The first liaison session was scheduled for 09:00.
It began at 09:07.
Not by accident.
Small delays were choreography.
Just enough to remind everyone who controlled the door.
Council Room B had changed.
Not dramatically.
One additional camera node in the ceiling.
A public-record indicator panel along the wall.
Red light lit. Recording active.
They wanted him to see that.
Transparency, as promised.
Within limits.
Four chairs on one side of the circular table.
Three already filled.
Raisel.
A Class A strategist from B1 named Calder.
And a quiet engineering-track student from A3 Dreyden vaguely recognized.
Cross-specialty representation.
Not cross-rank.
He noted that too.
The woman with the tablet entered last.
"Session One. Procedural Liaison Initiative."
Her voice was steady.
Professional.
"The objective today is scope definition."
Scope.
Boundaries.
Always boundaries first.
Dreyden sat.
Hands folded loosely on the table.
Neutral.
