The desert station had become a fortress of determination.
Axel stood at the window, watching the sun rise over the endless sands. Forty chapters. Forty battles. Forty moments where death had brushed against him and moved on. He was still standing. They were all still standing. But the cost had been immeasurable.
"We need to talk," Vance said, his voice low. "I've been going through the data we recovered from the Citadel. There's something you need to see."
Axel turned, his eyes tired. "What is it?"
Vance pulled up a file on his laptop, his face pale. "It's a protocol. A contingency plan that the Covenant's leader put in place years ago. It's called the Truth Protocol."
"The Truth Protocol?" Sable stepped forward, her expression wary. "What is it?"
"It's a dead man's switch." Vance's
