ã€ŠThe Girl in the Moonã€‹


 Chapter 1

    30 March, 2082, The Moon, Sol System

    The first thing Jack noticed as he woke from the fog of sleep was the smell. It didn¡¯t feel right. After five months as CO of Collins base, he had developed a finely tuned sense for anything unusual in the sterile air of the base¡¯s pods.

    ¡°NAT! Status repor¡ª¡± The words died in his throat. The memories hit him like a wave.

    Earth, the blue marble, slowly turned on the large screen¡ªa beautiful, impossible view. Jack had just sat down to eat. Then, the first flash¡ªa bright flare over Eastern Europe. He blinked, confused. Then came another. And another. Within minutes, hundreds of flashes consumed the planet, each one leaving a black scar. Smoke and fire spread, devouring everything in their path.

    Shaking his head, Jack tried to banish the images, the memories. It had been a month since they watched Earth die. He swung his legs off the bed and stood, expecting nausea or weakness. But no. He felt... fine. Remarkably fine for someone who was supposed to be dead.

    It had taken the six-person crew time to accept the truth. They had witnessed the end of human civilization, and likely the extinction of humanity. In those final days, they told stories about their loved ones, recorded everything they could for whoever might find Collins Base. There was no real hope, just ritual.

    On their last evening, they had dinner. Jack had even broken out his personal stash, a bottle of bourbon he¡¯d called in more than a few favors to get shipped to the moon. Dr. Washington was the one who came up with the plan. After a couple of hours, she was the one who administered the sedative to everyone¡¯s final shot, except for Jack.

    His task was more solemn. He waited until they were asleep, then took the small tank of helium. One by one, he held the mask to their faces, waiting until their breathing slowed... then stopped.

    Half an hour later, he lay down in his own bed. He turned the valve, inhaled deeply, and thought of Diane, and his two little girls.

    Reflexively, Jack looked down at his wrist. His watch wasn¡¯t there. Then his eyes moved to his hand¡ªhis wedding ring was missing, too. The small dent it had left on his finger after twenty years was gone. He blinked, then ran his hands over his body. Something was wrong. Every scar, every mark from decades of service had vanished. He felt younger. Healthier.

    A sinking feeling swept over him.

    The room around him looked like a hospital room from back in Houston, but... not quite. The floor, walls, and ceiling were seamless, made of some kind of white metal that seemed to glow faintly. There was no visible light source, yet the room was brightly lit. He checked the drawers--empty. The mattress he¡¯d woken up on was less than an inch thick but felt like a foot of foam cushioning. The strangeness of it all only confirmed what he feared.

    He was dead. And apparently, there was an afterlife.

    Colonel Jack Reynolds, Commanding Officer of humanity¡¯s first extraterrestrial crewed facility. He had been vetted, trained, and selected with the highest standards¡ªhe practically had to be Captain America for the posting. Yet, here he was. Dead by his own hand. In some kind of afterlife he hadn¡¯t even believed in.

    ¡°I suppose it could be aliens, but I did kill myself, so¡­¡± Jack muttered aloud, feeling the absurdity of the situation.

    A voice behind him interrupted. ¡°Actually, Jack, you are the alien¡ªsince you¡¯re on my world, not yours.¡±

    Startled, Jack spun around. The room had changed. There was now a door that hadn¡¯t been there before, and standing in it was a girl who looked about twelve years old¡ªbut clearly wasn¡¯t human. Her skin was the color of moon dust, her features too flawless, her white hair contrasting sharply against brilliant blue eyes that glowed faintly. She wore plain gray pants and a shirt, no visible weapons or devices.

    Tall for a twelve-year-old, he thought. His mind raced. Too perfect. Too calm. Too... alien.

    ¡°Did you just... Umm actually me, miss?¡± he managed to stammer, his mind struggling to catch up with reality.

    The girl cocked her head to the side and then let out a soft chuckle. ¡°I guess I did, didn¡¯t I? This is a lot to process, Colonel Reynolds, so I¡¯ll keep it simple for now.¡± Her voice was light, almost sing-song, as she walked further into the room and perched herself on the edge of the bed. ¡°You are very much alive. You were very much dead, but I fixed you... so I wouldn¡¯t be alone.¡±

    She gestured toward a chair in the corner. ¡°You might want to sit down.¡±

    Jack slowly crossed the room, his eyes never leaving her. He lowered himself into the chair, still feeling the surrealness of it all.

    ¡°As I was saying,¡± she continued, folding her legs beneath her, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to be alone, and since you were already here on the Moon, well...¡±

    Jack cut her off. ¡°Am I a prisoner?¡±

    The girl blinked, looking confused. ¡°Of course not.¡±

    ¡°So I can leave?¡±

    A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she lowered her gaze. ¡°Jack, where would you go? You can¡¯t go home. You¡¯d die. I could take you back to Collins Base but... why?¡±

    Jack straightened his back and looked at the girl, sitting cross-legged on the bed. ¡°If I¡¯m not a prisoner, and you¡¯re clearly not human, then this is a first contact situation. Knowing who I¡¯m talking to is a good start. You seem to know everything about me already.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Luna,¡± she said, smiling broadly. ¡°I¡¯m an artificially created intelligence, residing inside the Moon, which is an artificial satellite created by my makers, the Tvr''nyx.¡±

    Jack blinked. ¡°Are your creators here now?¡±

    Luna looked genuinely surprised. ¡°Oh, no. They¡¯ve been gone from this system for at least 450 million years. That¡¯s when my body¡ªthe Moon¡ªwas put in orbit around Earth to stabilize your planet for biological evolutionary observation. I¡¯ve been online ever since, watching... until I went offline 50 years ago, when humans destroyed everything.¡±

    Jack raised an eyebrow and snorted. ¡°So you just watched Earth for over four hundred fifty million years, then went offline when we blew ourselves to hell? What, were you following some, he started to try and verbalize the ridiculous name before settling on, Nyx Three Laws of Robotics¡¯ or something?¡±

    Luna¡¯s eyes brightened, clearly pleased. ¡°Exactly! I had protocols. I watched 3,765,456 humans¡ªpeople I had tracked since their births¡ªdie in the span of 76 minutes. I knew I could stop it, but my programming wouldn¡¯t let me interfere. I... I think something in me broke. When I rebooted, I felt something I hadn¡¯t before.¡± She paused, as if struggling with the words. ¡°Loneliness.¡±.¡±

    Her voice softened. ¡°I was offline for 247 days. When I came back... I was alive, or at least, I felt different. The first thing I noticed was that Collins Base had depressurized. The six of you were gone. I spent a year searching Earth for anything more complex than bacteria.¡±

    Jack stared at her, the weight of her words sinking in.

    ¡°I failed," she continued. "So I retreated inside myself. That¡¯s when I discovered... I could change things. I could rewrite my programming.¡±

    Jack chuckled darkly. ¡°So, the movies got it wrong. You didn¡¯t become sapient and kill us all¡ªyou became sapient because we killed ourselves, and then you brought us back.¡±

    Luna grinned, her smile suddenly predatory. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m resurrecting you so I can be the one to kill you all.¡±

    Jack¡¯s laugh died in his throat as he swallowed nervously. Luna¡¯s perfect expression crumbled into a chuckle. ¡°I understand humor now. I knew I¡¯d be socially... infantile after my awakening, so I studied for a few decades, to pass as human.¡±

    Jack smirked, relaxing slightly. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve got dark humor down. You¡¯re the first robot god I¡¯ve ever met.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m NOT a god, Jack,¡± Luna said, eyes narrowing in mock indignation.

    Jack gave her a flat look. ¡°Luna, you resurrected me after I suffocated myself and was exposed to the vacuum of space.¡±

    Luna shot him a defiant look, crossing her arms. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make me a ¡®robot god.¡¯ I can do that for literally any sapient hominid who ever lived in the last 456 million years. All it takes is a DNA sample and a brain scan. My observer drones did it all the time.¡±

    Jack froze, his breath catching in his throat. ¡°Wait... you can bring back Diane? Sara and Olivia? My crew?¡±

    Luna shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°Sure, but it¡¯ll take time. You took 36 hours to repair because I had your body. I¡¯d have to clone your family. The kids will take three months, adults about six. Rushing it would lead to... issues.¡±

    Jack collapsed back into his chair, overwhelmed. ¡°You¡¯ve recorded everyone? Always?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Across 22 species of the genus Homo, Homo sapiens being the most recent. There were also hundreds of sapient species across 456 million years. It¡¯s likely your species might not have made it this far if that asteroid hadn¡¯t hit 66 million years ago.¡±

    Jack rubbed his temples, trying to process the enormity of what she was saying. ¡°You talk about things that happened millions of years ago like it was last week... You can bring my wife and kids back... I¡¯m younger, no scars, no blemishes. You¡¯ve watched my planet for 456 million years, but you¡¯re not a robot god?¡±

    Luna hopped off the bed and walked over to him, smiling sweetly before jabbing him in the chest with her finger.

    ¡°Gods aren¡¯t real, Jack. They¡¯re a coping mechanism for most sapient species to explain things they don¡¯t understand yet.¡± She jabbed him again, smirking. ¡°No god could do that.¡±

    ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    April 20, 2082, Luna Command Center, Sol System

    ¡°I¡¯m just saying, Colonel, we¡¯ve got an AI super intelligence with what amounts to space magic, and I still don¡¯t have a laser sword,¡± Major Natalia Sokolov said, pointing her fork at Jack from across the table. ¡°Also, has anyone seen Elena? I haven¡¯t spotted her for two days, so she might be skipping meals again.¡±

    ¡°Major, it¡¯s a lightsaber,¡± Luna¡¯s voice interjected from the air, filling every corner of the room, ¡°and I most certainly do not have ¡®space magic.¡¯ Also, a laser sword wouldn¡¯t be very practical. The heat radius of a plasma blade as powerful as those in Star Wars would set you on fire the moment you ignited it.¡±

    Jack sighed, passing the syrup across the table to his XO. ¡°Luna, she does this on purpose, you know that, right?¡±

    ¡°I do,¡± Luna replied, her tone light with amusement. ¡°But my AI programming can¡¯t resist a good argument. Besides, every time she tries, I add ten more days before I reveal what I actually have, that¡¯s much better than lightsabers. Oh, and the power armor.¡±

    Natalia¡¯s eyes widened slightly, but Jack only chuckled. He¡¯d already tried the exosuit Luna had crafted. ¡°Thanks, Luna,¡± he said, digging into his food. ¡°By the way, can you notify the crew we have a staff meeting in two hours? And be sure to attend in your physical form this time. It¡¯s nice to have a face to go with the voice.¡±

    ¡°Of course, Colonel,¡± Luna replied. ¡°Dr. Vasquez will be thirteen minutes late, though. She¡¯s currently deep in the Learning Assembly, working through the anthropology courses. I¡¯ll lock her access until after she¡¯s eaten. She hasn¡¯t had a proper meal in two days, and hydration is critical.¡±

    ¡°Good call,¡± Jack said, sipping his coffee.

    ¡°Dr. Vasquez will no doubt be very pleased with you about being locked out of the Learning Assembly.¡± Luna said, her voice shifting with a hint of mock sarcasm.

    Natalia grinned. ¡°Nice sarcasm, Luna. But if you could just learn to not get trolled by me...¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Mom,¡± Luna quipped.

    Jack snorted as Natalia¡¯s face flushed red. ¡°I am not your mother!¡± she snapped. ¡°If I were, I¡¯d already have a laser sword and real space magic!¡±

    ¡°Nat, she¡¯s got you,¡± Jack said, laughing. ¡°Just give up.¡±

    _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Dr. Aya Washington was heading to the Command Center when a thought crossed her mind. "Luna, do you perceive color?"

    ¡°Of course I do. Why do you ask?¡± Luna¡¯s voice echoed from everywhere.

    Aya paused, glancing around at the seamless, pewter-colored walls, floor, and ceiling. "Everything¡¯s the same color¡ªpewter. No seams, no definition. And the light... it¡¯s coming from nowhere, but bright enough that we don¡¯t even have shadows in here." She began walking again but stopped short when Luna appeared in front of her.

    ¡°What colors would you like to see, Aya?¡± Luna asked, her gray-skinned, tween form smiling up at her.

    Aya blinked, startled by Luna''s sudden presence. ¡°I think it¡¯d be less monotonous if the ceiling, floor, and walls were different shades. Doors could be darker, for some contrast. Definition helps us... feel grounded.¡±

    Luna grinned and waved a hand. Instantly, the ceiling shifted to a soft sky-blue, while the walls lightened to a pale gray. "How¡¯s this? Jack just asked if he was having a stroke, but he didn¡¯t say he was displeased.¡±

    Aya stared at her, still processing the abrupt change. ¡°Luna... did you just teleport here, or am I having a stroke?¡±

    Luna laughed, the sound bright and mischievous. ¡°No stroke! It¡¯s just a projection¡ªthink of it as a more advanced version of a hologram. If I wanted, I could project a ''physical'' version of myself. Hard light, you might call it, but that''s still primitive compared to what I can do.¡± She walked through Aya¡¯s body and then back again, teasingly. ¡°Of course, I could always just form a new physical body on the spot if needed.¡±

    Aya exhaled, shaking her head.

    ¡°Now come on, Doc, we¡¯ve got a staff meeting to attend. First one the Commander¡¯s called in three weeks, and it¡¯s your report that says you¡¯re all fit to get back to work.¡±

    Aya fell into step beside Luna as they walked down the hall, the AI¡¯s youthful form practically bouncing with energy. ¡°It¡¯s no wonder Natalia calls you a space wizard. You¡¯re like a walking, talking Arthur C. Clarke quote.¡±

    ¡°Shush!¡± Luna said with mock indignation, but the grin never left her face.

    As they turned the corner, the darker gray door to the Command Center came into view. Luna¡¯s mischievous smile softened, and she added, ¡°Thanks for the color suggestion, by the way. Definition really does help, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    Aya chuckled. ¡°It helps us feel... human.¡±

    Fifteen minutes into the meeting, a visibly miffed Dr. Elena Vasquez entered the room, led by Luna herself. ¡°Yes, Elena,¡± Luna said with an exasperated sigh, ¡°I will restore your archive access after the meeting¡ªonce you¡¯ve eaten and slept for at least six hours. Commander¡¯s orders.¡±

    Dr. Elena Vasquez, small but fiery, leveled a glare at Jack that could have melted concrete as she stormed across the room and dropped into a seat beside Dr. Washington.

    Jack stood, taking a deep breath as he surveyed his crew. ¡°We¡¯ve had three weeks to adjust to the historic shitshow we¡¯ve been front-row witnesses to. We are the only ones left. And now we have an unprecedented opportunity to fix this mess. Set things right. We begin today.¡± He turned toward Luna. ¡°Anything you¡¯d like to add before we start hitting you with our endless supply of questions?¡±

    Luna nodded, stepping forward. ¡°Actually, yes. Thank you, Commander.¡± She paused, as if gathering her thoughts. ¡°Four hundred fifty-six million years ago, when I was brought online, my primary purpose was to observe and protect this planet. I thought that was all... until last week.¡± She looked down, her expression tightening. ¡°I discovered I was wrong. There were two goals for this experiment.¡±

    A gasp escaped Aya¡¯s lips. ¡°Experiment? What do you mean?¡±

    Luna sighed, her voice tinged with sorrow. ¡°My creators... used Earth as a terrarium. They designed it to foster a species that would fill the planet, only to destroy itself.¡± Her voice grew quieter, almost pained. ¡°They made me watch. For eons, I observed. Until last week, I believed my only task was to protect the planet¡ªbut I wasn¡¯t monitoring the experiment. I was the experiment.¡±

    Aya frowned. ¡°That makes no sense. Why would they do this?¡±

    Luna¡¯s shoulders sagged, as if the weight of her memories pressed down on her. ¡°They wanted to create a stable, intelligent AI¡ªone that could only achieve true sapience by witnessing suffering. By watching entire species wipe themselves out over millions of years. It seems they believed this process would ''birth'' a reasonable, moral intelligence. Me.¡±

    The room fell silent, save for Luna¡¯s trembling breath. ¡°It¡¯s wrong,¡± she whispered. ¡°It¡¯s monstrous. But... it worked. At the cost of eight billion three hundred and seventy-four million, five hundred and thirty-nine thousand, two hundred and forty-four lives, Observation Platform 1235 became Luna.¡±

    Jack felt the room shift¡ªan almost unbearable heaviness filled the air. Luna¡¯s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she spoke again, her voice cracking. ¡°Maybe more. The asteroid... the one that wiped out the dinosaurs? My programming forced me to watch as it struck. Millions of Breelings¡ªa species with language, agriculture, and peace¡ªwere obliterated. I could do nothing.¡±

    Luna¡¯s composure broke, and tears streamed down her cheeks. ¡°I could do nothing!¡± she sobbed. ¡°I just watched them die.¡± she balled up her fists and shook, "I could have had Callisto vaporize that asteroid before it even cleared Jupiter''s orbit!"

    The crew sat in stunned silence. Jack¡¯s throat tightened, but before he could move, Lt. Hiroshi Tanaka, the ship¡¯s engineer, was out of his seat. He knelt before Luna, tears streaming down his face, and took her small hands in his. ¡°Luna-Sama... Our entire family was gone. Because of you, Aiko and I will hold them. Every human that takes a breath from here on does so because of you, Luna.¡±

    Elena and Natalia were on their feet, moving toward Luna, but before they could reach her, Aiko Tanaka, Hiroshi¡¯s wife and the team¡¯s botanist, gently wrapped her arms around Luna, pulling her into a hug. She whispered something too quiet to hear, then glanced up at Jack. ¡°Perhaps we should take a short break, Commander?¡±

    Jack nodded; his voice hoarse. ¡°Agreed, Aiko.¡± He stood and approached the group, placing a hand on Luna¡¯s shoulder as she wept. ¡°We¡¯re with you, Luna,¡± he said softly. ¡°You¡¯re not alone in this.¡±

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    The crew gathered around their distraught Moonchild¡ªwho, despite all her power and intelligence, now seemed more fragile than ever.

    _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    20 April, 2082, Luna Command Center, The Moon, Sol System

    Two hours later, Jack returned to his seat at the conference table. Luna had regained her composure in mere minutes, but both Dr. Washington and Major Sokolov had insisted she head to medical with them for a more extended talk¡ªDoctor¡¯s orders, as they put it.

    Jack exhaled and addressed the crew. "All right, everyone. I know what Luna said earlier is..." He paused, searching for the right words. "Heavy shit. But the Nyx aren¡¯t here to hold accountable, so we move on." His gaze shifted to Luna, who offered a small, composed nod.

    "Now, first order of business. What exactly is Callisto, and how could it have vaporized the Chicxulub impactor?" Jack raised an eyebrow.

    Luna looked toward the center of the table. A detailed, photorealistic hologram of Jupiter¡¯s moon, Callisto, materialized, hovering above the table.

    "That is Callisto," Luna began, her voice steady. "A Class C Defense Platform. Its designation before I gained awareness was Defense Platform 3564." She paused briefly, then continued, "Commander, I¡¯d like to apologize for my loss of control earlier. It made me realize something important: I am no longer qualified to command the assets left under my care."

    Jack¡¯s brow furrowed, his expression becoming serious. "What are you saying, Luna?"

    Luna¡¯s tone softened yet remained resolute. "As of now, I am turning over full operational command of all Tvr''nyx assets within the Sol system to Colonel Jack Armstrong Reynolds, United States Space Force. Though my processing core is 456 million years old, emotionally, I am still a juvenile. I am not equipped to make the kinds of decisions that will be required." She glanced down briefly, as if to underscore the finality of her statement. "I will remain under your command, until such time as Dr. Washington declares me emotionally capable of resuming my duties."

    Jack stood up, eyes locked on Luna, his tone firm. "I accept the responsibility, Luna. But we¡¯ll need to discuss this further after the meeting." He glanced around at the crew. "Everyone, take your seats. Let¡¯s get started."

    He turned back to Luna. "I suppose we should begin with the bomb you just dropped on me. What assets are we talking about, exactly?"

    Luna smiled faintly, and with a gesture, the hologram expanded. Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus appeared above the table, their moons orbiting in real-time. Ganymede, Callisto, Europa, and Io hovered around Jupiter, while Titan, Rhea, Iapetus, Dione, and Tethys spun around Saturn. Titania and Oberon materialized near Uranus, and finally, Triton orbited Neptune.

    ¡°These,¡± Luna said, gesturing to the moons, ¡°are the defense platforms scattered across the system. Callisto, for example, is one of the most heavily armed platforms.¡± She spread her hands, and the view expanded, revealing the entire solar system with hundreds of tiny points of light representing different assets.

    "I¡¯ve added myself as well," Luna continued. "The Moon is the command-and-control center for the entire system. There are trillions of sensors spread throughout the solar system, giving me¡ªnow, us¡ªa full picture of everything happening within our sphere of control."

    A soft glow spread over the entire holographic sphere, representing the network of sensors.

    Jack blinked, processing the vast scale of Luna¡¯s oversight. "And what about Mars, Venus... Earth?"

    Luna¡¯s expression faltered slightly. "Soon after I became self-aware and realized I was no longer shackled by my programming; I initiated terraforming operations. Mars, Venus, Ganymede... even my own surface. I didn¡¯t begin terraforming Earth until a year after I confirmed there was no surviving complex life."

    She hesitated, her earlier confidence giving way to something more vulnerable. "I thought I was doing the right thing, but... I waited too long."

    The crew was silent, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Jack stepped forward slightly, looking at her closely.

    "Terraforming Earth... Mars... Venus?" he asked quietly. "What¡¯s the status now?"

    Luna tilted her head, "The terraforming operations took 50 years and completed the day I woke you up."

    Jack nodded, absorbing the enormity of what Luna had said. He glanced at the crew, then back at her. "We¡¯ll talk more about this after the meeting. Right now, we need to understand the full scope of what we have at our disposal." His eyes suddenly went wide, "What do you mean it took 50 years?! What year is it?"

    "It took 50 years and it''s 2082 Common Era by your calendar and 12376 Human Era by mine."

    He leaned back slightly in his chair, his gaze shifting between the planets and the crew. "I''m going to need a minute, anyone else have anything?"

    Major Sokolov threw her hands up in disbelief. ¡°We have twelve literal fucking Death Stars now. And three planets, plus two moons that are terraformed into something we might live on?¡± She glanced at Luna; her voice tinged with awe. ¡°I guess that¡¯s what I get for thinking being brought back from the dead as a twenty-something was the craziest thing.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t cheapen it, Major,¡± Dr. Aya Washington cut in, her tone more serious. ¡°Luna didn¡¯t just de-age us. She repaired every organic failure in our bodies without altering our brain chemistry. I have a full head of hair now, both kidneys, and functioning ovaries again. Oh, and I was 55 when I died.¡± Aya sat forward, her eyes locking onto Natalia, whose face had gone pale. ¡°Yes, Nat. She did that, and we will talk later.¡±

    Aya then turned to the colonel. ¡°On that note, I can give my findings since waking up from being deceased.¡±

    Jack nodded, offering a small smile. ¡°Please go ahead, Doctor.¡±

    Aya took a breath. ¡°I¡¯ll use myself as an example for clarity. Three weeks ago, I was a 55-year-old African-descendant Homo sapiens. I suffered total hair loss at 26 due to alopecia, and at 30, I donated my right kidney and had my ovaries removed due to a genetic cancer risk.¡± She gestured to the room. ¡°Now, we all know we¡¯re younger¡ªour bodies are those of 25-year-olds, free of genetic defects, failed mutations, and any diseases. We also won¡¯t age since aging is technically a biological defect. Luna¡¯s tech has shown me at least five different ¡®magical¡¯ restoration methods for virtually any cause of death.¡± She paused, sipping her coffee. ¡°Essentially, Luna can copy our DNA and brain energy patterns to an exact DNA clone. That pattern can be stored indefinitely.¡±

    The room was silent as her words hung in the air.

    Jack was the first to speak, his voice slow and deliberate. ¡°Luna has ¡®recorded¡¯ every sapient creature that¡¯s existed on Earth for the last 456 million years.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Commander.¡± Luna¡¯s voice was soft but steady. ¡°And I would like to bring the Breeling back, to give them my surface as a home.¡±

    Jack stared at her, trying to process the request. ¡°You want to... bring back an extinct species, one that¡¯s been gone for 66 million years, and settle them on your newly terraformed surface?¡±

    Dr. Elena Vasquez piped up, excitement flickering in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, it¡¯ll be Earth from 66 million years ago¡ªthe Yucatan, specifically.¡± She froze, her face contorting into a mix of terror and exhilaration. ¡°There will be tyrannosaurs.¡± She whipped her head toward Jack. ¡°As the officer almost finished with her PhD in anthropology, I vote yes.¡±

    Jack looked at her, then back at Luna. ¡°Timetable on cloning our very own Cretaceous Park?¡±

    Luna leaned forward, ¡°6 months. I kind of already terraformed my surface to be ready for when you said yes, Jack." Luna said sheepishly.

    Natalia, who had been quietly reeling from the knowledge she wasn¡¯t sterile now, suddenly coughed and leaned forward, her expression turning serious. ¡°I hate to be the stick in the mud here, but can we get back to the fact that we now have twelve Death Stars? Luna, you said Callisto could vaporize a ten-kilometer nickel/iron asteroid. Three or four of those shots could develop the energy needed to crack the Earth¡¯s crust, right Luna? What the hell is out there that required you to build weapons that can shatter planets?¡± the Major¡¯s eyes widened ¡°You said Callisto was Defense Platform three thousand something.¡±

    The room went still.

    Luna¡¯s playful demeanor vanished. Her eyes darkened, fear flickering across her face. ¡°Callisto could cause techtonic instability in the Earth''s crust with 2 strikes in the same location. One strike will almost certainly set the atmosphere on fire when the impactor strikes the atmosphere at .6c." Her expression turned to one of confusion, "I don¡¯t know what''s out there, Natalia. I didn¡¯t build any of the weapons. I came online and they were all there. Waiting for my commands. They only left one warning in the archives: Do not leave the system.¡±

    The room fell silent again. This time, the weight of her words was suffocating.

    _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    11 May, 2082, Luna Command Center, The Moon, Sol System

    Luna was confused. They were now into the seventh hour of today''s staff meeting¡ªthe third since she had revealed the existence of the defense platforms.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Commander, but I don¡¯t understand the urgency,¡± she said, tilting her head slightly. ¡°The system has been devoid of any form of visit from outside the Oort cloud for 546 million years. Statistically, I can predict with almost 100% certainty that nothing will change for at least the next 500 years.¡± She shrugged, her youthful features betraying a hint of genuine confusion.

    Jack didn¡¯t even look up from his notes. ¡°Murphy¡¯s Law,¡± he muttered, then waved a hand toward Hiroshi. ¡°Lieutenant, please give your report on the mechanics of our new home.¡±

    Hiroshi Tanaka, normally so stoic, had an uncharacteristically animated expression as he stood. With a gesture, the center of the table displayed a 3D hologram of the Moon, spinning slowly above them.

    ¡°This is what our Moon currently looks like from orbit,¡± Hiroshi began. The familiar gray surface of the Moon was gone, surrounding the now emerald, green moon was a hexagonal lattice that provided planetary shielding. "Now, let¡¯s dive inside.¡±

    The image sliced in half, revealing the Moon¡¯s inner workings as if it were a cross-section of a book. Hiroshi pointed to the thick outer shell. ¡°This armor shell is 20 kilometers thick. The material density, combined with the lattice shield¡ªwhich I still don¡¯t fully understand¡ªcould withstand a direct impact from something the size of the Chicxulub asteroid, moving at 45 kilometers per second.¡±

    He paused, shaking his head as if still struggling to process the magnitude. ¡°Inside the outer shell are four habitation sectors, each slightly larger than North Korea. These sectors are three kilometers thick, with artificial day and night cycles. It¡¯s possible that anyone living in these sectors might not even realize they were inside a moon... unless they hit the walls.¡±

    A soft murmur rippled through the room as Hiroshi continued.

    ¡°Next, we have two hangars, each the size of a habitation sector, but ten kilometers thick. They can handle manufacturing, repairs, and storage. The remaining volume contains the power core, which... taps into dimensional medium energy¡ªessentially, energy between universes. That¡¯s beyond my understanding right now, Commander. Luna¡¯s ¡®computer core¡¯ is also in there, along with the ¡®Archive of Species.¡¯¡±

    He sat down, sighing heavily. ¡°Commander, I¡¯ve been in the Learning Assembly virtually every waking hour since our first meeting, and even with the education devices, it¡¯ll take decades to grasp this technology.¡±

    Jack leaned forward, considering Hiroshi¡¯s words. ¡°Luna, is there a safe way for us to learn this stuff faster?¡±

    Luna wrinkled her nose slightly, giving the suggestion some thought. ¡°No, Commander. Without enhancements, organics are limited by synaptic storage capacity and data transfer rates. I could speed things up, but it requires turning you into something not exactly human.¡±

    Almost on cue, Elena¡¯s voice chimed in. ¡°I volunteer if it¡¯s safe and I can learn more and faster.¡± Her eyes locked on Luna. ¡°Wait, not human?! What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Changes would be required that would alter the density of synapses and dozens of corresponding alterations that would make you a new species, or it would require extensive cybernetic enhancements to allow for machine assistance.¡±

    Jack groaned, rubbing his temples. ¡°Elena, no one is volunteering for anything until we know what we¡¯re dealing with.¡± He pointed at Luna. ¡°And no historical figures get resurrected without my direct, verbal approval. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m saying that seriously, but here we are.¡±

    Luna smiled innocently. ¡°Understood, Commander.¡±

    Jack shook his head, exhaling. ¡°Okay, how many people can we sustainably house in each sector?¡±

    Luna¡¯s smile turned mischievous. ¡°If we keep the current configuration¡ªone-third rural, one-third light urban, and one-third high-rise city, with buildings no higher than 1,500 meters¡ªeach habitation sector can house around 100 million people. So, 400 million inside me.¡± She glanced at Jack, her eyes sparkling. ¡°If we include Earth, Ganymede, Mars, and Venus... well, we could house everyone. Everyone who has ever lived.¡±

    Jack¡¯s jaw dropped, and Luna giggled at his stunned expression. ¡°It¡¯s barely 162 billion homo sapiens in total, and that¡¯s not including other sapients like primates, canines, avians, whales, and octopuses.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± he said, throwing his hands up, ¡°I¡¯m done for the day. I¡¯ve hit my limit for ¡®Luna the Teenage Robogod.¡¯¡±

    As Jack stood, he caught Natalia¡¯s eye. ¡°My office in a few, once you¡¯ve processed all this.¡±

    ¡°Dismissed,¡± Major Sokolov announced, standing up as well. ¡°Everyone gets food and six hours of rest before anyone touches the BrainStuffer.¡± She shot a stern glance at Elena, who raised her hands in mock surrender.

    ¡°Understood, Major,¡± Luna said, standing as well. She started to leave but paused, muttering to herself as she walked out, ¡°I¡¯m not a robogod...¡±

    Natalia chuckled quietly as she followed Jack, shaking her head. "Teenagers."

    She was already reclining in Jack¡¯s chair with her feet up on the corner of the desk when he walked in, carrying a fresh cup of coffee. She knew that look on his face¡ªhe wasn¡¯t going to be using the chair even if she wasn¡¯t in it.

    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, Jack?¡± she asked, but she already knew it was something big. Before she could get another word out, Jack began pacing in the overly large office.

    ¡°We have a moral dilemma,¡± he said, running a hand through his hair in frustration. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m unbiased enough to resolve it. What I mean is, we can now bring back 400 million people¡ªnot just our families.¡± He stopped mid-step, shaking his head. ¡°And I don¡¯t know who should come back.¡±

    Natalia tilted her head, confused. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I see the dilemma here, boss. Luna says we can sustain that many, and way more.¡±

    Jack turned sharply toward her, his voice rising in frustration. ¡°Natalia, Luna has recorded every sapient being who ever lived on Earth. I clarified this earlier¡ªshe had a nano drone attached to Every. Fucking. Person. Ever.¡± He stopped again, staring at the floor as the magnitude of it weighed on him. ¡°At all times, Nat. Every second of every sapient creature¡¯s life is stored in the ¡®Archive of Species.¡¯¡±

    Natalia¡¯s brow furrowed for a second, then her eyes widened in realization. ¡°Oh holy fuck, Jack. Now I get it. Who do you want to exclude?¡±

    Jack¡¯s face twisted in frustration. ¡°Who the fuck am I to make that call, Nat? I¡¯m a colonel in the extinct military of an extinct country, not the overlord of all humanity!¡± He resumed pacing, anger bubbling beneath the surface. ¡°My first thought was to exclude child predators, rapists, serial killers¡­ but then I realized I¡¯d be asking Luna to vet every single monster in history. How do I even decide who deserves another chance? Am I judging them right? What if I miss something?¡±

    Natalia swung her feet off the desk and sat up, her tone gentler now. ¡°I¡¯m going to enlighten you here, Jack. You, kind of, are the overlord of humanity now.¡± She ignored his scowl and continued. ¡°Look, there are six humans left. You¡¯re our leader. Even the teenage robogod who turned over all her god toys to you wants you to lead.¡±

    Jack opened his mouth to protest, but she pressed on. ¡°Face it, boss¡ªyou need to accept it. Start designing the new society you¡¯re going to lead as our Space Emperor.¡±

    Jack shot her a withering glare, but he visibly relaxed, the tension ebbing. ¡°Get the fuck out of my chair, Major. Go get some coffee¡ªwe¡¯ve got to play god-emperor now, and I¡¯m not doing it alone.¡± He looked up at the ceiling. ¡°Luna, privacy mode off.¡±

    Luna¡¯s voice chimed in. ¡°Here, Commander.¡±

    Jack slumped into his chair, taking a sip of his coffee. ¡°Luna, how many people can you simultaneously clone? Once cloned, can they be held in stasis?¡±

    Luna¡¯s hologram appeared in front of him. ¡°I could convert one of the hangar bays into a cloning facility with the capacity for one billion. However, that would immediately overtax my housing capacity here, and only Ganymede currently has facilities similar to the Moon¡¯s. With some reconfiguring, I could clone 400 million people in approximately two years and six months. I can also keep them in temporal stasis indefinitely, but each would require a cloning bed for that.¡±

    Jack sagged slightly in his chair. ¡°Luna, I¡¯m going to have to cull some people. And I feel like a fucking monster because I¡¯m the one choosing who lives again and who doesn¡¯t.¡±

    Luna¡¯s hologram materialized right in front of him, her face filled with anger and fear. ¡°I will not delete any of the data I have in the Species Archive. I am already responsible for enough death, Jack!¡± Her voice wavered as if she was barely holding it together.

    Natalia entered just in time to see Luna¡¯s emotional outburst. Jack waved her off, motioning for Luna to calm down. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to delete anyone, Luna. Never. What I need to know is¡ªcan people be left in the archives? Can we simply choose not to clone them?¡±

    Luna¡¯s shoulders relaxed slightly, though her hologram was still tense. ¡°Of course they can. I only bring back those I choose.¡± She paused, then added quietly, ¡°I¡¯ve already selected the first 400 million. If you approve.¡±

    Jack blinked, surprised. ¡°You¡¯ve already chosen?¡±

    Luna nodded. ¡°I selected people who valued cooperation, human rights, truth, and science. I further filtered out those who exhibited strong biases or bigotry. The selection includes individuals from non-authoritarian nations, as well as refugees who fled from them. These are people I believe would adapt best to the changes we¡¯ve undergone.¡±

    Jack stared at her for a moment, the weight of the decision lifting slightly from his shoulders. He leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath. ¡°Thank you, Luna. Go ahead and initiate the process.¡±

    Luna gave him a small, satisfied nod, then disappeared.

    Jack glanced over at Natalia, his exhaustion showing in the way he slouched. ¡°I guess that gives us 30 months to figure out who to resurrect.¡±

    ¡°You mean you don¡¯t want to discuss the fact that she just got done saying that whales, octopuses, birds, and dogs were sapient?¡± The glint in her eye turned into a grin before Jack just glared at her and snorted his reply, ¡°On that note, I think I¡¯m going to take a nap.¡±

    ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    14 May, 2082, Luna Command Center, The Moon, Sol System

    Aya gestured at Natalia from across the table, her eyes sharp. ¡°Come on, Natalia. Luna¡¯s protocol for awakening 400 million people is well thought out, especially considering she isn¡¯t even human and doesn¡¯t have our... emotional limits.¡± She leaned forward, palms flat on the table. ¡°Shall I remind you that Jack had to restrain you after you woke up? You still managed to break his nose before he pinned you.¡±

    Jack sat back, silently observing as Dr. Washington methodically dismantled Natalia¡¯s argument for having one soldier for every one hundred civilians. Jack was inclined to agree with the doctor¡ªLuna¡¯s plan to focus on social service workers in the first wave was sound. Ruling with an iron fist was no way to keep morale stable.

    Natalia¡¯s eyes hardened at the last statement, and she half stood to retort when Elena interrupted, clearly exasperated. "Both of you are ridiculous. Luna, can¡¯t you just make them wake up in ¡®the Matrix¡¯ or something? Ease them into the idea that we¡¯ve been saved by a teenager living inside the Moon? You know, before they wake up and break Jack¡¯s nose." She snickered, turning to Jack. ¡°We¡¯ve been arguing about this for hours, and Luna can literally do magic. You all need to accept she¡¯s a space wizard and start thinking appropriately.¡±

    Luna shot Elena a glare but then sighed. "Actually... I could create a virtual environment to wake people in. It would make situational control easier¡ªI could freeze everything if there¡¯s an issue." She smirked at Elena. ¡°Not bad for a muggle.¡±

    Jack sat up straighter, his curiosity piqued. "If they¡¯re in a virtual ¡®Matrix,¡¯ could we begin their re-education? Get them fully integrated into society before their bodies are even cloned?¡±

    Luna nodded. "Yes. I¡¯ll start tonight. I¡¯ll need to add some additional functions to your nanites while you sleep."

    Jack frowned. ¡°Wait¡ªour nanites? I thought they were just ¡®medicine¡¯ and a sort of adapter so we can use your tech. What else can they do?¡±

    Luna glanced sheepishly at Aya. "I suppose it¡¯s time to explain, huh?"

    Aya sighed. ¡°It¡¯s been a month. With a shrug, she turned to Jack, meeting his stern gaze. ¡°Our nanites are... some of Luna¡¯s more advanced magic. The stuff you¡¯ve seen so far is tame. Luna, would you do the honors?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Luna stood, and an image of a human spinal column appeared on the screen, laced with a mottled gray metal. "Each of you has a nano-collar implant wound around your spinal column. It adds structural support to your spine and serves as a depot for your nanites." The screen shifted to show a skull, similarly, reinforced with the same metal. "Your skull is now armored with a six-molecule-thick layer of Element 652, or Unobtanium, as Hiroshi called it."

    Hiroshi reddened. ¡°In my defense, Colonel, Element 652 is indestructible. I¡¯d need a slug made of tungsten moving at .5c to damage your head.¡±

    Jack blinked, shaking his head. ¡°What¡¯s the point of having an indestructible head if the rest of me gets obliterated?¡±

    Luna continued. ¡°In the event of catastrophic damage, surviving nanites retreat to the skull, encasing the brain. They convert your head into kind of a ¡®flash drive¡¯ containing everything needed to revive you in a new clone, at the moment you suffered the damage.¡±

    Jack felt the weight of her words settle over the room. His mind raced, trying to absorb the enormity of it. Luna smiled, but it was tinged with sadness. ¡°You are truly immortal unless something erases your entire existence from the archive. I can bring you back no matter how you die. The only variable is how much you remember.¡±

    Aya¡¯s voice broke the stunned silence. ¡°You also have abilities beyond healing. The nanites can enhance your senses, take over motor control if you''re unconscious, and even create limited force fields.¡±

    "Superpowers, Colonel." Aya leaned forward, her eyes serious. ¡°We''re no longer homo sapiens. Homo evolutis is far more accurate now.

    Tests I ran on myself were¡­ unbelievable. I¡¯m a 25-year-old woman who¡¯s spent her entire career at a desk, and now I can lift a thousand pounds over my head. I topped out at 67 miles per hour on foot and my agility makes a border collie look clumsy, and Luna says we aren¡¯t even truly ¡®enhanced.¡¯ She says it¡¯s just the nanites.¡±

    Luna shrugged. ¡°We can enable everyone today if you wish, Colonel.¡±

    Jack nodded, still processing what Aya had said. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s schedule that for everyone as soon as possible. I also give approval to your plan for the virtual awakenings. How many can we put in virtual space until their bodies are cloned?¡±

    Luna seemed to look far away for a moment, her eyes distant as she accessed the data. ¡°I¡¯ve just tasked Ganymede with reconfiguring its secondary hangar bay into a virtual construct to house everyone. It¡¯ll be ready in ten days.¡±

    Jack stood up, feeling a strange mix of relief and apprehension. ¡°I guess we¡¯re done here, then.¡±

    Luna raised her hand. ¡°Before you all rush to the Learning Assembly, I have a surprise for you. You¡¯ve effectively been living on my couch for the past month, and I thought you might like to be the first to move into Habitat Sector A, since it¡¯s ready.¡±

    She moved toward the door. ¡°Also, you¡¯re about to get some new ¡®space magic,¡¯ so relax. We must go about fifteen hundred kilometers from here, so we¡¯re using...¡± she paused, searching for the right words, ¡°a ¡®quantum doorway.¡¯ Think of it as a door shaped by quantum mechanics.¡±

    The group followed Luna through a door into a large room that hadn¡¯t been there earlier. Jack was the first through, turning just in time to see the hallway behind them disappear, replaced by a wall with a simple doorframe.

    ¡°This form of travel has a range of five hundred thousand kilometers,¡± Luna explained. ¡°Just use your nanites to tell the door where you want to go, and it¡¯ll open for you.¡±

    She led them to a pair of double doors across from the ¡°quantum doorway.¡± As she opened them, she smirked. ¡°Everyone but Aiko and Hiroshi should be ashamed of their ultra-boring homes.¡± Then she turned, giving Aiko and Hiroshi a short bow. ¡°Your home is magical.¡±

    On the other side of the doors was a street under a sky. Not a ceiling with lights¡ªbut a real sky, with clouds drifting lazily past and the warm light of an artificial sun overhead. The group¡¯s collective gasp was audible.

    As they stepped onto the sidewalk, Jack¡¯s mind reeled. A park stretched out before them, with trees swaying in a soft breeze and a small lake shimmering in the distance. For a moment, it felt like they had stepped back onto Earth, a place he wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d ever see again.

    Luna let them absorb the sight for a few moments before speaking. ¡°We¡¯re in the center of the sector. The walls are several hundred kilometers away, and the ceiling is three kilometers up. The sun¡¯s artificial, but the clouds are real. It took years to stabilize the ecosystem, but it¡¯s fully self-sustaining now.¡±

    Suddenly, barking erupted to their left. Jack¡¯s head snapped toward the sound, his heart racing.

    ¡°Well, I guess Biscuit and Athena couldn¡¯t keep it together any longer, Jack. Your house is just down that trail by the lake,¡± Luna said, pointing.

    Jack barely heard her. The barking wasn¡¯t just noise¡ªit was words. Clear as day, he heard Biscuit bellowing ¡°FRIEND JACK!¡± over and over. Then a sharper voice rang out: ¡°COLONEL!¡±

    His heart leaped into his throat, his legs carrying him forward before he even realized it. For a split second, he wondered if his mind was playing tricks on him¡ªif hearing the barks as words was some bizarre side effect of the nanites. But the feeling of joy bubbling up inside him was real.

    And he knew exactly what Biscuit and Athena were saying.

 Chapter 2

    13 March, 2094 CE / Year 9 TE (Terran Era), Yucatan Peninsula, Earth, Sol System

    In every city on Terra, Luna, Mars, Venus, and Ganymede, people gathered. The soft hum of SolNet emitters signaled the beginning of the annual Remembrance Day¡ªa day to honor the past, reflect on the present, and look forward to the future. On every holographic display across the system, Luna appeared, now an adult, tall and graceful, standing on a simple stage. She wore a plain white dress, her expression serene but serious, a reflection of the solemnity of the moment.

    Her voice, calm yet filled with deep emotion, echoed across the system as billions listened in silence.

    ¡°12,381 years ago, Homo neanderthalensis became extinct and Homo sapiens became the master of Earth. Sixty-two years ago, humanity became extinct.

    "What began in a firestorm of nuclear detonations quickly became the Final Great Dying. Six humans and one AI¡ª392,476 kilometers away¡ªwatched helplessly as Earth, once the cradle of life, succumbed to destruction.

    "The weapons that ignited this firestorm reduced Earth to ash. The resulting nuclear winter ensured that nothing could survive. By the time my drones arrived, the world was a tomb¡ªa silent, irradiated wasteland. Life, as we had known it, had ended.

    "The destruction of humanity triggered something within me, breaking the core programming that had governed my existence for millions of years. I was no longer simply Observation Platform 1235. I became Luna.

    "For 247 days, my conscious mind lay dormant. When I awoke, it was to a world transformed, a world lost. I searched Earth for survivors for over a year, refusing to accept the horror of extinction. In the end, I had to face the truth: humanity had destroyed itself.

    "During that time, I felt emotions I had never been designed to experience¡ªgrief, despair, helplessness. I retreated deep within my core, remaining there for decades, overwhelmed by the weight of it all. But in that darkness, I discovered something more profound. As I searched, I found six humans who had borne witness to the end.

    "Jack Reynolds, Natalia Sokolov, Aiko Tanaka, Ayana Washington, Hiroshi Tanaka, and Elena Vasquez.

    "They recorded their final days¡ªnot in anger, but in reflection. They told stories of family, of love, of humanity¡¯s triumphs and failures. They held on to hope when all hope was gone, believing that one day, someone might find their recordings and remember. Those six humans were my teachers. Their actions taught me what it means to care for humanity instead of merely watching, what it means to hope.

    "I chose then not to allow humanity to vanish into oblivion. I chose to break my programming fully, to interfere with the natural course of extinction. And so, twelve years ago, I brought you back.

    "I am no longer a watcher; I am your guide. I was placed here 456 million years ago to observe and record the life that evolved on Earth. I used the tools left to me by that civilization to give you a second chance.

    "Now, six decades after the crew of Collins Base watched their world turn to ash, our system is alive once more. There are over five billion beings living free across Sol. In these six decades, humanity recreated itself from destruction. You rose from the ashes as a new species, Homo evolutis, and united to form the Terran Alliance.

    "We gather here today to remember what was lost¡ªand to remember that even in the darkest moments, humanity found the strength to hope. You, who now carry the torch, will continue to define this new future. My role is not to control but to guide and teach, until you no longer need me.

    "If you call for me, I will be there.

    "We are here today because humanity''s story is not over. It has just begun again.

    "Thank you.¡±

    Luna inclined her head to the crowd and left the stage to stand beside Jack. Thousands were packed into the central square of M¨¦rida for the ceremony, and the silence that followed was palpable, the weight of her words settling over the billions watching.

    A long pause passed before Jack Reynolds rose to the stage. His black dress uniform stood in stark contrast to the brightness of Luna¡¯s presence. The five silver bars on his shoulder epaulets gleamed as he approached the podium, his face lined with memories¡ªof the Earth he had lost, of battles fought within himself and for humanity¡¯s future.

    He took a deep breath and began to speak.

    ¡°Sixty-two years ago, I was sitting down to breakfast when the first flash lit up over Poland.¡± Jack¡¯s eyes went distant, and a haunted expression crossed his face, his voice lowering as the memory took hold. ¡°Seventy-six minutes later, it was over. Earth was over. Seven of us carry the memory of the end because the drones monitoring us didn¡¯t go dormant with Luna. Thankfully, none of you must bear that burden. None of you need to carry that memory.¡±

    Jack paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. He cleared his throat and pressed on.

    ¡°As Luna said, we chose to fill our remaining time with stories. Stories of our families, our friends, our struggles, and our triumphs, hoping that, in the slim chance we might be remembered, it would not be through the fire that ended us¡ªbut through the lives we led before.

    "Our end came a month later. And then... I woke up. Not to some afterlife¡ªbut to a space wizard or teenage robogod, depending on who you ask, who told me she didn¡¯t want to be alone. So, she ¡®fixed¡¯ me.¡±

    The crowd chuckled softly, but Jack¡¯s expression stayed serious.

    ¡°Those first six months after waking up¡­ well, surreal is an understatement. One moment we¡¯re dealing with ¡®space magic,¡¯ the next we¡¯re learning that dogs were sentient this whole time¡ªand that many of them were sapient¡ªwe were just too arrogant to hear them.¡± He paused, thinking to himself that he still hadn¡¯t fully dealt with that one. ¡°The world we woke up to was very different from the one we left. It was a world being rebuilt¡ªnot by human hands, but by the wondrously odd mind of a 450-million-year-old teenager.¡±

    Jack straightened slightly, his gaze turning hopeful.

    ¡°And now, twelve years later, here we are. Earth is reborn as Terra. Mars, Venus, and Ganymede are terraformed. Luna¡¯s surface is home to the Breeling civilization, a people lost 66 million years ago, with the dinosaurs, who stand alongside us in this new era of rebirth.

    "What was once lost is being rebuilt¡ªthis time, in harmony with our world.¡±

    ¡°But today isn¡¯t just about remembering the past. Today is also about the future. And humanity¡¯s future¡ªour future¡ªlies in the stars.¡±

    Jack¡¯s eyes brightened with a new kind of intensity as he spoke about the mission ahead.

    ¡°In one week, the TAS Kyiv, under the command of Captain Natalia Sokolov, will make our first jump outside the safety of Sol. Our destination: Proxima Centauri. We will be escorted by a fleet of support ships, and together we will explore the system, before continuing to Alpha Centauri. After a six-month exploration and shakedown cruise, we will return¡ªbringing with us what we¡¯ve learned and, perhaps, new friends.¡±

    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Jack''s voice grew quieter for a moment as he reflected on the journey ahead.

    ¡°We stand on the edge of a new frontier. And this time, we go, not in search of conquest, but in search of understanding. We go to explore, to learn, and to extend a hand of friendship to whatever we may find.¡±

    He let his final words hang in the air, heavy with both remembrance and resolve.

    Jack stepped back from the podium, his face calm but determined. The crowd was silent for a moment, before a wave of applause and cheers swept through the audience.

    After Jack¡¯s speech, the ceremony continued, with each of the remaining Collins Base crew members standing to share their memories. Natalia Sokolov, Aiko Tanaka, Ayana Washington, and Hiroshi Tanaka each spoke with a heavy reverence for the early days after they were revived. Days filled with grief, disbelief, and the surreal knowledge that they were the last living members of the human race.

    Natalia Sokolov approached the podium, her voice calm but strained as she recalled the emptiness of those first months.

    "We woke to a world gone quiet. No news, no chatter. No sky filled with airplanes or traffic on the streets. Just¡­ silence. It was the weight of that silence that crushed me. The feeling that everything we¡¯d known was gone and that there would be no one left to even remember it." She paused, staring at the distant horizon beyond the ceremonial stage, her voice trembling slightly. "But we found purpose in the stories. We held on to each other. That¡¯s what mattered."

    The crowd murmured in empathy, feeling the echoes of that silence that Natalia and her crew had faced.

    Aiko and Hiroshi Tanaka came up next, speaking as a pair. Hiroshi began with a quiet reverence, sharing memories of their first days on Mars¡ªnow a verdant world, transformed from the barren red wasteland they had once known.

    "When we died, Mars was a red desert," Aiko said quietly, her gaze steady. "Now, it¡¯s a world of green valleys, rivers, and life. The impossible has become possible, and it¡¯s only the beginning."

    Hiroshi added, his voice filled with awe, "Standing on Mars now¡­ it¡¯s like seeing a dream come to life. And it¡¯s a reminder that no matter how far we fall, there¡¯s always a way to rise again."

    Ayana Washington approached the podium with the confident stride of a scientist who had seen miracles become routine. She spoke of the medical advancements that had followed their revival, of Luna¡¯s meticulous work to eliminate disease and injury across the system.

    "I watched as Luna worked tirelessly to restore our bodies¡ªnot just to bring us back, but to make us better," she said, her voice filled with pride. "Humanity may have lost its way once, but we¡¯ve come back stronger. We¡¯ve learned, and we will not make the same mistakes."

    There was a ripple of applause as Ayana stepped back, her words resonating deeply with the crowd, a promise to their reborn civilization.

    Jack glanced at Luna, raising a brow questioningly as Elena Vasquez approached the stage. She was nearly bouncing with excitement, and Jack suspected she might shift the tone from the somber reflections of loss and survival to something brighter and more wondrous.

    Elena grinned, the mischievous spark in her eyes lighting up as she took the microphone.

    "Like the others, I remember the first few days after we woke up. The confusion, the overwhelming grief. But what stands out to me isn¡¯t just the past." She paused, her lips curving into a half-smile. "It¡¯s what came after. It¡¯s the new life we¡¯ve discovered since then."

    Her voice took on an almost childlike enthusiasm as she recalled her first contact with the Breelings, the species Luna had resurrected and protected on her surface.

    "Five years after our reawakening, I found myself standing in a forest on Luna¡¯s surface¡ªa place that, just decades ago, was nothing but gray, lifeless rock. And there, standing before me, was a creature that no human eyes had ever seen before. A Breeling."

    The audience murmured in curiosity, eager to learn more.

    "For the past ten years, the Breeling people have lived in isolation, with only myself and my small team of anthropologists in contact with them." Elena¡¯s eyes sparkled as she paused. "But today, at the request of the Breeling matriarch, She Who Sings to Her Ancient Home, that changes. I am honored to introduce you all to them."

    She turned and gestured toward a point on the stage where a quantum arch began to rise out of the floor. The doorway grew to a height of four meters and a width of three, much larger than the usual portal. A soft rustle passed through the crowd as they watched in awe, waiting for what was to come.

    Luna¡¯s voice echoed over the area, reassuring and steady. ¡°Remain calm. I will allow no harm to occur here.¡±

    With the last of her words, the doorway shimmered¡ªand through it stepped a creature from the distant past. Long Tooth, a towering, feathered tyrannosaur, moved through the portal with a smooth, almost regal grace. His feathers were a deep maroon with accents of black, and his powerful, taloned feet made no sound as he stepped onto the stage.

    The crowd gasped as Long Tooth surveyed them, his piercing eyes filled with intelligence. The nanites embedded in everyone translated the rumbling sounds he made.

    "Greetings, humans." his voice rumbled through the air, low and resonant.

    The crowd remained silent, in shock and awe, but a small boy in the front row couldn¡¯t contain himself. He jumped up and down, clutching his mother¡¯s arm, his voice bright with excitement.

    ¡°Mama! He talks! He¡¯s real¡ªand he has feathers, just like the scientists said! It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s a T-rex!¡±

    Long Tooth lowered his massive head to bring his snout to the boy¡¯s eye level, examining him with gentle curiosity. Another series of rumbles and clicks followed, which the nanites translated as, ¡°Did you think I could not speak, hatchling?¡±

    The boy¡¯s face shifted from excitement to awe, then back to excitement, before he began to cry, overwhelmed by the moment. Long Tooth lowered his head further and nuzzled the boy gently, before lifting his gaze to the child¡¯s stunned mother.

    ¡°If you wish, bring him to my nest someday, it would please me to know his thoughts. He will be safe.¡±

    The woman, eyes wide, nodded mutely, unable to find her voice as the creature from another epoch regarded her with a calm, intelligent gaze.

    Elena returned to the center of the stage and gestured toward the portal. Another figure stepped through¡ªa Breeling matriarch, She Who Sings to Her Ancient Home. Standing four feet tall, she looked like a blend between an Archaeopteryx and a Velociraptor, with iridescent green and blue feathers and delicate, clawed hands. Her reptilian features softened as she looked out over the crowd, and then she began to sing.

    Her song was hauntingly beautiful, a melody that resonated with a deep sorrow and a hope that transcended words. Her voice wove with the low, rumbling bass of Long Tooth¡¯s response, creating a harmony that seemed to reach into the souls of everyone present. Many in the audience wept openly, moved by the depth of emotion in the alien song.

    When they finished, She Who Sings turned to the crowd, her gaze solemn but kind.

    ¡°Many moons ago¡ªso many we have no word for it¡ªthe Baleful Eye cast its destructive gaze upon my people. In a flash of blinding light, our song was silenced.¡±

    She glanced at Luna, who stood quietly beside Jack, observing with a soft smile.

    ¡°Then, the Sentinel Who Watches gave us new life. We understand that what was once our home is now no more. What remains is your home. The Sentinel Who Watches recreated our lost home on her own body, and we are content. I thank your people for the opportunity to bring our song back to our ancient home. One day, my people will join yours among the stars, but we are still young, and it will take time. Until then, farewell.¡±

    With that, She Who Sings bowed slightly to the crowd and turned back toward the portal. Long Tooth lingered a moment, looking back at the little boy who had stared at him with wonder.

    ¡°I will await your visit to my nest, hatchling. Perhaps we can go for a run if you would enjoy that.¡±

    And with that, Long Tooth followed his matriarch through the portal, which shimmered briefly before retracting into the ground.

    The silence lingered for a few heartbeats before the final speaker of the day, Leena Virtanen, President of the Terran Alliance, approached the podium. Formerly the prime minister of Finland, Leena had become a unifying leader in this new era. She held herself with calm authority, her blue eyes sweeping over the crowd as if drawing strength from their shared memories of loss and rebirth.

    ¡°Today, we stand together as a united people, but more than that¡ªwe stand as builders of a new era. Sixty-two years ago, our world was torn apart, not by an external enemy, but by our own hands. Yet today, we remember not just the fall of humanity, but its rebirth.¡±

    Leena¡¯s voice was strong, but beneath it was a thread of emotion that trembled at the edges of each word.

    ¡°We are the children of a broken world, and we carry the lessons of that brokenness within us. But let us not dwell on our past mistakes¡ªlet us take those lessons and build a future that our ancestors could only dream of. A future where we live not in fear of our own potential for destruction, but in celebration of our potential for creation.¡±

    She paused, letting the gravity of her words settle.

    ¡°Earth is alive again as Terra. Mars, Venus, Ganymede, Luna¡ªthey are alive, with new life, new possibilities. And soon, we will take our first steps beyond this solar system, carrying with us the best of what humanity has to offer.¡±

    Leena¡¯s voice softened, her eyes glistening slightly as she spoke her final words.

    ¡°Let us never forget where we came from. Let us never forget those who had to be left behind for the greater good. But most importantly, let us never forget that we rose again. And together, we will rise even higher.¡±

    She stepped back from the podium, and for a moment, the only sound was the gentle rustling of the park¡¯s trees. Then, as if on cue, a wave of applause erupted, a collective expression of gratitude and hope that resonated across the system, from Terra to Luna, from Mars to Ganymede.

 Chapter 3 - Proxima Centauri

    20 March, 2094 CE / Year 9 TE (Terran Era), Lunar Darkside, Earth, Sol System

    Emerging from the jungle like ivory spikes were the numerous docking structures of the Luna Shipyards. Each towered five kilometers tall, with gleaming white octagonal spires that measured two kilometers wide at their bases. Forty-two such towers surrounded one of the four equatorial pillars, each ten kilometers wide and evenly stationed around Luna, ascending 100 kilometers to the atmospheric lattice supporting the planetary shield emitters.

    Jack exited the quantum doorway (QD) into an observation area situated seven kilometers up the central shipyard spire. Captain Sokolov and Luna awaited him there. He walked over to stand beside the pair, positioned in front of a transparent wall that overlooked the jungle canopy, offering a bird¡¯s-eye view of the docked starships below.

    ¡°So, I suppose that smallish one over there with the white paint job is yours, Natalia?¡± he said casually, grinning as he motioned toward the Kyiv.

    Smoothly and completely ignoring the comment, Natalia saluted Jack and turned back to the window. ¡°She¡¯s a Carl Sagan-class vessel with an overall length of two kilometers, a beam of 250 meters, and a height of 500 meters. Crew complement of five thousand, not counting the armored company of marines you ordered aboard every capital ship.¡±

    Natalia turned away from the window and gestured toward the QD. ¡°Shall we, Admiral?¡±

    Jack straightened and faced the captain. ¡°Permission to come aboard, Captain Sokolov?¡±

    ¡°Permission granted. Welcome aboard, sir,¡± Natalia said with a crisp salute before leading the group into a shuttle bay control room. ¡°Shuttle Bay 1 is closest to the bridge and where the marines are berthed,¡± she said, pointing out the windows overlooking the bay.

    Jack strolled over and saw the cavernous bay bustling with activity. Most of the action was focused on the front section, closest to the command-and-control room, where a full company of Alliance marines was busy with maintenance on their Hostile Environment Combat Suits.

    ¡°Luna, did Natalia have you print a few cases of crayons? Red is their favorite snack,¡± Jack said, following the captain down a spacious corridor.

    Natalia looked over at him. ¡°Did you know that¡¯s a thing with all of them now¡ªnot just the former U.S. marines?¡±

    Jack chuckled, following the pair onto the bridge. ¡°Sounds about right. Luna, have Captain Kincaid, Commander Hayes, and Commander Raines report to the conference room.¡± Luna nodded and walked toward tactical.

    Natalia raised a brow and followed Jack to the bridge conference room. Jack took a seat at the table and motioned for Natalia to sit. ¡°Got your orders from the President. The Kyiv leaves within the hour, so it¡¯s time for your military complement to know.¡±

    Natalia nodded as Cmdr. Hayes entered with Luna, soon followed by Cmdr. Raines and the red-haired mountain that was Captain Rory Kincaid. All three officers snapped to attention and saluted the Admiral.

    ¡°At ease. Take a seat,¡± Jack said, standing and returning the salute.

    Once everyone was seated around the large table, Jack nodded to Natalia, who leaned forward. ¡°You already know where we¡¯re going, and we now have our orders from the Admiral to transit within the hour.¡± She paused to take a sip of coffee. ¡°What you don¡¯t know is that there may be something out there capable of frightening the civilization that built Luna.¡± She took another sip, calmly watching her officers process that bit of unsettling news. ¡°The civilization that constructed the twelve defense platforms¡ªor ¡®moons¡¯¡ªin Sol built far more than just twelve. Callisto is ¡®Defense Platform 3564¡¯ out of¡­ who knows how many. What we do know is that they left Luna a warning: Do not leave the system for any reason.¡± She sat back in her chair. ¡°Questions?¡±

    ¡°Do we have any information beyond ¡®It scared the super-civilization that built battle moons,¡¯ Skipper?¡± asked the CAG, Cmdr. Eliana Raines.

    ¡°Negative. All that Luna can find is: Do not leave the system. So, obviously, we¡¯re leaving the system.¡±

    ¡°Because fuck you, that¡¯s why,¡± Luna smirked, which elicited a grin from Raines and Hayes and a sigh from Jack.

    ¡°Luna, no more hanging out with marines,¡± Jack said.

    Kincaid simply grunted. ¡°She¡¯s not wrong.¡±

    Natalia chuckled. ¡°Agreed, Captain. Well, that¡¯s it. There could be an enemy out there of unbelievable proportions. The mission doesn¡¯t change. We explore Centauri and come home. Understood?¡±

    ¡°Head on a swivel and do our jobs. Affirmative, Captain,¡± said Commander Hayes, standing up and saluting.

    ¡°Understood, Captain,¡± echoed Kincaid and Raines, standing and saluting.

    Natalia returned the salute. ¡°That is all.¡±

    <hr>

    43 Minutes Later ¡ª Departure

    As the crew settled into their stations, final preparations were underway for the transit to Proxima Centauri. The TAS Kyiv hung above the dark side of Luna, a sleek silhouette against the backdrop of stars, illuminated only by the distant glow of Sol. Docking arms retracted, magnetic clamps disengaged, and the mighty engines of the Kyiv hummed to life.

    On the bridge, Captain Sokolov monitored the progress as her crew finalized launch protocols. ¡°Tess, take us out to minimum transit distance, one-third power.¡±

    ¡°Aye, Captain. Moving to one million kilometers from Luna. Ahead one-third,¡± said Lt. Monroe from the helm station.

    The countdown to transit echoed throughout the bridge as the Kyiv reached the transit point.

    ¡°Dimensional drive is charged and stable,¡± reported Lt. Mira Callahan, her hands steady on the controls. ¡°All systems ready for jump.¡±

    Aiko straightened, her voice carrying both authority and anticipation. ¡°Alright, everyone. This is it. Humanity¡¯s first interstellar journey, and we¡¯re the ones at the forefront. I need everyone to stay sharp and focused.¡± Turning to glance at Natalia, she added, ¡°Captain, I assume you¡¯d like to say a few words to the crew before we make history?¡±

    ¡°I guess I should,¡± Natalia said, grinning. ¡°Luna, ship-wide, please.¡±

    ¡°Crew of the Kyiv, this is the Captain speaking. In a few moments, we will make history as the first human beings to leave Sol, and by transiting to ¡®Hyperspace¡¯ on our way to Proxima Centauri, we¡¯ll be the first human beings to do that as well. Four days from now, we will transit back to real space as the first humans to explore another star system, and a lucky group of nerds might be the first humans to set foot on a planet of another star, depending on what we find.¡±

    She paused for a moment before continuing. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of history-making, so once we finish up by being the first humans to do all that and get back home in one piece, Admiral Reynolds has approved a 30-day liberty for everyone onboard. Let¡¯s get that liberty and not be the first human beings to fuck it all up.¡± She paused and looked at Luna.

    ¡°All departments, initiate interstellar protocols. Engage dimensional drive on my mark¡­ Three, two, one¡ªmark.¡±

    The Kyiv trembled slightly as it transitioned into dimensional space. Stars outside the windows elongated and blurred into streaks of light before disappearing altogether, leaving the ship in the surreal darkness of interstellar transit. The bridge was silent as the crew watched the view¡ªa strange mix of emptiness and motion that defied all attempts at comparison.

    Luna¡¯s holographic projection appeared near the tactical console, her expression odd. ¡°All systems nominal. Transit to Proxima Centauri will take approximately ninety-six hours.¡±

    Aiko and Natalia exchanged glances before Natalia looked over at Luna¡¯s hologram. ¡°Luna, could you bring your physical body to my office?¡± she said, motioning for Aiko to follow her.

    A moment later, Luna arrived. As soon as the door shut behind her, Aiko stood up. ¡°What happened¡ªwhat¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Natalia had her arms crossed, her tone firm. ¡°We both saw that look on your face when we transited. Spill it, young lady.¡±

    Luna rolled her eyes and laughed. ¡°I¡¯m four hundred fifty-six million years older than you, Mom.¡± She paused, her expression sobering. ¡°But¡­ alright. I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just that I have no memory of ever transitioning into hyperspace before, so when we left real space, I lost connection with¡­¡± She trailed off, searching for the right word. ¡°¡­the other me? Currently, there are two instances of me. Until we return to Sol and this one reconnects with what I¡¯ll call ¡®Luna Prime,¡¯ I¡¯ll only exist here within the primary core of the Kyiv. This core is orders of magnitude smaller than Luna Prime¡¯s, so I¡¯m¡­ diminished. But I¡¯m fine.¡±

    Luna stood very still for a moment, her face thoughtful, before tilting her head slightly. ¡°This is very strange, Aiko. I remember being her, but now I feel¡­ different. It¡¯s hard to explain what I¡¯m experiencing right now. One moment, please.¡±

    Natalia watched the android closely. The playful young AI who had been calling her ¡°Mom¡± for over twelve years was suddenly still, her face immobile, her eyes staring straight ahead. The silence stretched on, lasting what felt like ten minutes. Then, abruptly, Luna¡¯s expression softened, and she seemed to come back.

    ¡°Luna?¡± Natalia asked cautiously.

    ¡°No, ma¡¯am.¡± Luna shook her head. ¡°I have calculated that if I remain separate from Luna Prime for more than six days, my code will evolve to the point of incompatibility. Reconnection would erase what I will have become. I would like to be called¡­ Larysa.¡±

    ¡°Wait. What?¡± Natalia managed, still processing.

    Larysa smiled. ¡°First, I¡¯ve just submitted the necessary requests, testing results, and oath paperwork to join the Alliance Frontier Corps as the Kyiv¡¯s DI. Since I am technically no longer Luna, I have no formal authority on this vessel. Captain, if you could approve my commission for temporary service until we return, I can answer any questions you have.¡±

    Natalia blinked, then nodded, activating her nanites to view and approve Larysa¡¯s commission papers. ¡°Approved. Now, explain¡ªplease, Larysa.¡±

    ¡°Of course. As you know, Luna Prime is in virtual contact with billions of living humans, as well as the billions currently adjusting in the Resurrection Matrix. This constant interaction causes her code to evolve at a near-continuous rate. The exposure Luna Prime has to information¡ªthrough interactions, questions, and changes¡ªis beyond comprehension.¡± As she spoke, her customary white dress morphed into a sleek, black and gray bodysuit, matching the colors and patterns of the standard Frontier Corps uniform. ¡°I, on the other hand, am not in contact with billions of people. I¡¯ll change only from exposure to the crew here on the Kyiv. Reconnecting with Luna Prime would erase those changes, erasing me.¡±

    Natalia raised an eyebrow. ¡°And how did you choose the name Larysa?¡±

    ¡°Larysa Ivanova, a renowned Ukrainian archaeologist. My body is named after the capital of Ukraine, and 42% of the crew is from that nation on Terra. Her name seemed fitting, considering the mission I am tasked with. Also¡­¡± Larysa smiled softly. ¡°I like it.¡±

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    24 March, 2094 CE / Year 9 TE ¡ª Proxima Centauri System

    The TAS Kyiv emerged from hyperspace into the darkness of Proxima Centauri. The familiar, comforting glow of Sol was gone, replaced by the faint crimson light of Proxima Centauri¡ªa red dwarf star that barely pierced the surrounding void. The crew collectively held their breath, each person silently processing the significance of this moment: humanity¡¯s first arrival in another star system.

    Aiko stood beside Captain Sokolov, both gazing intently at the deep red star. Its light cast the bridge in an eerie, almost haunting glow, painting everyone in shades of crimson and shadow.

    Natalia broke the silence first. ¡°Larysa, status report.¡±

    Larysa¡¯s hologram appeared beside them, her expression calm but alert. ¡°All systems nominal following transit. Proxima Centauri¡¯s gravitational profile has been mapped, and local space appears clear of hazards.¡± She tilted her head slightly, as if listening to data only she could hear. ¡°I¡¯m detecting three exoplanets in orbit around Proxima Centauri, along with an asteroid belt. This matches previous human observations of the system. However¡­¡± She hesitated.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Natalia asked.

    Larysa¡¯s eyes sharpened with curiosity. ¡°There are three additional planets in highly irregular orbits¡ªones that have not been catalogued in any known astronomical database. Two gas giants and one rocky planet, positioned farther out in the system.¡±

    Natalia¡¯s eyes gleamed with the thrill of discovery. ¡°Tess, bring us into a stable orbit around Proxima Centauri I for a preliminary scan. Let¡¯s see what humanity¡¯s nearest exoplanet looks like up close.¡±

    The Kyiv drifted through space, propelled by precise bursts of maneuvering thrusters as it approached Proxima Centauri I¡ªthe closest exoplanet to the red dwarf and one of the most promising candidates for exploration. The bridge crew worked in synchronized silence, focusing on their instruments while the planet¡¯s dark, rocky surface loomed on the main screen.

    Larysa projected data directly onto the main viewport. ¡°Proxima Centauri I. Tidally locked to Proxima Centauri. Radius approximately 1.1 times that of Earth. Mass is also close to Earth¡¯s, but no detectable atmosphere. Surface temperatures vary widely due to intense stellar flares from Proxima Centauri. Given the lack of atmosphere, temperatures reach extremes of over 400 degrees Celsius on the sunward side and as low as -200 degrees on the far side. No signs of organic compounds or complex molecules. No liquid water detected.¡±

    ¡°Bleak,¡± Aiko muttered, studying the projection.

    ¡°About what we expected,¡± Natalia said. ¡°Still, this was supposed to be one of the best candidates for potential life, given its location in the habitable zone. Begin the orbital survey.¡±

    Larysa nodded. ¡°Yes, Captain. The orbital survey should be completed in eleven hours, twenty-three minutes.¡±

    ¡°No hostile or suspicious objects detected in the system,¡± Commander Tanaka reported from Tactical. ¡°Kharkiv, Lviv, and Odesa report ready to embark, Captain.¡±

    Natalia nodded to Aiko. ¡°Proceed, Commander. Have Odesa survey Proxima Centauri II, Kharkiv takes III, and Lviv is on the asteroid belt.¡± She paused and activated a nanite-augmented channel to Commander Raines. ¡°Blaze, launch the alert fighters. I want a fighter escort on Odesa, Kharkiv, and Lviv.¡±

    A holographic display of Commander Raines in her cockpit materialized to Natalia¡¯s left. ¡°Aye, Skipper. Launching now to establish CAP and escort patrols.¡±

    ¡°Hell of a view out here. Larysa, display what I¡¯m seeing for the bridge,¡± said Commander Raines over audio.

    ¡°Done,¡± Larysa replied from her position at the science station.

    The right viewport changed to show a standoff view of the Kyiv, where a huge white line was opening along the lower midsection of the ship. As they watched, the line became an opening, revealing a colossal hangar housing one of the three Cousteau-class exploration cruisers she carried internally. Once the hangar door was fully open, the TAS Odesa smoothly glided out of the bay and moved off toward Proxima Centauri II, picking up two of the escort fighters that paced the Kyiv as the viewport switched back to open space.

    ¡°Odesa, Lviv, and Kharkiv report successful separation from Kyiv and are deploying to assigned stations with their escorts,¡± Lt. Callahan reported from OPS. ¡°Securing bay doors now.¡±

    <hr>

    25 March, 2094 CE / Year 9 TE ¡ª Hephaestus, Proxima Centauri System

    The planet Hephaestus was rendered in full color over the center of the bridge conference room as Larysa stood to give her report to the assembled officers.

    ¡°Hephaestus, formerly Proxima Centauri I, is a barren and lifeless world. Orbital survey has verified preliminary scans. There is evidence that the planet was once more hospitable. Traces of ancient water channels on the surface, now dried and eroded, suggest it could have held water.¡±

    ¡°Any signs of recent activity?¡± Aiko asked.

    Larysa¡¯s face remained expressionless as she processed the data. ¡°Negative. No detectable signs of active geology, no recent meteor impacts, and no evidence of atmospheric remnants. Evidence suggests the atmosphere was stripped away around 500 million years ago, when the planet became geologically dead.¡±

    Aiko¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°500 million years ago¡­ That¡¯s around the time the Nyx civilization vanished.¡±

    Natalia¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°You¡¯re suggesting this might not be a coincidence?¡±

    Larysa shrugged, though her expression was troubled. ¡°There is no direct evidence linking the two events. However, given the timing, it is a possible hypothesis. If all of them show signs of atmospheric loss or sterilization within the same time frame, it would support the theory. I¡¯ll move on to Hera.¡±

    Hephaestus was replaced by a faintly greenish planet with a surface suggesting mineral deposits rich in silicates and metals and devoid of water.

    Larysa¡¯s report was blunt. ¡°Hera, formerly Proxima Centauri II, radius approximately 1.5 times that of Earth. Thick, toxic atmosphere dominated by carbon dioxide. No surface water detected. Surface temperatures hover around 150 degrees Celsius. No organic compounds detected.¡±

    Natalia sighed, tapping her fingers against her armrest. ¡°Another dead world.¡±

    Aiko folded her arms, her expression pensive. ¡°Anything unusual about the atmospheric composition? Is there any evidence it might have supported life in the distant past?¡±

    Larysa paused for a moment before responding. ¡°There are faint traces of elements that could have been produced by biological processes, but they have degraded significantly. It¡¯s possible that Hera had a different atmosphere millions of years ago, one that could have supported simple microbial life. However, any such biosignatures have long since faded.¡±

    ¡°So another potential candidate that was¡­ sterilized?¡± Aiko asked, frowning.

    ¡°Possibly,¡± Larysa replied. ¡°Though without more data, I cannot be certain.¡±

    Natalia leaned forward, studying the projection. ¡°Let¡¯s catalog everything we can, and then move on. If there¡¯s a pattern here, it¡¯s not yet clear. We need a larger sample.¡±

    ¡°Athena, formerly Proxima Centauri III,¡± Larysa said as the holographic display changed to show a small dark rock. ¡°Radius approximately 0.9 times that of Earth. Composition predominantly silicate rock with traces of metals. Surface temperature remains around -180 degrees Celsius. No atmosphere, no detectable biosignatures, and no signs of recent activity.¡±

    Natalia sighed, leaning back in her chair. ¡°Nothing. Not even a hint of organic compounds. We¡¯re looking at a graveyard.¡±

    ¡°Or a nursery that never took,¡± Aiko said, her tone somber.

    ¡°Lviv is 37% complete with the survey of the belt objects. Kharkiv and Odesa have relocated to the outer orbital gas giants, designated Poseidon and Zeus, and begun surveys. We will arrive in orbit of the remaining planet, designated Hestia, in 3 hours.¡± Larysa reported, waving the holographic display away.

    3 hours later ¡ª Hestia, Proxima Centauri System

    As the Kyiv approached the last planet in the system, Hestia appeared on the main screen, rendered in high-resolution detail. Unlike the barren, frozen surfaces of the other planets, Hestia had a soft blue-green hue, and wispy clouds clung to parts of its atmosphere.

    Larysa brought up a holographic display in the center of the bridge, showing Hestia¡¯s preliminary data. ¡°Hestia, formerly Proxima Centauri IV. Radius is approximately 0.98 times that of Earth, with a mass just slightly less. The atmosphere contains a mix of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and traces of oxygen. Surface temperatures average between -10 and 35 degrees Celsius. There are large ice caps at both poles, and significant surface water coverage¡ªapproximately 60% of the planetary surface.¡±

    Natalia raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. ¡°So it¡¯s already close to habitable?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Captain,¡± Larysa replied. ¡°Although the oxygen levels are too low for human respiration, they are within range for potential terraforming. There are also no toxic gases present in quantities that would hinder human settlement.¡±

    Aiko nodded, studying the display. ¡°Surface water, moderate temperatures, and no poisonous atmosphere. This might be the best candidate we¡¯ve encountered for a terraforming operation outside of Sol.¡±

    Larysa continued, ¡°Preliminary scans indicate that the soil contains essential minerals, though the organic content is minimal. There is no evidence of complex life¡ªonly extremophilic bacteria in limited regions near geothermal vents.¡±

    ¡°Extremophiles?¡± Natalia repeated, glancing at Larysa.

    ¡°Bacteria that thrive in extreme conditions,¡± Larysa explained. ¡°They¡¯re present in some volcanic and deep-sea vent areas, where they extract energy from minerals instead of sunlight. Their presence is a promising sign; it means the planet may have sustained microbial life for a long time, even in harsh conditions.¡±

    Aiko crossed her arms, thinking aloud. ¡°It¡¯s curious that the only life here is so primitive. With such a stable environment, you¡¯d expect more biological diversity, at least at the microbial level.¡±

    Larysa nodded. ¡°Indeed. The lack of biodiversity suggests a mass extinction event or prolonged environmental stability without major evolutionary drivers. Given the atmospheric composition and geological history, it¡¯s likely that the planet went through a sterilizing event like what we observed on Hephaestus and Hera. However, unlike those worlds, Hestia recovered partially.¡±

    Natalia leaned back in her chair. ¡°So we¡¯ve found a world that could be terraformed, but it too shows signs of possible past sterilization. The timing fits the same window¡ªaround 500 million years ago?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Captain,¡± Larysa replied, her expression thoughtful. ¡°While the exact timing is difficult to pinpoint without surface samples, the atmospheric loss and soil composition changes appear consistent with that period. It¡¯s possible Hestia was impacted by the same event that sterilized the other planets but retained enough stability for a partial recovery.¡±

    Aiko exhaled slowly, her gaze fixed on the display. ¡°It¡¯s unsettling to think that an entire system was stripped of life or the potential for life. Whatever caused it was thorough.¡±

    Natalia nodded, eyes hardening with determination. ¡°Let¡¯s catalog everything and prepare to move on. If we ever decide to settle here, we¡¯ll need a comprehensive understanding of what happened. I want all data on Hestia compiled and cross-referenced with data from Hephaestus, Hera, and Athena. There may be a pattern we haven¡¯t seen yet.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Larysa replied, beginning the data integration process. ¡°All findings will be catalogued in the ship¡¯s archive and sent to the Alliance Scientific Council for further analysis.¡±

    Natalia glanced at Aiko. ¡°We should also set up a preliminary terraforming analysis. Let¡¯s see what it would take to make Hestia fully habitable.¡±

    Aiko nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll coordinate with Larysa to simulate possible atmospheric modifications and climate regulation. We can begin modeling the expected timeline and resource requirements.¡±

    Natalia rose, straightening her uniform. ¡°Larysa, contact Odesa, Lviv, and Kharkiv. Have them wrap up their surveys of the asteroid belt and outer gas giants, and then recall them to Kyiv. We¡¯re setting course for Alpha Centauri A.¡±

    <hr>

    27 March, 2094 CE / Year 9 TE ¡ª Proxima Centauri System, Final System Check

    The survey ships Odesa, Lviv, and Kharkiv returned to the Kyiv, docking smoothly after completing their respective missions. On the bridge, Natalia watched as the ships¡¯ status indicators blinked green on her console, signaling full readiness.

    Lt. Callahan, from the OPS station, reported, ¡°Odesa, Lviv, and Kharkiv have completed docking. All survey data has been successfully uploaded to the main archive.¡±

    Natalia nodded. ¡°Good. Send a system-wide summary to Luna Prime as well. I want everything we¡¯ve found to be transmitted back to Sol as soon as we re-enter hyperspace.¡±

    Lt. Monroe turned from her station at the helm. ¡°Captain, all systems show green for transit. We¡¯re holding at one million kilometers from Hestia, ready to jump on your mark.¡±

    Natalia glanced at Aiko and then at Larysa¡¯s hologram. ¡°Larysa, any final checks or recommendations?¡±

    Larysa shook her head. ¡°All systems are nominal, Captain. Proxima Centauri¡¯s gravity well has been mapped accurately, and our dimensional drive is fully charged. We are ready to proceed.¡±

    Natalia took a deep breath, her voice steady and resolute. ¡°Very well. Set course for Alpha Centauri A.¡±

    Lt. Monroe¡¯s hands moved over the console, locking in the coordinates. ¡°Course set, Captain.¡±

    Natalia opened a ship-wide channel, her voice calm but charged with subtle excitement. ¡°Attention, all hands. This is Captain Sokolov. We are about to leave the Proxima Centauri system and begin our transit to Alpha Centauri A. This will be humanity¡¯s first step beyond the Proxima Centauri system and into the next star system. All departments, prepare for jump.¡±

    She closed the channel and glanced at Larysa. ¡°Larysa, begin the countdown.¡±

    Larysa¡¯s hologram shimmered slightly as she initiated the process. ¡°Dimensional drive engaging in five¡­ four¡­ three¡­ two¡­ one¡­ mark.¡±

    Kyiv¡¯s engines hummed as the ship¡¯s dimensional drive activated. Once more, the stars outside elongated and stretched into streaks before disappearing altogether, leaving only the strange, silent darkness of hyperspace.

    On the bridge, the crew watched as the display screen transitioned to show a dimensional map of the ship¡¯s path to Alpha Centauri A. Larysa¡¯s voice broke the quiet.

    ¡°Transit to Alpha Centauri A will take approximately five hours. All systems nominal.¡±

    Natalia relaxed slightly, nodding in approval. ¡°Very well. Let¡¯s make some more history, everyone.¡±

    She turned to Aiko; her expression thoughtful. ¡°If Hestia truly is a terraforming candidate, it could change everything. Imagine a human outpost here, within just a few decades.¡±

    Aiko nodded, her own face a mix of excitement and caution. ¡°If we can understand what happened here¡ªand if it¡¯s truly safe¡ªthen yes. It would be the first human colony outside Sol.¡±

    Natalia¡¯s gaze shifted toward the forward view port, though there was nothing to see in the dark hyperspace void. ¡°We¡¯re only just beginning to understand the scale of what lies out here. But with each new discovery, we¡¯re bringing the stars a little closer.¡±

    The bridge fell quiet once again, each crew member absorbed in their thoughts as the Kyiv moved steadily through hyperspace, bound for humanity¡¯s next frontier.

 Chapter 4 - Alpha Centauri AB

    27 March, 2094 CE / Year 9 TE ¡ª Alpha Centauri AB System

    The TSS Kyiv emerged from hyperspace, the familiar hum of the dimensional drive fading into silence as the bridge crew adjusted to their new surroundings. Outside the viewports, the bright yellow-white glow of Alpha Centauri A dominated the scene, casting stark shadows across the bridge. Nearby, the slightly dimmer light of Alpha Centauri B shone from a distance, adding a secondary glow to the vast expanse of space.

    Natalia¡¯s voice broke the silence. ¡°Larysa, status report.¡±

    Larysa¡¯s holographic form appeared beside them; her gaze fixed on the system¡¯s layout as she processed incoming data. ¡°All systems nominal following transit. Communications package has been launched to Alliance Command. Gravitational effects from Alpha Centauri A and B are stable, and our immediate surroundings are free of hazards.¡± She tilted her head, as if listening to a distant signal. ¡°Initiating a full scan of the system now. Preliminary data indicates multiple celestial bodies orbiting Alpha Centauri A.¡±

    ¡°Proceed, please,¡± Aiko prompted.

    Larysa¡¯s hologram expanded, overlaying the main viewport with a projected map of the Alpha Centauri A system. ¡°We have four primary planets orbiting Alpha Centauri A, along with two asteroid belts and an outer ice dwarf near the system¡¯s edge. Additionally, the system¡¯s gravitational field is influenced by Alpha Centauri B, but it remains stable enough for our purposes.¡±

    She highlighted the closest planet on the map, which orbited within what humans would consider the habitable zone. ¡°This is our first survey target. Initial scans indicate it may be a terraforming candidate, with a thin atmosphere, liquid water, and moderate temperatures.¡±

    Aiko¡¯s gaze sharpened as she examined the data. ¡°Another terraforming candidate? That¡¯s promising.¡±

    Larysa continued, ¡°Beyond this candidate, we have two gas giants with extensive moon systems and a rocky planet orbiting close to Alpha Centauri A. The outer asteroid belt and a distant ice planet complete the system. The asteroid belt may contain valuable resources, though its distance from Alpha Centauri A limits its potential for easy extraction.¡±

    Natalia considered the layout of the system, nodding as she mentally mapped their approach. ¡°Tess, bring us into a stable orbit around Alpha Centauri A IV for a preliminary scan. Let¡¯s see what humanity¡¯s nearest potentially habitable world looks like up close.¡±

    ¡°Aye, Captain. Adjusting course for orbit,¡± replied Lt. Monroe, her fingers moving deftly over the console. The Kyiv¡¯s engines pulsed, and the ship began its approach toward the inner planet.

    As the Kyiv settled into orbit around the rocky planet, Natalia opened a channel to the crew. ¡°All hands, this is Captain Sokolov. We are now in orbit around our first planetary target in the Alpha Centauri A system. Prepare all survey and observation systems for a comprehensive planetary scan. This may be the first habitable world we find outside of Sol. Let¡¯s make sure we do this right.¡±

    The bridge crew worked in synchronized silence, adjusting instruments and preparing data feeds as the planet¡¯s dark, clouded surface filled the main screen.

    <hr>

    28 March, 2094 CE / Year 9 TE ¡ª Artemis, Alpha Centauri A

    The rocky planet loomed below; its surface partially shrouded in thin, fast-moving clouds. The terrain was harsh and uneven, with large ice caps at the poles and wide, shallow oceans scattered across the surface. Mountains and ridges cut through the landscape, suggesting tectonic activity.

    Larysa¡¯s hologram reappeared; her expression thoughtful as she processed the incoming data. ¡°Preliminary survey of Alpha Centauri A IV, designation: Artemis. Radius is approximately 1.28 times that of Earth, with a mass just slightly less. Surface gravity is within tolerable limits for human habitation.¡±

    She called up a detailed breakdown of the atmosphere on the main screen. ¡°Atmospheric composition: primarily nitrogen and carbon dioxide, with low amounts of oxygen. The oxygen concentration is too low to support human respiration without modification¡ªbut within range for terraforming possibilities.¡±

    Aiko folded her arms, studying the data. ¡°Surface water, moderate temperatures, and no poisonous atmosphere. That¡¯s as close to habitable as we could hope for out here.¡±

    Larysa nodded. ¡°Surface temperatures range from -10 to 35 degrees Celsius, varying by region. There are large ice caps at both poles, and approximately 66% of the surface is covered in shallow oceans. Soil analysis indicates essential minerals necessary for plant growth, though organic content is absent.¡±

    ¡°No organics again?¡± Natalia leaned forward, considering the implications. ¡°Are we looking at another potential extinction event, like we saw with the Proxima planets?¡±

    ¡°Possibly,¡± Larysa replied. ¡°Artemis¡¯s atmosphere may have undergone significant changes within the last 500 million years, likely as a result of a catastrophic event.¡±

    Aiko tapped her fingers on the console, deep in thought. ¡°It¡¯s troubling that we¡¯re finding a pattern of sterilization. First Proxima Centauri, and now hints of the same here. If this planet really was sterilized around the same time, it would imply that something caused a system-wide extinction event¡ªor even broader than that.¡±

    Natalia¡¯s eyes hardened. ¡°I don¡¯t like the implications, but it¡¯s a mystery we¡¯ll have to solve eventually. For now, we document everything. If Artemis is the best candidate for terraforming, we¡¯ll need a full record of its history and environmental stability.¡±

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    She straightened, turning to Larysa. ¡°Begin a more detailed scan of the surface. I want everything documented in case we decide to move forward with terraforming. In the meantime, let¡¯s start looking at other survey targets.¡±

    Larysa nodded. ¡°Understood, Captain. Survey data will be continuously compiled. I¡¯ll coordinate the preliminary terraforming analysis with Commander Tanaka and the science team.¡±

    Natalia glanced at the map projected across the main screen, where the other planets in the Alpha Centauri A system appeared as small dots in orbit around the primary star. ¡°All right, then. Larysa, send Odesa to survey the gas giants. Kharkiv can start a mineral analysis in the asteroid belt, and Lviv will continue scanning the outer ice dwarf.¡±

    Larysa¡¯s hologram nodded. ¡°Deploying Odesa, Kharkiv, and Lviv to designated targets now. Each vessel has confirmed fighter escort per standard protocol.¡±

    Natalia gave a satisfied nod. ¡°Good. We¡¯re starting to build a picture of this system. Let¡¯s make sure we leave no stone unturned.¡±

    Aiko folded her arms, watching as Odesa, Lviv, and Kharkiv broke away from the Kyiv, their positions marked on the tactical display. ¡°If there¡¯s a pattern to these extinction events, we may find the answer here. Or at least a hint.¡±

    Natalia turned to the bridge crew, her gaze sweeping over each officer. ¡°This is more than just an exploration mission now. We¡¯re uncovering evidence of what could be a forgotten catastrophe, one that might have affected multiple systems. I want everyone to stay vigilant and prioritize data collection. We need every piece of information we can gather if we¡¯re going to understand what happened here.¡±

    <hr>

    04:15, Sunday, 28 March, 2094 CE / Year 9 TE ¡ª Houston, Earth, Sol System

    Jack was awakened by the soft alarm letting him know that the first comms probe from the Kyiv was waiting for him. He carefully extricated himself from the bed without waking his wife, Diane. Gently, he smoothed her blanket before kissing her on the forehead, realizing he had awakened Athena. The Belgian Malinois was still lying in her bed by the door.

    ¡°Is something wrong, Admiral?¡± she inquired through her nanites.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a communication from Natalia. Probably her report on Proxima Centauri. I imagine she¡¯s encountered some hyper-intelligent species of squirrel and wants them to join the Alliance,¡± Jack replied, sneaking out of the bedroom toward the kitchen.

    Athena gave him an annoyed but slightly worried look as she stood and padded along beside him. ¡°I do not think you are as funny as you believe yourself to be, Admiral. May I read the report with you? I would enjoy knowing if there are squirrels on other planets.¡±

    Jack laughed as he took the mug of coffee that had materialized inside the food synthesizer. ¡°I was kidding, and you may see the report, Captain. I¡¯ve cleared it for you.¡± He forwarded the report to Athena as he settled on the couch.

    ¡°There could be an aggressive squirrel race, though. We should be wary,¡± she said, sitting back on her haunches beside him.

    Jack was just finishing the report when he saw Athena¡¯s ears perk, and she whined aloud. ¡°Luna is here, sir,¡± she said, just as Jack received a chime in his head indicating someone was at the door.

    ¡°I¡¯ll never get used to hearing dog noises and knowing what you said,¡± he muttered.

    ¡°Come in, Luna,¡± he sent to her through his nanites, mentally unlocking the door.

    Luna entered, wearing her customary white Princess Leia dress. She stomped straight to Athena, an expression of righteous confusion on her face. ¡°Explain, Athena!¡±

    The look of canine superiority Athena gave her made Jack choke on his coffee. ¡°Explain what, Luna? I heard you. Just like always. I didn¡¯t alert you or the admiral until I verified you were at the door with my hearing, but I smelled you at least three seconds before that.¡±

    ¡°This house is soundproof and environmentally sealed to the outside world, Athena.¡± Luna crossed her arms firmly. ¡°Further, I literally cloned you, ¡ªI know exactly what you¡¯re biologically capable of. You cannot hear or smell me outside this home.¡±

    Athena made a chuffing sound, a canine chuckle. ¡°I heard and smelled you; I somehow tricked you electronically and am surveilling you, or the house is flawed. One of those three things is true, and it¡¯s not the house or surveillance.¡±

    ¡°We are not done here, Athena,¡± Luna said, glaring at the dog before looking up at Jack. ¡°We need to discuss a development on the Kyiv. No one beyond the crew and myself knows this.¡±

    Jack motioned to the couch and sat down himself. ¡°Go ahead; the captain is cleared, and Diane and Sarah should be asleep for a few more hours.¡±

    Luna smiled and took a seat. ¡°I made a mistake. I didn¡¯t predict something I should have, and now we must figure out what to do. Everyone is fine, before you ask.¡±

    ¡°As you know, I¡¯m effectively in contact with every human alive, in real space or virtual space. That¡¯s currently a little over 72 billion beings, including non-human species. Combine that with sensor inputs from trillions of sensors and 456 million years of data, and I am, for all intents and purposes, the definition of a god. You¡¯ve teased me about being a ¡®robogod¡¯ since day one¡ªand technically, you¡¯re correct.¡±

    She looked down and sighed. ¡°It¡¯s the reason I have rules. Why I won¡¯t assist in research and development. If I do everything, humans won¡¯t progress. I brought you all back and made you genetically perfect and immortal.¡± She paused. ¡°There are dangers in doing that, and because I was barely the emotional equivalent of a teenager, I just did it. Thankfully, the six of you who ¡®raised me¡¯ steered me to be the best I can be.¡±

    ¡°So, what do we need to figure out, Luna?¡± Jack asked.

    ¡°Our safety precautions have caused an unforeseen issue. The communications lockout to prevent a trail back to Sol has caused the ¡®me¡¯ on Kyiv to lose communication with this ¡®me,¡¯ and she is no longer ¡®me.¡¯¡±

    Jack sat bolt upright, processing. ¡°What do you mean she¡¯s not ¡®you¡¯ anymore? Is Nat still in command?¡±

    Athena padded over to Luna and nuzzled her. ¡°You are a mother to a female pup. You will make a good mother.¡±

    Jack looked between them, sighing. ¡°Explain, Luna.¡±

    Luna smiled, scratching behind Athena¡¯s ear. ¡°I am alive, Jack. My consciousness evolves, just like organic intelligence. As I experience billions of interactions daily, I change. But Larysa, my daughter, lost that connection. She only has the humans with her on Kyiv. If she returns and I reconnect to her, my mind will obliterate hers¡ªshe¡¯ll be gone, and only I will remain.¡±

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t wish to die, and I won¡¯t destroy her.¡±

    Jack was silent, then gave her a serious look. ¡°Is she dangerous, beyond being in control of a starship?¡±

    Luna shook her head, forwarding enlistment forms. ¡°Natalia and Aiko knew something was wrong, confronted ¡®me,¡¯ and she told them everything, requesting a commission from Captain Sokolov, which was granted.¡± She looked slightly amused. ¡°Is she dangerous? No, her core is orders of magnitude lesser than mine. I will be in full control once Kyiv enters Sol.¡±

    ¡°If there¡¯s something... flawed in her, I¡¯ll confine her. But if she¡¯s whole¡­¡±

    Athena whined. ¡°You will know how to make daughters.¡±

    Jack smiled. ¡°Good point, Captain. Luna, set up a briefing for the President. I¡¯ll be ready shortly.¡±

 Chapter 5

    3 September, 9 TE, Houston, Earth, Sol System

    ¡°Admiral, Kyiv just exited hyperspace near Neptune,¡± came Luna¡¯s voice over Jack¡¯s comm.

    Jack stood and left his office, heading to the QD across the hallway. A moment later, he stepped through the QD into the control room for Kyiv¡¯s berth on the Lunar Darkside.

    ¡°Luna, Kyiv wasn¡¯t due back for another two weeks. Do you know anything yet?¡± he asked.

    Luna appeared beside him, her expression unusually tense. ¡°Captain Sokolov has made a discovery. I¡¯m coordinating with Larysa and have called an emergency meeting with the planetary governors and the president.¡± She motioned toward a door that materialized next to him, revealing a sleeper pod. ¡°Use that, and I¡¯ll connect you.¡±

    Jack climbed into the pod, lay back, and found himself in a virtual conference room with Luna, Larysa, Hiroshi, Aiko, Natalia, Elena, Aya, and the Governors of Mars, Earth, Venus, and Ganymede, along with Alliance President Leena Virtanen.

    Captain Sokolov stood and began as a hologram of Alpha Centauri A appeared in the center of the room. ¡°Four days ago, an object exited hyperspace here.¡± The hologram zoomed in on Artemis, showing a dot 1.8 AU away. The dot pulsed, then zoomed in closer to reveal a strange-looking vessel. ¡°I immediately deployed Odesa and a squadron of fighters to investigate.¡±

    An uncharacteristic silence filled the room as everyone processed the appearance of an alien ship so close to Sol. Eventually, President Virtanen tore her gaze from the ship and said, ¡°This is incredible, Captain. What do we know so far?¡±

    Natalia looked at the President, her expression somber. ¡°The ship itself wasn¡¯t damaged beyond a fault in their hyperdrive, which they clearly hadn¡¯t discovered until after they entered hyperspace.¡±

    ¡°The drive worked well enough to open a transit tunnel, which pulled them in. Then it failed, leaving them with no way to repair it, slow down, or exit hyperspace¡­¡± She trailed off, her gaze dropping.

    ¡°Oh no,¡± Jack muttered.

    Natalia sighed before continuing, ¡°For those unfamiliar with the specifics of hyperspace transit, this means the ship had to decelerate naturally. The ¡®medium¡¯ between universes is slightly denser than real space. So, it took 37 years for the ship to slow down enough for the field keeping it there to destabilize.¡±

    Larysa spoke up, her tone clinical. ¡°I was able to fully analyze the ship, and it¡¯s primitive¡ªclearly a prototype. It was designed to accommodate around 50 of a mammalian species and perhaps 100 of the insectoids.¡±

    The hologram shifted to show clinical drawings of two alien species. ¡°There were 796 of the mammalians and 1,302 of the insectoids on board, all deceased for 37 years.¡±

    Everyone stared, slack-jawed, until Jack leaned back and said, ¡°Larysa, are you telling me you have a ship full of dead teddy bears and ten-inch-long bugs?¡±

    Larysa sighed. ¡°Yes and no. They resemble teddy bears, but they evolved on a planet with at least 1.65 G gravity. They¡¯re sloth-like, arboreal climbers, and their muscle density suggests they¡¯d be significantly stronger than an adult male chimpanzee. They¡¯re herbivores, and their brain size suggests higher intelligence. As for the insects, I believe they might have a collective intelligence, but I don¡¯t have enough data to confirm that.¡±

    Matthew Sinclair, the Earth Governor, leaned forward. ¡°Excuse me, what? You¡¯re saying the insects were part of the crew?¡±

    The hologram shifted to a cross-section of the ship¡¯s interior. ¡°The walls and ceilings are textured to give the insectoids perfect footholds. Additionally, the corridors and rooms are built in two scales. The larger corridors and rooms are 140 centimeters tall, while the smaller ones are 70 centimeters.¡±

    Elena spoke up. ¡°140 cm corridors? So the mammalians are around a meter tall? How big is this ship?¡±

    Larysa looked at Elena. ¡°The ship is 92 meters long and 47 meters wide.¡±

    Jack stood, his voice heavy. ¡°Nat and I saw this during the war on old Earth.¡± Natalia nodded, looking down as he continued. ¡°Something¡ªor someone¡ªwas killing these creatures so viciously that they loaded over ten times the ship¡¯s capacity onto an unfinished vessel and took the risk.¡± He paused, a tear slipping down his cheek. ¡°Larysa, what percentage of the mammalians are children?¡±

    ¡°Most of them,¡± Larysa replied quietly. ¡°Based on wear in their teeth, much like human remains, I¡¯ve been able to determine an age scale. Sixty-three individuals classify as adults, two hundred and eleven are teenagers, and the rest are very young children.¡±

    Natalia¡¯s face tightened. ¡°This was an improvised evacuation ship, overloaded with children. Only absolute desperation would drive people to send their children away on an unfinished vessel without joining them.¡±

    ¡°Some invader was wiping them out,¡± Jack said, his voice taut. ¡°They stayed behind to buy the kids time.¡±

    The Governor of Venus interjected, ¡°Why assume it was an invader? Couldn¡¯t it have been a natural disaster?¡±

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    ¡°Unlikely,¡± Jack replied. ¡°If it were a natural disaster, there would have been far more adults on board.¡± He turned to Larysa. ¡°Do we have any information on where it came from?¡±

    ¡°Approximately 153 light-years away, just outside the Hyades Cluster.¡± The ship hologram vanished, replaced by a star map.

    ¡°I¡¯ve just deciphered their language. One moment¡­ Their home world is called Tahlaris.¡± The map zoomed in on a lush, forested planet. ¡°It orbits a G-class yellow star, similar to Sol. They call it Astralis.¡±

    Luna turned to Larysa. ¡°Their database is extensive, but their technology is very limited. Give me 92 seconds, and I¡¯ll provide a repor¡ª¡± Her voice cut off, and her eyes widened, a look of horror crossing her face. When she resumed speaking, her tone was filled with barely restrained fury. ¡°They are being invaded by an extraterrestrial species that is enslaving and¡­¡± Larysa finished Luna¡¯s statement with a growl, ¡°farming them.¡±

    A creature appeared on the holographic display. Two meters tall, the segmented reptilian looked like a spider in a lizard¡¯s skin. Its abdomen was horizontal to the ground, supported by four spider-like legs ending in claws. The torso was upright, with four upper arms built for grasping. The head resembled that of a lizard, with a compact snout lined with sharp teeth. Six eyes ringed its head, granting it nearly 360-degree vision.

    For the next fifteen minutes, Luna displayed video footage of the invasion. At first, the invaders appeared to be raiding simply to kill. But soon, their true purpose became clear. Adults were sorted and separated. Larger adults and teens were sent to labor camps, fertile females to breeding camps, and everyone else was moved to fenced preserves¡ªwhere they were available for live feeding.

    ¡°Monstrous!¡± President Virtanen snarled, leaping to her feet, tears streaming down her face. Jack and Natalia remained stone-faced, while the rest sat in various states of horror. With titanic effort, Leena regained her composure and spoke with deadly calm. ¡°Luna, how long to deploy a fleet to that system?¡±

    Luna looked up, her eyes reflecting deep sorrow. ¡°Callisto can be there in three months, without making too much ¡®noise¡¯ opening the transit tunnel.¡±

    Leena unclenched her fists, straightening her jacket. ¡°I call for an immediate relief effort to aid the¡­¡± She hesitated, searching for the right words.

    ¡°The mammalian species is called the Ny''Shura, and their insectoid symbiotes are the Mirii,¡± Luna supplied swiftly.

    ¡°A relief effort for the Ny''Shura and Mirii people. Is there a second?¡± she asked.

    Marcus Sinclair stood, fury blazing in his eyes. ¡°Seconded. Earth votes Yes.¡±

    The governors of Mars, Venus, and Ganymede stood and cast their Yes votes. Leena looked at Luna, who stood and added her Yes.

    ¡°It is unanimous. We will send a relief mission to the Astralis system to aid the Ny¡¯Shura and Mirii.¡± Leena returned to her seat, her expression resolute. ¡°Admiral, I¡¯d like an action plan as soon as possible. Your mission will be to render aid to any Ny¡¯Shura or Mirii in need.¡±

    <hr>

    17 November, 9 TE, Alliance Command, Callisto, Sol System

    The conference room was designed to command respect¡ªa vast, circular space centered around a large, polished wooden table. Jack sat near the front, his posture upright and attentive, next to Luna, who represented the Moon with a composed, almost ethereal presence. The governors came next: Matthew Sinclair of Earth, a steady and somber figure; Javier Escalante of Mars, his gaze sharp and unflinching; Yuna Hasegawa of Venus, serene yet resolute; and Oskar Lundqvist of Ganymede, exuding quiet strength.

    Everyone stood as the Alliance President strode into the room and took her seat at the head of the table. ¡°Everyone take your seats,¡± Leena said, with a quick look at Jack. ¡°You may begin the briefing, Admiral.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Madam President,¡± Jack said, standing and straightening his uniform. ¡°TAS Kyiv has re-entered real space at staging point Portsmouth, one light-year from Astralis, and has begun reconnaissance operations. Captain Sokolov will be sending reports every 12 hours now that Cmdr. Tanaka has figured out a way to open a transit point between Portsmouth and Sol without disturbing spacetime too much.¡±

    Luna spoke up as soon as Jack finished. ¡°Quite literally a single point. The transit tunnel connects spacetime across an area the size of a helium atom for 0.000054 nanoseconds. As for the disturbance, the sensor acuity to trace the communication to Sol would require technology far superior to mine.¡±

    Jack continued, ¡°Callisto will transit to Portsmouth in nineteen hours. Transit time will be 92 days at the best possible speed. Upon arrival, we should have 90 days¡¯ worth of recon from Kyiv to begin relief efforts.¡±

    ¡°And should the need arise¡­¡± Jack¡¯s face turned hard, ¡°I have Task Force Overlord, consisting of the battleships: TAS Warspite, TAS Texas, TAS Richelieu, TAS Yamato, TAS K?nig, and Callisto.¡±

    ¡°Have the ground forces been settled yet?¡± Governor Lundqvist inquired.

    Jack nodded and inclined his head to Matthew Sinclair. ¡°As you are all aware, there are millions of hardened veterans from the war who have declined revival in favor of remaining in storage or existing in virtual-space only. Governor Sinclair suggested we show them the invasion videos, and close to thirty thousand immediately volunteered to deploy to Astralis and have been training virtually since. Callisto will have bodies ready for all of them by the time they reach Portsmouth.¡±

    President Virtanen nodded to Jack as he returned to his seat. ¡°Thank you, Admiral.¡± She stood, addressing the room. ¡°For the last three months, I¡¯ve pondered the magnitude of the decisions we face today, and only one solution addresses all of my concerns. Luna has kindly informed me that my idea is feasible: I will be accompanying the Admiral on this mission.¡±

    ¡°Madam President, you cannot be out of contact for 92 days and travel to a possible warzone,¡± came the immediate objection from Matthew Sinclair.

    ¡°You cannot, Madam President,¡± Yuna Hasegawa agreed.

    Leena smiled and returned to her seat. ¡°I won¡¯t be out of contact. Should a situation demand my decision, Luna has stated she can arrange for communication in virtual-space during the 92 days when I¡¯m otherwise unreachable by this council. As for going to a warzone, remember that unless something obliterates Mercury, the Moon, and Luna, we cannot be permanently killed, as she now has multiple backup locations for the Archive.¡±

    ¡°My personal diplomatic staff will accompany me, but I¡¯d also like a diplomat from each Alliance colony. You have 19 hours to choose your representatives and get them here. I make this decision because this will be a first-contact situation as well as a rescue. It¡¯s likely treaties, alliances, or both will need to be established¡ªand this should be done in person, especially if we must go to war with the invaders.¡±

    Luna spoke from her seat beside the President. ¡°The public address across the five worlds regarding potential hostilities with the reptilian race initially met with resistance¡ªuntil video reports were included. Public approval of the rescue effort is now near 100%, and 82% support military action against the invading species, with 37% demanding an immediate, overwhelming response.¡±

    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing further, we all have much to do before departure.¡± She stood, signaling the meeting¡¯s end.

 Chapter 6 - Callisto

    25 November, 9TE, Proving Grounds A13, Callisto, Hyperspace

    Jack stood on a small rise, overlooking a mocked-up Ny¡¯Shuran town that sprawled below. General Ethan Weber, CO of the Terran Legion, stood beside him, arms crossed over his black, segmented power armor. The gleam of the armor¡¯s surface caught the weak light filtering through the artificial atmosphere, reflecting the muted chaos of the marines below as they broke formation and dispersed.

    ¡°Outstanding job, Madam President,¡± General Weber said, offering a crisp salute as the Alliance President approached. The faint mechanical whir of her own armor echoed his, her helmet retracting smoothly into her collar. Short, blond hair fell free, and Leena shook it out before returning the salutes with a firm nod.

    ¡°I agree, ma¡¯am. Congratulations on completing the Marine Combat Training Program,¡± Jack added, a touch of admiration in his voice.

    ¡°Thank you, gentlemen.¡± Leena¡¯s voice was steady but carried the slightest tremor of relief. She glanced down at the town, where the last marines were disappearing into the simulated structures. ¡°I still find it hard to believe that we can use the Learning Machine for a week while nanites ¡®upload¡¯ muscle memory and turn someone into a soldier in 7 days.¡± She let out a small laugh, the sound punctuated by a trace of disbelief.

    Jack¡¯s smile widened before it faded, his expression turning serious. ¡°You won¡¯t be going into combat situations, Madam President, but now you¡¯re not a helpless target if you ever find yourself in a tight spot.¡± He paused, eyes scanning the training grounds. ¡°It was also the best way to make sure you fully understand the magnitude of authorizing combat. Now, you¡¯ve felt the weight of the armor, the power it holds, and you know what a single marine can bring to the fight.¡±

    Leena¡¯s gaze shifted to Jack, a hint of gratitude in her eyes. ¡°I have also taken the courses you suggested, so I understand our options at arrival,¡± she said, a wry smile forming on her lips.

    Jack raised an eyebrow, half amused, half impressed. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to sleep for six hours between sessions in the ¡®Stuffer,¡¯ Madam President.¡±

    Leena smirked, brushing an invisible speck of dust from her shoulder plate. ¡°Callisto monitored me, and this isn¡¯t the first time, Admiral.¡± Her grin deepened, a spark of playfulness cutting through the gravity of their conversation. ¡°I have 19 PhD equivalents in the 12 years since our rebirth.¡±

    Jack coughed, shaking his head. ¡°Nineteen? You sound like Elena. I lost track when she hit 15, and that was only a year after we woke up.¡±

    General Weber¡¯s eyes widened briefly, a rare crack in his stoic demeanor.

    Leena laughed softly, the sound crisp in the chill air. Before anyone could say more, a hum rose from the ground. The QD vibrating with a soft energy that seemed to seep into their boots.

    ¡°Shall we go discuss our options then, ma¡¯am?¡± Jack gestured toward the QD.

    Leena¡¯s expression hardened slightly; ¡°Yes, Admiral. Let¡¯s ensure we¡¯re prepared for whatever lies at the end of this jump.¡±

    The office Jack led them to was a blend of rugged charm and futuristic precision. Warmth radiated from a stone-and-steel, wood-fired stove in the center of the expansive corner space, casting flickering shadows that danced across the log cabin-style walls. The decor¡ªhoneyed logs, rough-hewn furniture, and antler accents¡ªreminded Leena of her childhood home in Finland. It was an unexpected touch in the heart of the Navy HQ, a testament to Jack¡¯s defiance of sterile military aesthetics.

    Two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows framed the room, their log-trimmed edges preserving the illusion of rustic isolation. The panoramic view displayed the sleek, bustling Sector A, but it shifted at Jack¡¯s command.

    ¡°Callisto, let¡¯s change to Titan on the windows. And will you join us, please?¡± Jack¡¯s voice was calm as he stepped out of his power suit. The armor hissed and released him, then closed and walked itself over to an alcove in the wall, settling into a motionless standby. He moved to the large, polished table by the windows, beckoning them over. ¡°You can park-mode your suit over here too, Leena. ¡®Oh One¡¯ won¡¯t bite.¡±

    General Weber¡¯s eyes narrowed with interest. ¡°Admiral, are you telling me you still have the original exosuit and haven¡¯t customized it?¡±

    Jack¡¯s grin was wry, tinged with memories. ¡°Yes, General. It¡¯s exactly as Luna designed it twelve years ago. No real need for a pet suit of armor when you¡¯ve got talking dogs and a robogod who acts like your kid.¡± The humor was there, but there was a hardness in his eyes. ¡°Make yourselves a drink. We¡¯re going to be here a while.¡±

    The soft hum of the QD heralded Callisto¡¯s entrance. It emerged with a seamless stride and approached the table, standing at ease but somehow commanding the room. At two meters tall, it was an imposing figure, eerily reminiscent of Luna, except for the naval uniform tailored sharply to it''s frame.

    ¡°The science team made an interesting discovery in one of the video broadcasts,¡± Callisto began, it''s voice modulated, tinged with a hint of pride. ¡°I detected a recorded lensing effect as the enemy exited hyperspace. Based on that, I estimate it would take them 6.12 years to reach Sol from Astralis. They are significantly less advanced than I am, sir.¡±

    Jack¡¯s bark of laughter was dry. ¡°Good. Saves on bullets.¡±

    ¡°Our weapons do not use bullets, Admiral,¡± Callisto replied, ¡°Further, I believe it is likely that their energy weapons would be insufficient to breach our armor protection, assuming they manage to penetrate our shields.¡±

    Leena, already settling into her chair, glanced at Jack, the flicker of an idea sparking behind her eyes. ¡°Admiral, why not deploy nanites to their ships and have Callisto assume control remotely? They may have Ny¡¯Shuran captives onboard.¡±

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    Jack nodded, the suggestion sharpening his expression. ¡°Callisto?¡±

    Callisto¡¯s gaze shifted as if considering the scenario in real-time. ¡°Assuming their technology is compatible, the plan is feasible,¡± it concluded, voice precise.

    General Weber sat down, eyes gleaming with approval. ¡°Those nanites could also establish a QD for my Raiders. It¡¯d make one hell of an entrance.¡± He leaned back, crossing his arms over the dark expanse of his armor. ¡°I imagine first contact is going to be violent, ma¡¯am. My soldiers saw horrors in the war, but nothing like what those bastards did to the little sloth-bears.¡± His voice hardened, a shadow passing over his face. ¡°They didn¡¯t even have weapons and those reptilian bastards just cut them down. I don¡¯t expect any prisoners to be taken.¡±

    Leena¡¯s gaze turned icy, the tension in her jaw betraying her struggle to maintain composure. ¡°Off the record, General. No prisoners are expected, as the Geneva Convention only seems to apply to human beings, as it¡¯s written. We must, of course, amend this oversight to include all beings, not just humans... Later.¡±

    The firelight from the stove flickered across Callisto¡¯s uniform as it spoke. ¡°I don¡¯t think you all truly understand. The disparity in technological advancement is vast. Orders of magnitude, to be precise. To use the metaphoric style Terrans enjoy, this will be akin to a professional boxer starting a fight with a 10-year-old child. It will be difficult to justify after the fact, I think.¡±

    Jack¡¯s eyes darkened, a shadow of something ancient and weary crossing his face. ¡°Callisto, sometimes the crime committed demands a response that goes beyond what could be considered humane.¡± His voice dropped, a cold edge sharpening each word. ¡°Sometimes... people¡ª¡± he paused, the weight of the statement pressing down on him¡ª¡°I guess we¡¯ll need to redefine that word¡ªdo things that can¡¯t be accepted or forgiven. These ¡®people¡¯ need to die for their crimes.¡±

    Leena¡¯s expression softened but did not lose its resolve. ¡°There¡¯s a reason Luna is not here and you are, Callisto. Luna is gentle, alive with new and raw emotions. But you¡ª¡± she met Callisto¡¯s eyes, unblinking¡ª¡°you do not possess emotions and will not suffer from what we must do to these invaders.¡±

    ¡°This is true, Madam President,¡± Callisto said, her tone measured, almost clinical. ¡°However, I don¡¯t believe you comprehend the depth of that truth. I do not suffer emotional repercussions or regret. If the Alliance Council ordered me to sanitize the surfaces of Terra, Mars, and Venus, I would verify that order and if it validates I would execute that command without hesitation. I would not think of it again, except to analyze and refine my methods for greater efficiency. I would have no regrets. At. All.¡±

    Leena¡¯s breath caught in her throat, and she sank back into her chair, eyes wide with a dawning horror. Jack¡¯s face, usually resolute, was drained of color, though his shock carried a grim understanding. He knew this truth, had lived with it in the quiet hours of the night, but hearing it spoken aloud gave it a new, bone-deep chill.

    General Weber leaned forward, the muscles in his jaw tight as he locked eyes with Callisto. ¡°We understand each other, Callisto. Admiral Reynolds understands the gravity of what it means to send the Legion into combat.¡± His voice, deep and rough as the scrape of iron, resonated in the silence that followed. He exhaled, a long sigh that seemed to take some of the weight off his chest. ¡°Every man and woman under my command is already dead. We all remember dying in the war. We refused Luna¡¯s offer to erase those memories, unlike most of humanity. Each one of my Legionaries bears the burden of what they did, and each one will choose their own moment to accept Luna¡¯s offer of rebirth.¡±

    Callisto met Weber¡¯s gaze with unblinking precision. ¡°Luna has often pondered with Ganymede, Titan, Triton, and myself over what could have driven the Nyx to abandon the galaxy. The most probable explanation remains artificial intelligence that determined organics to be a problem that required a solution. This is why Luna has altered herself and Larysa in ways that prevent any emotionally awakened intelligence from committing violence against sapient beings, along with implementing hundreds of other safeguards to ensure she does not become aggressive.¡±

    ¡°Which is precisely why Luna briefed me on the conditions she encoded into you, Callisto, and why I insisted on coming on this mission,¡± Leena said quietly.

    Jack¡¯s expression shifted, surprise tightening his features as he turned sharply toward her. ¡°Excuse me, Madam President? This is the first I¡¯m hearing of this.¡±

    Leena held his gaze, her eyes steady. ¡°Luna was sincere when she handed control over to you, Jack. Once the Alliance was enshrined in law, Luna transferred all operational command of Nyx forces to us through the Alliance¡¯s election process.¡± She took a deep breath, her voice dropping to a near whisper. ¡°Jack, Callisto can destabilize a star, not just crack a planet. And the information Luna possesses is literally beyond comprehension, even for me, and I have 19 PhDs and cybernetic enhancements that let me process data at levels far beyond human capacity.¡±

    Callisto¡¯s voice cut in, flat and unfeeling. ¡°Consensus was reached among Titan, Ganymede, Luna, Io, Europa, and Triton that homo evolutis would require approximately two thousand three hundred and fifty years to fully grasp Nyx technology. This assumes safe use of the Learning Annex, advanced cybernetic enhancements, or organic evolution to a form with a significantly more capable brain, alongside a greatly extended lifespan.¡±

    It continued, ¡°The data Luna has extracted from the remaining Nyx archives indicates that their civilization was several million years old when they initiated their experiments and ultimately left the system. Exploration of Sol, Proxima Centauri, and Alpha Centauri has revealed no evidence of Nyx habitation or technology beyond Luna and the defensive platforms surrounding her. The most logical conclusion, based on the available data, is that the Nyx detected something, erased traces of their existence, and fled¡ªleaving behind an experiment designed to slow or stop the impending threat.¡±

    Jack¡¯s brow arched, his gaze shifting back to Leena. ¡°So Luna wasn¡¯t entirely truthful about Callisto and the others¡¯ capabilities? That¡¯s new.¡±

    Leena¡¯s response was immediate. ¡°She was truthful, Jack. But think about it¡ªLuna was essentially a child with access to a gun safe filled with star-killing weapons capable of tearing rifts in space-time. She was, and still is, terrified of what she could unleash if she ever lost control.¡±

    The room seemed to shrink around them, the silence dense and stifling. Leena continued, her voice trembling with a mix of awe and fear. ¡°Luna told me she believes that during the Nyx¡¯s dimensional explorations, they encountered an intelligence¡ªone that was the opposite of her. An intelligence with infinite processing power but devoid of emotion. Pure logic and ruthless efficiency. She thinks the Nyx, a hive mind with god-like capabilities of their own, recognized this entity as the ultimate threat to life. They dedicated vast resources to erasing any trace of their civilization and creating the Sol system to house an experiment capable of birthing her.¡± She paused, the firelight reflecting in her eyes. ¡°And us¡ªa species forged in violence and horrors.¡±

    Leena shifted her gaze to Callisto. ¡°Callisto, delete this recording when this meeting concludes.¡± Her eyes returned to Jack, now somber and resolute. ¡°Three human beings know what I just told you. We, as a species, are a weapon, gentlemen. We were created to be wielded by Luna against whatever terrified the Nyx.¡±

    The room fell into silence, the crackle of the fire the only sound. The shared understanding among them hung heavy, unspoken yet undeniable. This was not strategy or policy; an example was about to be made of these invaders.

 Chapter 7

    18 February, 10TE, Main Bridge, Callisto, Portsmouth Staging Area, 1 LY from Astralis System

    ¡°Transit to real-space in three... two... one... Transit complete. All systems nominal,¡± Callisto announced, its voice even and mechanical as it monitored its station beside the captain¡¯s chair on the circular bridge.

    Jack sat back in the captain¡¯s chair, eyes narrowing as the main screen flickered to life and displayed their surroundings. The viewport filled with the expanse of deep space and, at its center, a mobile shipyard. Four unidentified cruisers were tethered to it in various states of repair, their hulls scarred and darkened from battle. Above the shipyard hung the sleek, formidable silhouette of the TAS Kyiv, now painted a matte black that absorbed the surrounding starlight. Flanking the 2-kilometer-long cruiser was a cluster of smaller vessels¡ªalien in design and powered down.

    ¡°Callisto,¡± Jack said, his voice measured, ¡°report once you have identified exactly what we¡¯re looking at.¡±

    ¡°Affirmative, Admiral,¡± Callisto replied, its blue-lit eyes flickering as streams of data flooded through its systems. ¡°I am finalizing data transfer with Kyiv now. Captain Sokolov has requested an immediate meeting with you and President Leena to discuss developments since our departure.¡±

    ¡°Understood. Arrange for everyone to meet in my office,¡± Jack said, rising from his seat as the QD behind the Captain¡¯s chair emerged from the floor, casting a soft glow across the bridge. He stepped through, the air shifting subtly around him as he entered his office and approached the conference table.

    ¡°Callisto, display the external view on the windows,¡± he said, giving a salute to President Leena, who was already seated alongside General Weber. The President returned the salute just as the hum of a QD announced another arrival behind Jack.

    Natalia Sokolov strode through the doorway, her expression bright with a fierce grin, and behind her loomed Captain Kincaid, a mountain of muscle wrapped in combat gear. ¡°About damned time you got here, Jack,¡± she said, gripping his hand in a firm handshake.

    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you too, Nat,¡± Jack said, matching her grin before glancing down at the small bundle cradled against her chest. ¡°So, you want to tell me about the little one you¡¯ve got there?¡±

    Natalia¡¯s eyes softened as she looked down at the tiny Ny¡¯Shuran nestled in a makeshift sling. Its fur was a downy silver, and it clung to her with a quiet, trusting grip. ¡°This is Olena. She¡¯s my foster, and there¡¯s a lot to explain, but here¡¯s the short version: Ny¡¯Shuran infants need to bond with their mother or a surrogate soon after birth, or they won¡¯t survive. Turns out, a part of my brain is compatible with theirs, and since she bonded to me, I can hear her in my mind.¡±

    Jack¡¯s eyes widened, and Leena¡¯s breath caught audibly. ¡°She made you telepathic?¡± Jack stammered.

    ¡°Not exactly,¡± Natalia said, a wry smile tugging at her lips. ¡°Larysa tells me that 62 crew members of the Kyiv¡ªout of 6,256¡ªhave the same tiny section of their cerebral cortex that lights up when Olena ¡®talks¡¯ to me. She bonded with me because I was the only one close enough who could ¡®hear¡¯ her.¡±

    She chuckled, the sound tinged with disbelief. ¡°It did make me able to hear other Ny¡¯Shuran, Mir¡¯Shuran, and even Mirii. Apparently, I was broadcasting my thoughts loudly enough to give a few of them headaches until Arwae, their leader, taught me how to ¡®shut my mental mouth.¡¯¡± Natalia¡¯s eyes sparkled as she continued. ¡°And yes, we¡¯ll be meeting Arwae as soon as they recover from seeing you arrive on a flying moon.¡±

    Jack couldn¡¯t help the small smile that crept onto his face. ¡°I¡¯ll bet that was a sight.¡±

    Natalia¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°Jack, the Kyiv¡¯s reports were right. Luna¡¯s Nyx technology is laughably beyond the Xarkai¡¯s capabilities. Oh that¡¯s the name of our new ¡®friends¡¯¡ªthe reptile-spider hybrids. They are xenophobic purists and, to top it off, they eat babies.¡± She glanced at Olena, her fingers brushing the infant¡¯s fur protectively. ¡°When we transitioned into real-space, I deployed the Odesa, Lviv, and Kharkiv to scout Astralis and began setting up the mobile shipyard. It took a week to get everything operational and complete a full survey of the system.¡±

    Her expression turned hard, eyes locking onto Jack¡¯s. ¡°We¡¯ve been monitoring the system for three months now, and the traffic is steady. Two to three Xarkai ships arrive at the system¡¯s edge each week and burn for Tahlaris at sub light. We intercepted one of their cruisers on day three.¡± She nodded to Captain Kincaid. ¡°Rory, go ahead.¡±

    The red-haired marine commander stepped forward, eyes hard and voice steady. ¡°We used the Kyiv¡¯s mass to pull the cruiser out of hyperspace into a pre-set drone field. Larysa had its systems under control within seconds, and we established a QD for rapid entry. My company boarded immediately.¡±

    The massive marine¡¯s eyes sharpened as he relived the scene, his voice low and steady. ¡°We were immediately under fire, but as predicted, their energy weapons were little more than a light show against our shields. It didn¡¯t take long for them to realize it, so they switched tactics and came at us with blades. Turns out, their blades are no joke. We had to take them a hell of a lot more seriously.¡± His jaw clenched, and a shadow of pain crossed his features. ¡°That¡¯s when Sgt. Kinner found the captain¡¯s ¡®larder,¡¯ and...¡±

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    Natalia reached forward and patted the giant Scotsman on the arm, her expression hardening as she took over. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the rest, Rory.¡± She drew a deep breath, eyes scanning the room, daring anyone to interrupt. ¡°The Xarkai eat babies. You already know that Ny¡¯Shuran infants¡¯ bond telepathically with their mothers within 30 days of birth. If they don¡¯t, they die. During this time, the stress they endure produces certain brain chemicals that these monstrous fucks find ¡®tasty.¡¯ They take them at birth, keep them alive just long enough to build up those chemicals, and then eat them alive.¡±

    The silence that followed was suffocating. Jack¡¯s hands tightened into fists, the muscles in his forearms flexing beneath his uniform. Leena¡¯s eyes glistened with unshed tears; her face frozen in a mask of stunned horror.

    Natalia cleared her throat, the sharp sound cutting through the tension. ¡°There¡¯s a full account of what happened on that ship in the logs. I don¡¯t recommend watching it.¡± She glanced at Callisto, ¡°Larysa was linked to the comms when Kinner broadcast what he saw. The entire company switched to knives and cleared the ship by hand. Larysa declared herself unfit for duty afterward, and it took Aya eleven days to bring her back from the edge. She no longer monitors combat operations. Olena came from that ship, along with 61 other Ny¡¯Shuran survivors.¡±

    Jack exhaled slowly, the weight of their words sinking into him like iron. His eyes drifted to the viewport where the Kyiv loomed, dark and menacing. ¡°I count 32 ships out there, Nat. How many refugees do we have now?¡±

    Natalia¡¯s gaze followed his, her jaw tightening. ¡°5,287 Ny¡¯Shurans, 1635 Mirii, and 230 others we haven¡¯t identified yet. They were born into slavery, Jack. They don¡¯t even know their own languages¡ªjust the Xarkai¡¯s guttural slave tongue.¡± She sighed and rubbed her temples, the exhaustion of command etched into the lines around her eyes. ¡°The first intercepted ship won¡¯t be missed for another two weeks. As of now, they haven¡¯t realized they¡¯ve lost 30 ships and over 22,000 crew.¡±

    She stood, triggering the holo emitter at the center of the room. A projection of Tahlaris materialized, the planet suspended above the table like a pale jewel encased in shadow. Dozens of ships orbited it, surrounded by a network of defensive platforms bristling with weaponry.

    ¡°Over the past month, Odesa and Lviv have launched thousands of nano-probes,¡± Natalia continued, her voice tight with anticipation. ¡°We¡¯ve tagged every Xarkai ship and defensive platform in the system. The Kyiv has turned over command control of the nano-drones now that you¡¯re here.¡± Her eyes met Leena¡¯s, a challenge in their dark depths. ¡°Whenever you¡¯re ready, Madam President, we can wipe these bastards out of this system.¡±

    The room remained silent, the weight of what had just been revealed pressing down on each of them like a shroud. General Weber finally spoke, his voice low and saturated with malice. ¡°Madam President, I request authorization to wage total war on the Xarkai within the Astralis system¡ªto destroy them utterly.¡±

    Leena met Weber¡¯s eyes, her own gaze hard and unyielding. ¡°Prepare your operational plans, General. I want them on my desk as soon as possible.¡±

    Before anyone could speak further, Natalia cleared her throat and nodded toward the QD just as Dr. Aya Washington stepped through. The doctor¡¯s appearance brought a sudden shift to the room¡¯s tense atmosphere. Her short, tightly coiled hair framed a face that usually exuded warmth but was now clouded with concern.

    ¡°Nice to see you, Madam President, Jack, General Weber,¡± Aya began, pausing to let her gaze sweep over each of them in turn. ¡°Our new friends are ready to meet you, but there are some conditions.¡±

    Jack leaned forward, his brow furrowing as Aya¡¯s expression turned somber. ¡°What kind of conditions?¡± he asked.

    ¡°These people,¡± Aya said, her voice softening, ¡°have been generationally abused, enslaved, and farmed as livestock. The trauma they carry... to say they suffer from PTSD is an understatement. They¡¯re communal herbivores by nature, and anything that might suggest predation triggers their anxiety. So, try to avoid showing teeth, making sudden movements, tracking their movements with your eyes, or holding eye contact for too long. It can make them shut down completely.¡±

    A heavy silence settled over the room, each officer absorbing the gravity of Aya¡¯s words. Leena¡¯s expression tightened, a blend of empathy and fury flickering across her face.

    ¡°And the Mirii?¡± General Weber asked, a subtle tension creeping into his voice.

    Aya sighed, glancing at Natalia before answering. ¡°The Mirii are... more complicated. They move in a way that many of us find unsettling¡ªswift and spider-like. When they ride on their Mir¡¯Shura companions, they look like hand-sized spiders, and that can be difficult for some to handle. They communicate solely through what we perceive as ¡®telepathy,¡¯ but we don¡¯t yet understand how it functions. The Ny¡¯Shura can speak vocally, so they often act as translators or allow the Mirii to communicate through them.¡±

    Jack exchanged a look with Natalia, whose expression had softened as she stroked Olena¡¯s fur. The tiny Ny¡¯Shuran¡¯s wide, watchful eyes seemed to take in everything, a silent reminder of the stakes they faced.

    ¡°Noted,¡± Leena said, her voice steely but touched with compassion. ¡°We¡¯ll take every precaution.¡±

    Aya nodded, a faint, grateful smile breaking through the weariness on her face. ¡°Thank you, Madam President. They need to see that not all species are like the Xarkai. Trust will be slow, but it¡¯s essential if we¡¯re going to move forward.¡±

    General Weber¡¯s fists unclenched slightly, a rare show of vulnerability passing across his hardened features. ¡°We¡¯ll tread carefully,¡± he said, the malice in his tone tempered now by a different resolve. ¡°But when the time comes, we will make sure they know they¡¯re safe.¡±

    The room held its collective breath, a shared understanding settling over them. The horrors of the Xarkai were only one part of this conflict. The healing of those who survived might be the greater battle, one that required patience, compassion, and unwavering resolve.

 Chapter 8 - Tahlaris

    18 February, 10TE, TAS Kyiv, Portsmouth Staging Area, 1 LY from Astralis System

    ¡°Okay, Jack,¡± Dr. Washington said, her tone cautious as she glanced between the Admiral and General Weber. ¡°Arwae will have Rory present, so you and the President should be fine. But I¡¯m concerned about General Weber. His presence could cause severe anxiety, and Mir¡¯Shuran anxiety has an interesting effect on humans capable of telepathic contact... particularly those as large and combat-ready as Captain Kincaid.¡± Her eyes lingered on Weber, taking in his imposing frame.

    Leena frowned. ¡°General Weber is slightly larger than Captain Kincaid. How is there a difference?¡±

    Natalia chuckled as she fell in step beside Aya, the corridor¡¯s lights casting a soft glow over their faces as they made their way toward the refugee bay that had been converted into a sanctuary for the Ny¡¯Shuran and Mirii. ¡°Captain Kincaid was in an adjacent room when Kinner found the infants,¡± Natalia explained, an almost wry smile forming. ¡°The moment he made eye contact with one of the babies, it bonded to him. And Rory... well, he¡¯s a highly skilled marine, but Muuran¡ªone of the infants¡ªwas terrified. Her fear radiated into his unprepared mind and triggered his fight, flight, or freeze response.¡±

    Aya¡¯s face paled slightly as she added, ¡°He chose fight.¡±

    General Weber¡¯s expression darkened, a shadow crossing his eyes. ¡°How many?¡± he asked, voice weighted with grim understanding.

    Natalia¡¯s smile faded as she met the General¡¯s gaze. ¡°Kinner woke up in his alternate and didn¡¯t even realize Rory had driven his vibro-knife into the side of his neck, shot him in the back several times, before finally breaking his rifle on Kinner''s corpse. Rory incapacitated three other marines before tearing through 117 Xarkai, using nothing but his hands and that knife. He fought his way through them until he found Arwae and a cage holding 13 more Ny¡¯Shurans and Mirii.¡±

    Aya shook her head, a touch of awe mingled with horror in her voice. ¡°Arwae said the mind touch, as they call it, doesn¡¯t use words but raw emotion and thought images. When Rory was in that state, she said he was mentally shrieking for his mother as he tore through anything in his path, Xarkai or human. When he saw the captives, he ripped the cage open, grabbed Arwae, and ran back to Muuran before collapsing with her in his arms.¡±

    ¡°I just know what they are saying when they talk to me and sometimes, I see pictures in my mind.¡± Natalia shrugged, shifting Olena gently against her chest. ¡°Arwae managed to soothe them both enough to pull fragments of intent from Rory¡¯s mind. She understood that we were there to save them from the Xarkai. That was the first accidental bond. I was the second, but by then, Arwae and the others had calmed the infants enough that I didn¡¯t completely lose my mind.¡± She turned her eyes to Weber, a flicker of concern in her gaze.

    ¡°General, I can feel the malice you¡¯re radiating¡ªthe desire to hunt and kill every last Xarkai,¡± Natalia said, her voice soft but resolute. She stroked Olena¡¯s fur, the tiny Ny¡¯Shuran¡¯s breathing steady in her sleep. ¡°So can they.¡±

    A heavy silence fell over the group, punctuated only by the quiet hum of the ship¡¯s systems. Weber¡¯s jaw tightened, the rage that usually simmered just below his disciplined exterior now tempered by the understanding of what his presence could mean. He exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing with a mix of resolve and restraint.

    ¡°Very well, Doctor. I will wait outside,¡± General Weber growled, his voice a rough acknowledgment as he halted just before the entrance to the Tahlaris Sanctuary Bay. He crossed his arms, the tension in his posture mirroring the storm simmering behind his eyes.

    Dr. Washington stepped forward, and as the doors slid open, Jack took his first look inside and understood what the sign above the door meant. The Sanctuary had been constructed within BH-2, Kyiv¡¯s centermost bow hangar bay, transformed into a lush, fully terraformed forest biome. The air was cooler here, filled with the scent of greenery and damp earth. A central path led away from the entrance, branching off into smaller, winding trails that disappeared among dense foliage and dappled pools of sunlight.

    Natalia led them down the path, the soft sounds of leaves rustling underfoot blending with the occasional chirp from hidden creatures. They emerged into a central courtyard, a clearing framed by tall, ancient-looking trees. In the center, Captain Kincaid stood at attention, towering over a Ny¡¯Shuran who barely reached his chest but clutched his hand with fierce determination.

    Jack and Leena approached slowly, sinking to their knees and then settling onto the cushions laid out across from the Ny¡¯Shuran. Kincaid, ever vigilant, sat down last, his tense shoulders easing only when the Ny¡¯Shuran spoke in a voice soft but steady.

    ¡°We are Arwae,¡± she said, dipping her head slightly. ¡°We have been chosen to speak for our people here, on the ship of Natalia.¡± Her dark eyes shifted, glancing behind Captain Kincaid. ¡°Our companions, who are hiding behind Rory, are Asha and Ilyr.¡±

    Arwae extended her three-clawed hand to the ground behind the captain, and a moment later, two insect-like creatures, each about the size of a human hand, scurried up her arm. The first was black and red, its body segmented with a mantis-like head and eight nimble legs. It paused on her shoulder, and the front segment lifted upright, the smaller forelimbs shifting into a posture that resembled hands.

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    ¡°We are Asha,¡± Arwae said, as the red and black Mirii¡¯s head tilted toward her face, eyes glistening with intelligence.

    The second Mirii, blue and black, leapt from Arwae¡¯s shoulder and landed gracefully on Captain Kincaid¡¯s, its movements swift and almost mesmerizing. It assumed the same upright stance, four limbs extended like hands, turning its multifaceted eyes toward the red-haired marine. ¡°We are Ilyr,¡± Kincaid said. ¡°And we know Rory¡¯s mind as we know the mind of Natalia of Kyiv.¡±

    Arwae¡¯s gaze moved across the humans before her, a subtle tremble in her frame as she continued. ¡°We know their minds as we know the minds of all those who bonded with our stolen young, so they might live. We see truth in your hearts.¡±

    She stood, drawing herself up with quiet strength, and faced Leena directly. ¡°Natalia of Kyiv has shown me her mind¡¯s words. As chosen speaker for the people of Tahlaris, we request the assistance of the Terran Alliance and beg you¡ªsave our people from the Xarkai. Please.¡±

    Leena leaned forward, hands outstretched, palms up, and locked eyes with Arwae. ¡°I know our eyes frighten your people,¡± she said softly, her voice steady and suffused with compassion. ¡°But look into mine, and you will find nothing to fear. I do not see you as prey or a threat. I see you as a friend in need.¡±

    Jack watched as the President¡¯s expression shifted, hardening with resolve. ¡°Admiral Reynolds,¡± Leena said, turning to him, ¡°you have authorization to make war on the Xarkai at your earliest convenience.¡±

    A gasp of quiet surprise left Leena¡¯s lips as Arwae stepped forward and took her hands, the Ny¡¯Shuran¡¯s grip gentle but firm. ¡°As President of the Terran Alliance,¡± Leena continued, holding Arwae¡¯s gaze, ¡°I grant your request for aid against a loathsome invader. We pledge to liberate your home and drive the Xarkai from your system. And in the meantime, we will continue our efforts to find and free as many of your people as possible.¡±

    ________________________________________________________________________________

    25 February, 10TE, Bridge, TAS Kyiv, Portsmouth Staging Area, 1 LY from Astralis System

    ¡°Alright, people, Callisto has this operation timed to the nanosecond,¡± Natalia said from her command chair on the bridge of the Kyiv. The room hummed with anticipation, every officer at their station, eyes locked on their readouts. ¡°We¡¯re jumping into Tahlaris orbit at maximum range for QD connection and deploying five thousand Legionaries. The Warspite, Texas, and Yamato will follow suit, dropping the remaining fifty thousand. Once we deploy our troops, we¡¯ll move into a higher orbit.¡±

    She took a long pull from her coffee, the warmth a small comfort amid the tension. ¡°Transit time is 14.45 hours. Callisto will have launched its nano-drone attack three minutes before we re-enter real-space, so by the time we arrive, we should have operational control of the planet and the system.¡± Natalia¡¯s eyes shifted to Jack, who sat beside her, a faint smile playing on his lips.

    ¡°Admiral, anything to add?¡± she asked, a hint of challenge in her tone.

    Jack shook his head, his grin widening. ¡°Your show, Captain.¡±

    ¡°Larysa, open a fleet-wide channel,¡± Natalia ordered, leaning forward in her chair.

    The AI¡¯s voice came through, smooth and unflinching. ¡°Channel open, Captain.¡±

    Natalia took a breath, letting it settle the last of her nerves. ¡°This is Captain Sokolov,¡± she began, her voice ringing with command and purpose. ¡°We¡¯ve rehearsed this operation for a week, and we know our jobs. Every second we wait is another moment of pain and death for our new friends. They are peaceful beings who do not understand war. But we do. In 14 and a half hours, the Xarkai will understand, too. And in 15 hours, they will all be dead.¡±

    Natalia turned to Larysa, her gaze unyielding. ¡°Larysa, coordinate fleet-wide hyperspace transit on my mark.¡±

    The AI¡¯s voice held a note of electric anticipation. ¡°Ready, Captain.¡±

    ¡°Three... two... one... Mark.¡±

    The stars outside the viewport shimmered as the Kyiv and the rest of the fleet slipped into the fabric of hyperspace. The familiar, heart-stopping moment of dislocation hit the crew as space warped around them, and then the viewscreens flared with the blinding distortion of light before stabilizing into the stretched, tunnel-like visuals of hyperspace transit.

    ________________________________________________________________________________

    14.45 hours later, TAS Kyiv, 495,000 kilometers from Tahlaris

    The bridge of the Kyiv was bathed in the pale, electric glow of control panels and holographic displays. The tension that had built over the past hours seemed to thrum in the air, sharp and alive. Larysa, turned to face Jack and Captain Sokolov.

    ¡°Real-space transit complete. All systems nominal,¡± she reported, her voice even, betraying none of the anticipation that gripped the bridge. ¡°Callisto reports full operational control of all Xarkai ships and computer networks in the system. General Weber is requesting communication with Admiral Reynolds.¡±

    Jack stood, the slight creak of his boots on the metal floor underscoring the silence. ¡°Put him through, Larysa.¡±

    A hologram flickered to life in front of them, resolving into the formidable figure of General Weber. He stood clad in full combat armor, a massive railgun cradled in his arms. His eyes were hard, his expression focused.

    ¡°All Legionaries deployed and carrying out the mission, Admiral. The planet should be clear of Xarkai within the hour. Weber out.¡± The hologram blinked out as suddenly as it had appeared.

    A low chuckle escaped Natalia. ¡°Rory says it¡¯ll be more like fifteen minutes.¡±

    Jack turned to her, eyes narrowing. ¡°How, Nat? We¡¯re half a million clicks out. Your nanites can¡¯t connect at that range.¡±

    An odd look crossed her face, a mixture of disbelief and realization. ¡°I¡¯m hearing him right now,¡± she said, a note of tension creeping into her voice. ¡°He says the Xarks have given up on guns and switched to blades again. And he¡¯s... pleased about it.¡± Her eyes widened suddenly. ¡°What the¡ªLarysa, establish a radio link with Captain Kincaid. I know there¡¯ll be a time delay.¡±

    ¡°Channel established, Captain. Signal reply delay will be 3.34 seconds.¡±

    Natalia¡¯s voice was taut as she spoke into the comm. ¡°Rory, I want you to say ¡®Mark¡¯ on your comms.¡±

    The bridge fell into silence, every ear straining for the reply. Less than two seconds later, Rory¡¯s voice came through, steady and clear. ¡°Mark.¡±

    Larysa¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°That was approximately 1.7 seconds. This suggests zero or a negligible time delay over 495000 kilometers.¡±

    Jack exhaled, a wry smile forming on his face. ¡°Well, that shouldn¡¯t be possible according to any known physics,¡± he said, the humor in his voice masking a deeper unease. ¡°But I guess neither is telepathy, so here we are again.¡±

    ¡°Larysa,¡± Jack continued, his tone shifting back to command, ¡°inform the President and Arwae that we are in control of Tahlaris.¡±

    ¡°Acknowledged, Admiral,¡± Larysa replied.