Engineers spent most of the morning opening a route into the Core, and Hans left Cinderrow as soon as the first corridor was marked passable.
Johannes remained at the tower. After the Broodmother and Hive sites, he had little interest in testing another unknown psychic field before Tyrus examined it.
Hans's Armored SUV crossed three cleared intersections before the road ended at a collapsed avenue.
Callum, the Engineers and the recovery section continued on foot with him for another few blocks, although the formation began slowing as they moved closer to the crater.
A familiar psychic field covered the area, stronger than the one around the Ironford Hive and spread across a much wider range, although none of it settled against Hans's mind.
He glanced back toward his troops. One Engineer rubbed his temple and forced himself backward, while the DASFs frowned at the path ahead.
"Retreat to a safer position. I'll see what's going on here."
"Understood, Commander."
