The Starforge staff swallowed once, then began.
"After we finished the delivery in the Southern Region, we were preparing to return. The route was clean. The sky was clean. Then…"
He glanced toward the horizon as if he could still hear it.
"The air detonated."
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
"It did not sound like thunder," the man continued. "It sounded like the world's lungs bursting. Like a mountain erupting inside the atmosphere."
A few of the returning crew shifted uneasily.
"We felt the pressure wave even from far away," another said.
Lilith's expression sharpened.
The man continued.
"At first we thought it was an enemy assault. But then we saw movement. Multiple factions rushed in that direction."
Lucien asked softly.
"And your group did not join?"
"We could not," the man admitted. "Our mission was complete. We were not sanctioned to chase disturbances."
He looked down.
