Graveyard of Empires

Unable to sleep, Ailana confronts her heightened senses in the quiet of the station. Maven arrives with news of a Ministry Special Activities Division kill team. He proposes using Ailana as bait to trap the assassins.

The Consortium's opening salvo devastates Infinity. Jim executes a close-range maneuver inside the battleship's broadside arc. The escort Windlass is destroyed with 61 crew. Maven watches from Silvent Academy, timing economic disruption on Regamon.

Traq tracks down Emoria (Ria), a criminal information broker, after she helps Gunther Finn escape Terminus. Through surveillance and deception, Traq poses as a wealthy off-worlder and catches Emoria in a bedroom ambush.

Vane confronts Gaius about Prometheus program, threatens coup. Now includes Vane revealing the approaching Vaalin anomalies as additional justification for maintaining secrecy. Gaius discovers the true depth of the machinery, activates ancient Guard network.

Jim's fleet approaches Carthage Gap outnumbered 212 to 300. He devises a flanking maneuver through the civilian Verity Corridor, emerging behind Hektor's defensive crescent. The formation disintegrates as Jim forces an engagement, losing the escort Gundersen in the opening minutes.

Maven wakes from recurring fire dreams aboard Evelyn's Grace in orbit over Jaril. She prepares for the day, reflecting on her scars, damaged lungs, and rivalry with her perfect twin Alyssa.

Smugglers Askeld, Moot, and Reggie discover the legendary Arcadia station in Sector Six after their warp drive fails. Exploring the massive ancient vessel, they discover hundreds of preserved human bodies and encounter something alive on the station.

Alonso receives a devastating message from his daughter Mira - Ministry agents raided their home, froze assets, and labeled him an enemy of the state. Former colleagues publicly denounce him. Despite personal devastation, he arranges asylum for his family through Dr. Ortiz.

Jayson makes first contact with Vera Marsten, a customs official, establishing Maven's intelligence network on Regamon. Abdullah arrives for diplomatic mission, experiencing Regamon's heavy gravity, twin-sun light, jungle-pressed marble city, and regamon bark spice.