The golden holographic blueprint hovered in the center of the ruined penthouse. It cast a warm illuminating light over the faces of Vahn's team.
Below them, the thousands of survivors in the White City were panicking. The shockwave that had leveled Sovereign City had shaken the foundations of their fragile sanctuary. They needed leadership. But more importantly, they needed an anchor.
"A faction." Sia Vance repeated. Her silver grey eyes reflected the golden light of the interface. She stood a little taller and her military posture instantly tightened.
To a Vanguard trained in the strict hierarchy of the academies, this wasn't just a survival tactic. It was a profound shift in their operational purpose.
"Commander. Are you proposing we formalize our command structure?"
