Day 3.
Sector Cleared: 14%.
Refinery output stable.
Sanitation grid expanding.
Energy reserves holding at 61%.
Daniel stood in the command chamber as Aris projected a rotating defensive schematic.
"System Lord," Aris began respectfully, "industrial growth without perimeter control increases long-term vulnerability."
Daniel nodded.
"Define perimeter."
Aris expanded the map.
Red circular markers formed around the cleared zone.
"Phase I Defense Grid."
• Drone Patrol Lanes• Motion Detection Nodes• Scrap-Mass Displacement Sensors• Energy Signature Monitors
Lyra stepped forward calmly.
"With your permission, I recommend adding a stabilization layer."
Daniel looked at her.
"Explain."
She projected an overlay of faint luminous lines forming a mesh around the cleared zone.
"Residual energy exists throughout the debris field. With minimal refinement, we can create a low-power field lattice."
Aris nodded.
"It would enhance early detection."
Snow added:
"Hybrid approach increases sector survivability by 37%."
Daniel folded his arms.
"Cost?"
Snow responded instantly:
"8% production diversion. 4% energy reserve allocation."
Daniel was silent for a moment.
Then:
"Approved."
Aris bowed his head slightly.
"Defense Planning Unit will begin mechanical deployment."
Lyra inclined hers.
"Research Division will integrate stabilization nodes."
Hours Later
Drone patrol lanes activated.
Sensor pylons rose from scrap foundations.
Motion detection systems began scanning debris shifts.
Meanwhile, faint blue lines shimmered briefly across the cleared zone as Lyra's experimental energy lattice activated.
It wasn't a shield.
Not yet.
But it was structured.
Snow reported calmly:
"Defense Grid Phase I operational."
Daniel stepped outside the command center.
The junkyard no longer felt exposed.
It felt… layered.
Organized.
Guarded.
Claimed.
Aris stood beside him.
"Sector no longer blind."
Lyra adjusted a control panel.
"Energy lattice stable."
Snow paused.
"New data detected."
Daniel looked up slightly.
"Threat?"
"Negative."
A faint pulse appeared on the sensor display.
Extremely weak.
Extremely distant.
Not within the sector.
Beyond it.
Daniel narrowed his eyes.
"…Snow."
"Signal origin outside closed domain boundary."
Silence.
The three summons looked toward the projection.
Aris spoke quietly.
"Observation only?"
Snow replied:
"For now."
Daniel's expression didn't change.
"Good."
He turned back toward the refinery towers.
"Continue sanitation."
The defense grid hummed softly around Sector 01.
And somewhere beyond the invisible boundary—
Something had just barely brushed against it.