Within twenty minutes of the first crossing, every major satellite network had captured the same image: faint luminous points suspended high above the planet's atmosphere, arranged in geometric precision.
They were not falling.
They were holding.
Governments scrambled to respond. Air defense systems activated automatically across several nations. Fighter jets launched in tight formation, streaking toward coordinates where the lights hovered like patient stars.
Inside the facility, Elira tracked everything in real time.
"Seventeen stable nodes confirmed," she reported. "Altitude consistent across all regions. They are positioned along the upper magnetic boundary, not within civilian airspace."
Hollen stood rigid behind her. "Any signs of weaponization?"
"None detected," she replied. "Energy output is steady and evenly distributed."
