Novels2Search
Sovereign of Flesh
Chapter 8: Fragment of Potential

Chapter 8: Fragment of Potential

The stillness of the early morning was broken only by the hum of machines inside the task force’s laboratory. The team, stationed in their temporary facility on Helios-3, had worked tirelessly through the night. Dr. Calder Vrenna, the task force leader, stood at the head of the room, his sharp eyes scanning the data streaming across the holographic screens. The shard of the black pillar sat in a secured containment unit in the center of the lab, bathed in cold, sterile light.

One of the scientists, Dr. Lorna Kale, a young and ambitious physicist, furiously tapped away at her console. Her face was illuminated by the faint blue glow of the monitor, a sheen of sweat betraying the intensity of her focus. She muttered under her breath, piecing together variables, simulations, and raw data. Then, suddenly, she froze.

"Wait... this can't be right.." Lorna whispered.

"What is it?" Calder asked, his tone sharp as he strode over to her station.

Lorna glanced up, her voice trembling with equal parts excitement and disbelief. "Sir, the energy density in this shard... it’s off the charts. It’s emitting levels of potential energy that dwarf even our most advanced fusion reactors by orders of magnitude."

Calder leaned in, his eyes narrowing as he studied the data. His heart began to race. "Are you certain?"

Lorna nodded vigorously, pulling up visualized schematics of the shard's internal structure. "It’s not just the energy. Look at this composition. The materials inside this shard... they're unlike anything in our known database. But some of the components bear a striking similarity to minerals found exclusively on Velkara-9."

The mention of Velkara-9 caught Calder’s full attention. Velkara-9 was a resource-rich planet owned by Aegis Dynamics, one of Leviathan’s fiercest competitors. They specialized in spacecraft manufacturing and dominated the interstellar transportation industry. This connection was no coincidence. It had to mean something.

"If this shard’s materials align with what Aegis is mining on Velkara-9..." Calder mused aloud, "...this could be far more than just an energy breakthrough. This could be the key to destabilizing their monopoly."

The room buzzed with a mix of excitement and tension as the rest of the team began poring over the data. Calder, however, was already formulating his next move.

"Prepare a full report." he ordered. "We’re taking this straight to LeVane."

Later that morning, Calder initiated a secure video call with Marian LeVane. As her sharp, composed visage appeared on the screen, Calder wasted no time.

"Ms. LeVane, we’ve made a breakthrough." he began, his voice carrying the weight of his excitement.

Marian leaned forward slightly, her interest piqued. "Go on."

Calder gestured toward the screen, bringing up detailed schematics and energy readings. "This shard contains an energy density that’s unprecedented. It could revolutionize every energy-dependent industry. From transportation, manufacturing, even planetary terra forming. If properly harnessed, it could make fusion and antimatter reactors obsolete."

Marian’s eyes flicked across the data, her expression unreadable but her mind clearly working at full speed. "That’s... significant. And the composition? What have you found?"

Calder hesitated for a brief moment, then continued. "That’s where things get even more intriguing. Some of the shard’s components closely resemble minerals exclusive to Velkara-9."

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For the first time in the conversation, Marian’s mask of neutrality slipped, her eyebrows lifting ever so slightly. "Aegis Dynamics’ territory."

"Precisely." Calder said, his voice gaining confidence. "If this material has ties to Velkara-9, it means Aegis may have unwittingly stumbled across traces of this substance in the past. Or worse, they’ve known about it and kept it under wraps."

Marian sat back in her chair, her fingers steepled. "This changes things. If the shard’s energy potential is as vast as you claim, it could shift the balance of power in our favor. But this connection to Velkara-9 complicates matters. The political ramifications alone could be... messy."

"Messy, but worth it." Calder pressed. "This could be our greatest asset. If we act quickly-"

Marian held up a hand, silencing him. "I’ll need time to process this and discuss it with my executive board. Thank you for your diligence, Dr. Vrenna. I’ll be in touch."

Before Calder could respond, the call ended. He exhaled sharply, his excitement dampened by frustration. He didn’t like waiting, but for now, he had no choice.

An hour later, Marian convened with her executive board in Leviathan’s flagship conference room. The tension in the air was palpable as the seven executives settled into their seats. Marian stood at the head of the table, her expression calm but her eyes sharp.

"Thank you for coming on short notice." she began. "We’ve received new information regarding the artifact on Helios-3. Dr. Calder Vrenna’s team has analyzed the shard they extracted and uncovered groundbreaking findings."

She summarized Calder’s report, detailing the shard’s immense energy potential and its connection to Velkara-9. As she finished, the room erupted into discussion.

“This changes everything.” Alaric Voss said, his voice filled with awe. “If the shard’s energy can be replicated, it could render Aegis Dynamics obsolete.”

"Or provoke them." Victoria Malik countered, her tone sharp. "If they catch wind of this, they’ll fight tooth and nail to protect their interests. This could spark a corporate war."

"Which we’d win." Alaric shot back. "With this technology, we’d have the upper hand."

"Assuming we don’t overreach." Elena Karros interjected. "We’re treading dangerous waters. If this material is linked to Velkara-9, Aegis could use that to challenge our claim legally. Or worse, accuse us of corporate espionage."

"Let them try." Hugo Ren said, his voice pragmatic. "If this shard is as powerful as we believe, it’s worth the risk. The return on investment would be astronomical."

"Only if we play it right." Darian Wolfe added. "Rushing into this could cost us more than we stand to gain."

The debate raged on, each executive presenting their perspectives, theories, and concerns. Marian listened carefully, her mind absorbing every argument. After nearly two hours, she raised a hand, bringing the room to silence.

"This decision requires more consideration." she said. "We’ll reconvene tomorrow to finalize our course of action. For now, I want all of you to analyze the potential risks and benefits further."

The executives nodded, rising one by one to leave the room. All except Alaric Voss.

As Marian gathered her files, Alaric approached her, his expression unusually serious.

"Marian, if I may have a word?" he asked.

She paused, studying him for a moment before nodding. "Go ahead."

Alaric stepped closer, lowering his voice. "We’re thinking too small. This shard is just a fragment of the artifact. If we really want to understand its potential, we need the entire pillar."

Marian’s eyes narrowed. "You’re suggesting we uproot it?"

"Yes." Alaric said firmly. "Transport it to Earth, where we can study it properly. Helios-3 is too remote, too exposed. If we move the artifact to our main research facility, we’ll have the resources and security needed to unlock its secrets."

Marian crossed her arms, considering his words. "That’s a massive undertaking. The logistics alone would be a nightmare."

"Not impossible." Alaric countered. "And the payoff would be worth it."

Marian didn’t respond immediately. Finally, she said, "I’ll need time to think about it. For now, keep this suggestion between us."

Alaric nodded, satisfied. "Of course."

Afterwards

Back in her office, Marian initiated another call with Calder. His face appeared on the screen, his impatience barely concealed.

"Dr. Vrenna." Marian said, her tone firm, "Effective immediately, I’m putting all activity related to the artifact on hold. Your team is to cease operations and await further instructions."

Calder’s jaw tightened, though he managed to keep his tone polite. "Understood, Ms. LeVane."

As the call ended, Calder let out a frustrated sigh, his smile twitching. He glanced back at the shard, his ambition burning brighter than ever.