CHAPTER 107:

The terminal blinked, casting a faint blue light across the command room as Rylan stared at the screen. The hum of the ship's systems vibrated subtly beneath his feet, a constant reminder of the war machine he commanded. His hands rested on the control panel, the surface smooth and cold under his fingers. Outside the viewport, the distant planet Wolf 1061c lay hidden beneath a swirling veil of dust storms, its surface barely visible.

"Initiate the incursion," Rylan ordered, his voice low but firm. The words felt heavy, as though they were tied to the weight of the entire universe. Salaris, his second-in-command, stood beside him, her eyes scanning the data feeds.

"Commander," she said, her tone clipped and professiona