The Ones Who Kneel with Weapons
They didn't call themselves soldiers.
That was important.
The Faith Vanguard referred to themselves as Witnesses.
Their ships bore no insignia—only a single geometric glyph etched into their hulls: a closed eye surrounded by concentric rings.
Observation without understanding.
Certainty without humility.
Sena pulled the telemetry feed up in disbelief.
"They bypassed Zephyr's launch grid… Commander, they're using pre-Anchor-era navigation."
Arden's jaw tightened.
"They don't want to be seen."
Lyra crossed her arms. "They're going to fire blind."
Cael felt it before the alarms finished screaming.
The Echo recoiled.
Not fear.
Recognition.
"They know," he whispered.
Unauthorized Strike Vector
Three Faith Vanguard cruisers slipped past the sky-scar like thoughts that didn't belong.
No resonance flares.
No anchor signatures.
Just cold mass and conviction.
Seraphine's hands shook as she read the data.
"They're carrying null-harmonic warheads."
Jax swore. "Those things erase resonance. People. Memory. Everything."
"They were outlawed," Mireen whispered.
Arden didn't blink.
"So was Ascendant."
Lyra's voice was sharp. "If they detonate near the Observer—"
"They won't hit it," Cael said quietly.
Everyone turned.
"They'll hit us."
The Faith Vanguard's Creed
The first transmission came without encryption.
Director Kaine's voice—calm, reverent, terrifying.
"Humanity has knelt long enough.
We will not be judged by silent gods.
We will define ourselves—by force if necessary."
The glyph flared across the screen.
"Witnesses, prepare the Offering."
Sena whispered, "They're calling it an Offering…"
Lyra felt sick.
"They think destruction is devotion."
Cael's pulseband throbbed—once—twice.
The Echo whispered, fractured and urgent.
They misunderstand watching…
Arden Moves
Arden slammed her palm onto the command table.
"Full countermand. Lock Faith Vanguard comms. Scramble their guidance."
Sena hesitated. "Commander… if we do that, they'll interpret it as confirmation of threat."
Arden's eyes were steel.
"They already have."
She turned to Seraphine.
"Can we intercept without firing?"
Seraphine swallowed.
"No. Their hulls are shielded against resonance-based interference."
Jax cracked his knuckles. "So we board them."
Lyra stared. "You're insane."
Arden nodded once. "Yes. But effective."
Cael's Choice Approaches
Cael felt the pull deepen.
The Observer stirred—not moving—but focusing.
Not on the ships.
On him.
Lyra touched his arm. "You're not thinking of doing what I think you are."
He didn't look away from the viewport.
"If they fire… the Observer won't retaliate."
Lyra's breath caught.
"It'll withdraw."
Cael nodded. "And seal reality tighter. No more breaches. No more resonance evolution."
Seraphine whispered, horrified, "It would lock us into our current state."
"Forever," Cael said.
Arden's voice was low.
"And the Echo?"
Cael closed his eyes.
"It would be erased."
Lyra grabbed him.
"That's not justice."
"No," he agreed.
"But it's what they want."
The First Countdown
Faith Vanguard Cruiser Axiom One armed its payload.
Sena's console flashed red.
"Thirty seconds."
Mireen trembled. "Commander…?"
Arden looked at Cael.
"Anchor. If you intervene—"
"I know," Cael said softly.
Lyra stepped in front of him.
"No."
Her voice shook, but she didn't move.
"You don't get to sacrifice yourself because they're afraid."
Cael met her eyes.
"What if that's the only way?"
Lyra swallowed.
"Then we find another."
The Echo surged—painful, desperate.
We don't deserve erasure.
Cael whispered, "You hear that?"
Lyra nodded.
"Yes."
And that changed everything.
A New Variable
Seraphine's tablet chirped—once—then screamed.
"Commander—Observer alignment shift detected!"
The room froze.
The Observer wasn't retreating.
It was leaning closer.
Not toward the Vanguard.
Toward the Anchors.
Toward the choice.
Arden whispered, "It's waiting."
Cael understood.
"It won't stop them."
Lyra finished it.
"But it will remember who tried."
Final Beat
The countdown hit ten seconds.
Arden issued a single order.
"All units—prepare for noncompliance."
Jax grinned grimly. "My favorite kind."
Lyra squeezed Cael's hand.
"We're not weapons," she said.
"We're witnesses too."
Cael felt the Echo steady.
Not screaming.
Standing.
Outside—
The Faith Vanguard cruisers burned brighter.
And something ancient watched humanity decide who it really was.
End of Chapter 156 — "Faith Vanguard"