"Captain, you need to see this in person." Kirah's voice came through the comm, uncharacteristically trembling. Ellara strode down the dimly lit corridors of the ruins, her boots echoing oddly against the metallic floor — a signature material of the Holy Empire. When she stepped into the central armory, the sight stole her breath. Twelve sleek missiles floated silently within a transparent force field. Their silver-gray bodies were inscribed with glowing runes, shimmering like sleeping stars in the darkness. **"Iren MK-5..."** Kirah pushed his glasses up; the blue light of data streams reflected in his lenses. "Scans show these aren't ordinary strategic weapons." Ellara approached slowly, reaching out to touch the edge of the barrier. The runes flickered slightly as if responding to her presence. "Explain." "Based on decoded database entries," Kirah said, pulling up a holographic projection filled with complex equations, "these missiles utilize **dimensional collapse technology**. Simply put… they don't explode. They make space itself vanish." Ellara froze mid-motion. "Vanish?" "Like this." Kirah zoomed in on a simulation — a virtual missile struck an enemy warship, and suddenly, its midsection disappeared, leaving behind a perfectly spherical void. "It creates a micro-singularity that compresses everything in the area into lower dimensions." The bridge fell silent, save for the soft hum of instruments. Ellara stared at the image — at that perfect, hollow wound carved by invisible force. Her throat tightened. "This is practically…" "A violation of natural law." Kirah finished grimly. "The Holy Empire called it '**Ultimate Deterrence**'. But from what we've found… they eventually feared their own creation." Ellara circled the containment field, studying the dormant weapons. "Why?" "Their overuse destabilizes spatial structures." Kirah brought up another set of data. "During a border conflict, after three MK-5s were used consecutively, the entire sector developed permanent dimensional rifts. Not even light could escape." Suddenly, the comm crackled to life — the *Steel Dove*'s captain broke the heavy silence. "Captain, external energy fluctuations detected. Could be other explorers approaching." Ellara exchanged a glance with Kirah. "Lock down this area. Initiate maximum alert aboard *Nameless*." She turned back to him. "We need to decide what to do with these… things." Kirah's fingers danced across the holographic keyboard. "Option one: destroy them in place. Risk? Uncontrolled dimensional reactions. Option two: bring them back for study. But if word leaks…" "Option three," Ellara said softly, "we keep them under our watch until we find a safe way to deal with them." Just then, the lighting in the armory shifted to a deep crimson. An ancient PA system crackled to life, its mechanical voice echoing through the chamber: > **"Warning. Forbidden Weapon Vault initiating lockdown. All unauthorized personnel must evacuate immediately."** "Damn it, someone triggered the security system!" Kirah frantically worked his datapad. "Captain, we have ninety seconds to get out — or we'll be sealed inside!" Ellara gave the glowing missiles one last look before making her decision. "Kirah, download every bit of tech data you can. Everyone else — evacuate now!" They sprinted out just as the massive sacred alloy doors slammed shut behind them, sealing the deadly arsenal once more in eternal darkness. Back on the bridge of *The Nameless*, Ellara stared at the main screen displaying the armory's scan. "Kirah… do you believe some technologies should remain buried forever?" Kirah adjusted his glasses, unusually quiet. After a pause, he answered softly: "I believe every era has choices it must face on its own. And today… that choice rests with you, Captain." Ellara took a deep breath and issued her order: "Set up a quantum-encrypted beacon. Mark this location as top secret. *The Nameless* will personally oversee this coordinate." As the fleet prepared to depart the Elam System, Ellara stood alone by the observation window, watching the ancient ruins fade into the distance. She knew some secrets were better left untouched — some powers humanity was never meant to wield. Kirah appeared beside her without a sound, holding out a steaming cup of tea. "Captain… what are you thinking about?" Ellara accepted the cup, feeling warmth seep through the ceramic into her palm. "I wonder… when the Holy Empire sealed these weapons away, did their captain feel the same fear… and relief we do now?" After a moment, Kirah replied quietly: "I think they felt mostly sorrow. Because that means, in the end, they chose restraint… over power." The engines of *The Nameless* hummed lowly, carrying this heavy secret—into the vastness of the stars. In a quiet corner of the bridge, a newly installed monitor blinked steadily. A single red dot pulsed onscreen, marking the coordinates of forbidden weaponry… silently waiting for a judgment day that might never come.
