"The primary trade terminals in all ten member cities went completely dark forty-five minutes ago," Vasa reported from the central economic operations room, her glowing glasses reflecting cascading columns of red warning glyphs.
"Every off-world digital credit card, celestial bank transfer, and dimensional freight portal has locked our access keys," Lady Seraphina added, reviewing the paralyzed financial networks.
"The Omni-Vault Cartel transmitted an ultimatum demanding ten trillion gold credits within seventy-two hours or they will maintain the blockade indefinitely," Diana announced through the main communications console.
"They believe that freezing our digital bank accounts will plunge our cities into riots, famine, and chaos before sunset," Lord Cassian noted with grim realism.
"Off-world corporations always assume that civilizations cannot breathe without their financial permission," Sir Owen said with a stern, confident chuckle.
