Time Remaining: 31 Days, 12 Hours. (Status: Level 1 Access. Core Frequency Adjustment: Phase 1.) Location: The Core Control Room - Central Junction.
The heart of the Iron Empire did not beat; it burned.
The Core Control Room was a bunker suspended directly over the primary magma intake. The floor was made of thick grating, and through the mesh, the orange glow of the mantle pushed up, heavy and oppressive. The heat was a physical weight, kept at bay only by the screaming roar of massive ventilation fans.
Arthur stood behind the Primary Throttle Console. He did not touch the controls. His hands were clasped behind his back, his posture rigid. Around him, a team of six Senior Imperial Engineers manned the heavy iron wheels and brass levers that controlled the flow of the world. They were sweating, their grey uniforms stained dark, their eyes flicking nervously between the gauges and the blinking yellow light on Arthur's collar.
