Serena's fingers continued to dance across the keys.
The pod's original external serial number was rapidly overwritten by a fresh string of data.
The encryption wiped clean in seconds.
Within two minutes, The Apex Bio-Transfer Pod bore an entirely new classified transit code.
She didn't stop there; she hacked directly into the ship's logistics grid, taking the loading bay Obsidian Sun had designated...
And changing it completely.
The data cascaded down the screen in a blur of green text.
[Cargo: Emergency Medical Transit.]
[Routing: Emergency Green Corridor.]
[Rerouting in progress.]
[Destination: Midnight Auction Arena.]
[Transit Method: The Grand Stage Elevator.]
The prompts flashed one after another.
A sharp beep echoed in the tight space.
The digital map turned a solid, cleared green.
Everything locked into place exactly according to Serena's commands.
The exact second the indicator light lit up, Julian pulled his gaze away and drew his communication terminal. When he spoke, his voice carried the smooth, aristocratic authority of Joker. "I have a batch of Prototype Ordnance Diagnostics that needs to be moved backstage immediately. This includes classified weapon core components."
"I want your tech teams, dispatchers, and the head of inspections on-site within ten minutes."
"And I expect the route to be completely cleared of all non-essential personnel." The voice on the other end faltered. "Mr. Joker... right now?"
Julian's tone cooled. "Is that a problem?"
The man immediately began to stammer. "N-no, of course not. We will arrange it at once, sir!"
When Joker made a personal demand involving undisclosed, state-of-the-art weaponry, the ship's crew didn't dare hesitate.
Julian ended the call.
He turned to Serena. "Most of the backstage crew will be diverted to The Ballistics Proving Grounds. You have ten minutes, at most."
"That's more than enough," Serena replied coolly.
A faint smile touched Julian's lips. Without needing Serena to issue an order or say another word...
He knew exactly what his next move was.
Serena didn't even look up to watch him go, keeping her focus locked on refining the pod's external data.
She knew they understood the assignment.
As Julian walked away, Jerrick didn't waste a second.
He tapped his comms, patching through to the mercenaries he had brought aboard. "The Cargo hold perimeter is chaotic enough. Let the ship's standard security handle the fallout."
"Fenris Alpha & Gamma Teams, rally with me at the auction backstage."
With his orders given.
He headed straight for the backstage entrance to rendezvous with his men.
The mercenaries who had been holding the line at the cargo hold under Fenris's command smoothly withdrew.
They moved in tight formation toward the backstage.
They marched openly down the corridors, making no attempt to hide their presence.
The guards stationed at the backstage entrance stiffened in surprise. "Mr. Fenris? What are you doing here?"
Jerrick had already pulled his
tactical mask back into place. His icy gray-blue eyes locked onto them. "We detected anomalous, signal luctuations in this sector. We need to sweep the area."
The head guard narrowed his eyes. "My apologies, Mr. Fenris, but we haven't received any deployment updates. Your patrol jurisdiction doesn't cover
e auction
backstage."
Jerrick remained entirely unreadable, his gaze sweeping over the squad. "My updated orders are to prevent unauthorized hostiles from breaching restricted zones."
"I'm sure you've already heard about the riot that just broke out by the cargo hold."