## Chapter 39: The Tactical Retreat and Unwanted Alliance Veridian’s massive, uncontrolled kinetic pulse still resonated through the wreckage, a violent displacement field forcing Alexia to brace against the residual shock. The Black Ash Blade absorbed the bulk of the initial energy, preventing her immediate demise, but the strain was total. She maintained her grip on the external harness from the Viper extraction vehicle, which had lowered itself cautiously back down. The harness instantly retracted, hauling Alexia upward at a speed that ignored her physical stability. The sharp acceleration was a brutal shock to her compromised system. She struggled to maintain consciousness, the physical noise overwhelming the operational silence enforced by the failing chemical accelerators. The Viper was moving horizontally before it secured Alexia fully inside the pressurized cabin. She felt herself yanked through the open side hatch, landing hard on the cold, diamond-plated deck. Ouroboros’s voice immediately ripped through the comms. It was a modulated snarl, carrying the raw, precise fury of betrayal. “A1-01, report, now! The kinetic signature registered a kill-force engagement. Why is Veridian’s signature still visible on the passive sensor array? You reported termination!” Alexia gasped, forcing air into her collapsed lungs. Her jaw clenched shut against the searing biological panic response. The pain was brutal, bypassing the neuro-dampeners completely. She was operating on sheer biological momentum. “Termination confirmed, temporary,” Alexia managed, the lie catching in her throat as she tried to focus on the tactical overview. “Sub-component failure. Veridian’s system went critical, but vital signs stabilized post-impact. Incapacitation: sixty percent chance of reboot within the hour.” She spoke faster to preempt the inevitable system-wide diagnostic Ouroboros would demand. “Secondary target neutralized. Golden-eyed threat incapacitated, localized trauma. Asset secured and immobile.” “Sixty percent is unacceptable, Thorne,” Ouroboros hissed, the modulation failing to mask his absolute displeasure with the outcome. “The exposure is total. The political cost of a live Veridian is immense.” Alexia pushed herself off the deck, grabbing a nearby vertical support strut to anchor herself against the violent G-forces of the Viper’s acceleration. She felt the Black Ash Blade next to her, warm against her thigh, radiating the residual kinetic overload. “It was not a kill-strike engagement,” Alexia insisted, refusing to concede tactical failure. “It was necessary force to contain the secondary variable. I had to prioritize the asset’s removal from the battlefield.” Ouroboros paused, a dangerous silence filling the comms channel. He had already registered the data stream from her kinetic suit: the massive energy expenditure, the biological signs of total systemic collapse narrowly avoided. He understood the violence of the encounter. “The assets are secured, I will concede the raw violence of the engagement was sufficient,” Ouroboros finally stated, conceding the immediate advantage. “But the breach of protocol is noted, A1-01. Report to the processing bay directly upon arrival. We need a full assessment of your new kinetic ceiling.” The Viper rocketed through the air, leaving the smoking wound of Sector 99 behind. Alexia could barely register the terrain rushing past. The residual kinetic energy inside her system was violently unstable, a storm of force fighting against the systemic dampeners that failed to contain it. She felt the full force of the operational overload. The chemical stabilizers and accelerators had been burned through by the chaotic engagement with Veridian’s final pulse. She struggled to remain upright. The sudden lack of suppression allowed the somatic pain to flood her neural pathways. It was a searing, violent agony centered deep within her muscles and skeletal structure, protesting the impossible kinetic forces they had been forced to contain. She stumbled forward, collapsing back onto the deck. The pressure inside her skull intensified, a high-pitched, metallic whine signaling neurological distress. The sensors within the suit screamed warnings of systemic failure. The last thing Alexia registered before the world dissolved into violent, static darkness was the feel of the cold metal deck against her face, contrasting with the burning kinetic energy radiating from her core. *** Alexia awoke to a sterile, controlled environment. The light was low, filtered to a soft blue against white walls. She was not in the general processing bay. She was in a secure medical isolation unit within Nexus Omega, far more advanced and localized than the standard stabilization pods. She lay on a narrow, high-tech diagnostic cot. The heavy Viper armor was gone, replaced by a light, conductive stabilization suit integrated with numerous monitoring sensors. A mesh of fine surgical threads had been invisibly laid over her skin, reading every neurological and muscular tremor. Silas stood beside the bed, his expression a careful mixture of professional concern and utter focus. He glanced at an array of hovering holographic displays that showed multi-colored lines spiking and dipping in erratic patterns. “Welcome back, A1-01,” Silas said, his voice flat. “That was a remarkably violent systemic dump. Your core kinetic energy field spiked to nearly 400% above the projected safety ceiling during the final Veridian engagement. We registered neurological shutdown approximately three minutes after extraction.” Alexia tried to speak, but her throat was dry, and the muscles refused to coordinate the effort. A small, automated injector discreetly released a calibrated neuro-saline solution directly into her bloodstream. The effect was immediate: the terrible, bone-deep tremor subsided, and the neurological static began to recede. “Where is Ouroboros?” Alexia managed, the question scraping past her lips. “Processing the tactical fallout,” Silas replied, adjusting the flow on one of the IV lines connected to her arm. “The fallout, by the way, is catastrophic. You have publicly destroyed Sector 99, incapacitated a Master outright, and created a political vacuum that spans three continents. Veridian’s political allies are already in open warfare with Lycander’s remnants. The Coven is fully destabilized.” Alexia accepted the information, processing the raw data without the emotional input of the operational accelerator. The goal had been achieved with brutal efficiency. “The Black Ash blade,” Alexia looked for the weapon. “Where is it?” “Secured, under heavy kinetic dampening,” Silas confirmed, pointing to a small, heavily shielded coffer built into the wall. “It acts as a siphon, A1-01. It takes raw kinetic potential from the environment—and from you—and amplifies it beyond any safe threshold. That final discharge was pure, unstructured power. If you had sustained a moment longer, you would have become a localized kinetic singularity. Your system would have simply imploded.” Alexia registered the severity of the violation, but the data only reinforced the blade’s utility. It was the weapon her lineage had bred her to wield. “The secondary element,” Alexia asked, pushing past the technical readouts. “The golden-eyed asset. Did Veridian’s political allies mobilize him?” Silas sighed, a rare display of exasperation. “That’s where the catastrophic failure truly begins. The golden-eyed asset is not a generic Coven attack dog, Alexia. He is Master Zephyrus. He is a Coven Master candidate, Lycander’s chief kinetic strategist. And he is one of the only individuals outside of Ouroboros himself who understands the localized power matrix of Nexus Omega.” Silas rotated one of the holographic displays. It now showed a complex topological map centered on Nexus Omega’s primary location. A single, rapidly moving red dot approached the periphery of the established security zone. “We observed his approach as soon as his localized power system rebooted,” Silas explained, his voice losing its clinical detachment. “Alexia, when you fought him, you anchored yourself to the Viper’s immediate location on the tarmac. You left a kinetic signature trail—a massive one, given the unstable discharge you’d just experienced. Zephyrus tracked us here instantly.” Alexia stared at the red dot, the realization hitting her. Lycander’s strategist. He wasn't random. Lycander had planted him there as a final measure against Ouroboros’s inevitable victory over the Masters. He waited for the opportune political moment to strike. “How fast is he closing?” Alexia asked, pushing herself up onto her elbows. The small neural tremor returned, but it was controllable now. “Too fast,” Silas confirmed. “He is not using a standard Coven vehicle. He appears to be utilizing an advanced kinetic ground transport system—likely an armored infiltration unit. He is breaching the outer perimeter now.” “Ouroboros’s defense protocols?” “Engaged. But they are failing,” Silas admitted, the failure echoing loudly in the shielded medical bay. “Nexus Omega is designed to repel frontal, brute-force attacks from *known* Coven Masters—Veridian’s force-fields, Kaelen’s shock troops, Lycander’s communication jamming. It has never been tested against an acute, pinpoint kinetic infiltration unit moving with this level of speed and precision.” The medical bay door hissed open. Ouroboros stood framed in the entrance, his tailored suit immaculate, contrasting sharply with the controlled chaos that now defined the entire Nexus Omega facility. His golden eyes were narrowed, radiating a cold, absolute concentration. He did not mince words. He walked directly to Alexia’s cot and looked down at her, not with affection, but with the ruthless assessment of a mechanic checking a compromised engine. “Your systemic failure created a weakness, A1-01,” Ouroboros stated, his voice resonating with power. “Zephyrus is breaching the inner containment field. He knows the political map is a disaster. He is here for the immediate kinetic objective: either to eliminate the source of the chaos, which is you, or to eliminate the Master who created it, which is me.” “Engage the primary kinetic defenses,” Alexia suggested, sitting upright. The stabilization suit dampened the movements, but the intention was clear. She needed to move. “Already engaged, already nullified,” Ouroboros reported, dismissively waving a hand toward the complex kinetic telemetry data Silas had displayed. “Zephyrus is a kinetic specialist, Thorne. He is moving *around* our counter-force protocols, not through them. He understands force displacement on a level only matched by Veridian himself, but with far greater execution precision.” Alexia forced herself off the cot, ignoring the violent pull of gravity on her system. She moved toward the nearest terminal. “Lycander’s former strategist,” Alexia processed the data quickly. “He will be pursuing Lycander’s original goals: internal stability, political continuity. He is a surgical asset, not a berserker.” “Precisely,” Ouroboros agreed. “Which means he is here with a specific, advanced objective. Likely acquisition of the Black Ash Blade now that you have fully deployed it against an allied Master.” Alexia paused. “The blade is neutralized under dampening protocols. He cannot sense it.” “He is not relying on sensing; he is relying on tactical expectation,” Ouroboros corrected. “He witnessed your engagement. He knows that weapon and its implications for the Coven. He knows we will secure it here.” Ouroboros turned to Silas. “Assessment of internal kinetic counter-measures?” “Five minutes until central core realignment is complete,” Silas reported grimly. “Current defenses will only delay him, not stop him. He is moving too quickly. He will be in the central command nexus within ten minutes, possibly less.” Alexia looked at Ouroboros, then back at the creeping red dot on the map. Nexus Omega was impenetrable by proxy, but vulnerable to a single, focused threat. “What is the tactical solution?” Alexia asked, acknowledging her role in the current crisis. Ouroboros met her gaze. His golden eyes were hard, devoid of anything except calculation. “The tactical solution, A1-01, is wholly unorthodox. It requires a level of controlled manipulation that will likely define the remainder of this operation. And time is not on our side.” He walked over to a dedicated communication array terminal—an older, heavily shielded unit designed for external, deniable communication. “You have provided Zephyrus with a unique opportunity to seize power from the fallout of Kaelen and Lycander’s demise and Veridian’s incapacitation,” Ouroboros explained, activating the unit. “He is not acting on behalf of the Coven; he is opportunistically acting on behalf of himself. He wants the political vacancy that we created.” Alexia watched the terminal flicker on. “If he is an opportunist, he will be receptive to an alliance if the terms are adequate.” “Adequate is not sufficient,” Ouroboros stated, his voice low. “We need a binding, immediate, deniable alliance. He must perceive that working with Nexus Omega presents an *exponentially* greater advantage than engaging us alone.” Ouroboros looked back at Alexia. “Zephyrus is operating on the assumption that Nexus Omega is a hostile, external threat that must be neutralized immediately to stabilize the Coven. We need to flip that assumption. We need to make him realize that we are offering him, essentially, a non-aggression pact with a massive force multiplier attached.” “How do we initiate contact? He is on a kinetic war footing,” Alexia countered. “He is not accepting general Coven comms. He severed those protocols during his approach.” “He is not accepting Coven comms, but he is certainly monitoring your kinetic signature,” Ouroboros said, a cold edge of anticipation in his voice. “You are the operational anomaly, the instrument that destroyed two Masters and temporarily neutralized a third. You are the subject of his singular focus.” Ouroboros gestured to the communications array. “This terminal is linked to a highly directional, unencrypted channel. It bypasses all Coven-layer protocols entirely. It is designed for maximum kinetic feedback from the initiating asset.” “You want me to signal him visually, kinetically,” Alexia realized, stepping towards the terminal. “I want you to establish a secure, deniable communication channel and offer him the impossible,” Ouroboros confirmed. “Zephyrus’s primary objective, beyond stabilization, is the acquisition of the Lycander Index—internal Coven asset data. He cannot seize political control without eliminating the data trail Lycander left behind.” “You are offering him the Index?” Alexia asked, surprised by the maneuver. “Not the Index. Information *from* the Index,” Ouroboros specified. “We will offer him Veridian’s deepest political vulnerability. A vulnerability that will allow Zephyrus to consolidate power and crush any resistance before Veridian even leaves the medical bay.” Alexia sat down at the terminal, the stabilization suit conforming to the chair. She looked at the kinetic input array. She would have to focus intensely, utilizing the raw, controlled energy within her to transmit a non-verbal, high-priority signal that Zephyrus’s specialized kinetic sensors could not ignore. “What is the vulnerability?” “Veridian’s political stability rests on the complete destruction of the Chimera Archives. They detail his illegal manipulation of Coven currency distribution, and they expose his deep systemic corruption,” Ouroboros revealed, the exposure matter-of-fact. “You extracted that data, A1-01. We will give Zephyrus the exact location of the last remaining hard copy of the archive, located in a Swiss vault, guarded by Lycander’s remaining loyalists. Eliminating that data cache gives Zephyrus absolute political cover for his coup. It positions him as the political savior of the Coven.” Alexia absorbed the complexity of the maneuver: Ouroboros was forcing a three-way political conflict where Zephyrus would become the primary executioner of Veridian’s remaining assets, acting as an unintentional agent of Nexus Omega. “He will demand a physical encounter to confirm the deal,” Alexia predicted, pushing a strand of hair back from her face. “He is a kinetic specialist. Trust is established through physical confrontation.” “We will offer him an immediate, remote kinetic stand-off,” Ouroboros countered, activating a secondary console. “A test. We will allow him to bypass two of the five internal kinetic dampeners. If he can do so without triggering the immediate, lethal feedback protocols, we will transmit the coordinates.” Alexia nodded, understanding the inherent danger. Allowing a Master asset to bypass internal defenses was an immense risk, but Zephyrus’s continued unchecked movement presented a greater, immediate threat. “Initiate the signal,” Ouroboros commanded. “Show him that A1-01 is still operational, still focused, and still relevant to his consolidation of power.” Alexia placed her hands on the keyboard, connecting her system to the dedicated comms array. She focused, drawing the residual kinetic charge that was still stored within her body. She did not need the Black Ash Blade; she was the kinetic battery. She utilized the stabilization suit’s capacity to channel the raw energy, directing it toward the remote terminal. The terminal glowed, the signal transmitting outward on the unencrypted, high-frequency channel. Alexia compressed the necessary data into a burst transmission: an acknowledgment of Zephyrus’s tactical genius, a precise description of the political vulnerability Veridian faced, and the offer of the Chimera Archives location in exchange for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a tactical alliance against the remnants of Veridian’s allies. The pressure inside Alexia’s head increased as the kinetic energy flowed outward. She maintained the compression, pushing the signal until the terminal began to visibly strain under the output. “Signal acknowledged,” Silas reported simultaneously, tracking the external feedback. “Zephyrus is altering his vector. He has received the transmission. He is slowing down.” Ouroboros leaned over Alexia’s shoulder, his proximity intense. “Now, we wait for the response. He must accept the terms of the engagement.” The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the rhythmic hum of Nexus Omega’s core systems. Alexia held the kinetic tension within her system, ready to react to a sudden ambush or a change in Zephyrus’s course. Thirty seconds later, the comms array pulsed violently, displaying a single, short message: *TEST ACCEPTED. DEPLOY CHALLENGE.* “He’s in,” Ouroboros stated, a slow, predatory smile touching his lips. “Silas, prepare the access codes for kinetic sector integrity bypass, Level Two. Alexia, maintain the kinetic channel. He will be attempting to link his localized displacement field to the external feed. He is expecting an immediate, lethal counter-attack, and he will search for weaknesses.” “Understood,” Alexia confirmed. She forced the internal kinetic remnants into a controlled, stable current, broadcasting an image of absolute control. *I am A1-01. I am operational. I control the battlefield.* The screen flickered. A complex kinetic signature overlaid the terminal display. It was Zephyrus’s localized displacement field, an intricate, controlled web of force probing the external defenses of Nexus Omega. Silas transmitted the deactivation sequence for the first two internal kinetic dampeners. The removal of the first layer of defense was jarring, creating a sudden, audible shift in the air pressure of the room. Zephyrus immediately sensed the weakness. His kinetic field zeroed in on the most vulnerable vector, attempting a surgical insertion. Alexia pushed her kinetic energy outward again, meeting his field with a precise application of force, not to deflect, but to stabilize the breach. She acted as a temporary kinetic anchor, preventing the surgical penetration from becoming a systemic collapse. This close, Alexia could feel the raw power of Master Zephyrus. It was immense, but exquisitely controlled, utilizing minimal energy for maximum displacement. He was probing, looking for a break. “Level Two dampener is off,” Silas warned. “He is now engaging the tertiary level.” The tertiary level of kinetic dampening protected the immediate power grid of the facility. If Zephyrus compromised it, Nexus Omega could be paralyzed instantly. Alexia intensified the kinetic counter-current, funneling her stabilized energy to mimic a powerful, centralized core. She essentially presented herself as the primary kinetic defense grid. Zephyrus’s field responded instantly, attempting to penetrate the manufactured core. He was testing its authenticity, searching for the hardware limits. Alexia maintained the current, matching the strength of his kinetic probes, but introducing a subtle, rhythmic oscillation that suggested profound, internal stability, beyond the capacity of standard machinery. It suggested a powerful, organic source of kinetic control. “He is convinced the source is localized and organic,” Silas noted, tracking the energy exchanges. “He is attempting to neutralize the source.” Zephyrus’s field surged, moving from probing to an aggressive, focused strike aimed directly at the communications terminal. “Counter, A1-01!” Ouroboros commanded. “Full kinetic discharge, contained.” Alexia did not hesitate. The stabilization suit allowed her the precise control she desperately needed. She gathered the internal energy, focused it into a dense, non-lethal pulse, and discharged it directly into Zephyrus’s concentrated field. The effect was not catastrophic, but absolute. The kinetic counter-pulse met Zephyrus’s strike and stabilized it instantly, nullifying the aggressive momentum without causing a critical feedback loop. It was a precise, controlled demonstration of dominant kinetic capability, far beyond the tactical expectation of a newly awakened Hunter. Zephyrus’s field recoiled slightly, registering the non-lethal, measured force. The response was immediate and surprising. Zephyrus’s kinetic field dissolved, and the communication array lit up with a single line of text. *COORDINATES REQUIRED. AGREEMENT ACCEPTED: IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF AGGRESSION. MY TERMS: FULL, IMMEDIATE NON-AGGRESSION PACT WITH NEXUS OMEGA. SECONDARY: THORNE HUNTER REMAINS MY SOLE CONTACT POINT.* Ouroboros smiled, the expression thin and victorious. “He respects the violence of the contact, and he trusts the tactical efficiency of the Hunter. Silas, transmit the vault coordinates immediately. A1-01, secure the communication line. The alliance is established.” Silas executed the transmission. The complex coordinates for the Swiss vault detailing Veridian’s final hard-copy archive were now in the hands of Master Zephyrus. Alexia stabilized the communications channel, ensuring the link dissolved without any residual kinetic signature. The tension immediately lifted from the shielded medical bay. Ouroboros placed a hand heavily on Alexia’s shoulder, a gesture that conveyed both approval and ownership. “You have bought us time, A1-01. Zephyrus will be halfway to the Swiss Alps before Veridian’s political remnants even realize they have been abandoned. He will consolidate power, and he will owe that consolidation to Nexus Omega.” “What is the long-term objective of this alliance?” Alexia asked, the sheer political complexity of the situation making her tactical readout blur. “The long-term objective, A1-01, is to control the Coven by controlling the most volatile, active Master,” Ouroboros explained. “Veridian is broken. Kaelen and Lycander are eliminated. Zephyrus now holds the absolute kinetic advantage. By making him dependent on our tactical intelligence, we ensure the Coven continues to cannibalize itself, drawing attention away from our final extraction objective.” Alexia was still recovering from the brutal kinetic exchange, but the immediate threat had shifted. The golden-eyed Master was no longer a hostile asset; he was a deniable, temporary ally, tasked by proxy with securing Ouroboros’s political dominance. The intense focus required for the kinetic exchange had stabilized Alexia’s system far better than any medication. The neurological static had cleared, and the somatic pain was receding fast. The operational accelerator, though depleted, had been successfully utilized. “What is my next operational input?” Alexia asked, still focused on the terminal. “Immediate and total recovery, A1-01,” Ouroboros instructed, pulling her away from the terminal. “This unexpected acceleration of the timeline requires immediate focus refinement. We need you fully operational for the next phase. Silas, administer the full spectrum stabilization package. No psycho-dampeners. She needs to maintain the tactical memory of this contact.” Silas instantly adjusted the IV drip, introducing a complex cocktail of neuro-regeneration compounds and accelerated cellular repair agents. “The contact with Zephyrus confirms his deep respect for kinetic efficiency,” Ouroboros elaborated, watching the diagnostics monitor. “He specifically requested you as the sole contact point. He sees you as a weapon capable of achieving objectives beyond the capacity of the current Coven. This is leverage we will exploit.” Alexia registered the implied danger and opportunity. Zephyrus’s interest was purely objective; he valued her operational output. Suddenly, the internal kinetic sensor grid lit up violently. The red dot, which had vanished during the communication, reappeared, closer than before. “Incoming external breach, Level Three,” Silas reported, his voice snapping with urgency. “It’s not Zephyrus. It’s too chaotic, too brute-force for his signature.” Ouroboros cursed under his breath. “Veridian’s remnants. They realized the loss of Sector 99 and the disappearance of their Master created a massive vulnerability. They are executing a scorched-earth campaign.” “Target trajectory?” Alexia asked, already reaching for the side cabinet where her stabilization suit had been discarded. “Too dispersed for a singular target point,” Silas rapidly analyzed the data feed. “They are sending kinetic suicide assets—highly unstable, localized force displacement units designed to overload and destroy anything they contact. They are aiming for the Nexus Omega power core.” Ouroboros’s expression remained glacial, but the tension in his posture escalated sharply. “The core is shielded but not against simultaneous, mass-dispersion kinetic overloading. We need to deploy immediate defense.” Alexia stood up, ripping the stabilization IV out of her arm. “The Black Ash Blade. Immediate redeployment.” “Negative, A1-01,” Ouroboros refused instantly. “The blade is too unstable. You are too compromised. We cannot risk another systemic overload.” He turned to Silas. “Bypass the core shielding safety and initiate a localized kinetic disruption field against the assets. It will buy us twelve minutes.” “It will also compromise forty percent of our internal defenses,” Silas countered, his fingers flying across the terminal. “It’s an immense risk.” “It is the only risk available,” Ouroboros asserted. He then looked at Alexia, his golden eyes cold and assessing. “Alexia, you are the most critical asset for the next twelve hours. You are confined to this medical bay. Silas will monitor the core. I will secure the perimeter. Twelve minutes is all we need for Zephyrus to reach his objective and for their focus to shift away from Nexus Omega.” Ouroboros activated the door release, ready to leave. “Wait,” Alexia demanded, seizing his attention. “Zephyrus specifically requested me as a contact point. If the suicide assets can be rerouted, I can use the high kinetic signature to draw them away from the core. I can use the remaining energy in my system to project a massive decoy signature.” Ouroboros considered the offer, his eyes calculating the risk versus the reward. “If you fail, the assets will overload your system and compromise the entire medical bay.” “If I succeed, Zephyrus will observe the continued, dominant kinetic deployment of A1-01, reinforcing the necessity of our alliance,” Alexia argued, stepping toward the comms array. “It will buy us more than twelve minutes. It will secure his political compliance.” Ouroboros leaned in, his expression one of absolute ruthlessness. “Ten minutes, A1-01. You have ten minutes to draw the suicide assets into the secondary stabilization field. If you exceed that timeframe, I will initiate emergency medical lockdown and external field collapse.” He did not wait for her agreement. He turned and exited the medical bay. Alexia moved instantly back to the specialized terminal. Silas was already rerouting the kinetic sensor telemetry to the command screen. “The suicide assets are unstable,” Silas warned, his voice tight with controlled anxiety. “They will detonate on contact. You cannot use the Black Ash Blade.” “I don’t need the blade,” Alexia countered, placing her hands flat on the console. She reached inward, drawing on the immense, chaotic remnants of the kinetic overload. She was damaged, but she was a weapon designed for this specific form of controlled catastrophe. She focused the energy, not into an attack, but into a massive, shimmering kinetic projection—a ghost image of Veridian’s final pulse, amplified by her internal trauma. The suicide assets instantly altered their course, drawn by the massive energy signature. They were moving toward the decoy, mistaking the energy for the primary kinetic objective. Alexia maintained the projection, the strain immediately registering on her system. She was pushing her compromised body past a reasonable threshold, but the raw kinetic feedback provided a terrifying clarity. She knew she was now directly exposed, but operationally essential. The tactical retreat had devolved immediately into a critical, high-level defensive stand. The temporary alliance with Zephyrus was secured, but the cost of that negotiation was a constant, terrifying exhibition of her lethal kinetic authority. Alexia held the projection, the roaring noise of the raw energy overwhelming the medical bay. She focused solely on maintaining the integrity of the decoy signal, showing Zephyrus the Hunter remained the only dominant kinetic force available for strategic deployment.