Echoes of the Sentinel

The Vanguard camp was shrouded in a heavy air of unease. Despite the destruction of the Sentinel's avatars and shards, its presence loomed larger than ever. 

The camp was restless that night. and the Sentinel's ominous warning lingered in everyone's minds. Fires burned low, casting long shadows that seemed alive against the rocky walls of the surface outpost. 

Tobi stood outside Matilda's command tent, watching as soldiers and support teams bustled about, preparing for what everyone knew was coming. Supplies were being rationed, new defenses erected, and teams briefed for deployment.

Tobi sat by the central firepit, running his fingers over the mark on his chest. It pulsed faintly, a rhythmic thrum that matched his heartbeat, as if it were alive and waiting.

"Still awake?" Hannah's voice broke through the stillness. She approached quietly, a tin cup of steaming liquid in her hands. "You should be resting."