Page 60 of Alien Warlord's Fury

"Hammond's accelerating his timeline," Ravik finished. "Whatever he's building toward, it's happening soon."

I processed this information, recalibrating our approach. "Then you understand why we couldn't wait."

Ravik's expression remained hard, but something in his stance softened. "I understand why you thought you couldn't wait. That doesn't justify abandoning Aerie discipline."

"The council would have taken too long," Claire insisted.

"The council sent us," Zara countered. "With others following. We're the advance team."

I exchanged a look with Claire, surprise rippling between us. The council, moving decisively? That was unexpected.

"What changed?" I asked.

Ravik's eyes narrowed. "You weren't the only one with information, Nirako. After you left, we intercepted one of Hammond's researchers trying to flee. What he told us..."

He shook his head. "Hammond isn't just experimenting. He's trying to replicate what happened during the Great Division."

Cold dread pooled in my stomach. The Great Division—when our ancestors' hubris in manipulating the planet's energy had nearly destroyed everything.

"How?" Claire asked, her voice barely audible.

"The younglings," Zara explained, moving closer to Claire. "Their connection to the Nexus is different from adults'. More malleable."

"Hammond's using them as conduits, channeling energy through their lifelines into some kind of collection device."

Claire swayed slightly. I steadied her with my hand at her lower back, feeling the tremors running through her.

"We've seen evidence of energy corruption throughout the forest," I said. "Dead zones. Mutated wildlife."

Ravik nodded grimly. "Side effects. The researcher said Hammond believes he can harness the Nexus energy to power some kind of weapon or transportation device."

"Ancient tech he discovered in the ruins."

"But it's killing the children," Claire whispered. "I've felt it. Their pain..."

Zara reached for Claire's hand, squeezing it. "That's why we're here. Not to stop you—to help you."

I studied Ravik, searching for any sign of deception. "The council authorized this?"

"Eventually." A hint of a smile played on his lips. "After some persuasion."

The tension in my shoulders eased slightly. "So what's the plan?"

"We coordinate," Ravik said, kneeling and unrolling a rough map on the forest floor. "Our team is approaching from the north. Two more teams will create diversions at the western and southern perimeters."

I crouched beside him, examining the map. "We've disabled these surveillance stations." I pointed to the locations. "And damaged the power grid here."

"There's an access tunnel on the eastern side with minimal guards."

Ravik nodded, marking the points on his map. "Good work." The words seemed to cost him something.

Claire knelt beside us, her shoulder brushing mine. "The children are being held underground. I've seen it in my visions—a circular chamber with machinery surrounding a central platform."

"The old Nexus access point," Ravik murmured. "Makes sense."

"Hammond's there too," Claire added. "Overseeing everything personally."

Zara's expression hardened. "Then that's where we need to go."

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