The Tribunal's response arrived three hours after sunset.
No alarms sounded.
No invasion fleet emerged from folded space.
No weapons platforms appeared beyond Drak'thar's perimeter.
The message came quietly.
Formally.
Which, somehow, was worse.
A communication crystal linked to Solhart's long-range arrays illuminated inside the strategy chamber.
Silver light unfolded across its surface.
Authorized Tribunal encryption.
Priority designation.
Immediate review requested.
Odessa felt tension crawl into the room before the message had even finished materializing.
Gorvax read it once.
Then again.
His expression did not visibly change.
That worried everyone present more than anger would have.
Finally, he lowered the crystal.
"They know."
Owen folded his arms.
"Shocking."
"The notification includes an investigative order."
Yuki's eyes narrowed.
"Investigative."
Gorvax handed the crystal toward them.
Tribunal script glowed across the surface.
---
