Chapter 382: Boarding Compact transport 2

"Commander Arcturus," he said, clearly aware of who Aurelian was. "You have already taken the transport. There is no need to attack the station."

"That depends on what you do next."

The officer’s expression tightened.

"My name is Director Ovar Kel. I am responsible for Veyra Nine’s research operations."

"Then you know why I am here."

"I know you found the transfer records."

"How many Sanctuary Ardent prisoners remain on your station?"

Kel hesitated.

That was answer enough to show there were still some.

Aurelian waited.

Finally, Kel spoke.

"Forty-six."

Aurelian looked toward Eirenne.

She was already checking.

"That number is possible," she said privately. "One hundred and seventy-one recovered from the transport, forty-one confirmed dead, thirty-eight transferred elsewhere, and forty-six on the station would account for two hundred and ninety-six. Sixteen remain unexplained."

Aurelian looked back at Kel.

"I want the forty-six prisoners released. I also want every record connected to the Sanctuary Ardent transfers, every piece of Human equipment taken from the sanctuary, and access to the sections where those people were held."

Kel’s expression changed.

"You are asking me to surrender the station."

"No. I am asking you to return stolen people, equipment, and records."

"And if I refuse?"

Aurelian glanced at Astra.

The Black Crown’s targeting systems were already locked onto the station defenses.

"You have five warships, a civilian station, and no support close enough to reach you before this is over. I have no reason to destroy Veyra Nine if you cooperate."

Kel looked away from the channel for several seconds.

Aurelian could imagine what was happening around him.

Researchers packing files.

Officers demanding resistance.

Others asking what Saevor Drann would do to them if they surrendered Human property.

Fear of Drann had already pushed one courier captain into giving up.

It might do the same here.

Kel finally looked back.

"What happens to my staff?"

"Researchers connected to abuse of Human prisoners will be detained and investigated. The rest will be allowed to remain on the station unless the civilian population requests otherwise."

"You expect me to trust that?"

"No."

The answer seemed to surprise him.

Aurelian continued.

"That is why Eirenne is transmitting the same written terms to every ship and station department. Your people will know exactly what I offered before you answer."

Kel glanced toward another display.

Eirenne had already sent the terms.

Aurelian gave him time to read them.

When he finished, some of the tension had left his face.

"I need fifteen minutes."

"You have ten."

The channel closed.

Rhoswen opened a private line.

"You gave him ten minutes?"

"Yes."

"He has had years to decide whether keeping prisoners was wrong."

"This is not about his moral development."

"I know."

"We want the prisoners alive and the station intact."

Rhoswen was quiet for a moment.

"Fine. Ten minutes."

Neris’s medical transports reached the captured ship while they waited.

Vaela entered with Doctor Marr and several teams. The security feed showed her moving quickly through the passenger deck, stopping only when she reached the first group of Sanctuary survivors.

She did not make a speech.

She simply told them they were safe and that Sanctuary Ardent was under Human control again.

Some understood immediately.

Others did not.

One woman asked whether Commander Yarric had approved their return.

Vaela had to explain that Yarric was now a prisoner.

A few people laughed.

Others started crying.

Aurelian stopped watching after that.

They deserved some privacy.

Kel contacted him again with two minutes remaining.

"We will surrender the prisoners."

"And the records?"

"Yes."

"The Human equipment?"

Kel clearly disliked that part.

"Yes."

"Your warships?"

"They will withdraw from the station."

"They may leave. No weapons fire, no attempt to remove Human prisoners, and no destruction of station records."

Kel nodded.

Aurelian looked toward Astra.

"Accept."

The tension around Veyra Nine immediately started falling.

The Compact warships moved away from the station one by one. Solenne’s ships tracked them but did not fire.

Rhoswen watched the first cruiser retreat.

"We could take them."

"We could."

"And?"

"We are not here for them."

She sighed.

"You have become very consistent about ruining easy fights."

"That is called command."

The station docking records opened a few minutes later.

Security teams moved in first, followed by Lysara and several engineers who began identifying Vhaloric and Sanctuary Ardent equipment.

Aurelian remained aboard the Black Crown until Eirenne confirmed the command section was secure.

Then he went over with Astra.

Rhoswen came too.

This time he let her.

Veyra Nine looked nothing like Sanctuary Ardent.

The station was practical, cramped, and clearly built in stages. New Compact walls had been attached to older industrial sections, while cables and pipes ran openly along ceilings in places where later construction had never bothered hiding them.

The research levels were cleaner.

That only made them feel worse.

Aurelian passed several sealed laboratory doors while security teams checked every room.

Lysara joined him near the central archive.

"They took more from Sanctuary Ardent than we realized."

"How much?"

"Medical scanners, preservation control units, several biological analysis systems, and part of an old Vhaloric archive reader."

"Can we move them?"

"Most of them."

"Then we take them back."

Lysara nodded.

"There are also copies of research conducted here."

Aurelian looked toward her.

"Useful?"

"Some. Unpleasant in places."

"Copy everything. We decide what to keep after Doctor Marr and Vaela review it."

That was the same rule he had used for the Human Continuance Matrix.

Useful knowledge did not become harmless simply because it was useful.

They reached the secure medical housing level shortly afterward.

Forty-six Human prisoners waited there.

Several had gathered near the doors after hearing that Compact control was gone. Others remained inside their rooms because they did not believe the announcement.

Vaela arrived not long after Aurelian.

She looked exhausted already, but she refused to stay on the transport once the remaining prisoners were confirmed.

Aurelian let her handle the first conversation.

She knew their names.

She knew Sanctuary Ardent.

Most importantly, she could tell them things only another survivor would think to mention.

The central preservation halls were safe.