Chapter 4: Chief Warrant Officer Gabriel “Gabe” Li Gabe tapped his fingers against the console in a steady rhythm, the soft glow of the screens casting shifting patterns across his face. His eyes flicked between multiple data streams, absorbing every detail, searching for anything out of place. The pre-launch checks had all come back green, but he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling in his gut. Something about this mission felt... off. The comms system was operating at full capacity, the diagnostics showing clear channels and no interference. Still, Gabe initiated another test sequence, his fingers gliding over the keyboard with mechanical precision. He knew he was being thorough—borderline obsessive—but something in his gut wouldn’t let him stop until he was absolutely sure. “Come on, talk to me,” he muttered under his breath. Across the shuttle’s bridge, Adrienne’s voice cut through the low hum of the ship’s systems. “Li, we good on comms?” Gabe straightened, nodding even...