The subterranean command center beneath the Apex Tower was a sanctuary of absolute silence, broken only by the rhythmic, high-frequency hum of the mainframe servers. The room was bathed in the sterile, icy blue glow of the central holographic tactical table.
Ares Valerius stood at the head of the table, his arms crossed over his chest, his dark eyes fixed on the cascading streams of encrypted code. He wore his standard black tactical sweater, the physical toll of his recent poisoning entirely masked by sheer, unyielding willpower.
"Talk to me, Lieutenant," Ares commanded, his voice a low, resonant rumble that demanded absolute focus.
Saphira stood opposite him, her fingers flying across the glass interface with blinding speed. "We have a hemorrhage, Commander. And it is not a small one.
