Chapter -31 New order , Old secrets
Outer Sector Outpost 7, Imperial Periphery
A new rhythm was establishing itself on Outpost 7. The frantic energy of the siege had been replaced by the efficient, somewhat impersonal bustle of the 7th Battle Group consolidating control. Navy engineers, equipped with advanced diagnostic tools Valerius had only seen in tech manuals, swarmed over damaged sections, their assessments swift and precise. Navy security patrols augmented, and in some cases superseded, the garrison routine. The outpost, while still nominally under Commander Vorlag's command, clearly deferred to the authority represented by Captain Rostova and her officers.
Valerius finally allowed himself a period of mandated rest in his quarters. He desperately needed to stabilize his Wargod energy. Sealing his door, he sank into a deep meditative state, guided by the System.
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He focused inward, letting the nanites work, smoothing the turbulent currents left by the breakthrough and the desperate gambit. He could feel the frayed edges knitting back together, the core of his power becoming calmer, denser. The process was slow, requiring absolute focus, leaving him vulnerable if interrupted.
Hours passed. He emerged from the cycle feeling significantly more stable, the internal turbulence largely quelled. His Wargod energy felt like a calm, deep reservoir, ready to be called upon, though still far from the Mid-Level threshold.
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The risk of immediate detection had lessened, but the need for caution remained. He couldn't afford any unusual energy flares that might attract the attention of the fleet's more sensitive equipment or experienced cultivators.
Leaving his quarters, he found the outpost subtly changed. Navy personnel moved with an air of quiet confidence that contrasted with the garrison's weary relief. Their equipment was newer, their uniforms crisper, their energy signatures, on average, higher – Valerius noted several M3-level Kinetics among the engineering and security details, individuals who would be considered elite specialists back on a core world but were standard assets for a battle group.
He headed towards the command center, needing to check on the tactical situation and intelligence updates. He passed Lieutenant Kaelen supervising a garrison work detail clearing debris near a damaged corridor. Kaelen met his gaze, offering a curt, professional nod. The open suspicion seemed momentarily banked, replaced by a watchful neutrality, perhaps influenced by the presence of higher authorities or the lack of concrete evidence against Valerius. The dynamic remained uneasy.
In the command center, Navy officers now occupied several key stations alongside Vorlag's remaining staff. Captain Rostova was gone, likely back aboard her cruiser, the Vigilant, but Lieutenant Commander Jian, the intelligence officer, was present, reviewing data feeds.
"Lieutenant Valerius," Jian acknowledged him with a nod. "Any further insights from your analysis?"
"Monitoring continues, Lieutenant Commander," Valerius replied. "The main Scorpion fleet in Grid 11 remains static. No further activity detected from Moon 7C since the subsurface collapse and the warship departure."
"Indeed," Jian said, gesturing to a side display. "Our preliminary long-range scans of Moon 7C confirm significant subsurface structural collapse in Crater EC-117. Energy readings are minimal, consistent with destroyed power sources. A specialized Navy investigation team (NIT) is preparing for deployment via shuttle to conduct an on-site examination as soon as the immediate area is deemed secure."
"Any update on the fleeing vessels? The 'Crimson Fury' or the shuttle?" Valerius asked.
Jian shook his head. "Negative. Both vessels successfully evaded long-range tracking upon entering Uncharted Region 774. Standard protocols discourage pursuit into uncharted territory without specific authorization or overwhelming strategic need. For now, they are ghosts." He paused, his analytical gaze settling on Valerius again. "The preliminary report on your outpost's auxiliary emitter failure came back. Engineering analysis confirms multiple relay overloads and coil fusion, consistent with your report of manually bypassing safety limiters under extreme duress. They also noted a corrupted data string indicating a possible pre-existing manufacturing defect in that specific emitter batch."
Valerius kept his expression neutral, though inwardly he noted the System's data manipulation had worked as intended, providing Kaelen (and now Navy Intelligence) with a plausible, mundane explanation. "As I stated, Lieutenant Commander, it was a necessary risk."
"Quite," Jian agreed noncommittally. "Commander Vorlag has recommended you for a commendation for your actions during the siege. Your tactical contributions were instrumental."
"I appreciate the Commander's assessment," Valerius said formally. A commendation would look good on his record, another step on the ladder.
As Jian turned back to his console, Valerius allowed himself a moment of quiet assessment. The immediate danger was past. His Wargod power was stabilizing. His actions, while risky, seemed to have passed initial scrutiny, aided by the System's countermeasures. Yet, the mysteries remained: Project Chimera, the nature of the facility on Moon 7C, its connection (if any) to the anomaly beneath Outpost 7, and the ultimate goals of the Red Scorpions.
The arrival of the 7th Battle Group brought security, but also complexity. He was no longer the most insightful analyst or the most powerful cultivator by default. He was a small fish in a much larger, more dangerous pond, operating under the watchful eyes of the Navy. His ascent would require even greater caution, calculation, and ruthless efficiency moving forward. He needed to continue his cultivation discreetly, gather intelligence, and navigate the new power dynamics, all while keeping his secrets buried deep.