Chapter -9 Ripples of power

Delta Sector Outpost 7, Imperial Periphery The immediate adrenaline surge following the Scorpion retreat slowly subsided in the command center, replaced by the methodical hum of post-combat assessment. Damage control teams reported minimal impact from debris; the outpost's shields and hull integrity remained sound. Sensor technicians confirmed the four surviving Scorpion vessels were continuing their withdrawal at high speed, making no attempt to regroup. The feint was definitively broken.

Valerius stood apart, ostensibly reviewing tactical logs on a secondary console, but his primary focus remained inward. The world felt… different. Sharper. Deeper. The nascent 'Spatial Sense' granted by the Wargod threshold wasn't sight or sound, but an intuitive awareness of the space around him, the distances between objects, the subtle flows of energy, the very geometry of the room. It was faint, latent as the System described, but undeniably there. His genetic energy felt like dense, liquid metal flowing through him, potent and responsive to his slightest mental command. He felt powerful, truly powerful, for the first time.

<>

Minor environmental manipulation? He suppressed the urge to test it immediately. Concealment was crucial. His sudden leap from High-Level Warrior to Beginner Wargod was unprecedented under normal circumstances. Explaining the kinetic pulse that destroyed the frigate was already going to be difficult; revealing his new cultivation stage was unthinkable.

"Lieutenant Valerius." Commander Vorlag's voice cut through his internal assessment. The Commander beckoned him towards his private alcove off the main command floor.

Valerius followed, maintaining a neutral expression. The alcove door slid shut, muffling the sounds of the command center. Vorlag turned, his expression unreadable, his Peak Warrior energy signature pressing down slightly – a subtle assertion of authority.

"Report, Lieutenant," Vorlag said, his voice low. "Explain that final kinetic pulse. Standard M2 output shouldn't have been sufficient to deflect a frigate at that velocity, let alone destabilize its thruster assembly so catastrophically."

Valerius met the Commander's gaze steadily. He had anticipated this. The System had run simulations on plausible explanations. "Commander, my analysis indicated a pre-existing stress fracture near the ventral thruster housing, likely from previous combat or poor maintenance – common in pirate vessels. The kinetic pulse wasn't intended for deflection, but as a targeted resonance strike. By matching the specific harmonic frequency of the damaged assembly, amplified by overloading the auxiliary emitter coil, I aimed to induce catastrophic structural failure. It was a high-risk maneuver leveraging a precise, momentary vulnerability. Frankly, Commander, I was uncertain it would succeed."

He kept his explanation technical, confident, bordering on academic. He subtly implied luck played a role alongside analysis, downplaying the sheer power involved.

Vorlag stared at him for a long moment, searching his face. Valerius kept his expression open, professional. The Commander, despite his experience, lacked the refined senses of a Wargod; he couldn't directly perceive the qualitative change in Valerius's energy signature unless Valerius deliberately flared it.

"Overloading the emitter coil?" Vorlag repeated skeptically. "That auxiliary unit is rated for debris dispersal, not targeted resonance strikes on frigate thrusters."

"Desperate circumstances, Commander," Valerius replied smoothly. "I rerouted power feeds manually and bypassed several safety limiters. The coil likely needs replacing now. A necessary expenditure, given the alternative."

Vorlag grunted, rubbing his chin again. The explanation was technically plausible, if highly improbable and incredibly risky. It fit Valerius's recent pattern of insightful analysis combined with decisive, borderline reckless action. And ultimately, it had worked. "See that the tech bay logs the damage to the emitter," he said finally, seemingly accepting the explanation, or at least choosing not to challenge it further for now. "Your tactical acumen has been invaluable, Lieutenant. The outpost owes you its safety."

"Just doing my duty, Commander," Valerius replied.

"Perhaps," Vorlag said, his eyes still sharp. "Keep analyzing the situation in Grid 11. The main Scorpion force won't be pleased their distraction failed."

Dismissed, Valerius returned to the main command floor. He noticed Lieutenant Kaelen watching him, a mixture of suspicion and resentment clear on his face. Others offered nods of respect, their previous indifference replaced by curiosity or admiration. The ripples of his actions were spreading. His standing within the outpost hierarchy had irrevocably shifted.

He returned to the analysis room, needing a moment to process and stabilize. He initiated a quiet stabilization cycle, feeling the turbulent Wargod energy settle, becoming smoother, more controlled under the nanites' guidance. He briefly explored the new System functions – the spatial awareness module felt like flexing a new muscle, faint but promising. The environmental manipulation seemed limited for now, perhaps allowing minor temperature shifts or atmospheric pressure changes in his immediate vicinity – subtle, but potentially useful for infiltration or distraction.

An hour later, a priority alert flashed from the stealth drones monitoring Grid 11. Valerius accessed the feed immediately. The main Red Scorpion fleet – two cruisers confirmed, possibly more hidden within sensor interference – was altering its formation. They weren't retreating. They were consolidating, taking up a more aggressive posture, seemingly digging in.

'System, analyze tactical shift. Correlate with failed feint.'

<>

Sector Lord level weaponry? That was far beyond Delta-7's capabilities and potentially a serious threat even to the incoming Sector Command fleet. The Scorpions weren't just pirates; they were equipped like a small navy.

Valerius quickly compiled a new report, highlighting the change in posture and the potential for heavy weaponry, careful to frame his conclusions as logical deductions from the sensor data. He forwarded it to Commander Vorlag with urgent priority.

The stakes had just escalated again. The failed feint hadn't scared the Scorpions off; it seemed to have hardened their resolve. The real battle was yet to come, and Delta-7, along with Valerius himself, was now inextricably tied to its outcome. He needed to consolidate his Wargod power quickly, explore its limits, and prepare for whatever came next. The currents of power were rising, but so were the shadows of war.