Project Prometheus Ch. 86 - Teaser (Patreon)

“Much of the first phase will consist of structural assessment,” she explained. “Your vessels have been modified repeatedly throughout their operational lives, often without standardized engineering documentation.”

“They work,” Geralt scoffed, looking mildly offended.

“I did not say they did not,” Jaesa told him.

“One of mine works extremely well,” someone farther down the table protested.

“Your portside power distribution grid is held together by three different generations of relays, two incompatible control architectures, and a bypass that appears to have been fabricated from part of a commercial refrigeration system,” Jaesa sighed, smiling while explaining this.

“It works,” someone called out after a brief silence, and Dagan laughed so hard he nearly dropped the pear. Jaesa continued the explanation with an almost suspicious degree of delight.

“The intention is not to erase what makes your vessels individually useful. The Perseus can fabricate modern replacements, improve reactor efficiency, reinforce structural members, update defensive systems, and integrate more advanced sensors while preserving each ship’s existing role.”

“So we won’t all end up flying identical Alliance boxes,” Kris noted, leaning back slightly.

“Certainly not.”

“Good.”

“I’m beginning to like her more,” Sohlaka grinned.

“You said that yesterday,” Geralt muttered.

“And I mean it more today,” the Khontaran woman giggled. Jaesa was about to respond when her expression suddenly changed subtly. The warmth remained, but her attention shifted elsewhere, which Dagan noticed immediately.

“So much for breakfast,” he sighed and several heads turned in his direction. Jaesa’s eyes unfocused for a fraction of a second as information moved through systems none of them could see. Then a holographic display of Talemkha appeared above the table, with a portion of its surface enlarged.

“What happened?” Kris asked.

“An emergency transmission has been received from the Rath’kesh clan.”

“Who?” Dagan questioned, his humor vanishing in an instant.

“Chieftainess Khaltani’s people.”

The map zoomed further in, and a settlement appeared beneath the display. Calling it a settlement was almost generous, as the Rath’kesh had only recently rediscovered their ancestral dome beneath the ice. Most of the structure remained buried, with excavators gradually clearing access points and exposing sections that could eventually be restored.

For now, the clan occupied temporary shelters, partially recovered chambers, and reinforced structures clustered around the excavation. Defensive walls existed, but they were the furthest thing from impressive. Jaesa overlaid moving contacts, and the group saw that there were a lot of them.

“What the hell are those?” Geralt asked, setting down his peach.

“Tashkuun beasts… and Sahr’coun hounds,” Jaesa stated, seeing more clusters appear on the scanner.

“Together?” Tawny questioned, frowning at what she was seeing.

“No, they are not cooperating,” Jaesa replied as she enlarged the tracking patterns. “Their movements remain consistent with separate predatory groups. However, they have converged upon the same region.”

“Same prey,” Dagan growled, studying the display.

“Yes,” the AI told them.

“I dislike predators,” Vincent sighed as his crest lowered.

“You technically are one,” Dagan smirked as he glanced toward the very large bird.

“I dislike competing predators.”

“That sounds more accurate.”