Several hours had passed since the underground attack. The station had not fully recovered, but the immediate fighting had stopped. Damaged corridors had been sealed, wounded fighters had been moved to the medical room, and the remaining frontier fighters were guarding the lower levels. Outside, the unknown fleet continued to hold position above the planet while the station's damaged defense systems remained on alert.
The command room shook again as a distant impact struck the lower levels. Dust fell from the ceiling while the tactical display flickered between the underground map and the approaching fleet. Kaelen kept his eyes on the large signal beneath the command room.
"Vane, can you determine what that signal is?"
Vane worked quickly through the damaged sensor network. "I am trying, but the signal is interfering with the old systems."
"Can you tell if it is moving?"
"No. It stopped directly beneath us."
Kaelen looked toward the floor. The sound of weapons fire had become distant, but occasional bursts still came from the lower maintenance level. Several frontier fighters were reporting damage through the communication channel.
Eva turned toward the tactical display. "The fighters are holding the lower corridor, but they are still being pushed back."
"How many attackers?"
"At least six."
Kaelen looked at Vane. "Are they machines?"
Vane checked the sensor readings. "The smaller signals are definitely drones. The larger ones are something else."
"Can you identify them?"
"Not yet."
Kaelen picked up his weapon and moved toward the command room entrance. Eva immediately followed him.
"Where are you going?"
"To the lower level."
Eva shook her head. "You should stay here and command the defense."
"The defense is already organized. The problem is below us."
Vane looked up from the console. "General, the large signal just changed."
Kaelen stopped.
"How?"
"It is powering up."
A deep vibration passed through the station.
The floor beneath them trembled.
Eva raised her weapon. "What is happening?"
Vane stared at the readings. "I do not know."
A second vibration followed, stronger than the first.
Then the lights went out.
Emergency lighting activated several seconds later, filling the command room with a dim red glow.
Kaelen looked at Vane. "Restore the main power."
"I cannot. Something is drawing energy from the lower grid."
Kaelen understood immediately.
"The machines."
Vane nodded. "They are draining the station."
Kaelen opened the communication channel. "Eva, send two fighters to the power control room."
Eva activated the channel. "What are they supposed to do?"
"Disconnect the lower grid."
Vane looked at Kaelen. "If they disconnect it, the northern tunnels will lose power."
Kaelen turned toward him.
"How long can the evacuation group survive without it?"
"Several hours."
"Then cut it."
Eva gave the order.
A few seconds later, the station shook again. This time the sound came from directly beneath the command room.
Kaelen looked at the floor.
"They are coming up."
Eva raised her rifle. "Everyone prepare."
The frontier fighters moved into defensive positions around the command room.
Kaelen walked to the center of the room and studied the tactical display. The smaller signals were spreading through the lower maintenance levels, while the larger signal remained beneath them.
Then the tactical display showed a new movement.
The large signal was rising.
Vane looked at the readings. "It is moving toward the command room."
Kaelen looked at Eva.
"Move the fighters back."
"How far?"
"To the main corridor."
Eva immediately gave the order.
The fighters began withdrawing from the command room.
Kaelen remained behind with Vane.
Eva looked at him.
"You are staying?"
"For now."
She hesitated, then nodded and moved toward the corridor.
The floor suddenly cracked.
A section of metal beneath the tactical table bent upward.
Vane stepped back.
"General."
Kaelen drew his weapon.
The metal floor split open.
A large mechanical limb pushed through the opening. It was followed by another. Then a heavy armored body forced its way into the command room.
The machine stood more than two meters tall. Its outer armor was dark and heavily reinforced, with no visible markings. Several blue sensors moved across its head while its mechanical arms ended in compact energy weapons.
Vane stared at it.
"That is not a mining machine."
Kaelen raised his weapon.
"No."
The machine scanned the room. Its sensors stopped on Kaelen, and a targeting light appeared.
Kaelen fired first.
His shot struck the machine's chest armor, but the energy bolt only left a small burn mark.
The machine raised its weapon.
Kaelen moved behind the tactical table as a burst of energy crossed the room. The blast struck the wall and destroyed one of the damaged control panels.
Vane dropped behind a console.
"That armor is too strong!"
Kaelen looked at the machine.
"Find a weak point."
"I am trying."
The machine advanced. Its heavy feet damaged the metal floor with every step.
Kaelen fired again, this time targeting the joint beneath its right arm.
The shot struck the joint.
The machine slowed for a moment.
Kaelen noticed the reaction.
"Right arm."
Vane checked the sensor readings.
"The joint has weaker armor."
Kaelen fired three more shots into the same location.
The machine's right arm dropped slightly.
It responded by releasing a powerful energy burst toward Kaelen.
He moved aside as the blast struck the tactical table.
The table split apart.
Kaelen rolled across the floor and rose immediately. His SS rank body reacted before his conscious mind finished processing the attack.
He fired again.
The damaged joint began to break.
The machine turned toward him.
Then Eva and the frontier fighters opened fire from the main corridor.
Dozens of energy bolts struck the machine from behind.
The machine turned toward the new attackers.
Kaelen used the opening.
He rushed forward and fired directly into the damaged joint.
The machine's right arm detached from its body and crashed onto the floor.
Eva shouted from the corridor.
"Now!"
The frontier fighters continued firing.
The machine staggered.
Kaelen targeted its chest.
The armor finally began to crack.
He fired again.
The machine collapsed onto one knee.
Kaelen moved closer.
Before he could fire again, the machine released a high energy pulse.
The entire command room shook.
Kaelen was thrown backward and struck the wall.
His vision blurred for several seconds.
Eva shouted his name.
"Kaelen!"
He forced himself upright.
The machine was standing again.
Its damaged right side sparked while its remaining weapon charged.
Kaelen looked toward the ceiling.
"Vane."
Vane looked at him from behind the console.
"Yes?"
"Can you overload the emergency power system?"
Vane stared at him.
"That could destroy the entire command room."
"I know."
"But you will be inside it."
Kaelen looked at the machine.
"Do it."
Vane hesitated.
Then he connected the emergency power system to the command room's damaged grid.
The machine moved toward Kaelen.
Its weapon charged.
Vane activated the overload.
A surge of energy passed through the room.
The machine froze.
Its sensors flickered.
Kaelen immediately raised his weapon.
"Now."
Vane redirected the power surge into the damaged joint.
The machine's internal systems overloaded.
Its armor split open.
Kaelen fired directly into the exposed core.
The machine collapsed.
Its body struck the floor with enough force to shake the room.
The remaining lights flickered.
Then everything became quiet.
Eva lowered her weapon.
"Is it dead?"
Vane approached the machine carefully.
"I think so."
Kaelen walked toward the body.
"Do not touch it."
Vane stopped.
Kaelen examined the machine's armor. There were no Imperial markings and no manufacturer identification. Only a small symbol was visible beneath the damaged armor.
Vane leaned closer.
"What is that?"
Kaelen looked at the symbol.
"I do not know."
Eva looked toward the broken floor.
"How many more are down there?"
Vane checked the sensors.
"At least eleven."
Kaelen's expression hardened.
"Then this was only one."
A sudden alarm sounded.
Vane turned toward the tactical display.
"General, the orbital fleet has entered the lower atmosphere."
Kaelen looked at the display.
Three large vessels appeared above the station. They were much larger than the scout.
Eva stared at the screen.
"They are deploying something."
Vane checked the readings.
"Multiple transport signatures."
Kaelen looked toward the destroyed machine.
"They sent the machines first."
Eva understood.
"The machines were clearing the station from below while the fleet attacked from above."
Kaelen nodded.
"They wanted us divided."
Vane looked at the tactical map.
"There is another problem."
"What?"
"The northern evacuation group has stopped moving."
Kaelen turned sharply.
"Why?"
"I do not know."
"Contact them."
Vane opened the communication channel.
Static filled the room.
Then a weak voice came through.
"Command, this is Northern Group."
Kaelen stepped closer.
"Report."
The voice was nervous.
"We found another tunnel."
Kaelen frowned.
"Where?"
"It is beneath the old mining district."
Vane checked the map.
"That is impossible. There are no registered tunnels in that section."
The voice continued.
"We know. But it is here."
Kaelen looked at Vane.
"Can you locate them?"
Vane tracked the signal.
"They are about two kilometers north of the processing plant."
Kaelen studied the map.
"Ask them what they found."
Vane relayed the question.
There was a long pause.
Then the voice returned.
"We found a sealed military door."
Kaelen's eyes narrowed.
"Open it."
The voice hesitated.
"General, there is something written on it."
"What?"
The answer came through the static.
"It says the facility is restricted to Imperial high command."
Kaelen looked at Vane.
The abandoned station was not supposed to contain any active military facility. The mining settlement had been forgotten for years, yet someone had built a sealed military facility beneath it.
Kaelen studied the map again.
"Is there a route from the processing plant to that tunnel?"
Vane searched the old structural records.
"There is an old service tunnel."
"Where does it lead?"
"It connects the processing plant to the northern underground network."
Kaelen looked toward Eva.
"Then the door is connected to the old processing system."
Eva nodded.
"That means we can reach it from here."
"Exactly."
Kaelen turned toward Eva.
"Move the remaining fighters toward the northern tunnels."
Eva looked surprised.
"What about the fleet?"
"The orbital defense cannon will handle the first attack."
"And you?"
Kaelen looked toward the underground map.
"I am going to see what is behind that door."
Eva shook her head.
"You just fought one of those machines."
"And there are eleven more below us."
"Exactly."
Kaelen looked at her.
"If that facility is connected to them, we need to know what we are dealing with."
Eva stared at him for several seconds before finally nodding.
"I will keep the route open."
Kaelen turned toward Vane.
"Can you guide us through the old service tunnel?"
Vane checked the damaged map.
"I can try."
"Good."
Kaelen picked up his weapon.
The next several minutes were spent securing the command room and transferring the wounded fighters to safer areas. Eva took the remaining fighters toward the northern underground network while Vane copied the old tunnel maps onto a portable device.
By the time Kaelen was ready to leave, the station had regained limited power. The orbital defense cannon had also begun charging again, giving the defenders at least one weapon against the fleet above.
Kaelen, Vane, and six armed fighters entered the lower maintenance level.
The corridor was still filled with dust, burned metal, and the smell of damaged machinery. Emergency lights flickered along the walls as they moved deeper into the station.
They passed the remains of the first mechanical unit Kaelen had destroyed.
Its dark armor was still warm.
Vane stopped beside it.
"These machines are much older than I expected."
Kaelen looked at the damaged body.
"How old?"
Vane examined the internal components.
"At least twenty years."
Eva looked at him.
"Twenty years?"
"Possibly more."
Kaelen studied the machine.
"Then they were waiting here."
Vane nodded.
"For a very long time."
They continued through the lower maintenance corridor until they reached the old processing plant.
The massive structure had been abandoned for years. Broken machinery filled the sides of the room, and thick layers of dust covered the old mining equipment.
Vane checked the map.
"The service tunnel should be behind this section."
Kaelen looked around.
"Find it."
The fighters moved the damaged equipment aside. After several minutes, they uncovered a narrow reinforced passage hidden behind the old processing machinery.
Vane scanned the entrance.
"This tunnel connects directly to the northern underground network."
Kaelen looked at him.
"How far to the sealed door?"
"About two kilometers."
"Then move."
They entered the tunnel.
The passage descended slowly beneath the processing plant before turning north. Unlike the damaged mining tunnels, parts of this route were reinforced with military alloy. Faded Imperial markings appeared along the walls at regular intervals.
Vane stared at them.
"This was not part of the mining system."
Kaelen looked at the markings.
"No."
They continued deeper.
After nearly twenty minutes, the tunnel opened into a larger underground chamber.
A reinforced military door stood at the far end.
The same Imperial High Command symbol that the northern evacuation group had reported was clearly visible above it.
Vane checked the door.
"Power is still active."
Kaelen stepped closer.
"After all these years?"
"Yes."
"Open it."
Vane tried the access system.
The door remained locked.
A small red light appeared.
"Authorization required."
Vane looked at Kaelen.
"That is what I expected."
Kaelen studied the door.
"What do we need?"
Vane pointed to the damaged access panel.
"An Imperial command authorization."
Kaelen looked at him.
"You said the facility may recognize an SS rank biological signature."
"Yes."
Kaelen stepped toward the panel.
"Can you confirm it?"
"Not without testing the system."
Kaelen placed his hand against the scanner.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then the panel changed.
The red light disappeared.
A pale blue light appeared instead.
Vane stared at the display.
"It recognized you."
Kaelen slowly removed his hand.
The system displayed a single line of text.
SS RANK GENERAL.
ACTIVE COMMAND AUTHORIZATION.
Kaelen stared at the words.
His military identity had been erased from the Empire.
But this place had not forgotten him.
The door unlocked with a deep mechanical sound.
Everyone raised their weapons.
Kaelen looked at the opening.
"Stay alert."
The reinforced door began sliding into the wall.
Cold air flowed from the darkness beyond.
A long corridor appeared beneath the station.
Unlike the damaged mining tunnels, this corridor was clean and intact. The walls were made from dark military alloy, and small lights activated one after another as the door opened.
Vane stared into the facility.
"This place is still operating."
Kaelen stepped inside.
The others followed.
The door closed behind them.
For the first time since arriving at the border planet, Kaelen was completely cut off from the station above.
He looked down the empty corridor.
There were no bodies, no damaged equipment, and no signs of battle. Whatever had been hidden inside Command Vault Seven had been preserved exactly as it was when the facility was sealed.
Vane checked his scanner.
"General."
Kaelen turned.
"What?"
"There are power readings deeper inside."
"How many?"
Vane looked at the display.
"Too many."
Kaelen looked toward the darkness ahead.
"Then we keep moving."
They walked deeper into the hidden facility.
Behind them, the sealed door remained closed.
Above them, the frontier station continued preparing for another attack.
Far beyond the planet, the unknown fleet had stopped its descent.
It was waiting.
Kaelen did not know why.
But he now understood one thing.
The station had never been the real target.
The enemy had come because of what was hidden beneath it.
And Kaelen had just opened the door.