Chapter 434: Outer Recovery Cooperative 2

"The document appears to support some of Orison’s historical claims, but not the full boundary they originally presented."

"Can you confirm the coordinates?"

"I’ve checked them against three historical navigation records. The reference system is consistent."

Aurelian looked at the date.

"Could the boundary have changed again afterward?"

"Yes. We don’t have a complete record of Orison’s later administrative decisions."

"Then don’t assume this is the final version."

"Understood."

He forwarded the amendment to the Veyr legal team and the Valeris council.

Then he messaged Orison, asking for any later boundary decisions that might explain the difference.

He also asked the cooperative whether its archive contained records of the amendment.

Dalia Renn responded within an hour.

Her cooperative had known about the amendment, but their copy was missing several supporting pages.

They had never seen the complete registration entry.

Aurelian arranged for the two archives to be compared under independent supervision.

That was a useful result.

For the first time, the different groups contributed records to the same investigation rather than simply insisting their own interpretation was correct.

The next morning, the Veyr legal assessment arrived.

Aurelian read it with Astra over breakfast.

The conclusion was careful.

Orison’s institutional continuity gave it a credible basis for claiming administrative rights over certain original recovery sites.

The amendment appeared to expand those rights, but only within defined corridors and subject to conditions.

Neither document established ownership over inhabited settlements, unrestricted control of civilian shipping, or authority to detain people for alleged recovery debts.

Aurelian nodded as he finished reading.

"That gives us something to work with."

Astra looked at the attached map.

"Orison won’t like losing the outer wreck fields."

"They may have later records."

"And if they don’t?"

"Then they’ll have to decide whether keeping those claims is worth losing the agreement."

He did not intend to threaten them with war over a map.

But he also would not ask Valeris to surrender its shipping routes simply because Orison insisted the old Directorate had once controlled them.

The negotiations needed to reflect the evidence.

A message from Rhoswen arrived as he finished his breakfast.

Orison had accepted the conference station’s security conditions.

Its delegation would arrive the following day.

Aurelian checked the names.

Three representatives.

One legal officer, one technical administrator, and one civilian council member.

That last position interested him.

Until now, Orison had presented itself almost entirely through its recovery authority.

A civilian representative suggested there might be more to its government than the officials who had ordered the Kestrel relocation.

He hoped so.

Thirty thousand people lived around the old repair yard.

Aurelian had no reason to assume they all agreed with every decision their government made.

He sent Rhoswen a short reply confirming that Crownward would provide the agreed external security.

Then he contacted the Valeris council.

The council chair appeared on his display.

"Commander Arcturus. I assume you’ve seen Orison’s acceptance?"

"I have. I wanted to confirm that your security officers are comfortable with the arrangements."

"They are. We’ve also arranged separate waiting rooms for the delegations."

"Good."

The chair hesitated.

"Some of our representatives are worried that the meeting will fail."

"That’s possible."

"Do you think Orison will compromise?"

Aurelian considered the question.

"They’ve already returned Kestrel’s people and accepted a ceasefire. They’ve also reduced some of their original claims and agreed to attend in person. Those are useful steps, but I can’t promise what they’ll accept tomorrow."

The chair nodded slowly.

"Then we’ll proceed."

"That’s all we can do."

After the call, Aurelian returned to the tactical map.

The conference station was ready.

The approach routes had been separated.

Valeris had approved the security plan.

Orison and the cooperative had accepted the inspection procedures.

The historical documents were being compared.

For once, the preparation seemed to be going reasonably well.

Then Eirenne appeared beside the table.

"Aurelian, Rhoswen has received a new contact."

He looked up.

"Another delegation?"

"No. A vessel has entered the outer observation area near the mining debris field."

Aurelian opened the map.

A single ship was moving slowly through the old mining routes.

Its identification signal was inactive.

The vessel was small, probably a converted transport, but its hull carried several external weapon mounts.

"Has it threatened anyone?"

"Not yet."

"Is it heading toward the conference station?"

"Not directly. Its current course would take it behind the station’s outer approach."

Aurelian frowned.

That was exactly the route Talyra had identified as a possible security gap.

He opened a channel to Rhoswen.

She answered immediately.

"I see it," she said.

"Have you sent a scout?"

"Yes. It’s approaching from the far side of the debris field."

"Keep Crimson Bulwark where it is. Don’t leave the conference station uncovered."

"I wasn’t going to."

Aurelian studied the unknown vessel’s course.

"Send a warning and request identification. If it refuses, tell it to remain outside the meeting security area."

"Understood."

The scout transmitted the request.

For several seconds, nothing happened.

Then the unidentified ship changed course.

It turned away from the conference station and began moving toward the outer route.

Aurelian watched the movement carefully.

"That’s better."

Rhoswen sounded less satisfied.

"It still hasn’t identified itself."

"Follow at a safe distance. We need to know whether it’s leaving or simply moving around us."

The scout adjusted its course.

The unknown vessel continued outward.

Then, just before reaching the edge of the observation area, it transmitted a short message.

Eirenne displayed the text.

Orison delegation compromised. Do not allow the transport to dock.

Aurelian stared at the warning.

Rhoswen spoke first.

"Well, that’s inconvenient."

Aurelian looked at the vessel’s position again.

It was still moving away.

Whoever had sent the warning apparently did not intend to stay and explain it.

He opened a channel to the Valeris council.

"Delay the delegation’s final docking clearance," he said. "Keep the security arrangements in place, but don’t accuse anyone yet. We’ve received an unverified warning, and I want it checked before the transport arrives."

The council chair nodded.

"Understood."

Aurelian turned back to Rhoswen.

"Can your scout maintain contact?"

"Yes."

"Then keep watching. No pursuit beyond the agreed observation area."

Rhoswen frowned.

"You think the warning is real?"

"I don’t know."

He looked at the message again.

It could be genuine.

It could be an attempt to disrupt the negotiations.

It could even be someone trying to lure Crimson Bulwark away from the conference station.

Until they knew more, he wouldn’t give the sender what it might want.

"Maintain the security plan," Aurelian said. "And get me everything you can on that ship."

Rhoswen nodded.

"Working on it."

The channel remained open as the scout continued tracking the unknown vessel.

Aurelian had spent days arranging a meeting that might finally settle the dispute without another battle.

Now, less than a day before the delegations were due to arrive, someone had decided to interfere.

He intended to find out why.