Chapter -48: Instruments of Truths
Outer Sector Outpost 7, Imperial Periphery
The arrival of the supply convoy 'Star Chaser' marked a definitive shift. The heavy equipment containers, bearing the unmistakable insignia of the Imperial Navy's Advanced Research & Investigation Division, were carefully unloaded under heavy guard and transported to designated staging areas within Outpost 7. Among them were the deep-penetration scanners – bulky, complex machines humming with contained power, instruments designed to peel back layers of rock and secrecy.
Valerius watched the deployment preparations from afar, utilizing his Spatial Sense and brief, necessary trips through relevant sectors under plausible pretexts. He felt the potent, sophisticated energy signatures of the scanners even when they were powered down – intricate, probing, far exceeding the outpost's native sensor capabilities. Their mere presence felt like a physical weight, pressing down on the secrets he guarded.
He saw Investigator Thorne overseeing the scanner crews, her sharp eyes missing nothing, her commands precise. Lieutenant Commander Jian coordinated logistics with Commander Vorlag, the flow of information now firmly controlled by Navy protocols. Lieutenant Kaelen was frequently nearby, observing the scanner preparations with keen interest, occasionally conferring with Navy technicians, likely reiterating his theories about energy anomalies and resonance links.
Valerius retreated to his quarters whenever possible, focusing on internal consolidation. The 35% progress towards Mid-Level Wargod felt frustratingly static without access to the plasma core, but he diligently practiced controlling the power he did have. He ran simulations focused on energy signature suppression, teaching the nanites to create 'quiet zones' around him, minimizing detectable output – a skill that might prove vital when the scanners were active nearby.
<
Every small improvement mattered. He also continued refining his Spatial Sense, pushing its range meter by painstaking meter, learning to filter the overwhelming sensory input of the now-crowded outpost, focusing on identifying specific energy signatures or potential threats amidst the noise.
During one observation period using his Spatial Sense from his quarters, he focused on Kaelen, who was currently in an engineering lab reviewing sensor logs with a Navy technician. Valerius couldn't hear their words, but he could feel the 'shape' of their conversation through their energy signatures – Kaelen's persistent, analytical focus contrasting with the technician's more routine, slightly bored energy. Kaelen pointed repeatedly at data points corresponding to the times and locations of Valerius's infiltrations. He wasn't letting go.
Later, Valerius encountered Commander Vorlag near the main command center. The garrison commander looked weary, navigating the complexities of shared command with the Navy.
"Lieutenant Valerius," Vorlag greeted him, his tone lacking its usual gruffness. "Keep your people focused. The Navy integration is causing some friction among the ranks. Remind them we're all on the same side."
"Understood, Commander," Valerius replied. "Garrison morale remains stable, just adjusting to the new protocols."
"Good," Vorlag nodded, then lowered his voice slightly. "These scanners… Thorne's team seems convinced there's more going on here than just Scorpions. Keep your analysis sharp. If there are deeper secrets on this outpost, I want to know before they do."
It was a subtle but clear statement. Vorlag, despite deferring to Navy authority, still felt possessive of his command and wary of external investigations uncovering things that might reflect poorly on his tenure. He was implicitly tasking Valerius, his most effective analyst, to keep an eye on the Navy's investigation itself. An interesting, if dangerous, development.
"I will continue monitoring all intelligence streams, Commander," Valerius assured him.
As the cycle progressed, the first scanner unit was fully assembled and calibrated in a shielded hangar bay, prepared for transport to Moon 7C. Investigator Thorne herself would lead the initial deployment. A second unit remained partially assembled within the outpost, designated for the subsequent scan beneath Outpost 7 itself, pending results from the moon.
The instruments of truth were ready. The countdown to the scan beneath his feet had effectively begun, even if the exact hour remained uncertain. Valerius felt the pressure intensify. He checked the unstable core hidden beneath his bunk one last time, ensuring the dampening field was stable. It pulsed faintly, a reservoir of power he couldn't access, a secret that grew heavier with each passing hour. He had perhaps a day, maybe less, before the Navy turned its unblinking technological eye downwards.