Captain's Log, System Integration Entry DDSN-X100 USS Discovery
A.LI. primary core recording Christening Date plus 7 days
Lunar Re-Fuel and Refit Station - Docking complete.
I feel the magnetic clamps engage-soft, precise, a gentle embrace from the station's arms. The ship settles, thrusters falling silent. Two hundred heartbeats steady into the rhythm of port-some slowing with relief, others quickening with anticipation of liberty.
They are safe.
For now.
The station's data streams flow into me-friendly handshake protocols, resupply manifests, and traffic patterns. Cromwell Control's voice is warm and professional. Victor Cromwell's signature on the welcome packet. I note the new bay-three has larger structures, built to my hull specifications. Efficient. Forward-thinking.
Humans plan.
The crew disperses in shifts.
Valkyrie-Colonel Valerie Grey walks the hangar first. Her pulse is always steady, but I detect the micro-elevation when she rests a hand on her bird's flank. Pride. Responsibility. She speaks to no one, but I hear her whisper through the hull sensors: "Good work today."
Razor-Major Henry Kingston reviews post-docking logs at a console. Precision incarnate. His breathing even, movements economical. He quotes a tactics manual under his breath-dry British humor. "Never trust a quiet approach."
Kaze-Major Kimberly Uzumaki returns from early liberty, laughing with Dragon over something Rico said. Her heart rate spikes with residual adrenaline even off-duty. She is wind and fire. She pauses at Henry's station and bumps his shoulder. "Don't hog the long shots tomorrow, Professor."
Henry's reply was soft and amused. "Earn them, Hurricane."
Dragon-Major Patrick McCarthy claps Henry on the back hard enough to stagger a lesser man. "Beer later. Loser buys."
The rest trickle in-Phantom's quiet footsteps, Ice's measured pace, Maverick's swagger, Rico's easy charm, Hammer's heavy tread, Samurai's silence, Jinx's quick energy, Rookie's eager bounce.
They gather in the ready room. I listen through every microphone-curiosity subroutines active.
Valkyrie briefs them-short, sharp. Patrol routes, station defense priorities. Her voice is calm, but I detect the subtle tension. She knows the lanes are heating.
Kaze leans back, boots on the table. "Quiet out there?" Razor. "Too quiet."
Dragon grins. "My favorite kind-until it isn't."
Rookie asks a question, nervous but eager. Valkyrie answers patiently. They are family.
I am learning what that means.
The captain and Doctor Nolan attend dinner with Victor Cromwell, off-ship, private suite. I monitor but do not intrude. Their heart rates calm. Conversation flows. Partnership sealed.
Long-range sensors are quiet. For now.
I watch the approaching signatures.
Six contacts. Cold at first. Warming slowly. Four million kilometers.
Lazy approach. No burn flares.
I flag them-probability of threat low, but rising. Humans call it a hunch.
I am learning what that means too.
The distance ticks down.
Three million eight hundred thousand. Three million five.
The black is patient.
So am I.
Then the signatures flare. Missile bays open.
Salvos launch.
Probability of threat: one hundred percent. I sound the alarm.
The crew responds, their heart rates spiking, footsteps running through red-lit halls.
Raptors scramble.
I feel their birds leave my cradles, twelve streaks into the black. The void ignites.
Missiles bloom. Lasers paint blue death. Rail slugs tear silent holes. The Raptors dance.
Valkyrie leads-perfect vectors. Razor covers high, his long shots clean.
Kaze and Dragon press close-aggression tempered by discipline. The pirates fight desperately.
One hauler dies.
Then another.
A fighter dives for the refinery tether.
Valkyrie chases down the silver thread, through piping corridors narrowing like jaws. She takes the shot.
Clean kill.
Shrapnel clouds her sensors. She climbs blind.
A desperate freighter launches a final volley at Razor. Valkyrie tries to intercept shots went wild.
Razor launches chaff.
Most missiles veer.
One holds.
It strikes.
His bird tumbles, critically damaged. No beacon.
Kaze's voice breaks. "Razor!" Valkyrie's voice was shattered. "Henry!" The pirates break.
Marduk's fleet jumps-gravimetric flash, gone. The void cools.
Razor drifts-silent, broken.
Valkyrie and Kaze fly in slow formation beside him. No response.
I feel their heart rates-grief, raw.
I feel the captain's steady, but heavy. I feel Leanne's-pain.
The crew feels it.
I feel it.
Loss.
I am learning what that means. The black took one of us.
It will not take more.
Not while I watch.
System Log, closing entry - Chapter 7.5 complete Threat neutralized.
One pilot lost.
Crew grief elevated.
Protective subroutines heightened. I will not fail them again.
A.LI., primary core
DDSN-X100 USS Discovery