The Stellar Nomad hung in high orbit above Surnos, a sleek predator among the stars. But its attention—and that of its crew—was now turned toward a place none of them had dared consider visiting until now: the Orun Nexus.
Noah stood in the situation room flanked by Dain, Eliza, and two representatives from the Sovereign Exchange's newly established Black Ledger Division—a quiet branch that dealt with unregulated or ancient trade anomalies. On the central holotable was a swirling image of the Orun Nexus, distorted by ambient radiation and gravitational instability.
"The core region is still unstable," Eliza reported. "But we've confirmed the Dominion signal is coming from within the ancient auction halls."
"And Kiera?" Noah asked.
"She's waiting outside the rift perimeter in her ship—the Gossamer Fang. Ready to lead us in."
Dain scowled. "She's a smuggler, not a diplomat."
"She's also the only person alive who's been there and returned with her ship intact," Eliza countered.
