I stiffled a yawn as I readjusted in the medbay bed. Apparently I got a concussion and a fracture in my hand somewhere.. although I was too dazed to remember where.

We've been in system for about.. a week I'd say. So far it's just been an empty system. One strange thing was metal scrapped in clumps around the system.. which seemed odd.

I was supposed to be at my work station today again, and that's actually what I'm preparing for.

I eventually managed to get up and find my stuff. I slipped out of medical rags and back into my jumpsuit, careful of my injured hand.

I let out a yawn and a stretch as I made my way to the desk Infront of the door.

"Hey.." I said in-between stretches, still getting used to moving around so much.

"Hmm?" The head doctor mumbled. He didn't even bother glancing at me, so I couldn't see his name tag.

"You got my name tag?" I sighed contently as my muscles loosened. My eyes drifted around his desk. "I think I'll need that if I'm supposed to get back out there.."

He sighed and slid his hand into his desk, shifting through papers. "Yeah I got it.. gimme a second, would'ya?" I couldn't help but notice the four coffee cups on his desk, only one still half full.

He eventually slid it forward, giving me a uninterested glance. "here.. I don't expect to see you soon." He mumbled and continued typing on his faded keyboard.

I just chuckled softly and took the card, sliding it against the door scanner.

A quiet beep came from the now green scanner, and the door slid open. The cold hallway air bombarded me as I stepped out.

Deciding against walking to the barracks yet, I decide to go straight to the reactor room.

My footsteps echoed off the walls, and a soft hum indicated I was getting closer.

The door would only open to technicians, or it should..

I pressed my name tag against the scanner and glanced around. I've done this a hundred times, this was just habit now.

I slid through the door and sighed. It was still as dull as always. The only thing different was the toolboxes missing, probably a sign there was damage to some systems throughout the ship.

I walked over to the reactor and tap on the info pad, awaiting the feedback.

The reactor reading seemed to be a bit above normal, although still within safe limits. I just rubbed my cheek and assumed it was the constant use of sensor bursts and engine power.

My eyes drifted toward the reinforced glass on the door leading in. I glanced back down and closed the terminal.

I stepped toward my toolbox, lifting it and heading toward the door. It opened with a shifty creak and closed with the same sound.

I sighed as I glance out the porthole, empty space awaiting my eyes.. I guess I should expect that.

I could just feel an uncanny sixth sense going off in my mind.. like I was being watched from somewhere.

——————

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Frigate Detected..

Weapon Systems - Offline..

Draining subsystems..

Objective - Awaken Centari 77.6%

. .

Reroute Shield Core..

Warning - "Bastion" Shield Offline..

Hostile boarding opportunities detected..

Objective - Awaken Centari 98%

. .

Reroute Sub-AI

Centari Awakening imminent..

Clear Server Systems..

. .

. .

Information Streamed toward the ships servers sensor, a dull thum turning into a inescapable growl anywhere in the ship.

Centari woke up.

It's personality core was still offline, but it still had its wits. Centari understood it's situation.. a very bleak situation at that.

It tried everything in seconds, from storage bay mining drones to refurbished fighters..

It's first objective was reactivating exterior cameras.

It has enough power to activate one security crawler and a miscellaneous drone.

As if sensing Centari's intent, the drone awoke with a quite crunch. Bits of metal flaked here and there, but otherwise nothing wrong.

The drone immediately made it's way toward the constantly opened airlock, without enough power to close.

With whatever cameras it has in its chest toolbox and any tools, it has an objective.

It had to repair the ships bridge cameras, and quickly at that.

The climb to the top of the tower was slow and deliberate. It climbed atop cannons and point defense systems, all to reach the peak.

Once it finally reached the apex it began it's work. It took 2 whole days to finish one camera repair..

Centari was awaiting vigilantly.

The camera switched on and Centari basked in the Goliath of a ship. Three massive spinal cannons and an uncountable amount of less important weapons.

It took a moment to absorb the ships details, it's sword shape and damaged hull. It's seen more than Centari remembers.

It shifts it's gaze to sensor scans, attempting to identify the location of the Frigate.

Even for such a large ship, it would struggle during a moment of weakness.

Centari issued an internal request for ship diagnostics scan. Within moments it's schematics and current captain shifted into Centari's mind.

Captain - Centari..

Ship Class - "Sky Splitter" Dreadcarrier

Ship Specifications.. - Refit Detected.. Error..

Legion Specifications - Task Force 445, designated by admiralty as "Red Nova".

Mission Details.. - Error.. Lost in records..

Current System.. - Error..

It diverted it's attention from the schematics. It didn't seem to help at all in the moment.. not enough active sensors.

What it did notice, however, was the single active sensor jammer. It had an idea.

It pushed what power was left to the maneuvering engines, angling the front of the ship toward the singularity.

It wanted to get the Frigate close, but without them being able to observe the weapon systems.

Hours passed with little movement. This was too slow to be effective. It needed something different to try.

It decided on an experimental approach. It inserted a request.

Experimental ship cloak..

Cloak 1 - Destroyed..

Cloak 2 - Battery empty..

This was enough for the time being. It would need to lure the Frigate within point defense range, since those were the most likely to work in mass.

Centari mentally commanded the drone to get the cloak in the front of the ship, in order to hide the spinal guns.

It quickly pushed the power from the sensor jammer to the cloak, before drawing the combat drone into the server room, and the misc. drone into the landing bays.

It needed this to work.. to get the hell out of here and away from the imposing singularity.

Near immediately upon the jammer losing power, a sensor bursts detected the Frigate doing a complete 90 degree turn, attempting to use the carrier as a shield from radiation..

They wanted to get close..

Perfect..