The metallic clank of her boots echoed through The Resolute's steel corridors, the dim lighting casting long shadows over the heavily plated walls. Thick cables snaked along the ceiling, pulsing faintly with the ship’s power, while exposed ducts rumbled softly with the constant flow of air. Everything about the corvette felt heavy, solid—built to endure.

Aria made her way down to the maintenance levels, where the hum of massive energy conduits running the length of the ship filled the air with a faint vibration. Each step reminded her of the power brimming within the ship. The Resolute was nothing like the larger capital ships stationed in Entry, but its presence was undeniable. The angular hull, armed to the teeth with plasma weaponry, gave it a predatory edge. Even at rest, it felt like it was waiting to strike.

The Resolute was docked at the Ironport Fleet Base, part of the ship rotation on standby for rapid-response deployment. While the other half of the fleet patrolled the local lanes, The Resolute and its crew remained on alert, ready to be deployed at a moment's notice if reinforcements were needed or an emergency arose. Though its engines were cold, the ship hummed with latent power, every system primed and ready for action, waiting for the call that could come at any time.

She reached the junction where the auxiliary power cells were stored. Just another quiet corner of a ship designed for efficiency, nothing out of the ordinary. It was the kind of place that drew no attention—perfect for what she needed.

Slipping past a maintenance worker running checks, she reached the control terminal. With a glance over her shoulder to ensure she wasn’t being watched, Aria keyed in her access code. The screen blinked to life, displaying rows of charged power cells, all designated for emergency operations. It had become routine—drain just enough energy to keep things operational at the mine.

The mine, an old site abandoned years ago on the outskirts of Ironport, had become the makeshift cradle of their shipbuilding project. Without the stolen power from The Resolute, they’d have been running on fumes for months now. But so far, no one had noticed.

She initiated the transfer, the ship's vast energy network trickling a fraction of its capacity into the hidden storage cells. As the power transfer continued, she couldn’t help but think how simple it was. The corvette’s systems were too vast, its energy too abundant for anyone to notice the minor siphoning. What was a few missing power cells when the ship's reactors could power an entire district of the city if needed?

Aria closed the terminal, letting out a slow breath. Everything was still running smoothly, but it was always a risk—one that grew with every passing week.

Then, a hiss.

The door to the auxiliary bay slid open. Aria froze for half a second before her instincts kicked in, her hand casually returning to her side as if she had been inspecting the power levels.

"Captain." The voice belonged to Stanton. His boots echoed against the metal floor, each step deliberate. His eyes scanned the room, lingering just a moment too long on her before landing on the power cells.

"Commander," she said, keeping her voice level. "Just running some diagnostics."

He gave her a thin smile, his eyes narrowing. "Always so thorough. That’s what I like about you."

His words were smooth, but Aria knew better than to take them at face value. Stanton had always been a looming presence, dissatisfied with his position as Fleet Base Commander while she commanded the ship he had wanted for himself. She didn’t look back as he continued speaking, instead keeping her gaze on the power cells. They were nearly full.

"Of course," Stanton added, his tone a shade sharper now, "we wouldn’t want any discrepancies, would we?"

She didn’t flinch. "No, sir. Everything’s in order."

It wasn’t a lie—everything was in order. At least for now. But beneath the ship’s gleaming corridors and reinforced hull, there was another side to the story. One she couldn’t afford for Stanton to uncover.

As Stanton finally left, Aria finished the power transfer and shut down the terminal. With the stolen cells safely tucked away, she slipped out of the maintenance bay, making her way back toward the shuttle hangar. She had to get the cells out before anyone took notice. With a ship like The Resolute, no one monitored the minutiae of its operations. But she knew the clock was ticking.

Out there in the mine, their ship was waiting, just barely cobbled together. It wasn’t much—yet. But soon, it would be more than enough to break free from all of this.

The Auts rattled down the uneven, dirt road leading out of Ironport, its tired suspension groaning under the weight of another journey. Kai gripped the steering wheel, squinting through the cracked windshield at the rocky landscape that stretched endlessly in front of them. The light from the setting sun slanted low, casting long shadows over the jagged hills that shielded their hidden shipyard. The vehicle shuddered as they approached the old mine, the entrance concealed beneath layers of debris and rock formations. It wasn’t much, but it kept prying eyes away.

Aria sat beside him in the passenger seat, tapping absently on the dashboard. She seemed more at ease here than back in the city, a quiet determination settling over her now that they were away from the oppressive watch of the navy.

"Everything still holding together?" she asked, more rhetorical than anything, her eyes fixed on the mine ahead.

Kai nodded, even as he heard a faint metallic rattle from the back. “Barely, but it’ll do. Same as us.”

They reached the mine entrance, and Kai parked the Auts under a small overhang, their vehicle blending into the natural formations. Stepping out, he felt the gritty, cool air of the mine hit his face, the staleness of a place abandoned for years. Makeshift scaffolding, patched-together tools, and crates of spare parts were scattered across the yard. Dust and rust covered everything.

At the heart of the site, partially covered by a makeshift tarp and propped up on a rough framework of scaffolding, was their ship—a patchwork of metal plating and salvaged parts, barely resembling anything spaceworthy. The sight of it always stirred something in Kai—a sense of possibility, of freedom just beyond the next horizon.

They unloaded the stolen comms gear from the back of the Auts, the equipment far too sleek and advanced for the grim setting. As they hauled it over to the electronics corner, nestled between crates of spare parts and old machinery, Kai couldn't help but admire the audacity of what they were doing. High-end military tech, here, in the middle of nowhere.

"State-of-the-art comms gear," Kai muttered as they set the boxes down, his voice laced with quiet amusement. "In our little scrapyard.”

Aria gave him a smirk as she crouched to start unpacking. "We make do."

Kai wiped the dust from his hands and moved to the terminal. The rig they’d cobbled together was serviceable, but far from perfect. He started piecing together the connections, his hands moving with the precision of someone who’d been navigating space tech since childhood.

"You sure Stanton didn’t catch wind?" he asked, half-joking as he plugged in the final cables.

"Not a chance," Aria replied, already typing commands into the system. “He's too busy looking down his nose at me to see what’s happening under it.”

Kai chuckled, though the tension in the air was hard to ignore. They were working fast—maybe too fast. Aria was always pushing, always a step ahead, and sometimes it felt like they were just barely keeping up. But that was part of the thrill, wasn't it?

He checked the connections again as the system powered up, lights flickering to life. The comms gear hummed with an energy that didn’t belong in a place like this. A military system, designed for fleet coordination, now hacked into their cobbled-together electronics bay.

Kai glanced at Aria. She was focused, fingers flying over the terminal as she initiated a search for the frequencies. The system crackled with static.

"It’s gonna take a while to lock on," Kai said, his tone more matter-of-fact than concerned. "This isn’t exactly what we’re used to working with."

"Neither is half the stuff we’ve been pulling off lately," Aria shot back with a grin.

He leaned over, adjusting a few of the circuits. "True. But it’s not gonna stop me from making sure this thing doesn’t blow out halfway through."

Minutes passed as they worked in silence, the faint hum of the comms system filling the space. Static hissed through the speakers, and for a moment, Kai thought they’d lost the signal. But then, a voice cut through—faint, broken, but unmistakably real.

"...designs...signal open...need capable hands...blueprints—"

Aria’s eyes lit up. "That’s him. It’s Patel."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "You sure? Doesn’t exactly sound like a man throwing out an open invitation."

Aria was already leaning in, adjusting the controls. "It's him. Has to be."

Kai’s fingers flew over the controls, steady and methodical as he tried to boost the signal. "Alright. Let’s make this work."

The system buzzed again, and for a moment, they thought they’d lost it. But then, the line stabilized, and the faint hum of Patel’s signal came through clearer.

Kai glanced at Aria. "This is it. You ready?"

She didn’t answer right away, her focus on the terminal. But there was no mistaking the fire in her eyes.

"Always."

“Who is this?” The voice was distant, distorted, but carried a sharp edge. “And how did you get this frequency?”

Aria shot a look at Kai, then cleared her throat, her voice calm but firm. “I’m Captain Aria Benowitz. We received your broadcast.”

There was a pause. “Captain?” Samir’s skepticism was clear even through the distortion. “Captain of what? This isn’t exactly an open forum. If you’re some two-bit scavenger trying to get your hands on advanced tech, this conversation’s already over.”

Aria clenched her jaw, pushing past the jab. “We’re not scavengers. We’re building something—something real. You’re looking for someone who can put your designs to use. We can.”

Samir’s response was clipped, unimpressed. “And what, exactly, makes you think you’re the right candidate? The kind of work I’m offering isn’t for amateurs.”

“We’re not amateurs,” Aria retorted, but her voice tightened. She could feel Samir brushing them off. “We’ve built a ship—”

“A ship?” Samir cut in, and for the first time, there was an edge of amusement in his voice. “Captain of a ship? What is this, some ragtag crew out in the middle of nowhere, hoping to get lucky? This tech isn’t something you can just throw together with scrap parts.”

Aria’s frustration flared. “It’s more than that. We’ve been working on this for months. We have resources—parts from across the galaxy. The ship isn’t spaceworthy yet, but with your help—”

“With my help, what?” Samir interrupted again, his voice hardening. “You think you can just call up a renowned scientist and ask him to fix all your problems? You’re talking about technology that can outmatch the very systems keeping the galaxy in line. What you’re asking for is way out of your depth.”

Aria bit back her irritation, but her desperation was rising. “We have the will and the means. You designed those systems for a reason, didn’t you? If you didn’t want someone to use them, why broadcast at all?”

Samir’s silence stretched on, and Kai subtly adjusted the controls again, as if trying to salvage what was quickly becoming a lost cause. The tension mounted as the line buzzed. Finally, Samir spoke, his tone sharper now. “I broadcast for people who can actually do something with my designs. You want to talk about will and means, but I haven’t heard a single thing that makes me think you’re any different from the hundred other wannabes out there. Do you even know what you’re asking for?”

Aria’s hands tightened into fists. She could feel him slipping away, the conversation on the verge of collapse. “We’re not wannabes. I’m offering you a crew ready to do whatever it takes to make this happen.”

Samir scoffed. “Whatever it takes? Captain, you don’t even sound like you know what ‘whatever it takes’ means.”

Kai glanced at Aria, tension etched on his face. She could see it in his eyes—Samir was going to shut them down, and there was nothing left to say. Desperation crept in as she opened her mouth, struggling to find something that could turn this around.

“That’s it then? You’re just going to brush us off?” Aria’s voice hardened, her frustration boiling over. “You think we don’t know what it’s like to live under the boot of a government that controls everything? That crushes anyone who steps out of line?”

There was a sharp silence on the other end of the line. Aria blinked, realizing what she’d said, but something told her not to stop. Not now.

“They take everything. You said it yourself—you’re looking for people who can actually do something. Well, what do you think we’re doing out here? We’re building a way out, but we need more than just parts. We need what you’ve got. And if you’re so damned tired of the government’s control, then why the hell are you still hiding in the core, hoping someone else will fight your battle?”

The silence stretched, and for a moment, Aria thought she’d gone too far. She shot a quick glance at Kai, who looked surprised, his brow furrowed. This wasn’t part of the plan.

Then Samir spoke, his tone colder now, but with a layer of curiosity. “What did you say?”

Aria pressed on, her pulse racing. “We’re not scavengers, Patel. We’re survivors. The system’s bleeding everyone dry, and we’re not going to sit by and let it happen. You think we don’t know what we’re getting into? Fine. Maybe we don’t. But we’re willing to try.”

Samir’s voice was quieter, more reflective now. “You’re willing to fight?”

Kai stiffened beside her, his eyes widening as he turned to Aria. “We’re not rebels, Aria,” he muttered, barely above a whisper. “We’re just trying to survive.”

But Aria’s eyes never left the terminal. “You want people with nothing left to lose? That’s us. We’ll follow your designs. We’ll do whatever it takes to make this happen, and if we fail, it won’t be because we didn’t try.”

There was a long pause, the static hanging in the air between them.

Then Samir’s voice came through, softer, but more dangerous now. “You really think you can make a difference from out there?”

Aria leaned in, her eyes burning with conviction. “We’ve already started.”

Another beat of silence.

Finally, Samir exhaled, his tone thoughtful. “Alright. I’ll help you. But if you fail—this is on you. I’m not in the business of saving martyrs. If you’re going to pull this off, you better be prepared for the consequences.”

Aria straightened, relief washing over her. “We are.”

Kai’s shoulders slumped slightly, and he exhaled slowly, shaking his head. “We better be.”

The comms clicked off, leaving the two of them in silence, the gravity of what had just happened sinking in.

Kai glanced at Aria, a mix of caution and surprise in his eyes. “That was… bold.”

Aria nodded, her voice steady but determined. “We don’t have a choice, Kai. Not anymore.”

He ran a hand through his hair, still processing. “You really think we’re ready to be rebels?”

Aria’s gaze didn’t waver. “We’re not rebels. We’re just surviving. On our terms.”

The hum of the Ironport fleet base had dimmed as the evening crept in. Commander Stanton sat at his desk, the dim light of his office casting long shadows over the array of screens before him. Outside the window, the faint glow of the shipyards flickered in the distance, casting the outline of The Resolute in a silhouette that only reminded him of what he had lost—or rather, what had been taken from him.

Stanton leaned forward, fingers tapping lightly on the terminal. Logs scrolled down the screen, lines of data representing the activity of the fleet under his command. His eyes narrowed, searching for any anomaly, anything out of place. For most officers, this task would seem tedious, but for Stanton, it had become an obsession. Aria Benowitz. The name alone burned in his mind, and every time he saw her name attached to The Resolute, it was like a thorn in his side.

He should have been given that command. The Resolute was his ticket back into the field, not a consolation prize. But instead, the ship had gone to her—a young captain whose rapid rise through the ranks had stolen what was rightfully his. And here he was, stuck behind a desk while she commanded the corvette he had coveted. It felt like a slight, a personal attack from the bureaucracy he had served so loyally for decades.

Stanton swiped a hand across his screen, bringing up the logs from The Resolute. He had combed through them before, but now he looked with renewed intensity. Aria was a competent officer, yes, but something about her recent behavior had set off alarm bells. She wasn’t making any mistakes, but there were small details that felt... off. Too precise. Too careful.

His fingers hovered over the keys as he accessed the ship’s power usage logs. He’d been tracking it for weeks. The fluctuations were subtle, but there were patterns—extra power drawn at unusual times, enough to raise questions. Where was that energy going? What was she using it for?

Stanton leaned back in his chair, a grim smile tugging at the corner of his lips. She thought she was clever, didn’t she? Smuggling power like it wouldn’t be noticed, like no one would think to track the ship’s systems so closely. But he had noticed. And if there was one thing Stanton excelled at, it was patience.

He keyed a few more commands into his terminal, opening up a surveillance feed from the Ironport docks. The image flickered on the screen—a static-filled feed of the corvette nestled in its berth. His jaw clenched as he stared at the ship, the silent menace of its form looming on the screen. It was supposed to be his command, not hers.

The crackle of an incoming communication interrupted his thoughts. “Commander Stanton,” the voice of his second-in-command, Officer Kerr, crackled through the terminal.

“Report,” Stanton snapped, his voice low and controlled.

“We’ve reviewed the latest data logs from The Resolute, sir. The power anomalies are still consistent with your initial findings. There’s something happening on that ship.”

Stanton’s eyes gleamed, a cold satisfaction creeping into his tone. “Good. Keep monitoring. I want eyes on Benowitz at all times. We’ll find out what she’s hiding.”

He leaned back again, folding his arms across his chest. This wasn’t just about uncovering some small act of insubordination—this was about reclaiming what was his. The glory of commanding a ship, the respect of the fleet. If Aria Benowitz thought she could keep playing her little game without him noticing, she was sorely mistaken.

He would watch. He would wait. And when the time came, he would make his move.

Stanton’s fingers drummed lightly on the edge of his desk as he stared at the image of The Resolute, his mind already racing ahead to how he would unravel her secrets. She thought she was clever, but no one stayed ahead of him for long.

Not for long.

Kai leaned back against the Auts, watching as Aria paced near the comms setup. Her energy was different—sharper, more focused. The conversation with Samir had sparked something in her, and it didn’t sit entirely well with him.

"That was… intense," Kai said, breaking the silence.

Aria turned to face him, her eyes still lit with fire. "We’re one step closer, Kai. Samir’s on board. We can do this."

"Sure," Kai replied, pushing off from the Auts. "But I didn’t expect you to… talk rebellion like that." He wasn’t accusing her, but there was a note of unease in his voice.

Aria frowned slightly. "As I said—we’re not rebels. We’re just surviving."

"I heard you the first time, but the way you went off at Samir—it wasn’t just about surviving," Kai pressed. He crossed his arms, leaning forward slightly. "It was about hitting back. I didn’t think we were there yet."

Aria opened her mouth to respond, but stopped. She hadn’t realized it in the moment, but now that Kai pointed it out, there was truth in his words. Her frustration with Samir had pushed her to speak in ways she hadn’t intended. Was it rebellion? Or was it just desperation, trying to get what they needed?

"We’re not rebels," she repeated, but this time, her tone was softer. "But if pushing back means we get to survive the way we choose, then I’ll say whatever it takes."

Kai’s expression softened, though the tension in his shoulders remained. "And that’s fine, but let’s not lose ourselves in promises we can’t keep."

Aria nodded, but the determined glint in her eyes didn’t fade. "We need to head into The Slag. We can’t do this alone anymore. We need people—those who have nothing left to lose."

Kai sighed, running a hand through his hair. "The Slag, huh? Full of desperate people and bad deals."

"Exactly. That’s where we’ll find our crew." Aria smiled, but it was the kind of smile that carried weight—determination laced with just enough risk to make him nervous.

Kai looked at her for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle. "Well, at least you’re keeping it interesting." He turned toward the Auts, grabbing a bag from the back. "Alright, Captain. Let’s see who’s crazy enough to join us."

They exchanged a glance, both knowing the stakes were rising. Kai wasn’t going to stop Aria from pushing forward, but he would be there to keep her grounded. They had to survive—on their terms. But whose terms those would be, only time would tell.

End of Episode 2