Outer Sector Outpost 7, Imperial Periphery
The outpost plunged into the deeper quiet of the reactor shutdown. Emergency lights cast long shadows, and the absence of the main power hum created an almost unnerving stillness, broken only by the low thrum of auxiliary systems and the measured footsteps of Navy patrols. For Valerius, this was the moment – the brief window of reduced sensor acuity and relative quiet he needed.
He moved through the designated ventilation shaft access point near the decommissioned testing bay, SC-TBay-04. The shaft was cramped, dusty, and rarely used, offering better concealment than the main corridors now frequently patrolled by Navy personnel. His Spatial Sense probed ahead, mapping the twists and turns, confirming the path was clear. The unstable plasma core, secured in its dampening case against his armor, felt like a contained storm.
Reaching the access grate for the testing bay, he used his multi-tool to silently release the locking mechanism, the System masking the minor energy signature of the tool's operation. He dropped lightly into the vast, dust-filled chamber, the heavy shielding on the walls absorbing the faint sound.
He quickly moved to the center, placing the dampening case on the floor. The core pulsed within, its unstable yellow light casting faint, shifting patterns on the dusty surfaces.
'System, initiate energy transfer protocol. Interface with core regulation node. Prioritize stability. Maximum safe absorption rate, monitor core integrity constantly. Alert on external sensor activity or approaching personnel.'
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The shimmering nanite tendril connected. Raw, volatile energy surged into Valerius, far more potent than the geothermal source. It was like mainlining lightning. He gritted his teeth, focusing his Wargod will, guided by the System, to channel and refine the chaotic power, integrating it into his cultivation matrix.
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The progress was intoxicatingly fast. He could feel the threshold drawing closer, his power deepening, solidifying. The risks felt distant, overshadowed by the sheer potential gain. He pushed himself, absorbing as much as he dared, keenly aware of the core's volatility and the limited time window before the reactor came back online.
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Suddenly, a high-priority alert flashed from the System, overriding the energy transfer status.
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Kaelen. He must have convinced Jian or another Navy officer to authorize the sweep during the shutdown, perhaps arguing it was the best time to catch subtle anomalies. Fifteen seconds!
'Abort transfer! Retract conduit! Seal dampening case! Maximum energy signature suppression!' Valerius commanded instantly, his mind racing.
The nanite conduit snapped back. He slammed the dampening case shut just as the core pulsed angrily at the abrupt cessation. He felt the drain, the frustration of stopping mid-stream, but there was no time for regret. He grabbed the case, scrambling towards the ventilation access grate.
His Spatial Sense flared, detecting the edge of the sweeping sensor wave washing through the nearby corridors, analyzing energy signatures, atmospheric composition, structural integrity with far greater sensitivity than the outpost's standard grid.
He reached the grate, forcing it open, hauling himself and the heavy case up into the cramped shaft just as the sensor sweep passed the testing bay door below. Had they detected the residual energy? The brief access?
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A low-level transient. Not enough for immediate alarm, perhaps, but Kaelen would latch onto it. He wouldn't be able to access the bay again safely anytime soon.
Valerius moved quickly through the ventilation shafts, taking a longer, more circuitous route back towards his quarters, avoiding main corridors entirely. He felt the unstable core pulsing against his armor, a reminder of the partial victory and the immense risk. He had reached 35% of the way to Mid-Level Wargod – a significant gain, providing a noticeable boost in energy reserves and control – but far short of his goal, and achieved at the cost of potentially drawing Kaelen's (and now the Navy's) attention directly to his activities in the lower levels.
Back in the perceived safety of his room, the main reactor beginning its power-up sequence, Valerius hid the core again. He felt the potent, partially assimilated energy settling within him. He was stronger, yes, but also more exposed. The shutdown window had closed, and the net was tightening. He needed to be much, much more careful.