One week had passed.
The Tech-Savants base had transformed during those seven days. Patrols were tighter, defenses were reinforced, and the air hummed with the tension of impending action. Everyone had rested. Everyone had prepared. Everyone was ready.
Now, standing at the center of the room, Vesper's tattooed arms were crossed over her chest, her sharp eyes fixed on the data streams flowing across the holographic display.
"Omega has been detected," Vesper said.
The room went silent.
Vesper tapped the control panel. The holographic display zoomed in on the eastern mountain region, where a cluster of red blips pulsed with irregular intensity.
"She's established a nest in the abandoned mining complex," Vesper continued. "Three peaks east of the Cradle. Defensive perimeters of mutated creatures—zombies, crawlers, airborne variants. At least two hundred, maybe more." She glanced up. "And she's not hiding anymore."
Fey's blue eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, not hiding?"
