Back on the spacious and brightly lit medical bay of the "North Star," Kane received emergency treatment and an energy boost. Leah was also connected to a dedicated repair interface for initial diagnosis and data backup. Only then did Kane truly feel a sense of relief, though his mental exhaustion and vigilance remained undiminished.
Soon, he was led to the bridge of the "North Star." Minister Moriarty stood with his back to him before the massive observation window, gazing at the wreckage of the "Nightingale" being salvaged and repaired by the "North Star's" engineering vessels. His figure was still upright, but Kane could feel an unusual pressure.
"Minister," Kane saluted.
Moriarty turned around; his face was expressionless, but a sharp light shone deep within his eyes. "Tell me, Executive Officer. From 'The Lonely End' to the destruction of the 'Nightingale,' every detail, especially… about that 'stone.'"
Kane didn't hold back, recounting everything from the strange discovery of the outpost, to the struggle with the crystal consciousness, to the use of the CME and the final resonant wave duel, and Leah's warning about the "backup." He even mentioned the mysterious theory codenamed "Echo," and the black box found among Rex's relics.
Moriarty listened quietly, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest. When Kane mentioned the "backup," his eyes flickered noticeably.
"You did very well, Kane. Exceeded everyone's expectations," Moriarty finally spoke, his tone devoid of praise or criticism. "The information you brought back, and… that 'sample,' is extremely important."
Sample? Kane's heart skipped a beat. The Minister called it a "sample"?
"Minister, Leah warned that there might still be active energy inside…"
"I know," Moriarty interrupted him, walking to a console and pulling up a highly encrypted file. "Do you think the 'Pandora' mission and the 'Lonely End' incident were just coincidences?"
The file opened, revealing a wealth of data and analysis reports, all focused on that unique energy signature. The reports showed that the Alliance had discovered extremely faint, yet matching, energy remnants in other corners of the universe much earlier! It was as if this existence wasn't unique, but rather some kind of…seed or "pathogen" scattered throughout the universe!
"We've been tracking this threat," Moriarty's voice was low. "'Echo' isn't some mysterious figure. It's the codename for a highly classified research project within the Security Department, designed to understand and counter this energy signature. Rex… he was an early perimeter security officer for that project and may have had access to some rudimentary theoretical models. He kept that box, perhaps unintentionally, perhaps out of intuition."
Kane stared at all in shock. So, the Alliance knew far more than he had imagined! His experience with the Nightingale was not an isolated incident, but part of a larger, more clandestine war!
"And this stone…" Kane glanced at the pouch at his waist.
"It will be the most important research sample for Project Echo." Moriarty's eyes deepened. "We need to understand it to ultimately defeat it. It's dangerous, but we have no other choice."
Kane fell silent. He understood the Alliance's needs, but having personally experienced that horror, he knew the risks of dealing with a tiger.
"What about Leah?" he changed the subject.
"She will receive the best possible repair. Her data is crucial," Moriarty assured him. "As for you, Kane, you need rest and a full physical and psychological evaluation. This mission has taken a heavy toll on you."
The North Star began to accelerate, leaving this star system filled with sorrow and secrets, and leaping towards the Alliance's core territory.
Kane stood at the observation window, watching the G-173 system gradually shrink behind him, finally being swallowed by the leaping starlight. His body was scarred, his heart burdened with the grief of his fallen comrades and anxieties about the future. That cold stone, like an eternal riddle and threat, accompanied him on his journey home.
The journey was temporarily over, but the war had only just begun. He knew his mission was far from finished. When Project Echo needed him, when the Alliance summoned him once more, his long-sharpened sword would be drawn again.
The stars are boundless, the echoes never cease.
(The End)