"Then tell Acting Director Serah Venn that her cooperation has been noted."
Calira’s eyes widened slightly at the name.
That small reaction was enough.
The other scientists around her looked confused, but none of them understood what Aurelian had just confirmed. They only knew that Calira had reacted to a name she was not supposed to recognize.
Eirenne immediately opened a private channel to Calira’s terminal.
You are safe for the moment. Can you reach the emergency review meeting?
Calira glanced toward the far door before answering through the terminal so no one else could hear.
The meeting has already started. Yarric sent someone to find me. They will notice if I do not arrive soon.
Aurelian studied the map of the research sector. The eastern checkpoint was only two corridors away, but it stood between them and the route leading toward the central command area.
"Can we use your authority to open the first lock without taking you all the way into the command room?" he asked.
Calira typed her answer.
Yes, but the system will still ask for a security confirmation.
Eirenne quickly checked the checkpoint’s access records.
"Commander Yarric passed through that checkpoint six minutes ago," she said. "His confirmation token may still be stored in the terminal’s local memory."
"Can you copy it from here?"
"No. That checkpoint uses an isolated network. I need direct access."
Aurelian turned toward Calira.
She understood what he wanted before he spoke.
"I can access the terminal myself," she said quietly, finally speaking aloud. "If I open it with the research director authority, the system should show me the recent security confirmation."
One of the older scientists immediately grabbed her arm.
"Director, you cannot go out there."
Calira looked down at his hand and then met his worried gaze.
"If I stay here, all of us may be buried inside this mountain."
The older man held on for another second before slowly releasing her. He clearly wanted to argue, but he knew she was right.
Aurelian could see the fear in Calira’s face. Her hands were tight at her sides, and her breathing had become slightly faster, but she did not allow the fear to stop her.
"Stay behind, Rhoswen," he said. "Do not move away from her unless we tell you to."
Calira looked at the armored shipgirl standing nearby, then at the massive shield in her hands.
"That seems sensible."
Rhoswen stepped aside and made room behind her.
"I am extremely safe to stand behind."
Astra glanced toward Aurelian, clearly expecting him to say something.
He decided it was better not to.
They left the laboratory and moved through the damaged research sector toward the eastern checkpoint.
Rhoswen stayed in front, with Calira directly behind her. Aurelian walked beside them while Astra and the support frames watched the rear and side corridors.
Calira tried not to look at the restrained guards or the damaged walls they passed. The fighting in this part of the sanctuary had been short, but it had left enough signs to show her how quickly control had changed hands.
After walking in silence for a while, she finally spoke.
"You truly came here for the people in the lower halls?"
"Yes," Aurelian answered.
"You are not here only for the sanctuary’s technology?"
"We want the people alive first."
Calira gave him a careful look.
"That is not the same as saying you do not want the technology."
Aurelian looked back at her.
"No, it isn’t. The technology matters, and I won’t pretend otherwise. But it is not worth killing thousands of sleeping people to claim it."
Calira remained silent for several steps as she thought about his answer.
Then she nodded slightly.
"That is already better than Drann."
Aurelian did not respond. He did not know exactly what Commander Drann had promised the research teams or what he had done to keep them working, but Calira’s answer told him enough.
The eastern checkpoint came into view a few moments later.
It was built around a thick Vhaloric security door, though the Compact had added its own modern controls around the ancient structure.
A small identity station stood beside the entrance, guarded by two soldiers who had not yet realized the research sector behind them had fallen.
Aurelian raised one hand and signaled to Astra.
She moved before either soldier noticed them.
Two precise shots struck their weapons, disabling both before they could raise them properly.
One soldier tried to reach for his sidearm, but Rhoswen crossed the remaining distance and pinned him against the wall with the flat side of her shield.
A support frame grabbed the second soldier and forced him to the floor.
Neither soldier managed to send an alarm.
Calira stared at them for a moment before forcing herself to continue toward the identity terminal.
Her hands trembled slightly as she placed them against the scanner.
"Research Director Serah Venn," she said.
A soft light passed over her hands and face.
The Compact system responded almost immediately.
Director’s authority confirmed.
Security confirmation required.
A hidden list opened on the display, showing recent access records from the checkpoint.
Calira searched through them as quickly as she could.
For several tense seconds, nothing happened.
Then she found what they needed.
"There," she whispered.
Yarric’s security confirmation token was still active in the checkpoint’s memory.
Eirenne copied it before the system could remove or refresh the record.
The heavy door unlocked with a deep sound, and the ancient mechanisms slowly pulled it open.
Calira stepped back from the terminal as clear relief crossed her face. She had done what they needed, and for the moment, no alarm had been raised.
Aurelian looked through the newly opened route. The passage beyond was dark and led deeper toward the command compound.
"Return to the laboratory," he told Calira. "Keep the other scientists calm, and do not let anyone access the network unless Eirenne approves it."
Calira hesitated instead of leaving.
"What happens to me after this?"
"You leave with the people from the sanctuary."
"And after that?"
Aurelian could have promised to calm her, but he did not know enough about her actions under Compact control to make such a promise honestly.
"We will decide once everyone is safe."
She did not look fully reassured by that answer, but some of the fear left her expression.
"That is fair."
Two support frames moved to either side of her and escorted her back toward the research sector.
Aurelian waited until she disappeared around the corner before turning toward the dark passage ahead.
Compact officers were waiting somewhere beyond it.
More importantly, the sanctuary’s final demolition controls were waiting with them.
Eirenne updated the map and marked a command pit beneath the central chamber.
"Yarric is still inside," she said. "He has not realized that Calira’s authority was used to open the eastern route."
Rhoswen raised her shield and moved toward the entrance.
"Then we should not give him enough time to figure it out."
Astra checked her weapon and stepped beside her.
"I agree."
Aurelian looked back once toward the research sector. The scientists there had spent years working under armed guards, and they were only now beginning to understand that the people controlling the sanctuary might finally be losing their hold.
Elsewhere, Vaela and Lysara were preparing the lower preservation halls.
Neris’s transports were moving closer to the sanctuary.
Solenne still controlled the battle in orbit.
The path toward evacuation was slowly opening.
Only one major obstacle remained between them and the final controls.
Aurelian turned back toward the command passage.
"Move."
The eastern command doors opened.
Beyond them, Commander Yarric was waiting.