The morning after the activation was too quiet Kael sat on the edge of a broken ridge staring at the metallic valley below The sky shimmered faintly with silver threads like cracks in a mirror Every few seconds the ground hummed low and deep as if the planet itself was breathing

He lit a small ration burner holding his hands near the faint flame and muttered I hate peaceful mornings They never last

Nara’s voice came from the communicator steadier than before integrated into the ship systems now The atmosphere is stabilizing radiation levels normalizing energy flow constant She paused as if uncertain The world is alive Kael He smirked Yeah but for how long

He looked toward the horizon The obelisks that once glowed fiercely now stood dormant silent guardians of a secret They looked like gravestones He sighed rubbing the scar on his arm where the core’s light had touched him Sometimes it still pulsed faintly under the skin

He packed up and walked toward the ship The air was cooler the storms gone but the silence pressed against his chest He asked Nara Any sign of other life She replied None biological but signals detected in orbit Kael stopped orbit what kind of signals She hesitated Familiar

He climbed into the cockpit powering the thrusters The ship lifted smooth and silent The sky thinned revealing stars again For the first time in days he saw the black of space The sensors pinged multiple contacts small ships moving in formation Nara said Identifying Federation transponders Kael muttered You’ve got to be kidding me

The fleet shimmered ahead sleek white cruisers bearing the Directorate insignia reborn again They moved with precision scanning the surface beams of blue light sweeping across the ruins Kael gritted his teeth So much for peace He opened comm channel unencrypted This is Kael Roth scavenger free pilot you’re trespassing in a reconstruction zone

Static answered then a calm voice female unfamiliar This zone is classified under Directive 0 by order of the Federation Restoration Council Identify your purpose Kael laughed Purpose staying alive lady what’s yours The voice cold efficient Recovery of lost technology your interference is unauthorized

Before he could reply energy bolts streaked past the cockpit grazing shields He cursed That’s my answer Nara said Their firepower exceeds your capacity Retreat recommended Kael spun the controls diving into cloud cover beams chasing behind The ship rattled alarms screaming He snapped Hang on Nara if they want the core they’ll have to burn the whole planet

He skimmed across the valley floor engines roaring pulling energy from the ground itself Sparks flew as the ship brushed metallic dust The pursuers followed relentless Nara said Suggestion lead them toward the obelisk field energy interference may disrupt targeting Kael grinned Good idea for a machine

He veered toward the ruins diving between towers the enemy fire scattering wide The obelisks began to hum responding to the energy surge Lightning arced between them forming a web of power The pursuing ships slowed sensors confused Kael shouted Now

He triggered the pulse emitters The obelisks discharged all at once a storm of light swallowing the sky The Federation ships vanished in the explosion leaving behind only echoes of static The light faded leaving Kael’s ship drifting amid the calm

He exhaled long and heavy leaning back against the seat Nara said Targets neutralized but reinforcements probable He smiled tired I’ll take probable over dead any day

Outside the valley glowed faint gold where lightning had struck the surface The world seemed to sigh in relief He whispered Maybe we bought another sunrise