The decision to go to the Hydro-Dam had been agonizing, a choice between the immediate survival of millions and the long-term liberation of Genesis. But for Jaden Cross, the visionary leader, there was no real choice. A vision meant nothing if his people starved or thirsted. He was their architect, but first, he was their shield.
The rapid deployment team, led by a grim-faced Kaela Rho, moved with a precision born of countless crises. Jaden, clad in a reinforced environmental suit, the Architect's Eye secured to his wrist, felt the familiar hum of his system, now strained by the diversion of resources. The golden aurora, once a symbol of hope, now seemed to mock him, a taunting glow against the darkening sky.
"Status, Tia?" Jaden's voice crackled over the comms as their hover-transport sped towards Sector Nine. The landscape outside blurred, the vibrant city giving way to the rugged, industrial expanse surrounding the dam.
