Standoff at the Transit Spine

The airlock yawns open on the transit spine, and red alert strobes hammer the corridor. Captain Kaelen waits in the center line, weapon raised, cutting off the escape route to the outer transit network.

Zoya and Serafina snap in front of Nahuli, shields up by instinct. Kaelen does not even flinch, his aim stays locked on Nahuli and the data shard in his hand.

Nahuli plants his feet at the airlock threshold. The corridor hums with sealed bulkheads and distant machinery, but the only opening left is the one ahead of Kaelen's barrel.

Kaelen shifts his stance, calculating the distance. Behind him, the transit spine stretches toward the spire city exits, the last route out if Nahuli can break this blockade.