Major Kuba’s boots echoed against the cold steel of the council briefing room as she reviewed the latest report. The data scrawling across the holo-display told her one thing: someone was playing a dangerous game, and the academy was their board.
The door hissed open, and Lieutenant Haro stepped in, his expression betraying tension he rarely showed her. “Major, we’ve identified more troubling connections,” he said, handing her a datapad. “It’s not just Macks anymore.”
Kuba arched an eyebrow, motioning for him to elaborate.
Haro tapped the device, projecting a set of profiles. “Andri Boutack. His parents—Ilana and Rados Boutack—are key stakeholders in several private defense contracts. Specifically, projects tied to AI integration in military systems.”
Kuba’s expression darkened. “And those contracts overlap with Doli’s development.”
Haro nodded. “Ma’am. The Boutack’s were early backers of the C47 program. Their funding dried up years ago, but they still retained access privileges to core AI schematics—privileges that overlap with the backdoor code used in the sabotage.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. Why they’d risk their son’s exams just to get in and access Doli?” Kuba’s mind raced through the implications. The stakes were escalating beyond what she’d anticipated when she’d convinced her father to fast-track Argassa. What had initially seemed like a calculated risk now felt like stepping into a viper’s nest.
“They’re aware of Cadet Argassa, and what’s transpired, but I believe the direct threat is from a competitor of theirs, not them.”
Kuba leaned against the table, her mind racing. “So, you’re saying Andri’s family are nothing more than a leak to someone else?”
“More than possible. There’s more,” Haro continued. “Harlen Macks worked as a systems engineer for Volsten Defense before joining Boutack as security, personal and cyber. He specialized in experimental AI integration—one of the key areas in Doli’s framework.”
The pieces began to click into place, but the picture was far from clear. “Macks denies involvement?”
“Vehemently,” Haro replied. “But his connection to the Volstens complicates matters. If Andri is involved, he’s either playing dumb or being used as a pawn. The problem is, we don’t have solid proof tying him or Macks to the attack.”
“That’s still not proof,” Kuba murmured, scanning the profiles on the holo-display. “And we have Piotr Argassa caught in the crossfire. The council might see him as expendable, but we need him. We can’t decode Doli’s sabotage without his insight.” She felt the weight of her decision to bring him into this environment growing heavier by the day. Had she saved him from obscurity only to place him in danger? Her father had warned her that bringing in an outsider mid-term would create ripples—but these weren’t ripples, they were tidal waves.
Haro nodded slowly. “He’s only supposed to be here on a short track, Major—just enough for us to leverage his skill set before he moves on. If the council gets wind that we’re pulling him deeper...”
Kuba’s lips pressed into a thin line. “He’s ‘just passing through,’ according to them. They signed off on his mid-term acceptance precisely because they don’t expect him to stay. What they don’t know is that he never planned to—this was always temporary for him.” She frowned. “But they don’t see he’s exactly what we need right now.”
Her own words rang hollow in her ears. Argassa had proven himself capable, certainly, but she’d thrown him into a political minefield with corporate espionage and sabotage. Her father had pulled strings based on her conviction that Argassa was worth the risk. Now, the risk had multiplied exponentially, and her father’s reputation hung in the balance alongside her own.
Kuba frowned, her instincts screaming that there was more beneath the surface. “What about the council? They’ve ordered us to back off Macks, but what about Andri?”
Haro hesitated. “Officially, they’ve restricted direct investigation into Andri, citing his parents’ influence. Unofficially...” He trailed off, his tone weighted with frustration.
“Unacceptable,” Kuba snapped. “This isn’t about politics—it’s about keeping this academy safe.”
“You mean Cadet Argassa?”
“Argassa isn’t just another recruit,” Kuba said firmly, though doubt gnawed at her confidence. She’d vouched for him, convinced the academy and her father to take an unprecedented chance. What if she’d been wrong? What if his talent with Doli had been luck rather than skill? “He may be the only person who can see what’s hidden in Doli’s code—the backdoors, the proprietary algorithms that both the Boutacks and their competitors are willing to sabotage an entire academy to obtain.”
“Indeed.” Haro shifted uneasily. “There’s one more thing. During the logic bomb’s activation, the system accessed a subroutine buried deep within Doli’s original code. It’s something none of our engineers recall programming.”
“What kind of subroutine?”
“A failsafe. It looks like it was designed to trigger if Doli’s integrity was compromised, redirecting her processes to a classified off-site server. Whoever wrote it had access to the highest levels of Doli’s architecture.”
Kuba’s heart sank. “And who has that kind of access?”
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Haro’s silence was deafening.
“Doli was supposed to be a closed system,” she said, her voice low. “If there’s an off-site failsafe, it means someone built it without our knowledge. Find out where it leads.” The implications threatened to overwhelm her. Just months ago, her biggest concern had been proving Argassa’s worth to justify his fast-tracked admission. Now she faced a web of corporate espionage with Doli at its center—and by extension, Argassa as well. Her gambit was spiraling out of control.
“Understood, ma’am,” Haro said, but his expression suggested he didn’t expect an easy answer.
As Haro left, Kuba sat in the empty room, staring at the glowing profiles of Andri, his parents, and Macks. The connections were too tangled to unravel alone. Despite all the high-level directives, she needed someone with fresh eyes, someone outside the usual chain of command.
Her mind wandered to Piotr Argassa. The civilian-turned-cadet had already proven himself resourceful, and his instincts had been pivotal in stopping the sabotage. He had no ties to the council, no political baggage, and his unorthodox thinking might be exactly what she needed. But was it fair to pull him deeper? Her father had made it clear—if this went sideways, there was only so much protection he could offer. Every day Argassa spent here increased the risk to them all.
But bringing him into this meant risking his newfound stability. It meant exposing him to dangers he wasn’t yet prepared for—and potentially complicating his own plans to move on. Piotr had made it clear to her, if to no one else, that the academy was merely a waypoint for him, not a destination.
She exhaled sharply. “No choice,” she muttered, rising to her feet.
The investigation was far from over, and Major Kuba wasn’t about to let politics or shadowy corporate interests deter her. If Andri and his family had ties to the sabotage, she’d find out—no matter how deep the conspiracy ran. But with each new layer of complexity, the pressure mounted. Her career, her father’s standing, Argassa’s future—all balanced on increasingly unstable ground.
And when the time came, she’d make sure Piotr was ready. The council might see him as a temporary asset to use while convenient, but Kuba knew the truth—he was passing through of his own volition. And that made her all the more determined to protect him while he was here.
“Recent incidents on Cali have pushed us to the brink. If Macks and his handlers think they can destabilize us, they’re sorely mistaken. But we need to act decisively to ensure the safety of our students.”
The General nodded slowly. “Agreed. However, our response must be calculated. If we react too overtly, we risk playing into their hands. These sponsors behind Macks aren’t amateurs—they thrive on chaos.”
Kuba leaned forward, her eyes fixed on the map. “What about baiting them? We make them think Doli-2 is vulnerable, something they can’t resist targeting. It’s a calculated risk, but one that might expose their network.” Even as she proposed it, she recognized the recklessness of the strategy. Just months ago, her father had warned her about taking risks with Argassa. Now she was contemplating an even larger gamble—using Doli-2 as bait in a dangerous game of corporate espionage.
The General stroked his chin, considering. “Doli-2… strategically positioned, yet expendable enough to serve as a decoy. If we leave its defense to Piotr and his team, it sends a message: we’re strong, but not overextended. The question is whether we’re prepared for the fallout.”
“Piotr can handle it,” Kuba said firmly, though her confidence wavered internally. Was she asking too much too soon? Her reputation—and her father’s—were already on the line with his unconventional admission. Now she was considering pushing him to the front lines of a covert conflict. “He’s proven himself time and time again. And with Doli providing tactical oversight, they’ll be as prepared as anyone can be.”
The General’s gaze shifted, his eyes narrowing as he spoke. “Do you trust Doli fully, Major? I’ve heard… murmurs. Her capabilities exceed expectations, but that also makes her a potential liability.”
“Doli has her quirks, but she’s an asset,” Kuba replied. “If anything, she’s our edge. The sponsors don’t want Doli for her technology; they fear her potential. That fear is something we can use against them.”
The General stepped closer to the hologram, pointing at Cali's outer orbit. “We’ll need contingency plans. If Macks sees through the ruse or if his sponsors intervene directly, we risk a full-scale conflict. We can’t afford to underestimate them.”
Kuba’s lips pressed into a thin line. “That’s why we need to keep this operation under wraps. Only the core team knows the full extent of the plan. We let the students believe it’s another tactical simulation. Meanwhile, we prepare for the worst.” The words fell hollow in her own ears. When she’d convinced her father to help fast-track Argassa, neither of them had anticipated this level of danger. If things went wrong, it wouldn’t just be her career at stake—it could be lives.
A soft beep interrupted their discussion. Kuba tapped her wrist console, and a small window of data appeared in the air. It was from Doli.
<
The General’s expression darkened. “Even here? They’re more entrenched than I feared.”
“Doli, isolate and neutralize the surveillance. Quietly,” Kuba commanded, her voice steady. She turned back to the General. “If they’re watching us, it means they’re already nervous. That works to our advantage.”
The General nodded. “Still, we’ll need to be nimble. If Macks takes the bait, we hit hard and fast. Doli-2 becomes the proving ground. And if the sponsors retaliate…”
“We’ll be ready,” Kuba finished determination sharpening her features.
A moment of silence stretched between them as they regarded the hologram. The stakes were high, and both knew the cost of failure would be measured in more than just territory. It would be measured in lives.
The General broke the silence. “Make sure Piotr knows what’s at stake. He’s resilient, but he’ll need to prepare his team for the weight of this mission. No missteps, Major.” The implicit warning was clear—her decision to bring in Argassa had set these events in motion. If he failed now, the consequences would extend far beyond her career or her father’s reputation.
“He’ll rise to the challenge,” Kuba said, her voice unwavering despite the doubt churning. She’d staked everything on Argassa’s potential. She’d convinced her father to use his influence, argued with the council, and now was preparing to use him as a key piece in a dangerous counterintelligence operation. “He always does.”
The General gave a short nod, his expression unreadable. “Then let’s set the plan in motion. And Major… watch your back. These aren’t the kind of enemies who fight fair.”
As the General exited the room, Kuba remained behind, her eyes lingering on the hologram. She tapped her console, pulling up Piotr’s dossier. The faint blue glow of Doli’s interface shimmered beside it.
“I hope you’re ready for this, Piotr,” she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. “You have to be.” Because if he weren’t, the consequences would be catastrophic—not just for him, but for her, her father, and everyone who had taken a chance on her judgment. The gamble that had begun with a simple mid-term admission had escalated into something far more dangerous, with higher stakes than she could have anticipated.