A New Era Begins

As Granger's words continued to flow from the speakers, I leaned forward, my elbows digging into the cold metal of the cafeteria table. The room around me faded into a distant buzz, my focus laser-sharp on the Chief of Defense's every word. My heart raced with a mix of anticipation and apprehension, knowing that each piece of information could be crucial to our survival.

"The environment inside the gates varies wildly," Granger said, his tone measured and authoritative. "Our soldiers have reported everything from dense forests teeming with alien flora to sprawling cave systems that seem to defy natural laws, even mountain peaks that pierce through unfamiliar skies. Each gate is a doorway to a unique landscape, a world unto itself."