Chapter 13: Captain Adrienne "Ace" McAllister Adrienne sat in the dim glow of the emergency lights, her fingers wrapped tightly around the armrests of her chair. The hum of the ship, the constant vibration of life and propulsion, was gone. The silence pressed against her, heavier than the gravity they’d just escaped. It wasn’t just quiet—it was absolute, suffocating. No hum of the ship, no distant thrum of machinery. Just an unnatural stillness, so complete that she could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears. They had survived the Sol Shot. They were still breathing. But that was where the good news ended. No power. No propulsion. No navigation. And no answers. She scanned the darkened bridge, her crew still strapped into their seats, heads turning in the faint light, exchanging glances that carried the weight of unspoken fears. Her hands ached from how hard she was gripping the chair. She forced herself to relax, to breathe, to think . She was their captain. This was ...