410:Retreat

"This is madness," Admiral Takamura muttered, his voice barely audible over the howling wind. "We can't follow him into this." 

Admiral Moreau nodded solemnly. "We'll lose more ships if we try. The storm is too fierce, and our instruments are useless."

On his ship, Reeves clenched his fists, his knuckles white. His mind raced, torn between the desire to press on and the grim reality of their situation. The thought of letting Evan escape was unbearable, but the risks to his fleet were too great.

As they debated their next move, a message crackled through the radio, cutting through the static. The voice on the other end was calm but firm. 

[Step back and retreat for now. We will soon deploy the ICBM.] 

The admirals exchanged uneasy glances. The prospect of using an intercontinental ballistic missile was both a relief and a chilling reminder of the stakes.