Chapter 366: Ancient Medical System 3

"We start with small groups," Aurelian said. "Medical staff, engineers, teachers, and people who can help rebuild civil leadership. After that, we wake families connected to the people already up. We only increase the numbers when the system can handle it."

Vaela thought about the plan for a moment before nodding. "That will also give the first survivors something useful to do."

"Yes."

That mattered more than it might sound. Some of the people already awake were struggling with the fact that they had gone from living normal lives to waking up as refugees in a broken sanctuary.

Food and shelter would keep them alive, but giving them work and a reason to help rebuild would make the change easier to handle.

Eirenne updated the awakening schedule as they spoke.

"I can prepare a first group of two hundred from the reserve halls," she said. "Their preservation readings are stable, and their recorded skills match what we currently need."

"Not yet," Aurelian replied. "Send the list to Vaela, Astercourt, and Doctor Marr first. They review it before anyone is awakened."

Vaela nodded. "That is fair."

Rhoswen, who had been looking through the observation glass toward the patient room, turned back toward him.

"Will the matrix decide who gets treatment?"

"No," Aurelian said. "The doctors decide based on medical need."

"What about commanders?"

"The same rule applies."

Rhoswen narrowed her eyes. "You are going to put yourself at the end of the list."

"I am not injured."

"You have recovery debt."

"That is not an emergency."

Astra gave him one of her calm looks that usually meant she had already decided the argument.

"You agreed to receive treatment within thirty days."

"I remember."

Eirenne turned toward Rhoswen. "I recorded the agreement."

That seemed to satisfy her.

Aurelian finished the food packet he had been eating and handed the empty wrapper to a nearby disposal unit.

Before anyone could continue the argument, a new message appeared from the upper command center.

The Arcturus convoy had intercepted a long-range Alliance transmission directed toward Sanctuary Ardent.

Aurelian opened it.

It wasn’t from Cassian.

The sender identified herself as an Alliance historical claims officer traveling with a survey vessel.

She requested permission to enter the system and inspect what she called a newly recovered Human heritage site under emergency preservation law.

Aurelian read the message twice.

The survey vessel was still more than a day away.

That meant information about Sanctuary Ardent had spread faster than he expected.

Rhoswen leaned closer and looked at the message over his shoulder.

"Is this the Alliance trouble you expected?"

"One version of it."

Vaela’s expression became harder. "Can they claim the sanctuary?"

"Not easily."

"Can they try?"

"Yes."

Aurelian closed the message.

The wording was polite, but the purpose was obvious. The officer wanted access to Sanctuary Ardent’s archives, population records, and surviving systems before Aurelian had fully secured the legal position around the sanctuary.

Cassian’s warning had arrived at exactly the right time.

"Eirenne, prepare the ownership records, authority transfer logs, Yarric’s occupation files, and all Compact demolition records."

"I am already gathering them."

"Do not include the Continuity Vault inventory or the matrix research."

"Understood."

Doctor Marr looked toward him. "Could keeping those systems out of the report create trouble later?"

"We are not hiding them forever," Aurelian said. "The matrix contains private medical data and systems that are still being tested. The vault also contains security-sensitive material. We release what is appropriate once the sanctuary has proper civil representation."

Vaela nodded immediately. "That is the correct answer."

Aurelian looked through the observation glass again.

Inside, Elya was slowly moving her left hand while Doctor Tal watched the nerve readings beside her.

The first matrix treatment appeared to be working, but one successful patient wasn’t enough to call the system safe.

They needed time, more tests, and proper medical review before anyone started treating the matrix like a miracle.

Outside the medical halls, Arcturus engineers were rebuilding damaged shields and power lines.

Above the mountain, Solenne’s fleet watched the system approaches. Farther away, Alliance officials were already moving toward Sanctuary Ardent with laws and paperwork instead of weapons.

The Compact had tried to take the sanctuary by force.

The next problem would be quieter.

That didn’t mean it would be easier.

Aurelian opened a secure channel to Cassian.

His father answered after a short delay.

"You received the survey request," Cassian said.

"Yes."

"I expected someone within two or three days."

"They were faster."

"They may already have been nearby."

"Or someone informed them before our report reached the family."

Cassian’s expression cooled immediately. "That is possible."

Aurelian looked toward Vaela and the doctors before continuing.

"The sanctuary population needs legal representation before that survey ship arrives."

"Agreed."

"I’m forming a temporary civil council from the awakened survivors. It won’t replace my emergency command authority, but it can speak for the population on medical access, archives, settlement decisions, and outside contact."

Cassian considered that for a few seconds.

"That strengthens your legal position," he said. "It also makes it harder for anyone to argue that House Arcturus is simply controlling the survivors and claiming their property."

"That is the point."

"It will also make your job harder."

"Probably."

Cassian almost smiled. "Good. You sound awake."

Aurelian decided not to mention his recovery debt.

Unfortunately, Rhoswen had no such restraint.

"The matrix says he needs more sleep."

Aurelian slowly turned toward her.

Cassian’s expression changed immediately.

"What matrix?"

Rhoswen froze.

It took her about one second to realize Aurelian had not yet explained that part to his father.

Astra closed her eyes briefly.

Eirenne looked far too amused for someone who was supposed to be helping.

Aurelian sighed.

"That is a longer report."

"I have time," Cassian replied.

Of course he did.

Aurelian gave Rhoswen one last look before turning back toward the channel. She tried to look innocent and failed badly enough that even Vaela seemed amused.

Behind the observation glass, Elya lifted her left arm again.

This time the movement was smoother.

Doctor Tal said something Aurelian couldn’t hear through the glass, and Elya smiled when her arm stayed raised without the weakness she had been dealing with before.

The first safe treatment had begun.

So had the first outside claim on Sanctuary Ardent.

Aurelian had expected both eventually.

He had only hoped they would not arrive on the same day.