The war table in the expedition pavilion was covered in parchment transit maps, topographic surveys, and cooling tea cups.
Councilor Oren tapped his knuckles against the detailed ink-drawn schematics of the metropolitan subterranean network.
"The three municipal hearts are failing on separate, accelerating schedules," the former magistrate began with stark honesty.
"The northern forge core slips its rhythm every forty seconds, starving the upper district smelters of vital heat."
"The central river pump manifold destabilizes every sixty seconds, choking the freshwater aqueducts to the lower tenements."
"The southern mountain bastion heart fluctuates every ninety seconds, causing the outer defensive barriers to flicker dangerously."
Vella reviewed her hospital charts, her brow furrowing as she pointed to the water filtration logs.
"Whenever the central river pump skips a beat, the pressure in our medical sterilization basins drops to zero," the physician reported.
