Then another message appeared.
Human claimant recognized.
Command reconstruction incomplete.
Local access granted at restricted emergency level.
Strategic core remains sealed.
That was better than Aurelian had expected.
It meant the station was at least willing to recognize him as someone with limited authority, even if the deeper systems still refused to fully open.
"Do we have docking access?" he asked.
Veylora checked the station response before answering.
"Three outer docks just activated."
"Any weapons coming online?"
Selvarin answered from her cruiser.
"Still nothing."
Aurelian didn't relax.
Just because nothing had fired yet didn't mean the station was safe. The place had been sitting here for centuries, half awake and full of systems nobody fully understood.
"Passive scan first."
Lysara sent the scout cutter forward.
