The roar of engines filled the cavern as the last of the heavy transport trucks rushed into gear.
"Move out! Get the convoy to the surface immediately!" Ethan's voice cut through the mechanical noise. He looked at the command staff and then back toward the dark recesses of the hall. "Clear the zone. I'm not sure what the structural reaction will be once the weight shifts, but we aren't taking any chances. Have one of the birds hover directly over the primary extraction shaft."
He turned to Anne, who was watching the last crate of Cold Steel being secured. "Matriarch, you should head up with the first wave. It's safer."
Anne offered a sharp, defiant smile, her Crimson Threads pulsing faintly around her wrists. "I think not, Ethan. I'll stay. If something goes wrong during the final seal transition, your chances of a clean exit are much higher with me at your side."
Ethan gave a short, appreciative nod. "Fair enough."
