Two weeks had passed since the village on Deimos was established, and life, though precarious, had found a rhythm. The settlement was a patchwork of hastily refurbished warehouses, makeshift barracks, and communal areas built from salvaged equipment. Aria Shaw had assumed the mantle of leadership, her presence commanding respect among both soldiers and workers. The village, perched precariously on the dusty surface of Deimos, felt like a fragile bubble of hope amidst the darkness of space.
The daily life of the settlement began early. At dawn, a faint artificial chime resonated through the intercoms rigged across the village—a gentle wake-up call to begin the day. Workers gathered in the main square, a cleared-out expanse between two large warehouses, where Aria and her lieutenants outlined the day's tasks.
The workers had been organized into teams: one focused on repairing and fortifying the existing buildings, another on maintaining the generators and hydroponic farms that provided a limited but steady supply of food. Soldiers patrolled the perimeter and manned the newly constructed watchtowers, ever vigilant for signs of enemy drones or the entity's return.
In the evenings, the square transformed into a communal hub. Makeshift fire pits and dimly glowing lamps lit the area as workers and soldiers mingled. Some shared stories to lighten the mood; others exchanged quiet, hopeful whispers about their families back on Earth. Aria often stood at the edge of these gatherings, watching silently, her thoughts distant.
The division of labor, while necessary, had also exposed tensions. Soldiers, trained for combat, sometimes struggled to adjust to the mundane tasks of daily survival. Workers, still shaken by their capture and subsequent corruption, occasionally showed signs of lingering trauma. Yet Aria's firm yet compassionate leadership helped keep the fragile unity intact.
Paula Strix played a critical role as a mediator, bridging the gap between the two groups. Her pragmatic approach and reputation for fairness earned her respect. Maya Trent, meanwhile, focused on improving the village's infrastructure. Under her direction, a rudimentary communication system was restored, and the energy grid was stabilized. Even so, supplies were limited, and every repair felt like a temporary solution.
Jaxon Rhylis spent his days overseeing security and long-term planning. He frequently met with Aria, Paula, and Nate's fragmented hologram to discuss the future. Despite their successes, a looming question hung over the village: how would they get everyone back to Earth?
Aria had sent multiple encrypted transmissions to Pier Benir, the leader of the NHU, but none had been answered. The silence was deafening. Alone in her quarters, she stared at the flickering screen of her communication console, the unanswered messages a stark reminder of her growing isolation.
— Benir has abandoned us, she confided to Jaxon during one of their late-night discussions. — He only cares about the technology here. If he comes, it won't be to rescue us—it'll be to claim these weapons for himself.
Jaxon nodded grimly.
—Then we can't rely on him. We need another plan.
The problem was obvious: neither Aria's stealth ship, the DARK ASTRAL, nor Jaxon's repaired cruiser could carry everyone back to Earth. The combined capacity of the ships was barely enough for a very small amount of the workers and soldiers. With Benir unlikely to help and the entity's presence still a threat, they needed an alternative.
The answer lay in the data Nate had recovered. Among the fragmented files were schematics for the teleportation platforms scattered across Deimos. If the team could restore one of these devices, they might have a way to transport everyone directly to Earth. But it was a gamble. The entity had shown a keen interest in the teleporters, and tampering with them might draw its attention.
During a council meeting, Jaxon outlined the plan to the leadership team.
— We consolidate Nate's core functionality first. He's our best chance at deciphering how the teleporters work. Once we have that, we focus on reconstructing a platform. If it works, we can move everyone home—quietly, without tipping off the NHU or the entity.
Elias, still recovering from his injuries, leaned forward, his voice steadier than it had been in days.
— Nate doesn't need external data anymore. His systems are stabilizing on their own. What he needs now is time. If we focus on rebuilding a teleporter here, he can analyze its functionality and guide us through the reconstruction.
Maya exhaled in relief.
— Good. That saves us a dangerous trip, but reconstructing a teleporter isn't going to be easy. The schematics Nate retrieved are fragmented, and this technology is far more advanced than anything we've worked with before.
Aria nodded, her tone firm.
— It doesn't matter how difficult it is. This is our only option. We start immediately.
Nate's hologram flickered to life on the central console.
— I have already identified a partially intact teleporter in the industrial sector of the warehouses. It will require extensive repairs, including the replacement of key energy nodes and recalibration of its quantum relays. I estimate it will take several weeks to complete the reconstruction, assuming consistent progress.
Paula crossed her arms, her gaze serious.
— And the entity? The last time we interacted with the teleporters, it reacted violently. We need to be prepared for another confrontation.
Jaxon's jaw tightened.
— We'll have guards posted at all times. Maya and Elias will lead the reconstruction, while the rest of us focus on security and defense. Nate, can you monitor for signs of the entity as we work?
— Affirmative, Nate replied. I will reroute my processing power to detect fluctuations in the entity's energy patterns.
Work on the teleporter began the next day. The industrial sector was cleared of debris, and the teleporter platform was excavated from beneath layers of dust and rubble. Its frame was intact but heavily damaged, with entire sections missing or corroded beyond use. Maya and Elias worked tirelessly, coordinating teams of workers to salvage parts from other warehouses and repurpose existing materials.
The process was painstaking. Every circuit, panel, and conduit had to be inspected, repaired, or replaced. Workers with engineering experience were drafted into the effort, learning the intricacies of the alien technology under Maya's guidance. Nate provided detailed instructions, though his fragmented state occasionally caused delays.
Meanwhile, Jaxon and Paula organized rotating patrols to secure the area. Soldiers kept watch from elevated platforms, their eyes scanning for any sign of danger. Despite the exhaustion that weighed on everyone, the progress was steady, and a sense of determination permeated the settlement.
Aria Shaw oversaw the village's broader operations, ensuring that morale remained high. She frequently visited the reconstruction site, offering encouragement to the workers and listening to their concerns. Though her communication console remained silent, with no word from Pier Benir or the NHU, she had embraced her new role as the de facto leader of the settlement.
One evening, she addressed the village from the central square.
— I know these past weeks have tested us all, she said, her voice carrying over the crowd. But every step we take here is a step toward home. Rebuilding this teleporter is not just a project—it's our lifeline. Together, we will succeed.
Her words were met with quiet applause, the weariness of the crowd unable to suppress their growing hope.
By the third week, the teleporter was taking shape. The central frame had been reinforced, the quantum relays installed, and the energy nodes calibrated. Nate's hologram hovered over the platform, analyzing the final connections.
— We are nearing operational status, Nate announced one evening, his voice steady. However, the system's quantum pathways remain unstable. I will require uninterrupted processing time to decipher and reconstruct the teleporter's core algorithm.
— How long do you need? Jaxon asked.
— Approximately 72 hours, Nate replied. During this period, the teleporter will emit detectable energy signatures. If the entity is monitoring us, it will likely respond.
Paula exchanged a grim look with Jaxon.
— Then we prepare for an attack.
The settlement braced itself for the critical 72-hour window. Soldiers reinforced defensive positions around the teleporter, workers were given strict evacuation procedures, and Maya and Elias double-checked every connection and fail-safe on the platform.
Jaxon addressed the leadership team the night before the process began.
— This is it. If Nate can finish decoding the teleporter, we'll have a way home. But we all know the risks. Everyone needs to be ready.
The team dispersed, each carrying the weight of the mission. As the first rays of light broke over Deimos, the settlement buzzed with nervous energy. The countdown to the next stage of their journey had begun.