The emergency commission session authorized direct tactical assessment within the hour, but before Elena could finalize deployment plans with Agent Reyes, her personal research account chimed with another encrypted message.
She opened it at her desk, Marcus reading over her shoulder, both going still as the words appeared on screen.
*Dr. Cole. I see you've escalated your investigation considerably since my last message. Your father's reconnaissance was impressive, though ultimately unnecessary. I already know everything about your approach, your resources, your timeline. Consider this a final courtesy: stop the investigation now, or I'll be forced to demonstrate my capability somewhere considerably more personal than a random Eastern European district. Your research center, perhaps. Or s
