Chapter 381: Boarding Compact transport 3

The demolition charges could no longer be triggered.

The old command systems recognized Human authority again.

The reserve population was still sleeping.

People they knew were waiting for them.

That last part broke through better than anything else.

One prisoner asked for his sister.

Eirenne found her among the awakened survivors at Sanctuary Ardent.

Another asked about a former medical worker.

Alive.

Another name came back dead.

Vaela did not hide that either.

Aurelian stood farther back with Astra and Rhoswen while the reunions were organized through communication links.

For once, Rhoswen did not complain about standing still.

Eventually, Eirenne approached Aurelian with another report.

"We accounted for sixteen of the previously unexplained prisoners."

"Where?"

"Veyra Nine transferred them to private Compact research contractors years ago."

"Locations?"

"Three facilities."

Aurelian looked at the new markers.

None were close.

One was deep inside Compact territory.

Another had changed ownership twice.

The third had disappeared from official records.

Rhoswen read the map beside him.

"So this isn’t finished."

"No."

Astra looked toward the rescued prisoners.

"But this part is."

Aurelian nodded.

Two hundred and seventeen people from Sanctuary Ardent had been recovered between the transport and the station.

Not everyone who had been taken.

But far more than he had known were alive only hours earlier.

That made the operation worth every risk.

The search of Veyra Nine continued while Neris prepared the return transport.

Then Eirenne received a secure message from Cassian.

Aurelian opened it inside one of the cleared station offices.

His father appeared on the display.

"I received the rescue count."

"Two hundred and seventeen."

"Good."

Cassian looked toward the station data attached to the report.

"You also recovered more Human medical equipment."

"Yes."

"And you now have confirmed evidence that the Compact distributed Sanctuary research to other facilities."

"Yes."

Cassian was quiet for a moment.

"Then we need to discuss the Human Continuance Matrix before information about it spreads through indirect channels."

Aurelian had been expecting that conversation.

"What do you suggest?"

"Controlled cooperation with the Arcturus family."

Aurelian leaned back slightly.

"Meaning?"

"We provide specialists, materials, security, and manufacturing capacity. You keep authority over the matrix and Sanctuary Ardent. In return, once Doctor Marr confirms the system is safe, the family receives limited access to treatment methods that can help commanders recover from advancement strain."

Aurelian thought about it.

He had no intention of handing the matrix over to anyone.

Cassian was not asking him to.

"What kind of access?"

"No patient records. No control access. No experimental research. Only approved treatment methods and whatever manufacturing information is required to reproduce safe medical supplies."

That was reasonable.

Aurelian looked toward Eirenne.

She remained silent.

This was his decision.

The Destiny System had nothing to do with it either.

This was simply politics and resources.

"What does the family provide in return?" Aurelian asked.

Cassian smiled slightly.

"I wondered when you would ask."

A list appeared.

Two additional engineering groups for Sanctuary Ardent.

A permanent medical team.

Materials needed for the Human Continuance Matrix.

Shield components for Larkspur Haven.

Industrial equipment for Helion Bastion Twelve.

And four armed patrol ships assigned to Crownward routes for one year.

Aurelian read the list carefully.

"You prepared this before calling."

"Of course."

"You expected me to negotiate."

"I raised you."

Aurelian almost smiled.

"I want six patrol ships."

"Five."

"And the family provides the crews."

"Yes."

"Two medical teams, not one. One stays at Sanctuary Ardent. The other rotates between Larkspur and Helion."

Cassian considered it.

"Accepted."

"The matrix remains under Sanctuary authority."

"Yes."

"The civilian council must approve any treatment program involving sanctuary technology."

Cassian nodded.

"I expected that."

Aurelian looked at the list one last time.

"Then we have an agreement."

Cassian’s expression relaxed slightly.

"Good. This benefits both sides without turning Sanctuary Ardent into family property."

"That was the point."

"It usually is with you."

The channel ended.

Rhoswen had entered near the end of the conversation.

She looked at the resource list.

"You got five patrol ships."

"Yes."

"You asked for six."

"Yes."

"You should have asked for eight."

Aurelian looked at her.

"That is not how negotiation works."

"It might be."

Astra entered behind her.

"No."

Rhoswen sighed.

"Everyone is very narrow-minded today."

Aurelian closed the display.

Outside the office, the recovered prisoners were being moved toward Neris’s medical transports. Lysara’s teams had begun loading the stolen Human equipment, while Solenne kept the remaining Compact ships at a safe distance.

Veyra Nine would remain standing.

Its people would remain there.

Aurelian had taken what he came for and recovered more than he expected.

There was no reason to turn a rescue into conquest.

He stepped into the corridor with Astra and Rhoswen.

"Finish loading the equipment and copy the station archives. We leave as soon as the medical teams are ready."

Rhoswen looked toward the Compact-controlled sections.

"And them?"

"We leave them."

She accepted that more easily this time.

Perhaps seeing the rescued prisoners had made the difference.

Aurelian looked toward the transport feeds.

Serena Hal was among the survivors already aboard.

Eirenne had sent confirmation to her father at Sanctuary Ardent.

The old man had apparently refused to leave the communication room until someone showed him her face.

Now he knew she was coming home.

That alone was enough to make the operation worthwhile.

The wider situation remained difficult.

Saevor Drann was withdrawing from his outer positions.

More Sanctuary prisoners were scattered across Compact space.

The Alliance was watching Sanctuary Ardent.

The Arcturus family was becoming more involved in the Crownward March.

And every success created another responsibility.

Aurelian was getting used to that.

He did not need every problem solved at once.

He only needed to keep moving in the right direction.

A few hours later, the last medical transport separated from Veyra Nine.

The Black Crown moved into position at the front of the formation while Solenne’s ships covered the rear.

Aurelian watched the station grow smaller behind them.

They had arrived looking for people who might already have been dead.

They were leaving with more than two hundred of them alive.

That was enough for today.

"Set course for Sanctuary Ardent," he said.

Astra confirmed the route.

The fleet turned toward home.