Inside the dimly lit Aurelius lab, Theron was walking around the command chamber.
Two Vault Enforcers were already waiting, standing rigid in front of a central projection pillar, their faces grim.
"What's the report?"
Theron demanded, arms crossed, eyes scanning the blood-red screen behind them.
One of the guards stepped forward.
"Two of our field sentries—units posted in Sector V-9—neutralized. KIA. "
"Confirmed deaths by unknown intruders."
Theron's brow tightened. "Unknown?"
"Yes, sir," the guard replied.
"Surveillance feed cut out mid-transmission."
"All we retrieved were last-frame visuals—no ID confirmation."
"Run it."
The image flickered on the main pillar.
Two armored Aurelius guards stood mid-engagement. One was already falling.
The other had his comm unit half-raised before a blinding flash obliterated the frame.
Theron's jaw clenched.