The stolen transport screamed through the Outer Rim, its trajectory a straight line back to the Cerberus Terminal. The silence in the cabin was heavy with the knowledge of The Revenant's micro-tracker. They were not returning to a sanctuary. They were returning to the bullseye.
Lyra had continued channeling regenerative energy into Rheon's sliced shoulder. The deep gash was closing rapidly, the wound edges knitting together with unnatural speed, but the energy drain was immense.
"The wound is stable, Lyra," Rheon said, his voice strained. "Reserve your energy. You will need it to command the defenses."
"I will not face Vance weakened, nor will I command a shield that is compromised," Lyra countered, withdrawing her energy only when the final scars faded into pale, perfect skin. Her intensity was absolute.
Rheon's first task upon reaching the Terminal was not setting defenses, but eradicating every trace of the micro-tracker's residual signal. He ripped the boot from his foot and used a micro-analyzer on the polymer, confirming the assassin had utilized a low-frequency, kinetic pulse signature. It was a highly specialized military marker that only The Revenant possessed.
"The signal was active for less than three minutes," Rheon reported, integrating the data into the Terminal's defense log. "But that was enough time. Vance knows the general location. We can expect a full kinetic assault within the hour."
Lyra stood in the main control center, a silent, terrifying force. "Then we give them the war they asked for. Integrate the Sanguis Order now, Ascendant. Turn this lair into a black citadel."
Rheon immediately activated the secure Sanguis comm-channel. His command was concise and brutal. He did not ask. He ordered: Mobilize the Red Guard. Priority: Defensive Fortification of the Cerberus Terminal.
Within minutes, the main airlock, which Lyra had recently opened with her will, sealed shut with a new, reinforced finality. Small, agile transport units began arriving at the Terminal's secondary, hidden ingress points. They bore the colors and symbols of the Sanguis Order.
The Cardinal arrived with his inner circle, dressed in heavy, reinforced black and crimson armor. The ceremonial robes were discarded for war gear.
The old fanatic knelt immediately before Lyra in the control center, his eyes burning with zeal. "Crimson Mother! We have prepared for this siege for centuries. Our lives are yours to defend the throne!"
"Your faith is appreciated, Cardinal," Lyra said, her voice clear and resonant. "But your resources are more vital. Ascendant-Alpha-1 will command the defense. You will provide the necessary manpower and intelligence."
The Cardinal stood, turning to Rheon with absolute, military deference. "Your will is the Mother's law, General. Command us."
Rheon, standing tall beside Lyra, felt the immense weight of command settle over him. He was leading a cult of fanatics against the largest military force in the sector.
Rheon accessed the Terminal's deep-level defense schematics. "Vance will not waste time with infiltration. He knows the walls are too thick for orbital fire, but the outer structures are vulnerable. He will use Seismic Breach Drills to open the main silo access points and deploy Heavy Kinetic Infantry to flood the lower levels."
Lyra watched the projected data, her focus absolute. "We are deep. They are strong. We must turn the labyrinth against them."
The defense strategy crystallized immediately:
- **Outer Perimeter**: Use the Sanguis forces (The Red Guard) as an expendable, decentralized defensive line in the upper, abandoned levels. Their fanaticism made them perfect for suicide positions.
- **Choke Points**: Fortify the three main access shafts with explosive charges and structural failure triggers, turning the descent into a death trap.
- **The Core**: Lyra and Rheon would hold the central command console. This was the most secure level, designed to withstand the highest kinetic impact.
"We need to buy time, Lyra," Rheon stressed, tapping the main core schematic. "The Terminal is defensible, but the resources are finite. We need to hold them off for long enough for you to prepare a definitive counter-strike. A weapon they cannot predict."
Lyra nodded, her gaze penetrating. "I understand, Ascendant. While you command the defense, I will focus the Aether Fragment. I need to learn how to channel the full force of my power through the Terminal's main reactor. It will turn the entire structure into a weapon."
The stage was set: Rheon, the disciplined general, would lead the physical defense, while Lyra, the Queen, would prepare the ultimate, terrifying counter-attack.
Rheon paused, looking at his reflection in the cold metal of the console. He was pale, scarred, and completely cut off from his former life. But standing beside Lyra, ready to defend the black citadel, he felt a strange, profound sense of rightness.
Lyra reached out, her hand resting briefly on his arm. It was a gesture of ownership and shared destiny.
"They will come for you, Ascendant," Lyra stated, her voice intimate, dangerous. "Vance hates traitors. The Revenant needs you to complete his mission. Are you ready to die defending this place?"
Rheon met her eyes, the last vestige of the loyal Commander Vale finally extinguishing.
"I swore my service to the destruction of the lie, Lyra," Rheon vowed, his voice steady. "I am the shield. Let them breach. They will only find their death here."
A moment of intense, shared silence settled over the control room. The alliance was cemented, forged in betrayal and the promise of dominion.
Then, the floor of the Terminal began to tremble.
It was a low, powerful thrum. The vibration went deeper than the sound waves, shaking the very bedrock of the Outer Rim. It was the sound of three dedicated Seismic Breach Drills hitting the concrete armor of the Cerberus Terminal, boring through the earth toward the main airlock.
General Vance had arrived.
"Status report, Cardinal!" Rheon barked, instantly snapping into command mode.
"The Drills have commenced breach at Sector Alpha!" The Cardinal yelled, his zeal intensifying with the arrival of the enemy. "The Red Guard is moving to intercept the kinetic infantry upon deployment!"
Rheon looked at Lyra, his eyes tight with focused readiness. "They are coming, Lyra. It's time to show them the new order."
Lyra rose from the command chair, her entire being radiating focused, ancient power. "Defend the core, Ascendant. Give me ten minutes to integrate the Aether Fragment with the main reactor. Then, we will answer their aggression with a force they cannot comprehend."
The siege of the Black Citadel had begun.