The water management sector sat at the lowest level of the base, half buried into reinforced earth and concrete. Pipes ran along the walls like exposed veins, humming softly as pumps pushed filtered water upward to residential tanks. The smell was faintly metallic, mixed with damp stone and disinfectant.
Alvin arrived with Xavier and a small group of core managers. No guards. No unnecessary personnel. This was not a matter for public panic.
The water management team was already waiting.
There were seven of them, men and women with tired eyes and stained uniforms. Engineers, chemists, filtration specialists. People who had not slept properly in weeks.
The lead engineer, a middle aged woman named Mara, straightened when she saw Alvin.
"Grand Mage," she said, then corrected herself awkwardly. "Commander Alvin."
"Just Alvin," he replied. "Start from the beginning."
