Chapter 159 Echoes of Discord

The Echo Voyager, a beacon of defiance against the encroaching darkness, pierced the familiar shimmering veil of the Aethel Nexus Point. The once-celebratory return now carried a heavy weight. Elara, her face etched with worry, gripped the command console. The bridge, usually abuzz with post-mission chatter, was shrouded in a tense silence. "Captain Elara reporting," she announced, her voice echoing through the vast communication network. "Echo Voyager is returning from designated mission zone. Requesting immediate docking and audience with the Collective Intelligence." A pause, then a response crackled through the speakers, the voice devoid of its usual warmth. "Echo Voyager, proceed to docking bay designated Alpha-7. A representative of the Collective Intelligence will meet you upon arrival." Elara shared a worried glance with Anya, the ever-reliable engineer who stood rigidly beside her. The Collective Intelligence, the vast network of interconnected Aethel minds that governed th