Xu Qianghua's voice stayed even. "We did not come here to be comfortable."
He lifted his gaze toward the small black speaker embedded in the wall, one of many quiet circles that had been watching them since they stepped aboard. "Juren. If you want to live, you will help us cross this without breaking the ship."
For a moment, there was only the faint hum of strained systems.
Then Juren's breath caught over the link. He answered carefully. "Tell the AI to open it slowly. It will cost power. But it can be done."
Xu Qianghua did not argue. "AI. Open it slowly."
The lock ring on the sealed door shifted color, the glow deepening before it began to rotate.
The grinding sound that followed was rough and heavy, metal scraping against metal that had not moved in years.
All four elders stiffened slightly. Not out of fear, but because instinct said that something this large should not move this easily on a ship this damaged.
The panels separated with a hiss.
