Fractures in the Command

The decision had been made. Lena's heart ached with each passing second as she stood alone in her private quarters aboard the Alliance flagship. The holographic projection of the Alliance Council's vote burned in front of her—she had lost.

The core, her secret weapon, the one thing that had given her the strength to fight this war and hold onto her sanity, had now been taken away from her. The motion passed with a narrow margin: Lena's access to the core would be restricted.

Her thoughts were a whirlwind. What had she done wrong? Was this her fault? The whispers had already begun, doubts spreading like wildfire across the ship. The Alliance was splitting, and she felt herself caught in the middle, suspended in a storm of loyalty, betrayal, and desperation.

She slammed her fist against the wall, the impact leaving her breathless but still seething with a deep, lingering fury. The core had made her powerful—more powerful than she ever thought possible. But now, it felt like a curse.

She could hear the heavy footfalls outside her door before it slid open, revealing Admiral Draven standing in the doorway. His face was unreadable, his posture stiff, as if unsure whether he should even enter.

"Lena," he began softly. "The vote... it wasn't personal. You know that, don't you?"

She turned toward him, her expression hardening. "You think I don't know that?" Her voice wavered but she steadied herself, unwilling to show any more weakness. "I knew it was coming. The doubts. The distrust. I just didn't expect it to happen so soon."

Draven stepped into the room, lowering his voice. "This war has taken everything from us, Lena. The Rhytil have pushed us to the brink, but we can't lose sight of who we are. The core—it's changing you. And it's dividing the Alliance."

Lena's eyes narrowed, but she held her tongue, not wanting to argue with him. He had been a pillar of support for her, but now even he was unsure. There was no one left who truly believed in her.

"You need to find a way to regain their trust," Draven said, his gaze steady. "Show them that you're still the leader they believed in. But you also need to show them that you can do it without the core."

Lena nodded, her heart heavy with uncertainty. "I don't know if I can do it without it."

Draven offered a thin smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Then you'll have to prove to them that you can."