The old Arkbound bunker was a controlled chaos of sparks, machinery, and the deep hum of focused work. In the background, six NEAR bots carefully moved a set of massive, glowing devices—enhanced Aetheric Resonance Reactors—toward the central spine of a rising starship skeleton.
It towered like a beast half-born: eight stories high, five stories wide, its curved underbelly catching the light. The bunker doors had been fully pulled apart to make room for the frame, which was steadily taking form under the cold precision of Arkbound engineering.
Raen stood near the base of the ship, clipboard in hand, examining reactor harnesses with Saelyn, Lira, and Korin when Nyra burst in, grinning like a storm.
"You're gonna want to hear this," she said, waving her tablet. "We got the contract."
Raen turned slightly. "Which one?"
"The government one." Nyra's voice rose, almost shaking. "It's official. Signed and sealed—50 billion Lux."
Everyone froze.
"Wait… what?" Saelyn blinked.
Lira nearly dropped the toolkit in her hands. "Fifty billion?"
Korin looked like he had been hit in the head with numbers. "Fifty. Billion. Lux? That's... real?"
Nyra nodded, practically vibrating. "Contract terms: project begins in 30 days. Equipment and materials will be delivered on-site. We're in charge of full vertical development—residential, commercial, transit. All of it."
Raen let out a long breath. "That's enough time. Fifty bots are already locked into HQ construction at the new sector, so they're busy."
"I've already taken care of it," Nyra said, tapping her screen. "I'm ordering parts for 500 new NEAR-class units—I'll start the automated assembly cycle tonight. We'll be ready in time. And this," she gestured toward the starship skeleton, "this beauty will be space-ready in 100 days."
Everyone turned back to the looming vessel, now glowing with reactor light.
Then Nyra added, more softly, "And Raen… what about the team lead for Arkbound Space? You asked me for their file."
Raen's gaze remained on the ship.
"I'm still waiting," he said. "But we're not waiting for the stars."