The atmosphere inside Atlas Base changed the following morning.
Not dramatically.
Not all at once.
The change arrived in small details.
The infantry training field became quieter.
The mechanics worked with fewer conversations.
The helicopter crews reviewed checklists twice instead of once.
Even the operations center seemed different.
Focused.
Tighter.
Because everyone had seen the footage from Black Fang.
The increased guards.
The messenger from the capital.
The shortened quarry schedule.
The Dominion had changed its behavior.
Nobody knew why.
Nobody knew whether Atlas had been discovered or whether the changes were simply the result of internal decisions made by the Verdant Dominion's leadership.
The reason almost didn't matter anymore.
Because one fact had become painfully clear.
The window was closing.
Marcus stood in front of the operations board while studying the latest surveillance reports.
The quarry detail had not deployed that morning.
