Book 4: Chapter 159: Opening Movements

Book 4: Chapter 159: Opening Movements

USD: 3 months after Hot Rescue return from Hades.

Location: Nu Crateris, Outer System, Gas Giant High Orbit, A3123Y



[Hibernation Sequence Interrupted] [Assimilation Protocol: Condition Met] [Persona Core: Activate]

Amy's head spun as she slowly woke up, her senses awakening to the frigid air that enveloped her naked body in an icy embrace. Panic surged through her as confusion grew by the second as she tried to make sense of the strange environment.

Her frantic eyes darted around the stark white chamber, searching for something familiar to latch onto. The sterile smell filled her nostrils, adding to her disorientation. She could hear a faint hum in the background, perhaps from an unseen machine designed to maintain this peculiar place.

Suddenly, Abbey's voice broke through the chaos in Amy's mind. "Calm down," she said gently, standing nearby with a look of concern on her face. "You're safe." As if to reinforce the reassurance, a small hand settled on Amy's shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze.

Amy's racing heart began to slow as she focused on the warmth of Abbey's touch and the sound of her soothing words.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

"Sis?" Logan called out tentatively as he approached, his brow furrowed with worry. In his hands was a soft bathrobe that he offered to Amy with a weak smile. Gratefully, she pulled it around herself and tied it securely.

The plush fabric provided some much-needed warmth against Amy's skin, allowing her muscles to relax slightly. With each passing moment, she felt more of her strength returning.

Tentatively sitting up on the slab that had been her resting place, she found herself feeling lighter than air as though gravity held no power over her newly awakened form. The sensation brought both curiosity and unease.

"What happened?" she asked hesitantly, trying to piece together fragmented memories while gazing at her concerned companions. Her voice wavered slightly, betraying just how disoriented and afraid she truly felt.

Logan's concern was evident as he looked deep into Amy's eyes. "What do you remember?" he asked cautiously, his voice carrying a hint of trepidation.

Amy hesitated, her mind racing as she tried to recall the moments before she woke up. She could feel the lingering sensation of cold metal against her skin and the hum of machines that had surrounded her in the medbay. "I I remember being on the Hot Rescue," she said slowly. "I was sick, and the corpsman was trying to keep me stable."

Logan nodded solemnly, his expression a mix of sadness and relief. "You got worse," he explained. "But they managed to get you to Abbey just in time for her to"

His words trailed off as he glanced over at Abbey, who raised her hand with an air of confidence, eager to explain further. "Chi Amy," she began, her tone imbued with a hint of pride, "you are now a NAI like me! I guess you could say I'm sort of like your mom now?"

The flag bridge's main screen flickered to life, revealing a woman dressed in Solarian Naval attire. Anger burned in her eyes as she stared back at them with unyielding intensity.

"I am Chi Ferreta of the Solarian Navy," she declared sharply. "By authority granted to me by Psi Solaria, I order you to stand down in accordance with the Four Nations treaty. You are harboring illegal technology and must allow our forces to investigate and enforce interstellar law."

Alex's eyes slid toward another monitor displaying tactical information on both fleets. The Solarian Task Force consisted of twelve battleships, fifty cruisers, and a hundred lighter ships formidable but quite outnumbered by Admiral Parks' fleet of fifty battleships, two hundred cruisers, and five hundred smaller vessels arranged in a massive bubble formation around the area and jump point as pickets.

Alex locked her gaze with Ferreta, her voice steady but firm. "Chi Ferreta, this is Chi Alex. Psi Celestia does not accept your authority here. I must politely ask that you take your squadron back through the jump point. If you would like to send an envoy to your embassy in the system, then you may select one light element to be escorted."

Fury erupted on Ferreta's face as she spat out her words, accusing Alex of deceit and insisting that their tricks would be exposed. She was resolute in her determination to press on and uncover the truth.

"Your lies will not work," Ferreta seethed, narrowing her eyes at Alex. "You are not a Chi, and Chi Celestia is not a Psi!"

The tension in the CIC grew palpable as crew members exchanged glances or focused more intently on their tasks, striving to maintain an air of cool professionalism despite the mounting pressure.

Alex sighed and feigned boredom, even as her heart raced within her chest. She could hear it thudding in her ears, drowning out the low hum of the consoles around them. "Chi Ferreta, if you do not take your squadron back through the jump point, we will be forced to turn you into scrap. I realize that your logical circuits might be installed backwards, but do try to count the number of warships you have compared to Admiral Park's before I am forced to order him to annihilate you."

At this threat, Ferreta's face contorted in further outrage, her breaths coming in sharp gasps as she struggled for a retort. The sight of her anger practically radiated from the screen before them, and Alex swore she could even smell it - sharp and acrid like burnt ozone. "Youyou wouldn't darethat would be declaring war!"

Alex could see Admiral Parks knuckles turning white as he gripped the railing tightly, the strain evident in the cords of his forearm muscles. She felt sorry for him, but he should have known what their negotiating strategy was going to be; theyd already sent the Corporate Systems task force packing a week earlier in the same manner.

Alex sighed, maintaining her nonchalant attitude. "Yes, well, that would be unfortunate. But really, you would be dead, and we would be at war You do have a self-preservation directive somewhere in there, don't you? Please consider not making us kill you; I'd like to get back to MIL-1A so I don't miss my mid-semester finals."

Feretta screeched and abruptly cut off the comm link. Admiral Parks exhaled a breath he'd been holding. "Is it wise to taunt them like that?" he asked Alex.

Alex sighed again. "I've only been a 'Chi' for a little while, but from what I've learned, they're all like that. The only way to deal with them is either to hug them into submission or have a lot of guns to point at their heads."

"And what are we going to do when we don't have enough guns?"

Alex swallowed hard. "That, Admiral, is what we're hoping to solve before they manage to coordinate things."

An officer approached the flag bridge with an update. "Admiral, the Solarian fleet is retreating through the jump point. There's one frigate hailing usit's asking permission to be escorted."

"Drat," mumbled Alex under her breath. "I hoped they would just forget about that."