The Eclipse transport touched down on the eastern lawn of what used to be called Washington D.C. Before the Harbinger war, before the world reorganized itself into four cardinals instead of two hundred nations, this place had been the center of American government. Now it was just the Citadel, named for its role as the impenetrable seat of cardinal governance that had weathered seventy-six years of chaos.

The building itself was massive, stretching maybe four hundred meters across its front facade. White stone that looked original but couldn't be—too pristine, too perfectly maintained despite being supposedly centuries old. Columns rose three stories high, each one thick enough that three people linking hands couldn't encircle them. The roof held communications arrays and defensive installations disguised as architectural flourishes, their sleek surfaces catching afternoon sunlight. Flying cars moved in controlled patterns overhead, their engines humming at frequencies designed not to disturb the people working inside. Some were civilian vehicles, their paint jobs colorful and varied. Others were clearly government transports, all black metal and tinted windows.

Noah watched from the transport's viewport as security personnel approached. Six of them, all wearing dark suits that probably concealed body armor and enough weaponry to handle most threats. Their movements were coordinated, professional, the kind that came from actual training rather than just standing around looking intimidating. Each one carried scanning equipment openly, making no attempt to hide the fact that Eclipse was about to be searched thoroughly.

"Standard security theater," Lila muttered from the seat beside him. "They know we're not a threat. This is just showing us they take protocols seriously."

"Or they're genuinely paranoid," Sophie replied from across the aisle. "Governor of the eastern cardinal probably has enemies we don't know about."

The boarding ramp extended with a pneumatic hiss. The security team entered immediately, their leader holding up a scanning device that looked like a tablet but was clearly something more sophisticated. Blue light emanated from its surface, sweeping across the transport's interior in patterns that made Noah's eyes hurt if he looked directly at it.

"Eclipse Faction personnel," the man said, his tone carrying bureaucratic efficiency rather than hostility. "Please remain seated while we conduct security verification. This will take approximately fifteen minutes. Any weapons, devices, or materials that could pose security risks must be declared now."

Noah raised his hand slightly. "We're armed. Standard faction loadout. Blasters, tactical equipment, personal defense items."

"Noted." The security lead didn't seem concerned. "We'll be scanning everything regardless. Please activate any personal shielding or defensive abilities you possess so we can catalog them properly."

That was unusual. Most security sweeps didn't ask people to demonstrate their abilities. But Lila was already manifesting her telekinesis, making a pen float lazily between her hands. Sophie remained still, her expression neutral, making no move to demonstrate anything.

Noah activated his void energy briefly, letting purple-black wisps dance around his fingers before dismissing them. The security lead's scanner chimed, displaying readouts Noah couldn't interpret from this angle.

"Energy manipulation," the man said, making notes on his device. "Classified as moderate threat potential but currently stable. No immediate concerns."

He moved to Lila next, his scanner recording her telekinetic display. Then to Sophie, where the device made several soft beeps before the man frowned slightly.

"No detectable abilities," he said, looking at Sophie directly. "You're registered as combat specialist?"

"Correct," Sophie replied. "Tactical coordinator and close combat. I carry twin plasma blades."

"Please display them."

Sophie reached behind her back, drawing both blades in a smooth motion. They weren't activated, just the hilts, sleek black metal with power indicators showing full charge. The security lead scanned them, nodded, and made more notes.

The security sweep took exactly fifteen minutes, just as promised. They scanned every surface of the transport, checked cargo holds, ran their devices over each team member individually. Professional, thorough, but not aggressive. When they finally finished, the lead nodded once.

"You're cleared for entry. An advisor will meet you at the east entrance to escort you inside. Please follow all instructions and remain with your escort at all times. The Citadel has restricted areas that require special clearance."

They disembarked, and Noah got his first proper look at the grounds. The lawn was massive, stretching maybe two hundred meters before reaching the building proper. Gardens lined the walkways, filled with flowers that probably required specialized care to maintain. Water features created ambient sound that was probably supposed to be calming but just made Noah aware of how exposed they were crossing this open space.

Security was everywhere. Not just the obvious guards stationed at visible posts, but the subtle kind Noah's military training let him spot. Movement in upper windows. Figures on rooftops. Camera systems disguised as decorative elements. Someone had designed this place to be defensible, and they'd done it well.

The east entrance was smaller than the main doors, more utilitarian. A woman waited there, maybe mid-thirties, wearing a gray suit that screamed government employee. Her hair was pulled back tight, her expression professionally neutral.

"Eclipse Faction," she said as they approached. "I'm Advisor Brenda . I'll be your liaison during your time here. Please follow me."

The interior of the Citadel was exactly what Noah expected from a government building trying too hard to look important. Marble floors polished to mirror brightness. Wooden panels on the walls that were probably synthetic but designed to look historic. Portraits of previous governors lined the corridors, their faces stern and serious in that way politicians always looked in official paintings.

They passed through security checkpoints every fifty meters. Each one required scanning, verification, confirmation that they were supposed to be there. Advisor Brenda handled it smoothly, her credentials apparently carrying enough weight that the process moved quickly despite the repetition.

"The Citadel was built on the foundations of the original Capitol building," Brenda explained as they walked. "Most of the pre-war structure was destroyed during the initial Harbinger attacks seventy-six years ago. What you're seeing now is a reconstruction that preserves historical elements while incorporating modern defensive capabilities."

"How many people work here?" Sophie asked.

"Approximately eight thousand personnel across all departments. Government administration, security forces, technical staff, support services. The building operates twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year."

They entered a conference room that was smaller than Noah expected. Maybe fifteen meters across, with a table that could seat twenty people comfortably. The walls held more portraits, these ones of people Noah didn't recognize. Probably historic figures from before the cardinal system.

"Please wait here," Brenda said. "The governor will join you shortly. In the meantime, I'll provide the mission briefing."

She activated a holographic display at the table's center. A star map appeared, showing Earth and several other planetary bodies. One system was highlighted in blue, three planets orbiting a central star.

"Your mission is to escort Governor Sebastian to Raiju Prime," Brenda began. "The governor has scheduled diplomatic meetings with allied forces stationed there. Duration is five days total, including travel time. You'll depart from here, arrive at Raiju Prime for one day of meetings, then return."

Lila's eyebrow quirked. "Allied forces. Which ones specifically?"

"That information is classified at your current clearance level."

Noah felt Sophie shift slightly beside him. The Grey family ruled Raiju Prime. Everyone knew that. The fact that Brenda was calling them "allied forces" instead of using their actual name was either ignorance or deliberate obfuscation. More importantly, it was hilarious. Lucas Grey was literally on their team. They'd been to Raiju Prime multiple times. They knew exactly who ruled that system.

"So we're escorting the governor to meet with people you won't name," Noah said carefully. "That makes threat assessment difficult."

"The threat level is considered low to moderate. Standard security protocols apply. Your role is to provide additional protective capability during travel and on-site presence."

"Why us?" Lila asked although she knew the answer already. "Why not military escort?"

"EDF resources are currently deployed to front-line operations. Private military contractors like Eclipse fill capability gaps for Earth-side security requirements." Brenda 's tone suggested she was reciting from a prepared script rather than answering genuinely.

The door opened before anyone could press further. Governor Leo Sebastian entered, and the temperature in the room seemed to shift immediately.

He was tall, maybe six-three, with dark hair graying at the temples. His suit was expensive but not ostentatious, dark blue with subtle pinstripes that probably cost more than most people's monthly salaries. But what struck Noah most was his presence. Not threatening, not aggressive. Just the kind of natural authority that came from years of commanding rooms through personality rather than position.

"Eclipse Faction," Sebastian said, his voice warm and genuine. "Thank you for taking this contract on short notice. I know your reputation precedes you, and I'm honored to have your protection during this trip."

He moved around the table, shaking hands with each of them personally. His grip was firm without being aggressive, his eye contact direct without being invasive. Politicians learned this kind of thing, but Sebastian made it feel natural rather than performative.

"I've been following your work since the Synthesis Collective situation," Sebastian continued. "The way you handled that operation, gathering evidence while maintaining operational security, then coordinating with authorities to dismantle their network. That's exactly the kind of competence I need for this mission."

"We appreciate the confidence," Sophie replied. "Though we'd appreciate more detailed briefing materials. Advisor Brenda mentioned Raiju Prime but was light on specifics."

Sebastian's smile didn't falter but something flickered behind his eyes. "Raiju Prime is home to the Grey family. I'm meeting with their leadership to discuss resource allocation and strategic cooperation between Earth and their territories. It's diplomatic work, mostly boring unless you enjoy policy discussions."

The casualness of his tone was almost insulting. Like he thought they didn't know that the Greys were one of the original seven families, that Lucas Grey—their own teammate—was the son of King Damien Grey. Either Sebastian genuinely didn't know Eclipse's connection to the Greys, or he was pretending not to know for reasons Noah couldn't figure out. Bold not to give the people responsible for his security the full details of where they were headed and why. But no problem.

"We're familiar with the Greys," Lila said, her voice carefully neutral. "One of our team members is from that family actually."

"Is that so?" Sebastian's interest seemed genuine. "Well, that should make integration smoother then. Familiarity with the family dynamics will be helpful."

They spent another fifteen minutes in formal pleasantries. Official handshakes for media purposes, a photographer appearing to capture images of the governor with his security detail, the kind of political theater that made Noah's teeth ache. Sebastian smiled for every photo, shook hands with genuine warmth, made small talk that sounded sincere despite probably being calculated.

Finally, they were escorted back outside to a private landing pad that held a single ship.

Noah stopped, genuinely impressed despite himself.

The transport was white, its hull smooth and aerodynamic. But what made it distinctive was the shape. Someone had designed it to look like a falcon in mid-dive, wings swept back, nose pointed, every line suggesting speed and grace. The name was stenciled near the cockpit in black lettering: Peregrine.

"Beautiful, isn't she?" Sebastian said, obvious pride in his voice. "Custom built, synced to my biometrics, equipped with everything we could possibly need. Come, I'll give you the tour."

The interior was exactly what Noah expected from a politician's personal transport. The main cabin held seating for maybe twenty people, plush chairs arranged in conversation clusters. A bar occupied one corner, fully stocked with expensive bottles. Another section held what looked like a small restaurant kitchen, complete with actual cooking equipment rather than just food processors.

Sebastian gestured enthusiastically as they walked. "We've got a medical bay with full surgical capabilities. Entertainment systems throughout. Communication arrays that can reach anywhere in human space. Even a small recreation area with golf simulation if anyone's interested during the longer void jumps."

The ship was massive, easily a hundred meters from bow to stern. Each section they passed through was more elaborate than the last. Sleeping quarters with actual beds instead of bunks. A conference room with holographic displays. Storage bays that could hold enough supplies for months of independent operation.

"All very impressive," Sophie said, and Noah heard the edge underneath her polite tone. "But what I need to know is how many personnel will be aboard. What are the exit points? Emergency protocols? Defensive capabilities? Crew manifest? Escape pod locations? Communication redundancies? Weapons systems if any? Shielding specifications? Power plant type and backup systems?"

Before Sebastian could answer, a voice cut through the conversation.

"Crew manifest is forty-three people including the governor. Pilots, navigation, engineering staff, medical personnel, and security. Primary exits are forward, aft, and two emergency hatches on the port and starboard sides. Emergency protocols follow standard void-travel procedures with additional contingencies for hostile action. Defensive capabilities include energy shielding rated for Category five impacts, point-defense systems, and electronic countermeasures. We have six escape pods, each rated for ten people, positioned at intervals throughout the ship. Communication systems include primary arrays, backup quantum-entangled transmitters, and emergency beacons. No offensive weapons systems, strictly defensive posture. Shielding runs on dedicated generators separate from main power. Main drive is fusion-based with three redundant backup systems and enough fuel for forty days continuous operation."

The voice was feminine, sharp, delivering information in rapid-fire succession without pausing for breath. Noah turned to see who was speaking.

She was maybe five-eight, compact build that suggested serious combat training. Red hair, actually red like freshly spilled blood, cut in a buzz style that was definitely military regulation. Tactical red suit with a black jacket over it, form-fitting enough to show she was armed but professional enough to avoid looking like she was trying too hard. A small blaster was secured around her right thigh, the holster positioned for quick draw.

"Oh," Lila said quietly, and something in her tone made Noah glance over. His teammate's expression had gone carefully neutral in that way that meant she'd already decided she didn't like whoever this was.

Noah's eyes widened slightly despite his attempt to maintain composure.

The woman continued without acknowledging their reactions. "The Peregrine has three independent life support systems, medical supplies for extended operations, and enough food stores for sixty days assuming full crew complement. Bridge is restricted access, engine room requires engineering clearance, and the governor's private quarters are off-limits without direct invitation. Standard security protocols apply to all personnel including contractors. Questions?"

Sebastian cleared his throat, and something in his expression suggested this wasn't the introduction he'd planned. "Let me introduce Angel. She's my head of security and part of the cardinal's secret service division. She'll be accompanying us on this trip."

Angel's gaze swept across the Eclipse team, assessing them with the kind of professional evaluation that came from actual threat assessment training rather than just paranoia. Her eyes lingered on each of them for maybe three seconds, cataloging details, running calculations Noah could almost see happening behind those sharp eyes.

"Eclipse Faction," Angel said. "Three members deploying. Noah Eclipse, energy manipulation and dragon summoning. Sophie Reign, operations coordinator and close combat specialist. Lila Rowe, time manipulation and telekinesis. Correct?"

"That's correct," Sophie replied, her voice carrying the same professional neutrality Angel was using.

"Good. Then let's discuss how we'll coordinate security protocols during travel. I'll need to know your response procedures for various threat scenarios. Hostile boarding actions, Harbinger encounters, mechanical failures, medical emergencies, hostile fire from pursuing vessels, internal sabotage attempts, and governor extraction procedures if the ship becomes compromised. Also your equipment loadouts, capability limitations, medical conditions that might affect combat performance, and your chain of command structure for split-second decision making when communication is compromised."

"Angel," Sebastian interrupted, his tone gentle but carrying unmistakable authority. "Perhaps we can save the detailed briefing for later. Let them settle in first. We don't depart for another thirty minutes."

Angel looked at the governor, her expression suggesting she wanted to argue, that every second they weren't drilling security protocols was a second wasted. But ultimately she just nodded once, sharp and controlled. "Of course, sir. I'll be in the security office reviewing sensor logs and finalizing departure protocols. Eclipse team, I'll expect you there in twenty minutes for proper coordination."

She walked away, her boots making sharp sounds against the metal deck plating. Sebastian watched her go, then turned back to Eclipse with an apologetic smile that looked genuine.

"I apologize for her intensity," Sebastian said. "Angel takes security very seriously. Sometimes too seriously, if I'm being honest. She's convinced every diplomatic trip is one miscommunication away from turning into a combat zone. But she's the best at what she does, and I trust her completely."

He gestured for Angel to return, calling her over near one of the viewport windows. Their conversation dropped to tones too quiet to overhear properly, Sebastian's body language suggesting he was gently reminding her about professional courtesy while Angel's posture stayed rigid and defensive.

Lila immediately leaned closer to Sophie and Noah, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "I don't like her."

"You don't like anyone initially," Sophie replied quietly.

"No, I mean I really don't like her. Did you see the way she looked at us? Like we're incompetent children playing dress-up soldier." Lila's voice dropped into a mocking impression of Angel's clipped delivery. "Let's discuss threat scenarios and capability limitations because obviously you've never done security work before in your sad little lives. Also please provide your medical conditions because I need to know which one of you will collapse first when things get serious."

"She's doing her job," Sophie said, though her tone suggested she also found Angel's approach unnecessarily aggressive. "Head of security for the eastern cardinal's governor probably deals with a lot of contractors who talk big and fold under pressure. She's just being thorough. Aggressively thorough, but thorough."

"Aggressively condescending," Lila muttered. "Twenty credits says she tries to give us a pop quiz on emergency procedures like we're academy first-years."

Noah didn't comment. His attention stayed on Angel, watching her talk with Sebastian near the viewport. The woman was obviously breathtaking, that much was impossible to ignore. Combat-ready body that suggested years of actual training rather than just gym work. Sharp features that were striking without being conventionally beautiful. The kind of confidence that came from genuine capability rather than bravado or overcompensation.

But there was something else. An aura he couldn't quite identify, something that made his instincts whisper warnings he couldn't articulate properly. It reminded him of Lucas right after he'd emerged from Arthur's shadow dimension. Strong, yes. Powerful, absolutely. But also carrying something dark underneath, something that felt wrong in ways Noah's conscious mind couldn't process but his gut recognized immediately.

Having Angel aboard along with himself, Lila, and Sophie felt like overkill. They were going to Raiju Prime. The Greys were friendlies. Lucy Grey was their ally, had provided military support during the Synthesis Collective operation. Lucas was literally on their team. Unless something else was at play, there was no reason to bring the cardinal's secret service on what should be a routine diplomatic trip.

Just like Advisor Brenda hiding details about their destination, just like Sebastian's casual dismissal of the Greys as "allied forces," Noah suspected there was information being withheld. Intel they weren't being told for reasons that probably made sense to politicians but would seem dangerously stupid to anyone actually responsible for keeping people alive.

He activated his comm discreetly, turning slightly away from the others, keeping his voice low enough that it wouldn't carry. "Kelvin, you there?"

Static crackled for a moment, then Kelvin's voice came through clear. "I'm here. What's up?"

"I need you to look into something. Governor Sebastian, his head of security Angel, and this trip to Raiju Prime. See if there's any intelligence about threats we're not being told about. Political tensions, assassination attempts, rival factions, anything that would explain why they're being so cagey about details. We've got maybe thirty minutes before departure."

"On it. Give me twenty minutes and I'll have whatever's publicly available. Anything classified will take longer but I can probably get surface-level intel at least."

"Do what you can. Something feels off about this whole setup."

Noah ended the call and looked at Sophie. "I'm going to walk the ship. Check for anything out of place, verify what Angel told us about exits and emergency systems. You and Lila should do the same. Cover more ground."

Sophie nodded immediately, understanding without needing elaboration. "Agreed. We'll split up, check different sections. Meet back here in twenty minutes to compare notes before we have to deal with Angel's security briefing."

Noah moved through the Peregrine, using his military training to assess the vessel properly rather than just accepting the guided tour at face value. The layout was efficient, designed for both comfort and function in ways that suggested actual thought had gone into the design rather than just throwing money at the problem. Emergency equipment was stored in clearly marked locations, accessible but not obtrusive.

The exits Angel had mentioned were exactly where she'd said they'd be, properly maintained and showing signs of regular testing.

The medical bay was genuinely impressive, equipped better than some planetary hospitals Noah had seen. Surgical equipment, diagnostic scanners, enough medical supplies to handle everything short of full organ replacement like Angel had said. Someone had spent serious money here.

The engineering section hummed with properly maintained systems, the beast core fusion reactor running smooth and stable. The power readings were exactly what they should be for a ship this size. Backup systems showed green across the board. Everything checked out.

But something still felt wrong. Not obviously wrong, not anything he could point to and say this is the problem. Just an itch between his shoulder blades that said he was missing something important, some detail that would matter later when things went sideways.

He moved deeper into the ship, passing crew members who nodded politely as he went by. They all wore matching uniforms, moved with professional efficiency, carried themselves like people who knew their jobs. Nothing suspicious about any of them individually, but Noah found himself cataloging faces anyway, noting who carried themselves like former military versus pure civilian crew.

The navigation section held three people monitoring displays that showed their planned route to Raiju Prime. One of them glanced up as Noah passed, smiled politely, went back to their work. Normal behavior. Nothing concerning.

Noah turned a corner near the aft section, his mind still running through scenarios and threat assessments, and collided with someone coming from the opposite direction.

His hand folded into a fist immediately, void energy responding to perceived threat before his conscious mind caught up. Training took over, muscle memory from months of combat operations activating faster than rational thought.

[Null Strike Activated]

Purple-black energy crackled around his knuckles as he looked at who he'd run into.

The woman had dark hair pulled back in a practical style, athletic build that suggested regular training, wearing a crew uniform that identified her as navigation staff. But Noah knew that face. Had seen it across briefinga back in the EDF. During training exercises. In the moments before everything had gone wrong and Eclipse had been forced to leave the military and start their own faction.

One word escaped his lips, carrying months of anger and betrayal compressed into two syllables.

"Lyra?"

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