No one spoke.
The words "Civilization correction protocol" remained glowing
across the monitors like a sentence carved into stone.
Jessica felt as if the air had been pulled from the room.
"Correction?" she finally whispered.
Kessler stared at the screen, his jaw tight.
"That's not a good word," he said quietly.
Jessica looked down at the key in her hand. The symbols on its
surface continued to pulse slowly, reacting to the alien presence
above them.
Her phone vibrated again.
Micah.
JESSICA, YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS
She typed back quickly.
"What is it?"
The reply came almost instantly.
THE PROJECTION MODEL IS STILL RUNNING
Jessica glanced towards the monitors filled with endless streams of
numbers and data.
"How long until it finishes?"
A pause.
Then another message appe
