Chapter 102: Journey to Vordran-7

Chapter 102: Journey to Vordran-7

The Draconic Flagship cut through the darkness of space like a ghost, its stealth systems fully engaged as it moved beyond the ruined shipyard. Unlike conventional vessels that roared with hyperspace energy, Raizen's ship didn't simply travel—it flowed through space, bending the fabric around it rather than tearing through. It was silent, unseen, a phantom among stars.

Raizen sat in the command chair, his golden eyes locked on the holographic starmap displaying their destination—Vordran-7, an ancient battlefield, a place of death and forgotten power.

Liana's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "We'll reach Vordran-7 in under an hour. Long-range scans are picking up multiple debris fields in orbit, and… a station."

Joran raised an eyebrow. "A station? I thought this system was abandoned."

Liana's fingers danced over her interface. "It should be. Records show the sector was left untouched for over two hundred years after the war that took place here. But…" She flicked the scan onto the main display. "There's low-power activity inside the station."

Kain's grip on his weapons tightened. "Survivors?"

Liana shook her head. "No life signs, at least none the scanners can detect. But someone—or something—has restored parts of the system. Could be an automated AI, or… scavengers who managed to reactivate small sections."

Raizen smirked. "Either way, we're dropping in."

The Approach to a Graveyard

As the flagship exited hyperspace, the full view of Vordran-7 unfolded before them.

A graveyard of war, vast and eerie, stretched out across the system. Broken battleships, shattered frigates, and torn space stations drifted in eternal silence. The remnants of a long-forgotten war, their once-mighty weapons now nothing more than floating debris.

But beneath the destruction, something lingered—a presence, an echo of power still clinging to the ruins.

Raizen leaned forward, his senses tingling. His Draconic bloodline stirred, an instinctual pull toward the wreckage. He felt something here, something ancient, forgotten… waiting.

Liana enhanced the visuals, zooming in on the largest wrecks. "This battlefield is over two centuries old, but something's preserving certain sections of it. These Draconic-infused alloys should have long deteriorated, yet they remain intact. That's not natural."

Raizen's smirk deepened. "Which means we just hit the jackpot."

Outpost Haven-12: A Forgotten Station

Beyond the floating debris, a station loomed in the distance. Unlike the shattered battleships, this structure was partially operational, its hull damaged but still intact.

A flickering sign at the entrance read:

OUTPOST HAVEN-12

Kain let out a low whistle. "Looks welcoming."

Joran cracked his knuckles. "So, what's the plan? Knock on the front door and ask who's home?"

Raizen grinned. "Something like that. Liana, keep the flagship cloaked. We'll take a shuttle in. If something goes wrong, be ready to extract us."

Liana nodded. "Understood. But be careful—if something's still alive in there, it's probably not friendly."

Raizen smirked. "When are they ever?"

Boarding the Station

The shuttle docked with Outpost Haven-12, the station's docking bay barely operational. As the hatch hissed open, the team stepped onto the cold metal floor, weapons at the ready.

The air was stale, artificial, barely circulating. Emergency lights flickered weakly, casting long, distorted shadows along the rusted corridors. The place felt… wrong.

Too quiet.

Kain gripped his rifle. "This place is giving me a bad feeling."

Joran chuckled. "You afraid of ghosts?"

Raizen ignored them, his golden irises scanning the darkness ahead. His Draconic senses weren't just reacting to the eerie silence—there was something else here.

Something alive.

Liana pulled up a holo-display. "Still no life signs. But there's a power signature deeper in. We should check it out."

Raizen nodded. "Move out."

The team pressed forward, their footsteps echoing through the hollow corridors. The deeper they went, the heavier the air became.

And then, they saw it.

A Discovery of Power

At the heart of the station, they found something impossible.

A stasis pod—intact, untouched, humming with faint Draconic energy. Unlike the rest of the ruined facility, this pod was in perfect condition, its systems still active.

Joran cursed. "The hell is this doing here?"

Liana's scanner beeped rapidly. "This… this isn't normal cryo-tech. This is Draconic-tier technology."

Raizen's heartbeat quickened. This wasn't just a station. This wasn't just a wreck.

This was a hidden relic.

Raizen stepped forward, placing a hand against the pod. The moment he touched it, a shockwave of energy pulsed through the station.

The interface lit up. The system recognized him.

A voice—soft, feminine, ancient—whispered through the chamber.

"Bloodline recognized. Initiating awakening protocol."

Steam hissed as the pod's locks released, the pressure shifting as the front panel slowly opened.

Inside, a woman with silver hair, draconic markings across her skin, and an aura of immense power slowly opened her eyes.

Raizen exhaled. "Well… this just got interesting."