The message was sent through the private terminal in Calira’s office.
Calira Deyn, remain calm. Your identity is known. We are not working for Drann. Human forces have entered the sanctuary. Do not alert Compact security.
The response came less than a minute later.
Who are you?
Eirenne answered through the same narrow channel.
An intelligence system supporting the Crownward March. We are here to secure the preservation halls and remove Drann’s demolition authority.
There was another pause.
Then Calira replied.
If you know who I am, why should I believe you will not turn me over to him?
Aurelian took over the exchange.
Because Drann’s officers are currently trying to destroy hundreds of thousands of sleeping Humans. Help us stop them, and you will leave the sanctuary under our protection.
The answer took longer this time.
Finally, a new message appeared.
What do you need?
Aurelian looked at the map.
"That was quick," Rhoswen said.
"She had no better option," Astra replied.
Aurelian spoke to Eirenne.
"Ask what she knows about central command."
The response arrived almost immediately.
The main command has two entrances. Western security passage is heavily defended.
Eastern research passage has fewer soldiers, but it is sealed by an identity checkpoint.
Demolition authority is controlled from the lower command post. Drann’s security chief has the physical key.
Aurelian studied the eastern route.
It led through the same research sector where Calira was located.
"Can she open the checkpoint?"
Eirenne sent the question.
Calira answered.
Not by myself. The checkpoint requires a director-level identity and a security confirmation. I can provide the first. I may be able to copy the second if I get close enough to Commander Yarric.
Rhoswen looked interested.
"Who is Yarric?"
Eirenne brought up the file.
"Compact security chief. He currently commands the sanctuary garrison."
Aurelian looked at the man’s image.
Broad shoulders. Heavy facial scars. A long record of suppressing labor strikes and local revolts.
Not someone likely to cooperate.
"Does Calira have access to him?"
"She has been ordered to attend an emergency command review in twelve minutes."
Aurelian stopped walking.
That changed everything.
"Tell her to attend."
Astra looked toward him.
"You want her inside the command compound."
"She can copy the security confirmation once she reaches the checkpoint."
"And then?"
"Then she finds somewhere safe and stays down."
Rhoswen nodded.
"That part sounds reasonable."
Aurelian gave her a brief look.
"You are not going ahead of us to meet her."
"I did not say anything."
"You were thinking it."
"That is unfair."
"It is accurate."
Calira accepted the instructions, though her next message made it clear she did not feel calm.
If this fails, Yarric will kill me before your people reach the room.
Aurelian answered honestly.
Then do not take unnecessary risks. Copy the confirmation only if the chance is clean. We are already moving toward you.
A few seconds passed.
Her final reply came.
Understood.
The route ahead divided at another junction.
The western path led directly toward Compact security positions. The eastern path passed through a maintenance sector and then into the research offices.
Aurelian chose the eastern route.
They met resistance almost immediately.
Compact soldiers had placed two heavy weapon teams at the far end of a long service corridor, with a combat frame positioned between them.
Rhoswen raised her shield just before the first barrage struck.
The corridor filled with light and sound.
Rounds hammered against the barrier while the combat frame launched two missiles toward the ceiling above them, clearly trying to bring the passage down.
Astra destroyed the first missile in flight.
The second struck the wall, but Eirenne activated an old emergency reinforcement field before the damaged section could collapse.
"That was close," Aurelian said.
"I agree," Eirenne replied.
Rhoswen moved forward one careful step at a time.
The heavy weapons kept firing, but the narrow corridor worked against them. They could not spread out or attack from the sides, whereas Astra had a clear line of sight to every weapon position.
She disabled the left emplacement first.
Then the right.
The combat frame charged once its support fire disappeared, probably hoping to overwhelm Rhoswen through weight and speed.
It failed.
Rhoswen lowered her stance, absorbed the impact with her shield, then turned the frame into the wall instead of throwing it back down the corridor.
The metal body crashed through a maintenance panel and became stuck between broken pipes.
Rhoswen stepped away.
"Still careful."
Aurelian looked at the damaged wall.
"Relatively."
"I will take that."
The surviving Compact soldiers surrendered when the support frames surrounded them. One tried to activate a hidden transmitter, but Eirenne shut it down before the signal left the corridor.
The group reached the research sector several minutes later.
The difference from the lower halls was immediate.
Compact equipment covered the old walls. Temporary laboratories occupied what had once been Vhaloric administrative rooms.
Rows of workstations displayed copies of sanctuary technology fragments, while exhausted scientists moved between them under armed supervision.
Most froze when Aurelian’s group entered.
Some looked frightened.
Others looked confused.
One man slowly raised both hands.
"We are not soldiers."
Aurelian lowered his weapon slightly.
"Then stay out of the corridor, and you will not be treated like soldiers."
Nobody argued.
Astra and the support frames began securing the nearest guards while Rhoswen positioned herself near the main entrance.
Eirenne accessed the research network and immediately noticed how much information the Compact had collected.
They had copied preservation medicine, reactor control methods, environmental systems, and parts of the sanctuary’s materials science.
They had not yet understood all of it.
But they understood enough to become more dangerous with time.
Aurelian looked toward the scientists.
"Which one of you is Calira Deyn?"
Nobody answered.
That was expected.
Then a woman near the rear of the room raised her head.
She matched the image Eirenne had found, though she looked more tired in person.
"She is not here," Calira said carefully.
Aurelian understood what she was doing.
Several Compact guards were still being restrained, and she was protecting herself in case any of them escaped.
He nodded once.