Part Two: The Arbor Responds
Deep in the void of space, far beyond Earth's reach, the interstellar vessel Arbor moved through darkness with quiet precision. Unlike the brutal, angular K'tharr warships, its organic design blended advanced technology with something more—an essence that made it feel less manufactured and more… alive.
Inside the command bridge, a semicircle of figures stood around the central console, dim blue light casting shadows across tense expressions. Star charts pulsed, data streams flickered, but all focus remained locked on a single display—General Adebayo's message playing in full.
Dr. Emma Forrest stood at the front, her posture rigid, her silver-streaked hair pulled back in a severe bun. Her expression remained neutral, but her hands, hidden from the others, were clenched. Not in fear—only restraint.
The transmission ended.
Silence followed, thick with unspoken weight.
Chloe Chen exhaled sharply, crossing her arms, her jaw tightening. "They waited until we were gone," she muttered. "They knew we wouldn't be there to stop them."
Markus Volkov's grip on the console remained firm, knuckles whitening. His deep voice was measured but laced with anger. "The K'tharr don't conquer the way others do," he said. "They erase. Rebuild in their own image."
Emma's tone was quiet but deliberate. "This is about WoodDust."
Ethan Reyes let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "That's all this is to you?" he muttered, frustration slipping through the exhaustion in his voice. "If they get it, Earth is gone. Humanity is gone. And we're out here, watching."
No one responded immediately.
The silence remained—but now it carried something else. Not just dread, but the sharp edge of realization, the certainty that their choices in the next moments would define everything that came after.