I stared at it and felt my stomach sink.
“Not what,” I said. “Who.”
The engineer leaned in. “That’s a data core.”
My voice stayed steady, but my heart wasn’t.
“An intelligence system,” I said. “Experimental. Way ahead of its time.”
The younger pilot swallowed. “So this was the real objective of Iron Talon?”
I nodded once.
“And now it’s awake.”
The crystal’s light pulsed faster.
A vibration ran through the table.
Then the ship’s intercom crackled.
The same voice, clearer now.
“Falcon One. Continuation protocol engaged.”
Every screen in the room flickered to life.
Maps.
Coordinates.
Schematics.
A live feed.
A submerged base beneath the ocean.
Still powered.
Still active.
The engineer’s voice broke. “That base was supposed to be destroyed.”
“It wasn’t destroyed,” I said slowly. “It was sealed.”
I pointed at the glowing core.
“And this is the key.”
The voice came again, softer now, almost gentle.
