The linking of the Weavers was a monumental success. For a few weeks, a sense of real, tangible progress filled the Bastion Alliance. Trade ships flowed freely between the three sectors, their routes now faster and more efficient.
Scientists from Sanctuary, Sector Epsilon, and Sector Gamma began collaborating on new projects, their combined knowledge leading to breakthroughs in medicine and technology.
The Alliance was growing stronger every day. It felt like they were winning.
But the feeling of being watched, that cold, silent presence Ryan had felt, never truly went away. It was a faint itch at the back of his mind, a constant, low-level hum of dread beneath the surface of their daily victories.
The first sign that something was truly wrong came not from a blaring alarm or a distress call, but from a quiet, worried report from Lord Kaelen.
