Chapter 12 - Priority Level Zero
The pulsing red light from Commander Hayes’s helmet HUD cast an eerie, arterial glow across his scarred face. The absolute silence in the dark vault of Sub-Level Two became suffocating as every eye locked onto the commander, waiting for the verdict of the high command.
Hayes blinked rapidly, his lips parting in stunned disbelief as he read the scrolling text projected inside his visor.
“Priority Level Zero,” Hayes muttered, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. “That’s... that’s impossible.”
Eleanor took a slow, measured step forward, the green glow from the security squad’s visors catching the heavy medals on her chest.
“Read it aloud, Commander,” Eleanor commanded, her tone brooking no argument. “Let everyone in this room hear what the tribunal has decided for us.”
Hayes swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly on the grip of his assault rifle.
[To Commander Hayes, General Vance, and associated personnel in Sector Four: All tactical operations suspended immediately. Data transmission acknowledged and verified as authentic. Secure the vault. Do not allow civilian extraction.] Hayes read aloud, his voice cracking slightly on the final line. [Await arrival of Tribunal Investigation Unit Alpha for immediate detention and asset recovery.]
Marcus collapsed entirely against the metal filing cabinets, sliding down until his head hit his knees.
“Detention,” Marcus sobbed softly into the dark. “They’re sending an extermination squad. Tribunal Investigation Unit Alpha doesn’t take prisoners for trial—they sanitize the site and list everyone as operational casualties.”
Orson stepped out from the shadows near the incinerator shaft, his aged face illuminated by the dying pulse of the data-siphon.
“Sanitize the site,” Orson repeated, a grim, humorless smile touching his lips. “Just like they did with the supply manifests. Just like they did with the refugees in the outer ring. The machine protects itself at all costs.”
Rachel’s hand remained firmly anchored on the override toggle beneath her unzipped black jacket. Her dark eyes burned with intense resolve, unfazed by the threat of an incoming execution squad.
“They can send every investigation unit in the republic,” Rachel said clearly, her voice echoing off the concrete walls. “The data packet isn’t sitting on a server anymore. It’s already been decrypted by three independent civilian networks in the capital sector. The tribunal can’t sanitize what’s already public knowledge.”
Hayes swung his rifle back toward Rachel, his face twisting in desperate anger.
“You arrogant little fool!” Hayes shouted, taking a step forward. “You’ve triggered a systemic collapse! Without the supply contracts funded by those black-market ledgers, the entire outer defense grid will lose power within forty-eight hours! Hostile forces will walk right through the wasteland unchecked!”
“They’re already walking through, Commander,” Eleanor said, her voice cutting through the commander’s fury like a razor blade. She stepped directly into Hayes’s line of sight, placing herself between the armed officer and the junior captain. “The defense grid was compromised the day we agreed to look the other way. The corruption didn’t start with Captain Vance’s override; it started the moment we traded human lives for operational stability.”
Hayes stared at the general in absolute shock.
“General... are you listening to yourself? You’ve served this republic for thirty years! You’re wearing its highest medals!”
“And every single one of those medals is stained with blood I chose to ignore,” Eleanor replied softly, her voice carrying a profound, sorrowful weight that silenced the entire squad.
May you like
Before Hayes could respond, a dull, subterranean rumble shook the floor beneath their boots, followed by the distant wail of automated warning sirens echoing down from the surface levels.
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