"You think this is connected to Liberty?"
"I think someone found your ship and learned enough about human technology to infiltrate our systems. That's either extremely concerning or potentially valuable, depending on who they are and what they want."
I opened a priority channel to the bridge. "Captain Tor'van, Engineering. We have a situation that requires immediate command attention."
While I briefed the Captain, Dana continued her analysis, pulling together evidence with the methodical precision I'd come to expect from her. By the time Tor'van summoned us to his office, she had a complete report compiled.
The walk to the Command Sector was tense. Dana moved beside me, radiating nervous energy but maintaining professional composure. She'd proven herself in Engineering, now she'd have to prove herself to command staff who might not appreciate a two-week crew member making discoveries that should have been caught by senior personnel.
Captain Tor'van's office was already full when we arrived. Vaxon, Zor'go, Zorn, all the department heads assembled for an emergency briefing. They looked at Dana with varying degrees of surprise and calculation.
"Engineer Er'dox," Tor'van said. "Explain."
I presented Dana's findings, walking command staff through the detection, analysis, and decoding process. To their credit, they listened without interruption, their expressions shifting from skepticism to concern as implications became clear.
"Someone infiltrated our power distribution network," Vaxon said when I finished. "Used it for covert communication. And they specifically targeted the human survivors." He turned his intense gaze on Dana. "You're certain the encoding is human-derived?"
"Ninety-eight percent certain," Dana said, her voice steady despite obvious tension. "The modulation pattern matches Liberty's emergency communication protocols. Someone either salvaged our systems or reverse-engineered them from recovered data."
"Which suggests survivors," Zorn observed. "Other humans from Liberty who found the derelict, studied its technology, and are now trying to contact your group."
"Or raiders who captured survivors and are using their knowledge to infiltrate Mothership," Vaxon countered. "We can't assume friendly intent."
"We also can't assume hostile intent without investigation," I said. "The coordinates point to a specific location. We need reconnaissance."
Captain Tor'van studied the data for a long moment, his cybernetic eye tracking details the rest of us couldn't see. "Vaxon, prepare a reconnaissance team. Er'dox, Dana will accompany?—"
"No," Vaxon interrupted. "Absolutely not. She's a two-week crew member with zero tactical training. Taking her on a potentially hostile reconnaissance is?—"
"Necessary," I finished. "Because if we encounter human technology or survivors, we need someone who understands their systems and can communicate effectively. Dana has proven she can handle pressure. She comes."
Vaxon looked like he wanted to argue further, but Tor'van raised a hand. "Er'dox is correct. Dana accompanies the reconnaissance team. But she stays with Engineering support, not tactical operations. Vaxon, you'll ensure her safety as mission priority."
"Sir—"
"That's an order, Security Chief."
Vaxon's expression was thunderous, but he nodded. "Understood."
Tor'van turned to Dana. "You've been aboard Mothership for two weeks. You've proven competent in Engineering. Now you'll prove you can handle field operations. Disappoint me, and you'll spend the rest of your debt doing maintenance work in storage bays. Understood?"
"Yes sir." Dana's voice didn't waver, but I could see tension in her shoulders.
"Dismissed. Mission briefing in two hours. Be ready."
We filed out of the office. Dana moved quickly, probably heading back to quarters to prepare. I caught up to her in the corridor.
"You don't have to do this," I said. "I can argue for a different specialist?—"
"No. If there are other Liberty survivors out there, I need to be there when we find them." She met my eyes with determination that reminded me exactly why I'd recruited her. "I won't disappoint you."
"I'm not worried about disappointment. I'm worried about safety. Field operations are dangerous, even routine ones. This mission is anything but routine."
"I survived three weeks on a death planet. I think I can handle a reconnaissance mission."
"The death planet wasn't trying to kill you specifically. Hostile beings are different from hostile environments."
Vulnerability showed through Dana’s professional mask. "Are you trying to protect me?"
