Inspector Malik Kato, frustrated by the lack of cooperation from the bureaucrats in Valles New Rome, confronts the habitat's AI, only to be met with evasive answers. He discovers that records linked to the comet's trajectory have been wiped from the habitat ledger. Despite the stonewalling, Kato employs his old-school detective instincts to piece together clues from the fragments left behind. His investigation leads him to suspect that someone high up is manipulating the data. As Kato digs deeper, he finds himself facing a tense encounter with a Tekker faction leader, who warns him to back off before it's too late.
Inspector Malik Kato paced the cramped confines of his temporary office in Valles New Rome, irritation simmering beneath his calm exterior. The bureaucrats had been less than helpful, citing inter-faction protocol at every turn. It seemed that every request for information was met with a wall of red tape, and the habitat's AI was no better. Designed to assist, it instead spewed half-truths and vague assurances, its responses as slippery as the Martian dust storms.
Despite the obfuscation, Kato's instincts told him something was deeply amiss. The data fragment he uncovered hinted at a conspiracy, and now he found that crucial records linked to the comet's trajectory had been wiped from the habitat ledger. It was a deliberate act, one meant to cover tracks and mislead any investigation. Kato knew he had to rely on his own skills, piecing together the puzzle from the scraps left behind.
Using old-school detective work, Kato began cross-referencing the remaining data with other sources, looking for inconsistencies and patterns. His efforts soon led him to a shadowy figure within the Tekker community, a faction leader known for his ruthless tactics and deep connections. A meeting was arranged, tense and fraught with unspoken threats. The leader, cloaked in cybernetic enhancements, warned Kato to cease his investigation, hinting at dire consequences should he continue.
Kato left the encounter with a growing sense of urgency. He was onto something big, something that someone was willing to kill to protect. The stakes were higher than he had anticipated, and he knew he had to tread carefully. As he stepped out into the neon-lit streets of Valles New Rome, the weight of the case pressed heavily on his shoulders.
The shadows in the ledger were deepening, and Kato was determined to bring the truth to light, no matter the cost.
