The compound's main hall had become a sanctuary of fragile hope.
Axel stood at the window, watching the snow fall in endless sheets. The Covenant was falling apart, its operations crumbling without Elena's leadership. But the victory felt hollow, like ashes in his mouth. Something was wrong. He could feel it in his bones.
"We need to talk," Vance said, his voice low. "I've been monitoring the Covenant's networks. There's something I need to show you."
Axel turned, his eyes tired. "What is it?"
Vance pulled up a file on his laptop, his face pale. "It's a communication. A message that was sent out a few hours ago. It's from the Covenant's inner circle—the ones who didn't know about Elena's decision."
"What does it say?"
Vance's voice was tight. "It says that Elena has been compromised.
