The galaxy was a vast expanse of endless stars, each holding untold stories and secrets some waiting to be uncovered, others buried so deep they could remain hidden forever. Jack Ryder had thought the greatest threat came from the dark force encroaching upon their space. But as the weeks dragged on, the more he learned, the clearer it became: there was a much more insidious enemy lurking in the shadows one that wore the guise of authority and order.
Mira Solis, Jack's trusted co-pilot, had always been the pragmatic voice of reason on their team, often providing a steady counterbalance to Jack's instinctive approach. But even Mira had her limits. The stress of endless battles, political tensions, and the weight of leadership had begun to take its toll. And when she stumbled upon something disturbing within the archives of the Galactic Council, it became clear that the stakes had just escalated.
"Jack," Mira's voice came through his comm-link, tense and urgent, "You need to see this."
She had always been a quick thinker, sharp and capable of reading between the lines when no one else could. She knew when something didn't add up, when a piece of information didn't fit the puzzle. And this was one of those moments. Jack had been in the command center, reviewing reports of the latest skirmishes with the dark forces, when Mira's message reached him. He instantly knew it was something important.
"I'm on my way," Jack replied, closing the datapad in his hands and making his way to the command center's small conference room, where Mira was waiting.
Mira was seated at the table, her eyes scanning through the encrypted files she'd managed to access. As Jack entered, she looked up, her expression more grave than he'd ever seen before. There was a new level of intensity in her gaze, a sense of realization that had begun to weigh heavily on her shoulders.
"I found something," she said quietly, pulling up a series of documents on the holographic screen in front of her. "It's the Council's internal communications, Jack. There's a network of... well, let's call them sympathizers to the dark force within the Galactic Council itself."
Jack's brows furrowed in disbelief. The Galactic Council was supposed to be the central authority, the beacon of hope and order in the galaxy. The very foundation of their resistance against the dark force had been built upon it. But what Mira was suggesting didn't just undermine their mission—it threatened to unravel everything they had fought for.
"This can't be right," Jack muttered, stepping closer to the screen. "Are you saying there are people in the Council working for the enemy?"
Mira nodded. "It's not just a handful of individuals, Jack. It's a network. And it's been operating in the shadows for years. They've been feeding information to the dark force, ensuring that our defenses remain scattered, weak, and uncoordinated. Every major loss we've suffered? It's all been carefully orchestrated."
Jack felt a chill run down his spine. For all their efforts, for all the sacrifices they had made, it seemed they weren't just fighting an external enemy they were being betrayed by the very people who were supposed to be their allies.
"But why?" Jack asked, struggling to wrap his mind around the enormity of what Mira had uncovered. "Why would anyone in the Council do this? What could they possibly gain by helping the enemy?"
Mira's fingers flew over the controls, pulling up a series of high-level financial transactions and covert communications. "That's the real kicker," she said. "These individuals aren't just political figures. Some of them have deep financial interests tied to the dark force. Trade routes, resource contracts, weapons deals there's money involved. And where there's money, there's power."
Jack's stomach twisted as the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. The galaxy was teetering on the edge of destruction, but some were willing to profit from that chaos, even if it meant sacrificing everything else.
"We've been played, Jack," Mira continued, her voice low and tight with frustration. "The whole war... the entire conflict... it's been manipulated by those who see it as an opportunity to gain control over resources, to line their pockets while everyone else suffers."
Jack's mind raced. The implications of this revelation were staggering. If the Council, the very institution they had been relying on for support, was corrupt at its core, then where could they turn? They had no allies to trust. No one to rely on. The battle had always been about survival against the dark force, but now it seemed that survival was no longer their only fight. They would have to take on the very system that had promised to protect them.
"We need to expose this," Jack said after a long silence, his voice cold and determined. "We can't let them continue with this."
Mira nodded, but there was hesitation in her expression. "It won't be easy. If we go public with this, we'll be marked as traitors, Jack. The Council will have us hunted down, and any hope of uniting the galaxy against the dark force will crumble. We're not just risking our lives we're risking everything we've built."
Jack understood the gravity of her words. If they exposed the Council's corruption now, they would lose any chance of garnering support from the systems that remained neutral, or worse, any potential allies in the battle. The galaxy could tear itself apart in the process.
"But we can't keep fighting a war with one hand tied behind our backs," Jack said, his voice firm. "We need to take a stand now, before it's too late. We owe it to everyone who's already lost their lives and to everyone still fighting for their freedom."
Mira exhaled slowly, her gaze unwavering. "I know. But we'll need a plan. We can't go in blind."
"Agreed," Jack replied. "We start by gathering evidence, contacting those who are still loyal within the Council. We'll need to be careful anyone could be compromised. But we can't let this go on any longer. The galaxy is already on the brink, Mira. We have to stop this from collapsing entirely."
Mira gave him a sharp nod, her eyes burning with the same intensity that had always defined her. "Alright, Jack. We'll do it your way. But we need to move fast. Every second we waste, the more damage they can do."
Jack took a deep breath, knowing that the path ahead would be more dangerous than anything they had faced so far. The dark force was a tangible enemy one they could fight with weapons and tactics. But this? This was different. The enemy was now within, hidden behind masks of power and influence. And with every step they took, they would be walking a razor's edge.
"We'll fight them all, Mira," Jack said, his voice quiet but resolute. "Even if the war is no longer just about the dark force. We'll fight for the truth, and for the future of the galaxy."
As the weight of their decision settled in, Jack knew one thing: the real battle had only just begun.
Terjemahan Indonesia:
Galaksi adalah ruang luas yang dipenuhi dengan bintang-bintang tak terhitung, masing-masing menyimpan kisah dan rahasia beberapa menunggu untuk ditemukan, sementara lainnya terkubur begitu dalam hingga mungkin tetap tersembunyi selamanya. Jack Ryder sebelumnya berpikir bahwa ancaman terbesar datang dari kekuatan gelap yang semakin mendekat. Namun, seiring berjalannya waktu, semakin banyak yang ia pelajari, semakin jelas bahwa ada musuh yang jauh lebih licik bersembunyi di bayang-bayang musuh yang menyamar sebagai otoritas dan tatanan.
Mira, rekan percayanya Jack, selalu menjadi suara bijak di tim mereka, sering kali menjadi penyeimbang stabil terhadap pendekatan Jack yang lebih instingtif. Tetapi bahkan Mira memiliki batasnya. Stres karena pertempuran yang tiada henti, ketegangan politik, dan beratnya kepemimpinan mulai mempengaruhi dirinya. Dan ketika dia menemukan sesuatu yang mencurigakan dalam arsip Dewan Galaksi, jelas bahwa taruhannya baru saja meningkat.
"Jack," suara Mira terdengar melalui comm-link-nya, tegang dan mendesak, "Kamu perlu melihat ini."
Dia selalu menjadi pemikir cepat, tajam, dan mampu membaca situasi dengan cermat ketika tidak ada orang lain yang bisa. Dia tahu kapan ada sesuatu yang tidak beres, kapan sebuah informasi tidak sesuai dengan gambaran besar. Dan saat itu adalah salah satu momen itu. Jack tengah berada di pusat komando, meninjau laporan tentang pertempuran terbaru dengan kekuatan gelap, ketika pesan Mira sampai kepadanya. Dia langsung tahu bahwa itu penting.
"Saya segera datang," jawab Jack, menutup datapad di tangannya dan menuju ruang konferensi pusat komando tempat Mira menunggunya.
Mira duduk di meja, matanya menelusuri dokumen terenkripsi yang berhasil diaksesnya. Ketika Jack masuk, dia menatapnya, ekspresinya lebih serius dari yang pernah Jack lihat. Ada tingkat intensitas baru dalam tatapannya, sebuah kesadaran yang mulai membebani pundaknya.
"Saya menemukan sesuatu," katanya dengan suara pelan, menarik layar holografik yang menampilkan serangkaian dokumen. "Ini komunikasi internal Dewan Galaksi, Jack. Ada jaringan... yah, sebut saja mereka simpatisan kekuatan gelap di dalam Dewan Galaksi itu sendiri."
Alis Jack terangkat tak percaya. Dewan Galaksi seharusnya menjadi otoritas pusat, mercusuar harapan dan tatanan di galaksi. Fondasi dari perlawanan mereka terhadap kekuatan gelap dibangun di atasnya. Namun, apa yang disarankan Mira tidak hanya meruntuhkan misi mereka itu mengancam untuk membongkar segala sesuatu yang telah mereka perjuangkan.
"Ini tidak mungkin," kata Jack, langkahnya mendekat ke layar. "Apa kamu mengatakan ada orang-orang di Dewan yang bekerja untuk musuh?"
Mira mengangguk. "Bukan hanya beberapa individu, Jack. Ini sebuah jaringan. Dan itu sudah beroperasi di bayang-bayang selama bertahun-tahun. Mereka sudah memberi informasi kepada kekuatan gelap, memastikan bahwa pertahanan kita tetap terpecah, lemah, dan tidak terkoodinir dengan baik. Setiap kekalahan besar yang kita alami? Semua itu telah diatur dengan hati-hati."
Jack merasakan kesejukan menjalari tubuhnya. Untuk semua usaha mereka, untuk semua pengorbanan yang telah dilakukan, ternyata bukan hanya musuh eksternal yang harus dihadapi mereka dikhianati oleh orang-orang yang seharusnya menjadi sekutu mereka.
"Tapi kenapa?" tanya Jack, berjuang untuk memahami besarnya apa yang telah ditemukan Mira. "Kenapa ada orang di Dewan yang melakukan ini? Apa yang mereka dapatkan dengan membantu musuh?"
Jari-jari Mira bergerak cepat di atas kontrol, menampilkan serangkaian transaksi finansial tingkat tinggi dan komunikasi tersembunyi. "Itulah bagian yang sebenarnya menakutkan," katanya. "Individu-individu ini bukan hanya figur politik. Beberapa di antara mereka memiliki kepentingan finansial yang dalam yang terkait dengan kekuatan gelap. Jalur perdagangan, kontrak sumber daya, kesepakatan senjata ada uang yang terlibat. Dan di mana ada uang, ada kekuasaan."
Perut Jack berputar ketika potongan-potongan teka-teki mulai terpasang dengan jelas. Galaksi ini hampir hancur, tetapi beberapa orang bersedia meraup keuntungan dari kekacauan itu, bahkan jika itu berarti mengorbankan segalanya.
"Kita sudah dipermainkan, Jack," lanjut Mira, suaranya pelan namun tegang. "Seluruh perang ini... seluruh konflik ini... sudah dimanipulasi oleh mereka yang melihatnya sebagai kesempatan untuk mendapatkan kontrol atas sumber daya, mengisi kantong mereka sementara yang lain menderita."
Jack merasa mulutnya kering. Jika Dewan Galaksi, institusi yang selama ini mereka andalkan untuk dukungan, ternyata korup di dalamnya, lalu ke mana mereka bisa berpaling? Tidak ada sekutu yang bisa dipercaya. Tidak ada orang yang bisa diandalkan. Pertempuran ini selalu tentang bertahan hidup melawan kekuatan gelap, tapi sekarang tampaknya bertahan hidup bukan satu-satunya perjuangan mereka. Mereka juga harus melawan sistem yang selama ini berjanji untuk melindungi mereka.
"Kita harus mengungkap ini," kata Jack setelah diam beberapa saat, suaranya dingin dan penuh tekad. "Kita tidak bisa membiarkan ini terus berlanjut."
Mira mengangguk, tapi ada keraguan di ekspresinya. "Tidak akan mudah. Jika kita mengungkap ini, kita akan dianggap sebagai pengkhianat, Jack. Dewan akan mengejar kita, dan harapan untuk menyatukan galaksi melawan kekuatan gelap akan runtuh. Kita tidak hanya mempertaruhkan hidup kita, kita mempertaruhkan segalanya yang sudah kita bangun."
Jack memahami berat kata-kata Mira. Jika mereka mengungkapkan korupsi Dewan sekarang, mereka akan kehilangan kesempatan untuk mendapatkan dukungan dari sistem-sistem yang masih netral, atau lebih buruk lagi, sekutu potensial dalam pertempuran. Galaksi bisa hancur lebur dalam prosesnya.
"Tapi kita tidak bisa terus bertempur dengan satu tangan terikat," kata Jack, suaranya teguh. "Kita harus berdiri sekarang, sebelum semuanya terlambat. Kita berutang kepada semua orang yang sudah kehilangan hidup mereka dan kepada semua orang yang masih berjuang untuk kebebasan mereka."
Mira menghela napas pelan, tatapannya tetap teguh. "Aku tahu. Tapi kita butuh rencana. Kita tidak bisa masuk begitu saja."
"Setuju," jawab Jack. "Kita mulai dengan mengumpulkan bukti, menghubungi mereka yang masih setia di Dewan. Kita harus hati-hati siapa pun bisa terkompromikan. Tapi kita tidak bisa membiarkan ini terus berlanjut. Galaksi sudah di ambang kehancuran, Mira. Kita harus menghentikan ini sebelum semuanya runtuh total."
Mira mengangguk tajam, matanya menyala dengan intensitas yang sama seperti biasanya. "Baiklah, Jack. Kita lakukan caramu. Tapi kita harus bergerak cepat. Setiap detik yang kita buang, semakin banyak kerusakan yang bisa mereka lakukan."
Jack menarik napas dalam-dalam, tahu bahwa jalan yang ada di depan akan lebih berbahaya daripada apa pun yang pernah mereka hadapi. Kekuatan gelap adalah musuh yang nyata musuh yang bisa mereka lawan dengan senjata dan taktik. Tetapi ini? Ini berbeda. Musuh kini ada di dalam, tersembunyi di balik topeng kekuasaan dan pengaruh. Dan dengan setiap langkah yang mereka ambil, mereka akan berjalan di atas pisau yang sangat tajam.
"Kita akan melawan mereka semua, Mira," kata Jack, suaranya tenang namun penuh tekad. "Bahkan jika perang ini tidak hanya tentang kekuatan gelap. Kita akan berjuang untuk kebenaran, dan untuk masa depan galaksi."
Saat beban keputusan itu meresap, Jack tahu satu hal: pertempuran sesungguhnya baru saja dimulai.