Chapter 364: Ancient Medical System

The first treatment plan prepared by the Human Continuance Matrix was completed less than an hour after Aurelian left the command center.

Eirenne sent the report directly to him while he was walking through the western repair halls with Astra and Chief Engineer Maren Dast.

Arcturus engineers had already opened three damaged wall sections and were replacing broken power lines, while sanctuary maintenance frames cleared wreckage from the launch route.

Aurelian stopped beside a damaged shield relay and opened the report.

The selected patient was named Elya Sorn, a preservation technician who had awakened during the first evacuation.

She had suffered mild nerve damage in one arm, weakness in both legs, and damage to several muscles caused by a failed preservation cycle.

None of her injuries were immediately dangerous, and the medical teams upstairs could treat them over time.

That made her suitable for the first test.

Doctor Marr and Doctor Tal had both approved the treatment plan. Vaela had spoken with Elya herself and confirmed that she understood the risks.

The matrix had also completed two separate simulations without finding any serious danger.

A final approval waited for Aurelian.

Maren glanced at the report from beside him.

"This is the ancient medical system you mentioned?"

"Yes."

"You left out the part where it could rebuild damaged nerves."

"I left out several parts."

"I noticed."

Aurelian read the plan again.

The matrix would begin with a full scan, compare Elya’s current condition with her pre-preservation records, and repair only the damage caused by the failed cycle.

It would not make any permanent adaptation changes or touch anything connected to the old commander research.

The procedure would take four hours.

After that, Elya would remain under observation for at least one day.

Aurelian approved it.

"Tell Vaela they can begin," he said.

Eirenne’s projection appeared beside the wall.

"She has already prepared the patient."

"She was waiting for my approval?"

"She was waiting beside the treatment pod while asking me every thirty seconds whether you had read the report."

Astra looked toward Aurelian.

"You should have read it faster."

"I received it less than a minute ago."

"That was enough time for Vaela to ask twice," Eirenne said.

Maren gave him a small smile before returning her attention to the shield relay.

Aurelian ignored all three of them.

"Send me every update, but do not interrupt the procedure unless the doctors find something unexpected."

"Understood."

They continued through the repair hall.

The damaged shield relay had been opened down the middle, revealing burned control plates and warped energy channels.

Several Arcturus engineers stood around it with scanners, while sanctuary frames removed parts too damaged to reuse.

Maren pointed toward the interior.

"The old field system was strong, but whoever built it expected regular maintenance. It survived centuries because the sanctuary used it at low output. The recent battles pushed it far beyond that."

"Can you restore it?"

"Partly. Full repair requires three regulator types we did not bring."

"Helion Bastion Twelve?"

"Eirenne sent the designs. Their engineers believe they can produce two of the three, but the final regulator uses a material they do not currently refine."

Aurelian thought of the Continuity Vault.

"Does the vault have replacements?"

"Six," Eirenne answered. "All sealed in long-term storage."

Maren looked toward the projection.

"That would have been useful to mention."

"You did not ask."

"I asked whether we had replacements."

"You asked whether Helion could produce them."

Maren stared at her for a moment.

Astra remained perfectly calm, though Aurelian noticed the slight change in her eyes.

Eirenne had probably done that on purpose.

"Use two of the replacements," Aurelian said before the exchange continued. "Keep the other four in storage until Helion can reproduce them."

Maren nodded.

"That will restore the western shield section to about seventy percent."

"How long?"

"Ten hours if nothing else breaks."

Something else would probably break.

Aurelian did not say it aloud.

They reached the end of the repair hall, where a temporary viewing panel looked out over the western launch area.

Several damaged Human ships rested near the sanctuary while repair craft moved between them.

Solenne’s fleet held a wider defensive position farther out, with fighters and scouts patrolling the system’s edge.

The Arcturus convoy had brought more help than Aurelian first expected, but it still was not enough for every problem.

One repair ship worked on the sanctuary itself.

Another supported Solenne’s damaged cruisers.

The medical vessels had transferred equipment into the lower halls.

Civilian transports waited for the first group of construction machines and supplies from the Continuity Vault.

Every ship was already busy.

"Your father sent a capable convoy," Maren said.

"He usually does."

"He also sent fewer people than this job needs."

"That was intentional."

Maren understood.

"A larger force would look like the Arcturus family had come to claim the sanctuary."

"Yes."

"And this force looks like help."

"It is help."

"That does not mean other families will see it that way."

Aurelian looked toward the ships outside.

"No. It does not."

News would spread.

Too many soldiers, survivors, prisoners, convoy crews, and medical teams now knew Sanctuary Ardent existed.

The exact contents of the Continuity Vault and the Human Continuance Matrix remained protected, but the rescue itself could not stay secret.

Other Alliance families would ask questions.

Some would offer genuine support.

Others would arrive with legal claims, historical experts, military observers, or demands for shared control.

Aurelian needed the sanctuary stable before that happened.

Maren checked the next repair report.

"I can manage the engineering work from here. You have other problems."

"That sounded like an order."

"It was advice."

"From an Arcturus engineer to an Arcturus commander?"

"From someone who has watched commanders stand beside a damaged machine because they think staring at it will make repairs faster."

Aurelian looked at the open relay behind them.

"Does it?"

"No."

Astra turned toward the corridor.

"We should check the medical test."

Aurelian agreed.

They left Maren with the engineers and returned toward the lower medical levels.

The sanctuary remained busy, but the fear that had filled the corridors during the battle was slowly fading.