The Expanse: Mnemosyne's Ghost

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Holden and the crew swiftly moved into action, establishing a defensive perimeter around the maintenance exit. Bobbie, ever the soldier, directed Amos to position several makeshift barricades using nearby equipment and debris. Naomi checked the integrity of the surrounding structures, ensuring they provided some semblance of security.

"Amos, get those panels up over there," Bobbie instructed, pointing to a vulnerable-looking gap. "Naomi, check the systems; we need to know what's coming our way."

Holden scanned the area, his eyes sharp and alert. The ship's architecture seemed almost to shift under the influence of the Protomolecule, a constant reminder that they were in hostile territory. "Drummer, keep a lookout. Anything moves, you let us know."

Drummer nodded, her eyes focused on the dimly lit corridors ahead. "Got it, Cap," she replied, her voice steady despite the underlying tension.

Naomi worked diligently at a nearby terminal, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I've got partial access to the ship's sensors," she reported. "There's a lot of interference, but it looks like something's moving on the lower levels, converging on our location."

"Protomolecule entities?" Holden asked, his voice low.

"It's likely," Naomi confirmed, glancing over her shoulder. "They're slow for now, but that could change."

Amos finished positioning the last of the barricades, his face set with determination. "What's the plan, Cap? We can't stay here forever."

Holden rubbed his temple, weighing their options. "We need to figure out what's happening on this ship. If we can find the source of the Protomolecule contamination, we might be able to stop it."

Bobbie nodded, her grip on her weapon tightening. "We cut off the head, the body dies. Makes sense."

Drummer's eyes narrowed as she peered into the shadows. "Or it just gets angrier. Either way, we need to be ready."

Naomi's eyes flickered with a mixture of worry and resolve. "There's more... I think the Protomolecule has integrated with the ship's AI. It's not just reacting; it's learning, adapting. We're dealing with something far smarter than we hoped."

A shiver ran down Holden's spine. The enemy was more insidious than they'd imagined. "Alright, here's what we're going to do," he announced, his voice carrying the authority of command. "We split into two teams. One team secures our perimeter and holds this position. The other team traces the source of the contamination."

Bobbie adjusted her armor, ready for battle. "I'll lead the team to trace the source."

Holden nodded. "Good. Naomi, you stay here and work on those systems. Amos, Drummer, you're with Bobbie. I'll stay with Naomi to defend this position and gather more intel."

Each member of the crew took a breath, steeling themselves for the task ahead. The ship creaked ominously, the ever-present Protomolecule's glow adding to the sense of impending threat.

As they prepared to execute their plan, the low, dissonant hum of the Protomolecule became more pronounced. Every second was a race against an enemy that thought and learned with each move they made.

What Fate do you choose next?

Stay with Holden and Naomi to try to gain control of the ship's systems.