Erika had never been more frustrated with a piece of technology than with the recon room. The device gave the Free Exchange an excuse to mandate that top officers could never leave the ship. Instead, they were confined to semi-real environments without actually being able to interact with anything. All Erika could do was supervise and watch as her personnel worked on the bridge.

More equipment was brought on with each passing hour as scientists worked on deciphering the bridge controls. Some were engaged in further conduit mapping, linking systems to components around the ship. Others were busy creating reference charts for the alien controls on each console and uploading them to a shared database.

Back on the Hyperion, about a dozen linguists were increasingly adding to a catalogue of words of the Andromedan language. Using algorithms and pattern recognition, they were isolating the most common phrases and pairing them together to decipher likely meanings. One team had managed to create an adaptor to connect with the Andromedan computer banks and even figured out a rudimentary search system using shared mathematics as a framework.

It was the most basic of interfaces, but it was still good progress for only six hours. In time, she was certain they would be able to master the vessel.

Erika crossed her arms as she watched one man access a display table. The low surface was smooth, with a black material and a thin metal rim. Using the adaptor, he connected one of their portable computers to the table. Clicking a few keys, the table emitted a low hum. Strange symbols appeared above with a soft blue light—no doubt in the Andromedan language.

Erika squinted at the holographic technology. It was clear the Andromedans made less use of holograms than their Milky Way counterparts. Holographic technology was based upon the background emissions of light through gravity control. This technology seemed to rely on a different principle. If they could crack it, then they would be one step closer to understanding exactly what technological direction the Andromedans took.

“What do you want to search up first?” the scientist asked from the computer.

She thought about it for a moment. The search would need to be based upon something mathematical and simple.

“Start with a flight path,” she finally said. “Input a spatial equation with the phrases we found associated with ship systems.”

The man tapped on the computer and ran several dozen searches in quick succession. Eventually, the rudimentary system found the Andromedan word for the vessel and a new image flickered to life on the table. This time, the Andromeda galaxy welcomed them in full view. An indicator appeared near the center.

Erika watched as the line progressed along the galaxy until reaching the rim. Then it took a direction towards the Large Megellanic Cloud. She watched it rapidly extend through multiple galaxies until ending at a point several billion light years away at a galaxy she didn’t even recognize.

“I thought it was supposed to be the flight path,” she asked the scientist.

“It must have picked up the original plan from when the vessel launched,” he spoke, running a few other searches to no avail.

Erika took a step forward to examine the map a little more. What’s in this galaxy? She thought. The Free Exchange had believed that the Andromedan interest was in the Milky Way, but that was clearly not the case. This ship was intended for a destination farther than known humanity had ever previously dreamed of.

“Hold on, I recognize that region of space,” the man spoke.

“You do?”

The man furiously typed in the keyboard, and the image zoomed out. Erika couldn’t see what the man was getting at as it seemed to be a normal empty region of space to her.

“That’s the Boötes Void,” the man finally said.

Erika looked at him, confused. “What’s that?”

The scientist glanced up at her. “It’s a region of space that’s remarkably desolate from the rest of the universe. I remember reading about it back at the academy. It’s just a vast space of emptiness. Only about point-zero-three times the normal galaxy rate per sector. It’s barren.”

She turned back towards the screen. Going somewhere or running away from something? The damage that the vessel took might imply the latter. Heading for the most barren section of space might have been a last ditch effort. Fleeing to the very ends of reality to escape whatever had brutalized this vessel. If so, that thought was an unsettling one. What would provoke so much fear that a ship would escape to the edges of the universe just to get away?

Erika squinted her eyes. “Can you zoom in on the path?”

The scientist nodded and the holographic display zoomed forward, showing the exact path the ship would take. Erika’s eyes scanned over the jagged line moving from star system to star system, and that was what caught her attention.

The Hyperion moved within a gravity bubble. It only needed to move in a straight line towards its destination—often traveling thousands of light years through empty space. This vessel seemed to make regular stops at individual star systems. It was another clue to unlocking the secrets of the derelict.

“Can you calculate the time of the intended journey?” she asked.

The scientist shook his head. “It’s impossible to tell without knowing the rate of whatever their FTL systems work at.”

Still. She thought. The fact that they make stops at star systems means something. However their technology worked, it meant that they were reliant upon star systems to make stops along the way. Perhaps for refueling energy reserves or even powering their FTL.

Erika stepped back from the display and rubbed her forehead. A sudden wave of tiredness overcame her. She realized that she hadn’t slept since they had entered the solar system. How long ago was that? She honestly couldn’t remember now. As much as she wanted to remain working, there was no use running herself to the ground.

“I’m retiring to my quarters. Keep me in the loop,” she told the scientist as she scrolled on a holographic panel to turn off the recon room.

Looking up at the Andromedan bridge one last time, she noticed that the personnel were all divided into separate distinct groups. One could take it as the normal division of labor, however, a closer look revealed something else. The crew were all guarded, making sure members of other groups couldn’t look at their findings. Several lounged around and pretended to be working while making sure their comrades kept their distance.

It was the result of the design from the beginning. The crew of the Hyperion all belonged to different protectorates, and they were naturally hoarding whatever knowledge they gained for their own state. However, the situation had advanced further than that. According to Erika’s models, alliances were forming between certain groups of protectorates. Three distinct coalitions to weigh power between each other. It extended beyond the scientists to virtually all members of the crew, with a few select exceptions.

Overall, this was the preferred choice for the Free Exchange. While they could’ve selected a homogenous group, it would ultimately render the crew less versatile. They would’ve had to reduce the crew to a single hierarchy with its own predispositions and biases. Drawing from democratic societies would lead to an emphasis on individuality and free choice. A disastrous pick if the Andromedans turned out to be more totalitarian.

The three coalitions offered Erika a clean balance of hierarchies to select from. The Marisa Federation and its associated protectorates focused on oligarchy and fundamentally mercantilistic values. Meanwhile, the protectorates allying around the Korus Monarchy were more militaristic and religious in nature. Finally, those centering around the Astrai Democracy were a more libertarian choice.

Her position on the ship meant she could dictate the winners and the losers of the political divide. The three-pronged nature of the balance meant that no coalition could act truly independently, and they kept each other in an uneasy truce, as any aggressive move would mean the other two would join together against the third. Unless something externally moved upon the miniature balance of power, it would remain relatively stable.

She was privately pleased with how things were progressing. Although the time for action was not quite yet. They needed further answers before she could select exactly which hierarchy would be most advantageous for the situation.

Erika tapped on the holographic panel and the world went dark. The holograms shut down, and she found herself in the recon room once again. While she wanted to return to her quarters, there was one thing left she needed to check up on. One last item to be checked up on.

The fact that the protectorates were more loyal to themselves rather than the Free Exchange meant certain precautions had to be put in place. There was a question of where exactly the Hyperion would return after its historic mission and who would benefit from what the crew had found. For that, a sabotage had been created from the beginning of the mission.

She remembered her meeting with Tannis back at the cafe—one that seemed almost a lifetime ago. While there were more conventional options for ensuring the Hyperion returned to the Free Exchange, they all carried a level of uncertainty. A computer virus designed to hijack the engines always ran the risk of being discovered. A bomb implanted near the gravity core could always be defused. No, the Free Exchange dealt with people and so the solution would be found with people.

That day at the cafe, Glen had handed her the check against the Captain and the ship’s crew. The one man who would ensure the contents of the Hyperion be delivered to the Free Exchange, no matter what. Amos Singh, it’s time we had a talk.

She found the Chief Engineer working on one of the coolant pipes on deck four. He was directing a team as they shut off the valve and were repairing a former micro-fracture in the metal. One engineer was inside the colossal tube, violently scrubbing the metal to remove all contaminants before the sealant could be applied again.

“Commander Terese.” Amos saluted as she approached. “I didn’t expect to see you down here.”

“Lieutenant.” She nodded back. “Do you mind if we can take a walk?”

Amos gestured to one of his men to take over the supervision and followed her down the hallway. Soon, they entered one of the storage sections. The compact room was one of hundreds that lined the outer sections of the Hyperion. Surrounding them were large crates stacked up on top of another, and there were no prying eyes or ears present.

“I have some security concerns.” She turned around to face the young engineer. “I know many members of the crew are secretly hoarding information.”

Amos nodded his head. “I’ve seen it among my staff. Some of my men were trying to leave maintenance duty to help their friends on the Andromedan ship. I’ve already confiscated a few recording devices and reprimanded the offenders.”

Erika nodded in approval. “Don’t press them too hard right now. There’s no need to encourage conflict right now—especially when there might be hostile ships on the way. We need to keep the crew united as best we can.”

Amis crossed his arms and waited patiently. “But I suspect there’s something else? You wouldn’t have called me for conduct violations.”

“We’re in a delicate situation right now,” Erika told the young man. “Once this expedition has concluded, there’s a question of where exactly this ship will return to.”

“You think there might be a mutiny on the Hyperion?” Amos raised an eyebrow, seeing where the train of thought led.

“I hope not, but it would be wise to plan a contingency should that happen. You’re in charge of the engineering deck. You alone decide what happens to the gravity core. If something should happen, you could take control of the ship away from the bridge. I’m asking that you prepare for that. I trust you know how to make that happen?”

Amos squinted his eyes in suspicion. “Does the Captain know about this?”

“Captain Singh backs me fully on this. I’ll provide all the logistics you need, but this has to get done fast. I need to know now. Are you up to it?”

Erika saw a flicker of indecision cross Amos’ face. She knew it was a gamble lying about Captain Singh, but she also realized he would never approve of such an action. Erika sensed that the Captain distrusted her already. Bringing this up would only cause more alarm.

“It’s important that the Hyperion returns to the Free Exchange,” she continued. “It’s the only neutral body that can distribute what we find here fairly. Giving this ship over to any one protectorate could start a galactic war. And who knows, what we find here could extend that war into the bloodiest conflict the galaxy has ever seen.”

She saw the gears turning behind his head. Of course, Erika knew exactly what buttons to press. Unlike Samir, Amos had been in the public space his entire life. She had a detailed profile on everything about him. There was a reason he alone had been selected as chief engineer. It was almost too perfect.

Erika decided to press on further. “This expedition could go down in history as the start of the bloodiest chapter in mankind’s existence. There can’t be any second guessing or indecision. We need to play our cards right. I’ll ask again: are you with me on this?”

She saw her viewpoint winning in Amos’ head. The man wanted nothing more than to clear the blood of his family’s name, and the Free Exchange knew this. The decision had been made long before this conversation even happened. A calculation which had been taken in the safety of the Milky Way and was now coming to fruition tens of thousands of light years away.

Amos slowly nodded his head. His eyes raised from the floor to Erika, and she saw the certainty of his decision filled him.

“I’ll make the preparations.”

“Thank you.” Erika didn’t conceal relief from her voice as she opened the door from the storage room to the hall. Gesturing for Amos to go through first, she spoke to him again. “I want you to know, we’ll be remembered as the men and women who kept the galaxy from falling into chaos. Keep that in mind.”

The temptation coiled around the young man’s mind. Erika saw the slightest smile cross Amos’ normal frown. He saluted one last time and walked into the hallway back to his duties. Erika departed herself a moment later and as she walked the corridors, a slight grin of her own crept across her face.