The Council Chamber erupted into chaos after the Kryll Envoy's proclamation. Voices rose in dozens of languages, some defending our world, others expressing doubt, and a few showing disturbing agreement with the shadowy figure who had just condemned our very existence.
"Order! We shall maintain order!" The High Arbitrator's voice boomed through the Matrix crystal, which pulsed with calming blue light. "The Kryll Hegemony speaks only for themselves, not the Concord majority."
I glanced at Lysander, whose face had hardened into the diplomatic mask I knew well. Despite his calm exterior, I could see the tension in his jaw and the subtle narrowing of his eyes. This was far worse than we'd anticipated.
