Meanwhile—
Within the confines of SHQ, the mood had shifted.
The headquarters had always carried a rigid atmosphere. Concrete walls reinforced with steel. Access points layered behind scanners and coded panels.
Now—
It felt like a forward operating base.
Since the UPSDF increased its presence, uniformed soldiers were stationed at nearly every visible corner. Hallways once staffed by analysts and clerks now featured armed personnel standing at ease, boots planted wide, rifles slung across their chests.
Radios crackled intermittently—krrt~—voices muttering in coded brevity.
There were few places one could look without seeing military blue or green.
Inside the main building, tension showed most clearly among those who didn't wear armor.
Administrative staff moved slower. Conversations cut off quickly when soldiers passed. Several employees clustered near a break area, whispering with tight expressions before dispersing when a patrol rounded the corner.
