Xylon felt a prickling sense of alignment. Anomalous resonance. In the game, corrupted cores were described as having "harmonic dissonance" that could, if improperly installed, cause Aether flux and even attract Chaos Beast attention. This was a thread.
He closed the terminal. He needed to see more, but wandering the outpost without cause would draw suspicion. He had to wait for the briefing, observe the people, and find a natural way to inquire.
Two hours later, a soft chime from the terminal announced the briefing. Xylon changed into a fresh set of the aide suit—Eryndra had packed two—and joined Astraxion outside her room. She looked composed, her uniform still impeccable, but he could see the slight tension in her shoulders. This was her performance, her duty under the family's scornful gaze.
They were led by a different Valtheris officer to the Central Observation Chamber. It was a circular room with a domed ceiling of transparent, reinforced crystal that offered a staggering view of the sky and clouds. In the center was a large, holoprojection table, currently displaying a topographical map of the surrounding mountain range. Around it stood Captain Solara, Lieutenant Kieran, and three other Valtheris officers—an engineering chief, a tactical observer, and a diplomatic liaison.
The briefing began with formalities. Captain Solara welcomed Astraxion officially, expressing the Sky Dominion's respect for the Imperium's frontier efforts. Astraxion responded with gracious thanks, her words flowing with a polished, if somewhat hollow, elegance.
Then the tactical observer, a woman with sharp features and a no-nonsense demeanor, began the substantive part. She detailed the current skirmisher-class skiff patterns—the focus of Astraxion's mission. Holoprojections showed the sleek, agile craft in flight patterns, their Aether emission signatures, their operational ranges. Xylon listened, but his eyes scanned the other officers. The engineering chief, a man with a thoughtful expression and hands that fiddled with a data-pen, seemed distracted. He glanced occasionally at Captain Solara, then at the diplomatic liaison, a man who smiled too easily.
After the tactical presentation, the diplomatic liaison spoke. "Of course, Commander Stromveil, our hope is that this observation leads to greater collaborative understanding. The Chaos Beast tides threaten all nations. Sharing tactical insights on aerial maneuverability could benefit both our forces."
Astraxion nodded. "The Imperium shares that hope. I will ensure my report highlights any potential synergies."
The meeting continued for another hour, covering logistics, communication protocols, and scheduling for Astraxion's observational flights over the next several days. Xylon's role was to record notes on a data-pad, a task he performed with quiet diligence. He used his basic Valtheris dialect to clarify a few minor points with Lieutenant Kieran, further cementing his image as a competent aide.
As the briefing concluded, Captain Solara offered, "We have a light meal prepared in the officers' lounge. Please, join us."
They moved to an adjacent room, more relaxed in decor, with comfortable seating and a long table set with platters of Sky Dominion cuisine—light, airy pastries, thinly sliced meats, fruits that seemed to be preserved in a crystalline syrup, and a clear, effervescent drink that tasted of mint and lightning.
Xylon stood near Astraxion, accepting a small plate. He observed the dynamics. Lieutenant Kieran was genuinely enthusiastic, talking to Astraxion about Imperium ground-combat tactics. The diplomatic liaison, named Elian, engaged Xylon with smooth questions about his background.
"So, Mr. Enderwood, you are attached from a minor family? Which one?"
"The Enderwood lineage is small, focused on technical arts," Xylon fabricated smoothly. "We have little political presence, which allows for flexible assignments."
"Interesting. And your Aether signature is… unique, I hear?"
Xylon met Elian's smiling eyes. "It is a null reading. A genetic anomaly. It has some utility in high-Aether environments where interference is a concern."
Elian's smile didn't waver. "A useful anomaly indeed. The Sky Dominion values unique traits. They often lead to innovation." His tone was friendly, but the probing was evident.
Meanwhile, Xylon noticed the engineering chief, named Torin, standing slightly apart, sipping his drink and watching the interactions with a troubled expression. He seemed isolated from the easy camaraderie of Elian and Solara.
An opportunity presented itself when Torin moved to refill his drink near a side console. Xylon approached casually, holding his own empty glass.
"The stabilizer cores here must be incredibly complex," Xylon said, using a technical tone. "Maintaining harmony at this altitude…"
Torin looked at him, his thoughtful eyes assessing. "They are. The dampener fields are crucial. Without them, the wild wind-energies would tear the structure apart." He paused. "You have technical knowledge?"
"Some. I've studied core mechanics. I read a report earlier about an anomalous resonance in some reserve cores. Is that a common issue here?"
Torin's expression tightened. He glanced quickly across the room, where Elian was laughing with Captain Solara. "It… should not be common. The cores are manufactured under strict tolerance. That batch was unusual." He leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping. "The analysis was supposed to be thorough. But the report was closed abruptly. The cores were moved to a secondary vault, not the testing bay. I was not allowed to follow up."
Xylon's pulse quickened. This was the confirmation. The thread was real. "Who closed the report?"
Torin hesitated, then shook his head. "It was a command decision. From the diplomatic office." His eyes flicked toward Elian. "They said it was a minor calibration error, not worth further resource allocation. But the signatures were wrong. They felt… tainted."
The word hung in the air. Tainted. The game's term for corrupted cores.
Before Xylon could probe further, Elian's voice cut across the room. "Torin! Come join us. The Commander is curious about our material sciences."
Torin straightened, his face smoothing into a neutral professional mask. "Of course." He walked away, leaving Xylon with the cold certainty that something was wrong, and the diplomatic liaison was involved.
The meal ended, and Captain Solara announced that the first observational flight for Astraxion would take place tomorrow morning. They were escorted back to their quarters.
In the corridor outside Astraxion's room, she turned to Xylon. Her purple eyes were sharp, no longer just weary. "You were speaking with the engineering chief."
"Yes. He mentioned an issue with some Aether cores. It was resolved quickly, but he seemed concerned."