The central hangar of Outpost #7 was a scene of organized chaos. For weeks, it had been the busiest, noisiest, and most exciting place in the entire Sector.
The sleek, dark Precursor Scout Skiff, once a dusty museum piece, now rested in a cradle of scaffolding and crackling energy fields. It was the focus of everyone's attention.
Emma Thorne and Zara Khan were the twin queens of this noisy kingdom. They practically lived in the hangar, their faces constantly smudged with grease and glowing with the light of their datapads.
They directed a small army of engineers and technicians from both Outpost #7 and Outpost #3. Their partnership, which had started with a healthy dose of professional rivalry, had blossomed into a beautiful, terrifyingly efficient friendship.
"The energy flow from the new core is stable, but the resonance dampeners are running three percent hotter than my simulations predicted," Emma would say, her brow furrowed with concern.
