Beyond the Celestial Boundaries

The hum of AeroGallacianSpace's main server room filled the air as Cynthia, Prometheus, and Lena stood before a series of encrypted data logs. The deeper they dug, the more tangled the web of deception became.

"This doesn't add up," Lena muttered, her fingers flying over the keyboard. "Every time we think we're close, the trail vanishes."

Cynthia folded her arms, her expression tight with frustration. "Because they're leading us in circles. Whoever is behind this… they know exactly how we operate."

Prometheus glanced at her. "Then we change how we play."

Lena hesitated, looking between them. "You're suggesting a trap?"

Cynthia nodded. "Not just any trap. We create a digital ghost—an anomaly in the system that looks like a crucial breakthrough. If they take the bait, we'll have our answer."

Lena exhaled. "It's risky."

"It's necessary," Prometheus said.

With a final nod, Cynthia gave the go-ahead. Within hours, Lena had crafted an irresistible piece of false data—an algorithm that, on the surface, appeared to be a breakthrough in the propulsion system's stabilization process. All they had to do was wait.

The night stretched long, shadows deepening in the office. The tension was suffocating. Then, just before dawn, an alert flashed on Lena's screen.

"Someone accessed it," she whispered.

Cynthia's pulse quickened. "Trace the signal."

Lena's hands trembled as she ran the protocol. "It's rerouting… Hold on—" Her voice caught as a name appeared.

Cynthia's breath stilled. "No… It can't be."

Prometheus leaned over her shoulder, his face darkening. "That's impossible."

But there it was, undeniable. The person who had just accessed their system—the one who had been orchestrating this from the shadows—

Was one of their own.