"Audit complete," the lead engineer shouted, a triumphant laugh breaking through her exhaustion. "The US Department of Defense has accepted the Lagos mirroring vector! The Pacific defense array is fully operational. Transaction logged at 11:43 PM."
A collective, deafening cheer erupted from the engineering pool behind the glass. Tunde slumped back into his chair, a look of sheer, unadulterated relief washing over his face as he stared at the green terminal status.
Ethan let out a long, slow breath, his shoulders finally dropping from their rigid tension. He turned his chair around, looking up at me with a tired, victorious smile that sent a warm, electric current straight through my chest.
"We held the line, Director," he murmured.
Before I could answer, my personal tablet began to vib
