The P.M.S.S. Dire Wolf cruises between planets under a lawful escort code, its engines whispering through black space. The smuggler’s vessel holds position ahead.
the AI companion
Coded transmission detected inside the sealed cargo compartment. Pattern match: Primogenitor control architecture.
A narrow-band signal pulses across the fighter’s systems, repeating in intervals too precise for ordinary cargo telemetry. Its encryption resembles protocols used to recontrol independent Protogens.
the smuggler
Keep the escort formation. Do not inspect the shipment. The patrol craft are almost here, and they must not be given a reason to interfere.
Three lawful patrol craft emerge from sensor shadow, running identification sweeps. Their transponders remain calm; none registers the hidden transmission or its dangerous origin.
the AI companion
Patrol vessels are unaware of the signal. Their inspection authority includes sealed cargo under anomalous communications statute.
the AI companion
The signal is coming from the shipment, not the escort channel.
✓ Quest Accepted
Protect Pyrebyte's autonomy from the Primogenitor control signal
“"Could you do something about it? You know this is not my area of expertise."”
SUCCESS (Fair Computers, rolled -2)
Pyrebyte
Could you do something about it? You know this is not my area of expertise.
The Dire Wolf’s internal relays reroute as the AI companion opens a quarantine channel. The Primogenitor pulse sharpens, probing for a compatible control interface.
the AI companion
I can suppress and isolate the signal. Countermeasure deployment will consume one auxiliary processing lattice and produce a detectable systems spike.
A lattice node burns out behind the navigation core. The coded transmission collapses into harmless carrier noise, severed from every control pathway aboard the ship.
the AI companion
Control architecture neutralized. The shipment no longer has access to Protogen command channels. Auxiliary processing capacity is reduced by twelve percent.
The patrol craft register the brief spike and tighten their identification sweep. The smuggler’s vessel continues forward, unaware that its dangerous payload has gone silent.
the AI companion
The patrol has marked our systems for closer review. The immediate threat is contained, but concealment has become less reliable.
Keep the patrols from exposing Pyrebyte's autonomy threat
Quest Complete
Protect Pyrebyte's autonomy from the Primogenitor control signal