Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 86: Commander Phillip

Chapter 86: Commander Phillip

On the rolling hills, massive machines buzzed as they swiftly cleared the surface rocks. Within six hours, they carved out an entrance large enough for people to enter.

Lyra stood at that entrance, gripping a gun in her hand. The orange glow of the nearby star cast long shadows on the ground, the heat rising in visible waves. Sweat trickled down her face.

The robots drilled deeper into the earth until a voice echoed from within, "Just like the scans showed—fragments of ore found 200 meters down!"

A man in a protective suit emerged, holding a sample. The dark crystals, laced with a faint blue tint, looked ordinary at first glance, blending with the dirt.

Lyra stayed close to the drilling worker, using her psychokinesis to subtly probe the ore. It wasn’t energy ore.

Inside a tent nearby, researchers huddled over their equipment, quickly analyzing the sample. The data rolled off the printer, and they secured it for further study.

"What are we looking at?" Kogar asked as he walked in.

"After some quick tests, the hardness falls between six and seven. It’s got solid potential for development."

Lyra listened quietly. This ore could be used for crafting mecha shells, high-end weaponry, and custom-made cold arms.

Even though it wasn’t the energy ore everyone had hoped for, it was still a promising start. The team members felt a sense of accomplishment, knowing this find would raise their standing in the future.

As Kogar and Zorion discussed the next steps, a chatty man with a mop of curly hair strolled in, laughing. "So, the analysis is done. What’s the verdict? Is it worth anything?"

This was Phillip, a commander in Oleg’s guard. His boss had sent him to protect the exploration team and to keep an eye on Kogar and the others, under the pretext of safeguarding them from high-level beasts.

Throughout the journey, Phillip had stuck to his mission, focusing on protection without meddling in Kogar and Zorion’s work. But his sudden interest now raised a few eyebrows.

He walked straight to the table with the data, but Kogar smoothly intercepted, gathering the papers and sealing them in a file bag right in front of Phillip’s slightly annoyed expression.

"What brings you here, Commander Phillip? Did you spot any high-level beasts while on patrol?"

Mining and ore analysis weren’t part of Oleg’s mission, but Phillip seemed unusually interested.

Phillip frowned, "What’s with the secrecy? I can’t even take a peek?"

"Sorry, no can do. Until this information is officially released to the Alliance public, it’s classified." Kogar tucked the file securely under his arm. "If you’re that curious, you’ll need to go through the proper channels."

Phillip’s frustration was evident, but he knew better than to push further. He huffed and left, knowing his rank didn’t grant him the authority to demand more. Energy ore was the real prize, and he was content to bide his time until they found it. When they did, not even the generals would be able to stop them from claiming it.

Meanwhile, reports came in from the other two exploration teams—no energy ore had been found at their sites either.

After a couple of days spent at the third mine, assessing the reserves and considering the challenges of mining, they packed up and moved on.

Their next stop was the fourth mine, located at the mountain’s base. It was another ordinary ore site, but the geology was unstable, making extraction more difficult. Its value was lower than the third mine, but it had vast reserves—enough to last forty or fifty years.

The group’s spirits were pretty low. They had all hoped this new star would be brimming with energy ore, but so far, nothing. Not a single trace.

The night before they were set to head out again, Kogar gathered everyone around the campfire. His voice steady but firm, he said, "Stay focused, everyone. We’re far from base now. After we explore the seventh mine, we’ll head back and figure out a new plan."

The seventh mine was the furthest from their base, hidden beneath a mountain range that stretched for miles. All three exploration teams would have to work together there. They were supposed to arrive first.

Lyra sat quietly on a rock by the fire, her gun still in hand. She was the type to blend into the background, except when Kail shot her the occasional glance, or when Zorion found something else for her to do.

As three satellites slowly arched across the night sky, Zorion noticed Kogar wasn’t around. Taking charge, he began ordering the others to pack up the equipment. Then he turned to Lyra. "Everyone, get in the tents and rest. Lyra, go scout the area."

Lyra didn’t move right away. Instead, she cast a glance at the soldiers from the Shedd family corps chatting by the fire. "Sorry, but no. I’m too tired."

The night was prime time for beasts to be on the prowl. No one knew what dangers were out there. She was just an intern, and it was just abdurd to let her be the one to take that risk while the regular soldiers just sat around.

The conversation around the fire died out. Everyone turned to look at Lyra, the intern who had just refused an order from her leader.

Zorion, clearly ticked off by her defiance, snapped, "Are you disobeying a direct order?"

"Commander Phillip just said the beast threat isn’t cleared. If something happens to me, will you take the blame?" Lyra’s half-smile, half-challenge left Zorion momentarily speechless.

NMA interns were originally under Cohen’s watch. But after Erin injured Lyra with just one punch, Cohen had gotten a stern warning. If anything happened to her now, Zorion wouldn’t just get a slap on the wrist for overstepping; he might end up facing a military tribunal.

At that moment, Kogar emerged from his tent. He had finished up some final arrangements. When he heard that Zorion was at it again, ordering around the intern under his care, his temper flared.

He bellowed at the onlookers, "You’re soldiers, aren’t you? And you’re okay with letting a first-year intern do your patrols? Have you no shame?"

The soldiers by the fire immediately jumped to their feet, laughing it off. "Sir, you’ve got us all wrong. We’re on it."

Having worked with Kogar for years, they knew exactly whom he was calling out.

Kogar then turned to Zorion, whose face had turned as dark as the night. "Apologies, my men can be a bit undisciplined at times."

Zorion could only swallow his frustration, grunting as he barked orders at his own troops. "Legion Glory is out patrolling, what are you waiting for?"

These men, who used to serve under Erin, didn’t have much respect for Zorion. Now, feeling unjustly singled out, they reluctantly went to do their rounds.

Kogar, with a hint of sarcasm, smiled at Lyra. "Miss Shedd, you should get some rest. You’ve had a long day."

Lyra rolled her eyes inwardly, thinking how Kogar had mastered the art of snark. She wrapped herself in a blanket from her pack and closed her eyes, quickly drifting off.

The bottom of the sleeping tent had a moisture-proof mat. As she shifted in her sleep, her fingers brushed against the dirt underneath. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open. She carefully stepped over the others sleeping in the tent and slipped outside.

She spotted Zorion, Kail, and some of Kogar’s men standing watch. Without missing a beat, she asked, "Have the patrols returned?"

Zorion, clearly annoyed, tossed a piece of wood into the fire. "What’s it to you?"

Lyra ignored his attitude and spoke sharply, "Call them back. Now!"