Return to Port

January 9, 2026 — 04:22 PM

The sky was turning a dull amber by the time the Overwatch naval strike group began to reassemble. The OWS Bulwark now cruised at a slower, more measured pace. Her hull, once gleaming with fresh paint and ceremony, now bore scorch marks, shrapnel dents, and streaks of black ichor that had not yet been scrubbed away. She was bloodied—but proud.

Behind her, the Sentinel maintained a staggered escort position. The Hephaestus followed at the rear, slower but steady. Drones circled overhead like silent guardians, scanning for any anomalies, though for now, the ocean remained still.

Inside the CIC of the Bulwark, Thomas Estaris leaned over the central operations table. The soft light of the displays glowed across his tired face. Every screen showed green, and every crewmember around him moved with professional discipline—but the adrenaline was gone. The high of battle had passed, replaced by exhaustion, relief, and the silence of survivors.