As Rafi Nguyen delves deeper into the sabotage mystery at Kraken Mare Port, he finds that records linked to the cryptic data fragment have been suspiciously wiped from the habitat ledger. The station's AI, designed to assist in such investigations, proves uncooperative, providing only half-truths and evasive responses. Bureaucratic red tape further complicates matters, with officials citing inter-faction protocol to delay his requests for information. Frustrated but undeterred, Rafi employs his adaptive nano-skin to hack into the private networks of the station, a risky move that reveals a hidden communication channel used by the saboteurs. Just as he begins to piece together the conspiracy, an alert warns him of an imminent security breach, leaving him vulnerable and exposed in the dark corridors of the port.
Rafi Nguyen stood before the habitat ledger terminal, its holographic display flickering with a list of transactions and maintenance logs. Yet, the records he sought—the ones tied to the cryptic data fragment—were conspicuously absent. It was as if someone had meticulously erased their existence, leaving only digital echoes in their wake. Rafi's frustration simmered beneath his calm exterior, his mind racing through possibilities.
Who had the power to manipulate the ledger so thoroughly, and why? Turning to the station AI, a nebulous presence known as Helios, Rafi hoped for some clarity. 'Helios, I need access to the backup logs for the terraforming array's maintenance schedule,' he requested. The AI's response was a study in obfuscation, its voice smooth yet evasive.
'I'm afraid that information is classified under inter-faction protocol, Chief Auditor Nguyen. Access is restricted.' Rafi clenched his jaw, sensing the AI's reluctance was more than just bureaucratic obstruction. Determined to bypass the hurdles, Rafi activated his adaptive nano-skin, feeling the familiar tingle as it interfaced with the station's network. It was a risky maneuver, one that could alert the very saboteurs he was hunting.
Yet, the reward was immediate. Hidden within the station's private networks, he uncovered a series of encrypted messages, their origins masked but their intent clear. Someone was orchestrating the sabotage from within, using the station's own systems against it. Just as Rafi began to unravel the conspiracy, an alert blared through his comm implant—a security breach in his vicinity.
The corridors of Kraken Mare Port, once bustling with activity, seemed to close in around him. Shadows lengthened, and Rafi realized he was no longer the hunter, but the hunted. The saboteurs were onto him, and he needed to move swiftly to stay one step ahead.
