Chapter -55 : Beneath Unblinking Eyes

Outer Sector Outpost 7, Imperial Periphery

The auxiliary control center hummed with the focused energy of the Navy investigation. Valerius stood at his designated peripheral console, a model of calm professionalism, while inside, his Wargod senses and the System interface worked in frantic tandem. On the main holographic display, Scanner Unit Two, now fully powered, began its methodical descent into the depths beneath Outpost 7. Its unblinking eye was active.

Investigator Thorne directed the scan with crisp precision, her gaze fixed on the incoming data streams. Lieutenant Commander Jian stood beside her, analyzing the initial geological survey results. Lieutenant Kaelen hovered nearby, his attention riveted, occasionally pointing out coordinates on a secondary display that corresponded to his previously logged energy anomalies.

"Commencing initial survey sweep, Sub-Levels 3 through 5," a Navy technician announced. "Mapping geological strata and residual energy signatures."

The holographic display began to populate with a three-dimensional map of the rock and ferrocrete beneath the outpost. Layers of ancient bedrock, interspersed with the outpost's foundational structures and forgotten conduits, scrolled into view. Valerius watched, his Spatial Sense trying to correlate the scanner's depiction with his own 'feel' of the lower levels.

'System, overlay scanner data with known geothermal vein location and Host's previous access points in Sub-Level 4.'

<>

So far, so good. The initial sweep was broad, geological.

"Investigator," Kaelen interjected, pointing to a section of the display highlighting Sub-Level 4. "The anomalous energy transient I logged during the reactor shutdown, the one near the decommissioned testing bay access, originated from approximately this depth. And the 'sensor ghost' during the battle, near Vent 7G, also showed resonance with this stratum."

Thorne glanced at Kaelen, then at the display. "Technician, focus a narrow-beam resonance scan on those coordinates as we pass through that depth. Cross-reference with Lieutenant Kaelen's logged signatures."

Valerius felt a cold knot tighten. Kaelen was actively guiding the scanner towards his compromised areas.

The scanner's virtual representation descended further. As it reached the depth of Sub-Level 4, the technician announced, "Narrow-beam resonance scan active on designated coordinates… Investigator, we have… unusual energy readings here."

On the display, a section of Sub-Level 4 near where Valerius knew the geothermal vein ran, and close to the access point he'd used for Tunnel 7C, pulsed with faint, residual energy signatures.

"It's not high-level," the technician continued, "but it's inconsistent with standard geological background or outpost systems. Traces of exotic particle decay, similar in nature, though much fainter, to those found on Moon 7C. And… faint thermal scarring on some conduit access points, indicative of recent, localized high-energy discharge or bypass."

Kaelen almost vibrated with intensity. "That's it! That's the area!"

Thorne zoomed in on the display, her expression unreadable. "Exotic particle decay… thermal scarring… Interesting." Her gaze flicked briefly towards Valerius, who kept his face a mask of professional interest. He knew the System had purged his direct digital tracks, but physical evidence, however faint, was harder to erase completely. The geothermal energy itself likely contained exotic particles.

'System, assess detection probability of Host's direct involvement based on current findings.'

<>

Moderate. Not damning, but not clear either.

"Log those findings, flag for detailed analysis," Thorne commanded. "Now, primary objective. Technician, take us deeper. Focus all sensors on the primary anomaly location, the source of the resonance link with Omega-734."

The scanner's virtual eye descended further, past the outpost's deepest foundations, into the primordial bedrock kilometers below. The main display shifted, focusing on a deep, ill-defined zone where the outpost's original sensors had first detected the strange subspace resonance.

As the scanner's powerful energy beams probed this region, the display began to resolve an image unlike anything Valerius had expected. It wasn't a defined structure like the Precursor facility on Moon 7C. Instead, it was a vast, amorphous… something. A region of distorted space, shot through with fluctuating energy currents that defied easy classification. It pulsed with a slow, rhythmic energy, and at its heart, the resonance with the Omega-734 signal was undeniable, a faint, echoing heartbeat.

"Gods…" Jian breathed, staring at the display. "What is that? It's not geological. It's not artificial in any conventional sense."

"It's… a nexus," Thorne said slowly, her voice tight with awe and apprehension. "A confluence of energies. The resonance is strong here, almost like the Omega signal is being amplified or… reflected."

Suddenly, as the scanner intensified its probe on the nexus's core, the energy readings on the display spiked erratically. The rhythmic pulsing of the anomaly faltered, then surged.

<>

Valerius felt it physically this time – a wave of intense mental pressure, far stronger than the interference from the geothermal cavern, accompanied by a disorienting spatial distortion that made the control room itself seem to ripple. Alarms blared from the technicians' consoles.

"Investigator! Massive energy spike from the anomaly! It's reacting to the scan!"

"Scanner containment field fluctuating! We're getting feedback!"

Thorne gripped her console. "Maintain the scan! Try to stabilize the beam! What is it doing?"

On the display, the amorphous nexus pulsed violently, and from its core, a focused beam of pure, unidentifiable energy lanced upwards, directly towards the scanner unit.

"Evasive maneuvers!" a technician screamed, but it was too late. The beam struck the virtual icon of Scanner Unit Two. The holographic display dissolved into a blinding flash of static, and every console in Auxiliary Control Bravo went dark, plunging them into emergency lighting and the sudden, terrifying silence of a total system crash.