Site B was lit from the inside when they arrived.
Every light on.
Nia opened the door before they reached it, which meant she had been watching the approach, which meant she had been standing near the door for some time. She looked at them. At Kael's pocket where the drive was. At Aiden's hands. She stepped back to let them in without saying anything, which from Nia was the loudest possible expression of relief.
The basement: Tal at the terminal, already set up for analysis. Suri at the contingency map, her chalk in her hand, the branches of outcomes she'd spent days preparing all leading to this single point and now past it. Rell at his corner, notebook open, pen moving.
Mara at the head of the table.
She looked at them when they came down the stairs.
She looked at Kael's pocket.
Kael took out the drive and set it on the table.
The room was very quiet.
Mara looked at the drive. She looked at Aiden. She looked at Kael. She didn't say anything for a moment.
