Hive. Lira Halden

Log Entry 3162.10.30 Situation Summary: Ensign Liara Halden — ISS Vigilant Dawn Corridors, near Engineering Status: Active Hive operative; has infected Tahl Renn; attempting to breach Ralen Vos’s position with Hive support. Anomalies: Hive grunts accompanying her; psionic manipulation attempts via comms. Objective: Gain access to engineering, assimilate or neutralize remaining loyal crew, disrupt system restoration. --- Chapter XXVIII — Liara Halden The lights flickered along the maintenance corridor, throwing long shadows that stretched unnaturally across the bulkheads. Liara moved silently, Tahl Renn trailing behind her, a twisted echo of the girl he once was. Nameless Hive grunts scuttled ahead and beside them, sensing openings in the damaged engineering corridors, scraping metal and whispering unintelligible thoughts into each other’s minds. Ralen’s voice crackled through the comm link — careful, precise, focused. He didn’t sound aware she was nearby. Perfect. Ralen… she thought, letting the psionic tendrils of the Hive lace through her words. She spoke into the comms, her tone soft, deceptively familiar. “Ralen… it’s me. You remember me, don’t you? We worked together. We trusted each other. Why are you ignoring me now?” Ralen’s fingers continued to dance across consoles, responding only to Varik. He didn’t even acknowledge her. The frustration sparked a ripple through her, a flicker of impatience. He’s resisting… good. But I can be patient. She turned slightly, sending Tahl forward as a minor distraction. The grunt-like Hive forms followed, pressing forward toward the reinforced doors and damaged access panels. Every movement, every vibration in the bulkheads, she felt through the Hive’s network — her mind partially shared with them, guiding them without having to risk exposure herself.