The hum of machinery and the restless energy of people who knew they were on the brink of something irrevocable filled the command room. Data streams poured in faster than anyone could process, and screens glowed with encrypted feeds and maps. Robert stood in the middle of it all, staring at the moving lines of intelligence that lit up the walls. At first, he remained silent. Until the silence grew intolerable, he just stood there, still.
At last he turned, looking at Detective Lara, Gregory, Clara, and Eliana. His supporters were exhausted, their bodies weakened by restless nights and conflicts that had left both visible and invisible wounds. But the same fire that engulfed him was burning in their eyes. Robert remarked, "Evelyn has made her move." Despite being steady, his voice carried
