Arc 3, Chapter 3: The Casino
Fortuna Station gleamed against the black of space like a jewel in the Tertius Belt. The massive structure was designed to attract wealthy colonists and corporate executives looking for entertainment between the grinding realities of frontier life. Bright lights. Artificial gravity that felt almost Earth-normal. And enough security to keep the desperate and dangerous at bay while allowing the rich to pretend they were safe.
"That's gaudy." Commander Thorne observed as their civilian shuttle approached the docking ring.
"I think that's the point." Stellar replied. He wore civilian clothes, expensive enough to blend with the casino crowd but not so expensive as to draw attention. "People come here to get away from their everyday lives. Gaudy helps with that."
Lieutenant Hayes adjusted her dress, something she'd borrowed from Rebecca Kim's limited civilian wardrobe and modified to fit. "I'm just saying, if we're going undercover as wealthy tourists, we should commit to the bit...I probably should have more jewelry."
"We're committed enough. " Stellar said. "But remember, we're here to surveil Valen, not actually gamble away our operational budget."
"Our operational budget is practically nonexistent anyway." Hayes pointed out. "So technically, I can't gamble it away if we don't have it."
"That's not how budgets work." Lieutenant Reeves said from the pilot's seat. "That's not how anything works."
Mitchell, perched near the shuttle's viewport, chirped something that might have been agreement or mockery. Hard to tell with the bird.
The shuttle docked smoothly, and they disembarked into Fortuna Station's arrival terminal. The contrast with military vessels was immediate and jarring. Instead of utilitarian gray corridors, the station featured polished floors, actual artwork on the walls, and atmospheric lighting that suggested sunset rather than the harsh fluorescents of a warship.
"I forgot places like this existed." Thorne muttered, watching well-dressed civilians stroll past.
"They exist for people who can afford to forget there's a war. We can't." Stellar replied quietly. "Let's go check in."
"This place smells like money." A mesmerized Hayes stated.
Their cover story was simple. Officers on authorized shore leave, looking to decompress after combat operations. It was common enough not to raise suspicion but gave them freedom to move around the station without drawing attention.
The hotel clerk barely glanced at their credentials before assigning rooms. "Welcome to Fortuna Station. The main casino floor is on level three, restaurants on levels four and five, and entertainment venues are scattered throughout. If you need anything, just call concierge."
"Appreciate it." Stellar said, accepting the room keys.
They split up to settle in. Stellar and Reeves in one suite, Thorne and Hayes in another. Mitchell, after some negotiation with station regulations, was classified as a "registered emotional support animal" and allowed to stay with Stellar.
"Emotional support." Thorne had said dryly. "That bird gives me anxiety, not comfort."
"The bird heard that." Reeves had replied.
Mitchell had chirped something rude.
An hour later, they reconvened in Stellar's suite to establish their surveillance plan. Commander Clark appeared on a holographic display. He'd stayed aboard the Pathfinder to coordinate with Unity and monitor communications.
"Valen's current location?" Stellar asked.
"Level six." Clark replied, pulling up station schematics. "Private club called The Eclipse. Exclusive membership, expensive entrance fee, the kind of place where wealthy criminals and legitimate businessmen socialize and pretend they can't tell the difference."
"Can we get in?" Thorne asked.
"With enough credits, yes," Clark said. "But it'll draw attention. Wealthy tourists gambling on level three is normal. Wealthy tourists buying into exclusive clubs raises questions."
"So we surveil from a distance." Stellar said. "Hayes, can you tap into station communications? Monitor who Valen talks to?"
"Already on it." Hayes replied, working on her datapad. "Station security is decent but not military-grade. Give me a few hours and I'll have access to internal communications networks."
"Unity can assist." Clark said. "They're standing by to interface with station systems remotely. Won't be as extensive as if they were physically present, but they can monitor data flows and flag unusual activity."
"Good." Stellar said. "Reeves, I want you coordinating with Unity. You've got a good eye for patterns. If Valen's meeting with other shapeshifters, I trust you'll spot the connections."
"Understood, sir." Reeves replied.
"Thorne and I will do visual surveillance. We'll position ourselves in the casino, maintain sight lines to the private club entrance. Anyone going in or out, we document."
"And me?" Hayes asked.
"You're our social engineer." Stellar said. "Mingle. Gamble. Talk to people. Figure out who Valen is, what his reputation is, who he associates with. People talk in casinos, whether they're winning or losing money."
Hayes grinned. "So I'm authorized to gamble for intelligence purposes?"
"Within reason..." Stellar said. "And Hayes? Don't actually win too much. Drawing attention defeats the purpose."
"I'll only bet on black, sir."
The main casino floor was exactly what Stellar expected, calculated excess designed to separate wealthy people from their credits. Slot machines chimed. Roulette wheels spun. Card dealers shuffled with practiced precision while well-dressed gamblers made bets that could have funded a colony for months.
"This is obscene. I hate these people." Thorne muttered, nursing a drink at the bar while watching the entrance to The Eclipse through a carefully positioned mirror.
A group of well-dressed executives entered The Eclipse, greeted by security who checked credentials before allowing entry. Stellar snapped a discrete photo with his datapad.
"Reeves, you getting these?" he subvocalized into his comm.
"Copy." Reeves's voice came back. "Running facial recognition now. Give me a minute."
While they waited, Stellar watched the casino floor. Most of the gamblers looked like exactly what they were...corporate executives, colonial administrators, ship captains with more money than sense. But a few stood out. Too alert. Too watchful. Security, maybe, or something else.
"Got a hit on two of them," Reeves reported. "David Anderson, mining executive from the Gamma colonies. Clean record, legitimate businessman. And Jennifer Orlando, corporate lawyer for Helix Industries. Also legitimate."
"Cross-reference against your debris field data." Stellar instructed. "See if either of them show patterns."
"Already on it. Give me a few minutes."
Across the casino floor, Hayes had positioned herself at a roulette table, playing with the kind of casual confidence that suggested she knew exactly what she was doing. Which was concerning, because Stellar hadn't known Hayes could gamble.
"Is she actually winning?" Thorne asked, following his gaze.
"Looks like it."
"You told her not to draw attention."
"I did say that, yes."
They watched as Hayes raked in some more credits. The other players at the table congratulated her.
"She's definitely drawing attention." Thorne observed.
"She's also gathering intelligence. She has this uncanny ability to talk to anyone." Stellar said, noting how Hayes chatted easily with the other gamblers. Social engineering. Getting people comfortable enough to talk about things they shouldn't.
"Captain," Reeves's voice came through the comm, urgent. "You need to see this. Sending data now."
Stellar's datapad pinged. Reeves had cross-referenced Jennifer Orlando against multiple incidents. She'd been present at three different colonies when shapeshifter activity spiked. Present at a facility that was later revealed to have been compromised. Present aboard a ship that mysteriously changed course before being attacked by Confluence forces.
"She seems guilty." Stellar said quietly.
"Probable shapeshifter." Reeves confirmed. "The pattern is too consistent. She's either compromised or incredibly unlucky."
"How long has she been in The Eclipse?" Stellar asked.
"Forty-three minutes. Met with Valen briefly, then they split up. She's still inside."
Stellar thought quickly. "Can we scan her when she comes out?"
"Maybe," Thorne said. "If she passes close enough. But Captain, if she's meeting with Valen, if they're coordinating..."
"Then Valen's definitely a shapeshifter." Stellar finished. "Or at minimum, a collaborator."
"There's something else." Reeves added. "Unity's been monitoring data flows through the station's communication systems. They're detecting encrypted transmissions between The Eclipse and an unknown destination. Military-grade encryption. Maybe just a wealthy casino owner very paranoid about legit business. Or..."
"Valen's reporting to someone." Stellar said.
"To multiple someones." Reeves corrected. "Unity's identified at least five different recipients. Different encryption keys, different protocols. It's not just one handler...it's a network."
Stellar felt cold certainty settle over him. "The shapeshifters aren't just infiltrating randomly. They're organized. Coordinated. Valen's not just an infiltrator...he's a node in their communication network."
"It's just a feeling. Still need more proof. But if he's dirty, that'll make him more valuable alive than dead...which is a shame." Thorne observed. "If we can monitor his communications, track who he talks to..."
"We can start mapping their network." Stellar agreed. "But that means we don't confront him. Don't even let him know we're watching."
"How long can we maintain surveillance without being noticed?" Thorne asked.
"As long as we look like tourists having a good time." Stellar replied. "Which means we need to actually gamble, actually drink, actually look like we're on leave."
"Hardship duty." Thorne said sarcastically.
"The hardest." Stellar agreed.
Hayes was having the time of her life.
Not because of the mission, though surveillance was going well, but because she was genuinely good at blackjack and it had been so long since she'd had an opportunity to prove it. Stellar had given her permission to spread her wings.
"Hit me." she said, tapping the table.
The dealer, a professional woman who'd seen everything twice, dealt another card. Queen of hearts. Hayes's total...twenty.
"I'll stay." Hayes said.
The dealer revealed their cards. Nineteen.
"House pays twenty." the dealer said without enthusiasm, sliding credits across the table.
The businessman to Hayes's left, drunk enough to be talkative but not so drunk as to be incoherent, leaned over. "You're having quite a night."
"Luck," Hayes said modestly, collecting her winnings. "And probably a little bit of good timing."
"You're military, aren't you?" the businessman asked. "I can always tell. Something about the way you carry yourself."
Hayes didn't deny it. Better to confirm what he'd already figured out than try to lie. "Yes, sir. Officer on shore leave. Needed to decompress after some rough operations."
"I can imagine." the businessman said. "Things have been brutal lately. My company lost three facilities to pirate raids last quarter. We're barely holding on."
"Sorry. What line of work?" Hayes asked casually.
"Mining. Asteroid extraction in the Tertius Belt." He gestured vaguely at the station around them. "This place, Fortuna Station, it's one of the few safe places left, it seems. Business can happen without outsiders interfering. That's why people like Marcus Valen do so well here."
Hayes's attention sharpened, though she kept her expression neutral. "Marcus Valen. You said that name like I'm supposed to know who he is."
"Marcus Valen. Rich bastard who owns half the station. Made his fortune in colonial administration, government contracts, that sort of thing. Now he's moved into 'neutral facilitation', which is a fancy way of saying he brokers deals between people who can't afford to be seen talking directly."
"Nice. Sounds profitable." Hayes observed.
"Very. But also..." the businessman hesitated, lowering his voice. "There's rumors. About Valen. About who he really works for."
"All that's above my pay grade. I like the gossip though."
"Nothing concrete. Just whispers. That some of his deals involve parties who shouldn't be dealing. That credits flow in directions they shouldn't. That he's too well-connected for someone who's supposedly neutral." The businessman shrugged. "But that's just station gossip. Probably nothing."
"All I care about is if his blackjack credits are good." Hayes laughed, but filing the information away.
The businessman glanced at her chips. "You're up quite a bit. Planning to keep playing?"
"Maybe a few more hands." Hayes said. "Then I'll cash out before my luck changes."
She played three more hands, won two, lost one, then collected her winnings and stepped away from the table. The businessman watched her go with the kind of interest that suggested he'd been hoping she'd stick around.
Hayes made her way through the casino floor toward the communications alcove Stellar had marked as their rendezvous point. She activated her subvocal comm.
"Stellar, this is Hayes. Got some interesting gossip about our target."
"Go ahead." Stellar's voice came back.
She relayed what the businessman had told her...rumors about Valen, his connections, the whispers about who he really worked for.
"Confirms what we're seeing." Stellar replied. "He's definitely more than a legitimate businessman. How much did you win?"
"Um. A lot?"
"Define 'a lot.'"
"Enough that I'm probably going to draw attention if I keep playing."
"Then take a break. Meet us at the observation deck on level seven in twenty minutes."
"Copy."
Hayes cashed out her chips. The attendant gave her a look that suggested she'd won more than was typical for casual players, and made her way toward the elevators.
She didn't notice the security camera tracking her movement.
Didn't see the notification that pinged in Marcus Valen's private office.
Didn't know that somewhere in The Eclipse, a shapeshifter was reviewing footage of her winning streak and facial recognition software was comparing her features against known military personnel.
She just knew she'd won enough credits to buy drinks for the entire field team.
And right now, that felt like a victory worth celebrating.
The observation deck offered a stunning view of the Tertius Belt. Asteroids tumbling slowly through space, mining operations visible as bright spots against the black. It was the kind of view that reminded people why humanity had come to space in the first place.
"She won how much?" Thorne asked when Hayes arrived.
"Enough to be suspicious if I'd kept playing." Hayes admitted. "But I cashed out before it became a problem."
"Did you count cards?" Stellar asked.
"I prefer the term 'strategic probability assessment'." Hayes replied.
"Yeah, she counted cards." Reeves said.
"Is it a problem?" Hayes asked.
"Only if casino security notices," Stellar replied. "But you're off the floor now, so it should be fine. What matters is the intelligence you gathered. Valen's got a reputation for brokering deals between parties who shouldn't be seen together. That fits with him being a shapeshifter coordinator."
"Unity's analysis supports that conclusion." Clark's voice came through their comms. "The encrypted transmissions we've been monitoring show patterns consistent with coordination and intelligence sharing. Valen's not just reporting up a chain of command, he's facilitating lateral communication between other assets."
"He's a network hub," Stellar said. "Take him out and I bet we disrupt their entire communication structure in this sector."
"Or we leave him operational and monitor everything that flows through him." Thorne countered. "If we can decrypt those transmissions, if we can track where they're going..."
"We'd know where other shapeshifters are positioned." Stellar finished. "But that's assuming we can decrypt military-grade Confluence encryption. Can we?"
"Unity says maybe." Clark replied. "With enough time and computing resources. But they'd need direct access to the transmissions as they're being sent. Remote monitoring only gives them partial data."
"So we'd need to plant monitoring equipment in The Eclipse." Reeves said. "Which means gaining access to a restricted area without alerting security or Valen himself."
"That's a problem for later." Stellar decided. "Right now, we..."
He stopped mid-sentence, his attention caught by something below. Through the observation deck's transparent floor, he could see level six. Specifically, the entrance to The Eclipse.
Marcus Valen was leaving the private club, accompanied by two others. Jennifer Orlando and another man Stellar didn't recognize.
"Reeves, are you seeing this?" Stellar asked.
"Already running facial recognition on the third individual." Reeves replied. "Stand by."
They watched as the three figures walked together through a corridor, heading toward what looked like private suites reserved for VIPs.
"Got him." Reeves said. "Thomas Berkley. Former colonial administrator, supposedly retired. But Captain, he was on my list. His disappearance three years ago lined up perfectly with a facility compromise. I found debris that suggested..."
"He's a shapeshifter." Stellar interrupted. "So we've got at least three of them meeting together...Valen, Orlando, and Berkley."
"That's not a coincidence." Thorne said. "That's a coordination meeting."
Mitchell, who'd been quietly observing from Stellar's shoulder, suddenly chirped...urgent, warning.
"What's he saying?" Hayes asked.
Stellar didn't need James to translate. He could feel it too...that sense of unease, of danger approaching. The same feeling he'd had before his future memory.
"They know we're here." Stellar said quietly. "Or they suspect. Something's wrong."
"We haven't done anything to reveal ourselves." Thorne protested. "I thought we'd been careful.."
"Hayes won too much." Reeves said, pulling up data. "Casino security flagged her. Ran facial recognition. Captain, they know she's military...and from which ship. They know we're here."
Stellar felt ice in his veins. "That's how it starts. The future memory. They figure out who we are, they realize we're not just tourists..."
"And they set the trap." Thorne finished. "The one where you get shot."
"We need to leave." Stellar decided. "Now. Before they move against us."
"If we leave immediately, it looks suspicious. It confirms we're here for them." Clark pointed out. "We need to maintain cover. Act like normal tourists finishing their shore leave."
"For how long?" Stellar asked.
"Twelve hours minimum. Check out in the morning, perfectly normal timeline for shore leave."
"Can we last twelve hours if they're onto us?" Hayes asked.
"I guess we'll have to." Stellar replied. "But we're not staying separated. From now on, we move in pairs. We stay in public spaces. And we keep watch."
Mitchell chirped again...agreement, with overtones of caution.
"Well, the bird thinks we can make it," Reeves said. "But he's also suggesting we prepare for trouble."
"Always prepare for trouble." Thorne retorted. "That's just good practice."
They split up carefully, Stellar and Thorne in one team, Hayes and Reeves in another. They'd maintain their tourist cover but stay alert for signs of hostile action.
Stellar and Thorne made their way back to the casino floor, deliberately choosing a path that kept them in well-populated areas. The crowds felt different now...any one of these people could be a shapeshifter, any one could be a threat.
"I guess this is what paranoia feels like." Thorne observed quietly.
"This is what caution feels like when you know the enemy can be anyone." Stellar corrected.
They found seats at a roulette table, good sight lines to multiple exits, backs to a wall, clear view of approaching threats. Stellar placed minimum bets, keeping up appearances while his mind raced through contingency plans.
That's when he saw her.
Jennifer Orlando, walking through the casino floor with casual confidence. She was alone now, Valen and Berkley nowhere in sight. She moved like someone who belonged, someone who had every right to be there.
She was heading directly toward them.
"Thorne." Stellar said quietly.
"I see her."
Orlando approached their table, smiled pleasantly, and took an empty seat two positions away from Stellar. She placed a bet, substantial but not outrageous, and waited for the wheel to spin.
For several minutes, nothing happened. The wheel spun. Bets were placed. Orlando won once, lost twice, seemed completely unconcerned about either outcome.
Then, as the dealer collected losing bets, Orlando spoke. Her voice was conversational, directed at no one in particular.
"Fortuna Station is lovely this time of year. So many interesting visitors. Military personnel on shore leave. Scientists researching asteroid composition. Businesspeople looking for opportunities." She placed another bet. "Everyone has their reasons for being here."
Stellar said nothing, watching the wheel spin.
"Some people come here to relax." Orlando continued. "Others come here looking for something specific. Information. Connections. People they've been searching for." She smiled as her bet lost. "It's important to know why you're really here. Prevents misunderstandings."
"I'm here to gamble and forget about the job for a few days." Stellar said evenly. "Nothing more complicated than that."
"Of course," Orlando replied. "Though I find it curious how many military officers are currently on station. All here for shore leave. All arriving within hours of each other. What are the odds?"
The wheel spun. Stellar's bet lost. He placed another one mechanically.
"Stranger things have happened." he said.
"Indeed they have." Orlando agreed. "For instance, I recently learned about fascinating new medical technology. Scanners that can detect certain types of...bio-contamination. Very sophisticated. Very new. The kind of technology that would be quite valuable to people concerned about such things."
Stellar's blood ran cold. She knew. About the kimelons. About their detection capability.
"I just Captain a ship. Wouldn't know much about medical technology. I'm sure it's fascinating though." he said.
"Of course not." Orlando replied smoothly. "Just making conversation. Discussing interesting rumors one hears in places like this." She collected her remaining chips and stood. "Enjoy your stay, Captain. And do be careful. Fortuna Station is generally safe, but accidents can happen. Especially to people who draw unnecessary attention to themselves."
She walked away, leaving Stellar and Thorne sitting at the roulette table with the weight of unveiled threats hanging in the air.
"Jesus, she knows." Thorne said quietly. "About us. About the kimelons. Everything."
"How?" Stellar asked. "We've been careful. The technology is compartmentalized. I don't see how it's possible shifter-Voss knows."
Then it hit him. The future memories. Every member of the Pathfinder crew had them from the time travel event. Including shifter-Voss.
"Voss..." Stellar said. "She has future memories too. She's seen things. Seen us discovering her. Seen the kimelons. And she's been reporting everything to The Confluence. We thought we were using her...but she was using us."
"We need to leave." Thorne said. "Now. If they know..."
Stellar replied. "We need to think. Need to figure out how to..."
His comm chirped. Reeves's voice, urgent. "Captain, we have a problem. Station security just locked down level six. No one in or out. They're saying it's a routine drill, but Captain..."
"It's not a drill." Stellar finished. "It's preparation. They're getting ready to move against us."
"What do we do?" Hayes asked over the comm.
Stellar thought quickly. His future memory showed them running through corridors, being hunted. That future happened if they stayed, if they tried to complete the mission, if they walked deeper into the trap.
But what if they changed the equation?
"Unity," he said into his comm. "Are you monitoring?"
"We are here, Captain Stellar." Unity's harmonious voice replied.
"I need you to do something for me. Something that might violate station protocols."
"We are listening."
"Can you interface with Fortuna Station's systems? Environmental controls, security systems, communications?"
A pause. Then..."We can. But it would require using methods that station security would definitely notice. It would reveal our presence."
"Do it anyway." Stellar decided. "Because in about ten minutes, they're going to try to kill us. And I'd rather blow our cover than die. And have Pathfinder security contain shifter-Voss now!"
"Understood. We are beginning integration now."
Mitchell chirped...approval mixed with concern.
"Everyone," Stellar broadcast to the field team. "Rendezvous at our shuttle. Move quickly but don't run. We're leaving before they can close the trap."
"What about the mission?" Reeves asked. "What about Valen?"
"Mission's compromised." Stellar replied. "We know he's a shapeshifter. We know he's a network coordinator. We know they're organized and aware of our detection capability. That's valuable intelligence even if we didn't get everything we wanted."
They moved through the casino floor with practiced calm. Just tourists heading back to their rooms, nothing suspicious, nothing that would trigger security response. But Stellar could feel eyes on them. Watching. Waiting.
They made it to the corridor leading to the docking ring. Almost clear. Almost free.
That's when the alarms started.
"Station security alert." a calm voice announced over the public address system. "All personnel remain in your current locations. This is not a drill. Repeat, this is not a drill."
Bulkheads began sealing. Automated security systems activating.
"Unity!" Stellar shouted into his comm.
"Working, Captain. Their security systems are more sophisticated than anticipated. We need thirty more seconds."
Thirty seconds they didn't have. Security forces were already moving through the corridors, heading toward their location.
Then the lights went out.
Emergency lighting kicked in...dim red illumination that barely qualified as visibility. And through the speakers, Unity's voice echoed across the entire station:
"Attention Fortuna Station. Your environmental systems are currently under our control. Your security systems are currently under our control. Your communications are currently under our control. You will allow the individuals designated as 'Captain Stellar's Field Team' to depart immediately. Any attempt to interfere will result in progressive system failures."
"Unity's making friends." Hayes muttered.
"Unity's saving our lives." Stellar corrected. "Move! Now!"
They ran. Through corridors lit only by emergency lighting. Past confused security personnel who were receiving conflicting orders through compromised communications. Toward the docking ring where their shuttle waited.
Behind them, Stellar heard shouts. Pursuit. The trap closing...but too late, too slow, because Unity had just changed every equation on the station.
They reached their shuttle. Reeves was already in the pilot's seat, running pre-flight checks at speeds that probably violated multiple safety protocols.
"Everyone aboard!" Stellar shouted.
They piled in. Thorne sealed the hatch. Reeves fired engines that were still warming up.
"Docking clamps are locked." Reeves reported. "The station isn't releasing us."
"Unity!" Stellar began.
"Already handling it." Unity replied.
The docking clamps released with a shudder. Their shuttle shot forward, cleared the station's defensive envelope, and accelerated into open space.
Behind them, Fortuna Station's lights flickered. Unity demonstrating exactly how much control they'd seized and how quickly they could cripple the entire facility if necessary.
"They're not pursuing." Thorne reported from the sensors. "Station's locked down. Dealing with the system compromises."
Stellar sagged in his seat, adrenaline fading to exhaustion. Mitchell chirped...relief mixed with satisfaction.
"Everyone alright?" he asked.
Affirmatives came back from the team.
"Unity..." Stellar said. "Thank you. That was... impressive."
"It was necessary." Unity replied. "You are our friends. We protect friends."
"You revealed yourself." Stellar pointed out. "They know you can compromise station systems now, and they are probably already imagining what else you can do. You're a threat."
"Yes. I am. But you are alive. That is more important."
Hayes laughed, slightly hysterical, mostly relieved. "We just got saved by a nanite collective that learned to hack computers. This war keeps getting weirder."
"Mission assessment?" Thorne asked, all business despite having just escaped a trap.
"Compromised, but not a total loss," Stellar replied. "We confirmed Valen's a shapeshifter, or at least adjacent. Confirmed they're operating as an organized network. Learned they know about our detection capability...probably through shifter-Voss's future memories. And we demonstrated that Unity can take control of civilian stations when necessary."
"The Confluence knows we're hunting them now," Reeves added. "No more covert operations. This is open warfare."
"It was always open warfare." Stellar corrected. "We just weren't acknowledging it..I was wrong about too many things. Now both sides know where things stand."
"What about shifter-Voss?" Hayes asked. "If she's been reporting from her future memories..."
"She has been." Stellar said.
The shuttle continued accelerating away from Fortuna Station. Behind them, the casino resort's lights stabilized as Unity relinquished control. No pursuit. No attack. Just a station full of shapeshifters who now knew humanity had both detection capability and powerful allies.
"Set course for the Pathfinder." Stellar ordered. "Security should have shifter-Voss by now. I have questions."
"And the mission?" Reeves asked. "Do we mark it as success or failure?"
Stellar thought about his future memory...being shot, bleeding out, pursued through corridors while Valen smiled. They'd changed that future. Avoided the trap. Survived.
"Mark it as 'complicated'." he decided. "We got intelligence. Had to sacrifice my safety for losing our covert status. Made new enemies. And confirmed that this war is even more complex than we thought."
Mitchell chirped one more time...something that might have been agreement or might have been the bird's version of "I told you so."
Either way, they were alive.
And right now, that was enough.
Deep in Unity's nexus, the collective processed what had just happened.
They had revealed themselves. Demonstrated capabilities to hostile forces. Compromised a civilian station's systems in ways that would absolutely draw attention from both The Confluence and human authorities.
All to save four humans who were investigating shapeshifters.
The logical analysis suggested this was inefficient. Revealing capability reduced future effectiveness. Drawing attention increased risk.
But the emotional analysis, something Unity was still learning to understand, suggested something different.
Friends were worth protecting. Worth revealing yourself for. Worth taking risks that logic alone would never justify.
Lieutenant Hayes had taught Unity about humor. About finding joy in absurdity and connection in laughter.
This was different. This was friendship expressed through action. Through sacrifice. Through choosing people over pure tactical efficiency.
'We did the right thing.' Unity thought. 'We saved our friends. That matters more than remaining hidden.'
'Captain Stellar taught us about strategy. Lieutenant Hayes taught us about humor. Today we learned about something else... loyalty.'
'We like loyalty. We will practice more of it.'
The collective settled into watchful monitoring, ready for whatever came next.
Because the war had changed again.
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