Kaine's first independent mission targeted a cluster of 147 predators in the Outer Spiral.
Not random choice. Strategic selection. The 147 were networked loosely—communicating but not unified like the four she'd encountered before. Emma's analysis suggested they were considering full network integration. If they succeeded, they'd become unkillable distributed entity maintaining 147 dead zones. Approximately 300 billion beings would be trapped permanently.
Timing mattered. Transform them before network completed or face impossibility.
Kaine approached the cluster alone. Emma and Keiko were available for consultation but not present. Master transformers worked independently. That was the point of mastery.
The 147 sensed her immediately. Their collective presence surrounded her—not hostile yet, but wary. Assessing. Calculating. Deciding whether she was threat or opportunity.
