The desert station's generator hummed with a rhythm that had become the soundtrack of their desperation.
Axel stood at the map table, his eyes tracing the lines that represented the Ascendancy's operations. They had disabled the Ghost Protocol. They had destroyed the Obsidian Vault. But the Ascendancy's leader was still out there, and he was planning something even more dangerous.
"We need to talk," Vance said, his voice low. "I've been monitoring the Ascendancy's networks. There's been a development."
Axel turned, his eyes tired. "What is it?"
"The Ghost Protocol wasn't the only weapon the Ascendancy had. There's another one. A second protocol. It's called the Reckoning."
Axel's blood ran cold. "The Reckoning? What is it?"
"It's a failsafe. If the Ghost Protocol is disabled, the Rec
