"Whenever you are."
A moment later, Kaedren and Torvyn entered. Kaedren's uniform was crisp, his bearing formal despite the questions I could feel pressing through the tether. I gave him a nod.
"I'm sorry for the short-notice recall, but I need all of you here for this. Stand at your stations. Act like everything is normal."
The Knights exchanged glances. Through the tether, I felt their unified agreement, trust flowing toward me like a current. I let out my breath. The hard part was over.
"Vaelix, confirm there are no corporate frigates in sensor range."
He checked his display. "Clear for five light-years in every direction."
"Good. Run the location spoofing program, then open a direct channel to Director Voss. Route it through standard arbitration protocols."
Lyrin's fingers hesitated over his console. "Arbitration protocols? That will flag this as an official compliance proceeding."
"I know."
I felt confusion ripple through the tether, but no one questioned me further. I turned and faced the main viewscreen. The Starbreaker's insignia held the center of the black field for a moment, then dissolved.
Director Voss appeared. His eyes widened by a millimeter before he locked his expression down. He shot me a predatory smile.
"Doctor Vale. So good to see you. Have you finally come to your senses and decided to end this madness?"
I kept my voice level and professional.
"Director Voss. Thank you for accepting this channel under standard arbitration protocols. I'm initiating contact to discuss voluntary containment of my influence on destabilized corporate operations."
His smile flickered. No suspicion, just satisfaction. I was speaking his language.
"Go on."
"I want to acknowledge your claims regarding my actions. I understand that my activities have created uncertainty in corporate supply chains and have compromised public confidence in institutional security frameworks. I have become a liability. To the corporations. To this crew. To the people I care about."
Through the tether, I felt Torvyn's alarm spike. I pressed calm back toward him, steady and firm.
"The Starbreaker's continued association with me represents an unacceptable chain of accountability," I continued. "I would like to propose voluntary assumption of responsibility. A formal transfer of jurisdiction."
Voss leaned back in his chair, his eyes sparkling. "You're offering to surrender."
"I'm offering terms."
"What are you doing?" Torvyn hissed behind me.
"I will not allow this," Kaedren said, his voice low and thunderous.
"Kira, what is happening?" Lyrin asked softly.
I kept my eyes on Voss. Through the tether, I sent a pulse of reassurance:trust me, trust me, trust me.
Voss chuckled. "It's almost sweet, watching them. They really do care about their little pet."
"This isn't about them," I said, letting an edge into my voice. "This is about stabilizing the operational environment. I have conditions."
He spread his hands magnanimously. "By all means. What are your conditions, Doctor?"
"First: the Knights, the Starbreaker, and her crew receive unconditional corporate pardons. They remain outside corporate-controlled space, and the corporations classify them as non-hostile actors."
"Acceptable," Voss said. "With the additional condition that you return the alien artifact you... acquired from my facility."
