Chapter 71: Hub Pyralis
Amal spoke, his frown deepening. "You've explained how your AI scales the artifact's effects, but that also means any breach is a disaster. What happens if the network fails—or worse, if it's compromised? A system this powerful, this interconnected, would be a prime target for sabotage or exploitation. Have you considered the fallout if someone hijacks it?"
Marek answered leaning forward, his tone measured. "The network is designed with multiple layers of security. Every node is encrypted, and every data stream is authenticated. Even if someone were to breach one node, the decentralized architecture ensures the rest of the system remains intact. It's not a single point of failure—it's a web of redundancies."
Amal frowned, his voice sharpening. "Redundancies aren't foolproof. Encryption can be cracked, authentication can be spoofed. And let's not pretend that a system this complex is immune to human error."
Ermias interjected, his tone calm but firm. "We've built in safeguards to prevent exactly the kind of scenario you're describing."
Amal leaned back, his expression skeptical. "This is a system that directly interacts with human genomes. A single error, a single malicious edit, could destabilize entire populations. Do you really think your 'safeguards' are enough to prevent that?"
Valeria stepped in, her voice steady but firm. "We're not dismissing the risks, Amal. But we can't let fear paralyze us. The potential benefits of this technology far outweigh the risks. And those risks are manageable, provided we remain vigilant."
The dimly lit briefing room aboard the Krasnikov was filled with tension, every figure around the circular table keenly aware of the weight of the mission ahead. A holographic display of the Argonis system flickered in the center. At its heart was a star—a dense white dwarf—surrounded by a massive ring of debris and dust, remnants of a once-thriving planetary system.
The ring glowed faintly in the star's relentless light, casting eerie, shifting shadows over the frozen moon Edrion. Its surface, pockmarked with Codex supply hubs and fortified outposts, presented a daunting challenge for the operation ahead.
The white dwarf's immense gravitational pull twisted space in its vicinity, complicating even the simplest maneuvers, while the debris field's unpredictability posed a constant hazard to the Krasnikov and its escorts.