Chapter 92: The Final Countdown

The distant explosion of the Reaver hive glowed against the dark expanse of space, an unsettling reminder of the magnitude of their mission. Inside the Ark, silence settled over the crew as the adrenaline of their escape waned. Ethan leaned against the console on the bridge, his mind racing with questions about what lay ahead.

"How's everyone holding up?" he asked, his voice cutting through the stillness.

Tazra, still catching her breath, leaned against a bulkhead with a wry grin. "Alive. That's a win in my book."

Xela flexed her claws, her golden eyes sharp but calm. "The drones are becoming more organized. If this is what we're up against now, the larger hives will be even more dangerous."

Prella stood beside Ethan, her soothing presence grounding him. "We're stronger together. We've faced worse odds before."