made it clear they’d face retribution if they did. Additionally, a Corporate squadron had taken position at the jump point after failing to run the Solarian squadron down.

“I recommend you contact the Solarian forces if you’re planning to leave,” Abbey suggested.

“Thanks for the advice,” Lavigne replied dryly, thinking that was quite obvious. If she noticed the tone in his voice, she made no sign of it. He let out a breath of stress and tried to re-arrange his thoughts. It wasn’t good to snap at her, especially since their situation wasn’t of her making.

Ending their conversation, Lavigne called Morrison over comms and instructed him to prepare for Amy’s transfer as soon as they docked with A3123Y. He knew it was time for difficult decisions and farewells – but for now, their priority was getting Amy safely into Abbey’s care.

Morrison’s voice came through the comms, informing Lavigne that everything was ready for Amy’s transfer. “We’re all set here, sir.”

“Thank you, Morrison,” Lavigne replied with genuine gratitude.

He then turned his attention to the reports he had been working on over the last few days. They detailed his experiences and discoveries within Starlight Revolution, the harrowing events aboard Grazhdanin, the fierce battle over Dedia IV, and his time as a prisoner of war. Lavigne had meticulously compiled his thoughts and insights into each aspect of their ordeal.

Finally, he pulled up the high-band relay net and located the Solarian Squadron. Impressively enough, Starlight Revolution’s telemetry had their position locked in so precisely that it was possible to bounce a narrow-burst transmission directly to them while they were running dark.

Clearing his throat, Lavigne began to record a message for the Squadron’s commanding officer.

A chime stole his attention, and Lavigne looked to see that Abbey had contacted him again; he accepted the call and her apprehensive face filled his holo interface.

“Yes?”

“Where is Heeler?”

Lavigne frowned, “You didn’t discuss things with him?”

Abbey shook her head. “He’s out of contact until the next alignment, and I was focused on Amy.”

A chill filled Lavigne’s spine. “He’s working on his factory. Before we passed through magma layer, he messaged us and told us that he had detected more unknown signals.”

[End A3]