Unforeseen Twists

The preparations for battle were well underway. The Alliance fleet was ready for the fight at Qamar, and Lena stood in the midst of the command room, her mind racing. The Rhytil had been relentless, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing—a critical piece of the puzzle that would give them an advantage.

"Commander Tavon," Lena spoke, her voice sharp and commanding, "Are all ships in position?"

"Yes, Commander," Tavon replied. "We have our fleets poised and ready. The Rhytil will never see this coming. Once we engage, we'll hit them with everything we've got."

But Lena wasn't convinced. Something didn't sit right with her. She could feel the weight of the core pressing down on her, whispering subtle hints, but she ignored its influence for now. There were bigger concerns. And just as she was about to discuss their next steps, the holomap flickered.

A new signal appeared on the edge of their sensor grid—a faint, unfamiliar frequency.

Lena squinted at the map. "What is that?"

Tavon's fingers danced across his console. "It's not from the Rhytil. It's coming from… somewhere beyond the Outer Rim. It's not a signal we recognize."

Before Lena could respond, the Alliance officers around her exchanged confused glances. They were so focused on the Rhytil's movements that they hadn't anticipated any other threats. The situation had just taken an unexpected turn.