Augustus moved toward the communications station, his mind already calculating probabilities and risks. Before he could speak, Edmund placed a hand on his shoulder—not aggressive, but firm enough to convey authority.
"A rescue mission is premature," Edmund said quietly, his eyes fixed on the damage reports scrolling across the monitors. "We don't know what we're dealing with up there. Sending personnel into that zone could result in more casualties."
"Three of our people are missing," Augustus countered, pulling away from the liaison's grip. "Every minute we delay increases the probability that they're—"
"Dead?" Edmund's voice was clinical. "Or worse."
Commander Voss stepped between them, her administrative authority cutting through the tension. "We need to assess the situation first. Persson, I want a full sensor sweep of the impact zone. Dr. Foster, I need your analysis of those seismic readings. We need to understand what we're dealing with before we risk more lives."
Augustus wanted to argue, but he recognized the logic in her words. Reckless action would serve no one. He moved to an available terminal and began pulling up the complete data stream, his fingers moving with practiced efficiency across the keyboard.
What he found made his breath catch.
The seismic signature wasn't random. Beneath the chaos of the initial impact, there was structure—a pattern that suggested deliberate deceleration in the final moments before contact. Whatever had struck the ice shelf hadn't simply fallen; it had been controlled. Guided.
"That's not possible," Marcus whispered, reading over his shoulder.
Before Augustus could respond, the facility's intercom crackled to life again. "All personnel be advised—the blast doors to the northern corridor have automatically sealed. Structural integrity protocols have locked down sections one through four. Repeat, sections one through four are now sealed and inaccessible."
Augustus felt the weight of that statement settle over the command center. The northern sensor array where Zoey, David, and James had been working lay in section three.
They were trapped behind the sealed doors. And so was whatever had crashed into the ice above them.