The damaged civilian transport descended toward the abandoned military station while Kaelen watched its approach through the command room window. Vane continued studying the incoming signal as the transport moved slowly through the thin atmosphere, its damaged engine producing an uneven trail of smoke.
"It is reducing speed," Vane said.
Kaelen looked at the tactical display. "Too early."
Eva turned toward him. "You noticed it too."
"A damaged engine should make the landing harder, not cleaner," Kaelen replied.
Vane checked the ship's power readings again. "The main engine is operating at thirty one percent capacity."
"And the life support system?"
"Full capacity."
Kaelen's expression hardened. "Military grade life support on a civilian transport."
Eva raised her laser rifle. "Trap?"
"Possibly."
Kaelen looked around the old military station. "Nobody comes this far into the border by accident."
The transport passed over the abandoned mining towers with its landing lights already active, and a moment later it touched down on the secondary landing platform. Dust spread across the concrete while the engines remained active.
Kaelen watched the transport carefully. "Do not open the main station gate."
Eva nodded as several frontier fighters moved into position around the landing platform. They carried old Imperial rifles and repaired mining weapons.
Vane moved closer to the tactical display. "There are six life signs."
Kaelen looked at him. "Six?"
"Yes."
The transport doors remained closed while Kaelen watched the ship. Several seconds passed without movement before the communication channel finally opened.
A man's voice came through. "Border station, please respond."
Eva looked at Kaelen, and he nodded for her to answer.
She activated the channel. "This is the border station. Identify yourself."
Static answered before the man spoke again.
"We are civilian workers from the outer mining settlements. Our ship was attacked while transporting medical supplies."
Kaelen studied the ship. "Where were you attacked?"
"Seven systems from here."
"By whom?"
The man hesitated before answering. "Pirates."
Kaelen's eyes narrowed. "Which pirate group?"
Another pause followed.
"We do not know."
Vane looked at Kaelen. "The signal is changing."
Kaelen turned toward him. "Changing how?"
"The ship is transmitting two different identification codes."
Eva immediately raised her rifle. "Imperial?"
Vane shook his head. "Not Imperial. One appears civilian. The other is encrypted."
Kaelen stepped away from the window. "Open the outer gate to the inspection bay."
Eva looked at him in surprise. "You are letting them inside?"
"Only the inspection bay. Keep the inner station gate closed."
Eva understood immediately. The inspection bay had been built between the landing platform and the main station entrance. If the transport entered, the outer gate could close behind it while the reinforced inner gate kept the ship separated from the station.
"If they attack, they will be trapped between the two gates," Eva said.
Kaelen nodded. "Exactly."
The outer gate opened, and the transport moved forward. Its damaged landing gear scraped against the concrete as the ship entered the enclosed inspection bay. Once the transport was completely inside, the outer gate closed behind it.
The inner station gate remained sealed.
For several seconds, nothing happened. Then the transport engines suddenly shut down, and Vane's eyes widened.
"The encrypted signal is active."
Kaelen moved toward the inspection chamber. "Everyone ready."
The transport doors opened, and six people stepped outside. Five wore civilian mining clothes, while the sixth wore a medical uniform. All six appeared exhausted, and the medical worker raised both hands.
"We need help."
Kaelen studied them from the other side of the reinforced glass. No weapons were visible, and there was no obvious military equipment, but their movements were wrong. They were too controlled and too coordinated for frightened civilians who had supposedly survived a pirate attack.
Kaelen looked at Eva. "Check their boots."
Eva zoomed her rifle scope, and her expression changed.
"Military soles."
Kaelen nodded. "All six."
Vane checked the transport again. "There is another problem."
"What?"
"The ship has no medical cargo."
Eva looked toward Kaelen. "Then what is inside?"
Vane scanned the cargo compartment. "Nothing."
Kaelen remained silent as the six people outside suddenly stopped moving. The medical worker looked directly toward the observation window, and even through the reinforced glass, Kaelen could feel the person's attention.
Then the worker smiled.
Kaelen's instincts tightened. "Close the inner shutters."
The armored shutters dropped at the same moment the six people outside moved. The medical worker pulled a compact weapon from beneath his coat while the others drew concealed rifles. Gunfire exploded across the inspection bay as energy bolts struck the armored shutters and shook the station.
Eva immediately ordered the frontier fighters to return fire. "Take cover!"
The old station filled with weapons fire while Kaelen moved toward the tactical table.
"Vane, lock the transport."
Vane's fingers moved across the controls. "Trying."
The transport suddenly powered its engines.
"It is forcing the inner gate!"
Kaelen looked toward the inspection bay.
The transport was trying to drive through the reinforced gate that separated the inspection bay from the main station.
"How much power?"
"Enough to damage the inner gate."
"Then shut down its engine."
"I cannot reach the control system."
Kaelen looked at the old tactical network. The station had been abandoned for years, and many of its systems were damaged, but the original military security network was still partially connected.
He placed his hand against the control panel. "Show me the transport's power relay."
A damaged diagram appeared.
"There."
Kaelen pointed toward the lower section of the transport. "Eva, hit that location."
She immediately raised her rifle and fired three precise shots through the observation window. The first struck the landing gear, the second hit the outer power conduit, and the third entered the engine relay.
The transport's engines died, and the entire ship dropped onto its landing supports.
The six attackers froze.
Kaelen looked at the frontier fighters. "Take them alive."
The fighters rushed into the inspection bay while the attackers resisted. Two were knocked down immediately, while another tried to reach the transport before Eva struck him with the rifle stock.
The medical worker attempted to activate something on his wrist.
Kaelen saw the movement. "Stop him."
A frontier fighter grabbed the man's arm, causing a small device to fall from his hand.
Vane picked it up. "Remote beacon."
Kaelen looked at the device. "Who were they calling?"
Vane scanned it. "I do not know."
The device suddenly transmitted, and a signal appeared on the tactical screen.
Kaelen stared at it.
The signal was not local.
It was orbital.
Eva looked toward the ceiling. "Someone is above us."
Kaelen's expression became cold. "How many?"
Vane scanned the upper atmosphere. "One vessel."
"Class?"
"Small military scout."
Eva cursed quietly. "Imperial?"
Vane checked the signal. "No Imperial transponder."
Kaelen looked at the captured attackers. The medical worker was staring back at him.
"You knew we would be here."
The man smiled. "We knew someone would come."
Kaelen stepped closer. "Who sent you?"
The man said nothing.
Kaelen looked toward Vane. "Scan the beacon again."
Vane activated the scanner, and the signal became clearer. His expression changed.
"General."
"What?"
"This is not a communication beacon."
Kaelen waited.
"It is a locator."
Eva looked toward the sky. "Meaning?"
Vane answered quietly. "It was not calling the ship."
Kaelen understood immediately.
"It was telling the ship where we are."
The command room became silent as Kaelen looked through the observation window. The abandoned station suddenly felt much smaller.
Someone had not simply discovered their location.
Someone had followed them.
Kaelen turned toward Eva. "How long?"
Vane checked the orbital data. "Four minutes."
"Until what?"
"The scout reaches firing range."
Eva raised her weapon. "Then we have four minutes to prepare."
Kaelen looked at the damaged defense network. "How many weapons can we activate?"
Vane scanned the old station. "Two orbital defense cannons."
"Condition?"
"One is completely dead."
"And the other?"
"Thirty seven percent power."
Kaelen looked at the tactical map. "Activate it."
Vane hesitated. "It has not been tested in twelve years."
"Then today will be its test."
Eva began giving orders to the frontier fighters. "Move everyone underground. Seal the eastern tunnels. Bring the ammunition crates to the command room."
The station quickly came alive as former miners carried weapons and frontier fighters moved through the corridors. Old defense systems began powering up while the captured attackers were secured inside a reinforced storage room.
Kaelen returned to the tactical table, with Vane standing beside him.
"General."
Kaelen looked at him.
"The locator signal is still transmitting."
"Can you stop it?"
"I can block it."
"Do it."
Vane worked on the navigation console while the signal flickered across the display. After several attempts, it finally disappeared.
Vane looked relieved.
Kaelen was not.
"That was too easy."
Vane looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"If they had military equipment and knew our location, they would not depend on a single beacon."
Eva entered the command room.
"General."
Kaelen turned.
"The orbital scout has entered the upper atmosphere."
The tactical display showed a small vessel descending through the clouds.
Kaelen studied its trajectory. "Where is it going?"
Eva looked at the coordinates. "Directly toward us."
Kaelen's eyes hardened.
"They found the station."
Vane looked at the damaged defense cannon. "Thirty seven percent power."
Kaelen looked toward the underground survivors. Thousands of forgotten people were hiding beneath the station. They had no fleet, no Imperial protection, and no second base. They had only one damaged defense cannon and an abandoned military station.
Kaelen placed both hands on the tactical table.
"Then we make thirty seven percent enough."
Outside, the orbital scout descended through the clouds while the old defense cannon slowly turned toward the sky.
For the first time in twelve years, the abandoned border station prepared for war.