Acier Moonbound
Wandering Wolf
Location: Throneworld
Throneworld filled the viewport. It didn't sit in orbit so much as impose itself on it. A vast mass of steel, glass, and excess suspended over the curve of Coruscant below. Light crawled across its surface in layered gold and dark plating, reflective segments catching the sun in a way that felt intentional
Ace watched it without reaction, eyes moving slowly across the structure: scale, movement, density. He said nothing as clearance came through. The station drew him in, scanners passing over the hull in quiet sweeps. The hangar opened around him, vast and active, and ships lined the perimeter. Crews moved in constant, steady patterns.
The ramp lowered and Ace stepped down, his gaze moved without turning his head - analyzing security, entry points, movement lines. A small group waited at the edge of the platform.
"Moonbound."
He gave a single nod. "Where."
They turned without ceremony, leading him deeper. The station changed in layers. Industrial gave way to refinement. Exposed framework disappeared behind polished surfaces. Space widened. Lighting softened. Decoration crept in, statues, materials, things that served no function beyond presence. Inefficient.
They passed a long stretch of transparisteel overlooking Coruscant below. The view was meant to posture, but Ace didn't slow.
Mercy had been gone from the Core for some time now, and her return had been made a big deal within the Covenant. For obvious reasons. Which meant there was no better time than now to size up the prodigal "Empress". And gather some new intel.
The escort stopped at a set of reinforced doors. Ace's gaze settled on them briefly, noting the depth of the mechanisms beneath the surface. Then they opened, the space beyond opened wide, built for presence rather than function. Elevated levels, long sightlines, nothing immediately obstructing the center. Ace stepped through without hesitation and the doors sealed behind him.
He didn't move far. His gaze lifted, sweeping once, mapping the space without lingering. Whatever this was meant to be… it said enough on its own. He came to a stop, posture relaxed but grounded and waited.
