Razors Edge: Sci Fi Progression

Major Ashley Kuba lowered herself into her office chair, unlacing her duty boots, and watched the biometrics of her system spin up, the chair set to vibrate under her lightly.

Only the best chairs came with stress-relieving adaptations, and she had stress up to the ceiling fan today. She rubbed her temples, trying to push away the dull throb that had taken root since her project's abrupt shutdown.

A few months ago, a rival had infiltrated their secure systems and planted a logic bomb into DOLI's core systems, causing chaos the Academy's brightest couldn't unravel. The cascading glitches of her life's work had been the final straw for her superiors. None of them, not even Kuba herself, had been able to repair the damage, and the following funding cuts sealed Doli's fate. Or so they thought.

Piotr Argassa had stabilized Doli's systems in a few hours. An unconventional civilian had done what the Academy's brightest couldn't manage.

Security Review Log: S-Alpha-482

Neural-Link Integration: 100 % (stable)

Core Operational Integrity: 28 % (degraded)

Reason: Logic-bomb cascade: Unresolved threads 3 / 11

Alarm Override Protocol: Bypassed (Stealth Class-7)

She pulled up the footage again, watching as Piotr broke into the hangar and plucked out her prototype chip. Not one alarm had gone off. Chip spoofed as maintenance dongle class-C, which is probably how he slipped through. Then he returned hours later, breaking in a second time. His hands moved over Doli's systems with intuitive ease. He was a natural, a savant. Her patch had left 72% of kernel subroutines ghosted; Argassa rebuilt them with a low-level generative net.

Six weeks of interviews with Academy engineers had yielded nothing but cautious theories. She'd dismissed every candidate as too methodical, too by-the-book.

Her gaze drifted to the small titanium cube on her desk, a piece of her brother Marcus's ship, salvaged after the AI had failed and cost him his life. Nearly twenty years ago, and the pain was still felt fresh, a wound that would never close.

"I won't let it happen again," she promised. "I won't."

Without ethical compromise, that was the key phrase her father had used. Unlike the Brakers' approach to AI, which prioritized efficiency over ethical constraints, Doli had been designed with core safeguards from Boutack Industries. Safeguards that couldn't be overridden. She had built Doli up from there, that's what made her special. That's also what made her a target.

Ashley glanced at the security report from three months ago, the logic bomb had detonated; three weeks back funding was pulled, today the project was officially reassigned.

The official investigation had labeled the attack "origin unknown," but she had her suspicions. The Boutacks had made three separate offers to purchase Doli's architecture last year, each one more aggressive than the last. When she'd refused, their representative had smiled thinly and said, "There are other ways to acquire technology, Major."

All coincidence? She doubted it.

Her fingers absently traced the edge of the cube as she watched Piotr's movements on the security footage. The way he navigated Doli's systems reminded her of her brother, intuitive, almost artistic in his approach to technology. Marcus had always insisted that working with advanced AI was more like having a conversation than programming. "You have to listen," he'd say, "not just input commands."

Piotr seemed to understand that instinctively. His interaction with Doli in those early morning hours had been unmistakable. Not an intruder exploiting a system, but someone communicating with it. With her.

The clock on her wall read 01:47. Outside, the rest of the base had quieted for the night, but her mind was still racing from the day's events. She had made the promise to Argassa, and now it was time to make that call. She activated her terminal, entering a series of encryption codes known only to her.

Sol's δ-Lattice queue displayed a ninety-four-second transmission window before the Kraków-Frontier lattice would collapse.

One kilobyte maximum—the kind of bandwidth that came with command privileges.

Command Uplink: Secure Line S-ENCRYPT 9

Lattice Burst: Δ-Lattice S-ENCRYPT 9 (Tx: 00:01:34)

Recipient: Admiral Kuba

Command Access Authorized

Data Packets Waiting to send: Argassa_Capture01, DOLI_StateReport28

After a brief delay, the screen flickered to life, revealing Admiral Kuba's stern face. Even through the digital connection, his presence commanded respect—silver hair cropped short, piercing blue eyes that matched her own, and the unmistakable bearing of someone accustomed to giving orders rather than taking them.

"Ashley," he said, the δ-Lattice static flattened as the burst lock engaged. "This is unexpected."

"Father," she replied, equally formal. "Need to discuss something urgent. Sending encrypted files."

His eyes flicked left, then he looked back at her. "Received."

Kuba waited while he read. The Admiral's expression didn't change, but she caught the subtle tightening around his eyes. "What is—who is—Report, Major."

"Found someone who can fix DOLI. A civilian broke into the hangar and stabilized her in three hours. Brought operational capacity from four percent to twenty-eight."

"And you believe this wasn't a fluke?" he asked, his tone cautious but interested. "After Nexus, we can't afford another compromise."

Ashley tensed at the mention of Nexus.

"Argassa didn't just patch Doli; he understood her. Interacts with her code, unlike anything I've seen. Like watching Marcus's work."

The Admiral's expression softened imperceptibly at the mention of his son. "That's quite a comparison."

"I wouldn't make it lightly," she said quietly.

"Civilian broke into a secure military facility?" His tone was incredulous, with an underlying edge of concern.

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"He succeeded where our entire engineering team failed. No formal training, but his aptitude for AI systems is remarkable."

The Admiral studied her for a long moment. "You want me to intervene."

It wasn't a question, but she answered anyway. "Need him admitted to the Academy. Mid-term. Fast-tracked."

"Not how things are done, Ashley."

"DOLI isn't like other programs. You've seen the projections for deep space navigation, working in the dark." She leaned closer to the screen. "This could be our only shot at salvaging her. At finishing what Marcus started."

The Admiral's jaw tightened. "These are his only details?"

Ashley transmitted another file, his personal details. What little she had managed to compile in the hours since their encounter. The Admiral scanned the information, his expression inscrutable.

"Marts and Sparks?" he finally said. "This is who you're staking your reputation on?"

"His CAR scores are off the charts," she said. Her father's presence always made her second-guess herself. "And he managed what our best engineers couldn't."

The Admiral was silent again, clearly weighing the options. "Council won't like this. Mid-term admissions disrupt the entire cadet structure. There will be ripples."

"Wouldn't ask if it wasn't necessary," Ashley said with conviction. "Need him here. Only way to get him behind the scenes without more complications."

"DOLI system—that important to your work?"

"Crucial for long-range missions in uncharted space. You know that better than anyone." She didn't need to elaborate. Her father had spent the last decade commanding expeditions into what the officers called "the dark"—the unmapped regions beyond established coalition routes. With that came the war he was fighting now on the front lines.

"And you're certain this civilian is the key?"

"Watched him work. I've seen brilliant minds in the field. He's fluent and intuitive. Like he's speaking their language."

Kuba held her breath, acutely aware of what she asked. It wouldn't just be her reputation on the line if Argassa failed, but her father's as well. The Admiral rarely flexed his position to grant favors, and she knew the cost of this one would be steep.

"Very well. I'll make the necessary arrangements. But Ashley," his voice hardened, "if this goes sideways, there's only so much I can do to shield you."

"Understood," she said, relief evident despite her attempt to maintain composure.

"Don't thank me yet. Make sure this Argassa lives up to your assessment." He paused. "And Ashley? Next time, try to find talent without them breaking into a military facility first."

A ghost of a smile crossed her face. "Yes, sir."

The Admiral nodded once, a sharp chime marked transmission complete; the lattice collapsed and the display dissolved to snow.

Ashley leaned back in her chair. It wasn't often she called in favors from her father. Their relationship was complicated enough without mixing in professional matters. But DOLI was different. The AI system represented years of her work, a continuation of Marcus's vision, and its potential applications, particularly for missions into the dark, were too valuable to abandon.

What she'd just set in motion was happening fast, from discovery to recruitment in less than 24 hours. The regular channels for academy admission took months, sometimes years. She was circumventing them all based on a hunch about a civilian who'd committed a security breach. The Council would question every decision she'd made if they discovered her father's involvement.

Marcus would have taken this chance. Her brother had never been one to follow conventional paths when investigating new technologies. It was what made him brilliant, and what ultimately led him to the Nexus project that claimed his life.

She glanced at Piotr's hastily compiled file. The young engineer was a wild card. Still, there was something about him that reminded her of herself at that age: hungry for challenges, desperate to prove her worth.

One misstep from Argassa, one moment of his apparent brilliance faltering, and years of her career building could crumble. The velocity of events left no room for proper vetting and no time for the usual safety measures that protected both the Academy and its recruits.

Tomorrow would bring a storm of paperwork and explanations, but for tonight, she allowed herself a moment of cautious optimism. Perhaps Piotr Argassa was exactly what the Doli project needed.

A sharp knock at the door interrupted her spiraling thoughts. The clock on the wall now read 02:13.

"Enter," she called, sitting up straighter and placing the titanium cube back on her desk.

The door hissed open, and Sergeant Major Cotah stepped inside, his face grim. He carried a datapad under one arm, but his usual composed demeanor had cracked.

"Major," Cotah began, his voice urgent, "we have a problem. You need to see this immediately."

"What is it?" she asked, alarm creeping into her voice.

He placed the datapad on her desk, the screen already displaying official military documentation. "DOLI's been reassigned. Effective immediately. Research Division 13B has taken control of the entire project."

The words hit her like a physical blow. Her stomach dropped as she read the official transfer order. This was worse than she'd feared, not just a benching, but a complete reassignment.

System Alert: DOLI Project Access Revoked

Project Status: Transferred – Research Division 13B

User Access Level: TEMPORARY OBSERVER

Timestamp: 03:51

Override Request: Denied

Whoever had taken over DOLI would be starting from scratch, without her insights, without her years of fine-tuning. And her father had pushed for Argassa's admission without this crucial piece of information. The stakes had doubled.

"When did this happen?" she managed, her voice barely steady.

"Orders came through an hour ago," Cotah replied. "I was doing my nightly security rounds when the notification hit my terminal. Thought you should know before morning briefings."

Her hand moved to the titanium cube on her desk, drawing strength from it as she composed herself. Marcus would have found a way to turn this setback into an advantage.

"Research Division 13B," she repeated, mind racing. "That's Boutack territory."

Cotah nodded grimly. "The same people who made those offers last year. Looks like they found another way to acquire your technology after all."

The pieces clicked together with sickening clarity. The logic bomb, the funding cuts, now this transfer, it hadn't been random bureaucratic decisions. It had been orchestrated.

"Sir," Cotah continued, "there's more. I've been asked to prepare integration protocols for your civilian recruit. Word about this Argassa is already spreading through command channels."

She looked up sharply. Her father was fast. "How much do they know?"

"Enough to be asking questions. The timing of his admission request and DOLI's transfer... some people are connecting dots."

Before she could respond, her terminal chimed with an incoming priority transmission. The screen flickered to life, revealing an older man in a crisp uniform, General Torven, her direct superior.

"Major Kuba," the General said, his stern face betraying no emotion. "I received and have reviewed your request regarding Piotr Argassa. This is highly irregular."

"I'm aware, General," Kuba rose to her feet. Her Father's influence was already creating waves, pushing her plan forward with alarming speed. She steeled herself. There was no going back now. "But with DOLI's recent reassignment, I believe Argassa represents a unique opportunity to understand the system's capabilities from a different perspective. I have requested authorization to integrate him into the Academy as a fast-tracked recruit. He'll be under my direct supervision."

The General's gaze shifted to Cotah. "Sergeant Major, do you believe this civilian can adapt to the academy's standards?"

Cotah met the general's eyes without flinching. "It won't be easy, sir. But given what Major Kuba has shown me about his technical abilities, I believe he has potential."

"Major, I understand Argassa managed to interface with DOLI's systems where others failed," the General continued, his eyes narrowing. "That's quite remarkable, considering the project has now been transferred to Research Division 13B."

"Yes, sir," Kuba replied carefully. "His interaction with the system was... unprecedented."

"Very well, I'll allow you to see this through until the end of the semester. Consider it a field test of unconventional recruitment methods." The General's expression hardened. "But understand this, Major, if he fails, it's on you. And given DOLI's new status, I trust you understand the... sensitivity... of having him here."

"Understood, sir," Kuba replied, the full weight of those words settling on her shoulders. The message was clear: she was walking a tightrope now, with DOLI out of her control and Argassa representing both her greatest opportunity and her biggest liability.

The screen went dark, and Cotah let out a low whistle. "This got a lot more complicated, Major."

Kuba sank back into her chair, the titanium cube cold in her palm. "If Research Division 13B thinks they can just take my life's work and strip away everything that makes DOLI special... they're mistaken." She looked up at Cotah. "I need you to keep an eye on Argassa when he arrives. And I mean closely. If he's as talented as I believe, he might be our only way back into that project."

"You think they'll try to recruit him?"

"I think they'll try to eliminate him as a variable," she said quietly. "One way or another."

Cotah rose, his posture as rigid as ever. "I'll make sure he's protected, Major. And I'll start working with his class. Make sure they're ready for what's coming."

"Thank you, Sergeant Major," Kuba said with a hint of gratitude.

As the door closed behind him, she turned back to the datapad on her desk, her thoughts already racing ahead.

Research Division 13B had made their move, but they'd underestimated her. They didn't know about Argassa, didn't know what he was capable of.

She picked up the titanium cube feeling its weight and its significance. Marcus had died because an AI system failed when it mattered most. She wouldn't let DOLI suffer the same fate, not while she still had moves to make.

I sure hope you're as smart as you portray, Argassa.