Rhea stands beside the manual relay, the sealed culture case fixed against her nano armor and her suppressed pistol ready. The eastern exit remains closed, but its green indicator confirms the route is functional.
the grounded pilot
The laboratory team is still inside the shelter with me. They will stay behind until you confirm the service route is clear.
Beyond the reinforced exit doors, faint impacts travel through the frame. Dragging footsteps pass and pause outside, obscured by the shelter’s pulsing alarm.
the grounded pilot
I can open the relay from here once you give the word, but I need reconnaissance first. Check the immediate exterior and report what you find.
The corridor camera flickers between the relay panel and the dark exit vestibule. No movement appears on its narrow view, though something scrapes across the pavement beyond the doors.
the grounded pilot
Do not assume the road is empty. Check the approach, then return to the relay or signal me from cover.
Determine whether the exterior approach is safe