Chapter 197: Rendezvous and Revelation

Lieutenant Zara's disguised ship, a nondescript freighter under the guise of a neutral trader, sliced through the void, its engines straining against the gravitational pull of a nearby Krell dreadnought. The rendezvous point, a desolate asteroid field, swarmed with Krell warships, their dark hulls bristling with weaponry. Sweat beaded on Zara's forehead despite the artificial chill of the cockpit. Her cover story, fabricated with meticulous detail, felt flimsy under the scrutiny of these heavily armed vessels. "Comms check," she muttered, her voice tight with anxiety. A static-laced reply crackled through the speakers. The pre-designated secure frequency, established with Dr. Va'lor before her departure, seemed to be holding up – for now. Suddenly, a holographic warning blared on the control panel . An intercept order from the lead Krell warship. Zara's heart hammered against her ribs. The game was up. "This is freighter Xi'an, responding to your hail," she announced,