Elowen joined the channel from Larkspur Haven again. "I'm seeing the sensor feed. This is not like the black reserve samples. The environmental readings are inconsistent."
Meridian's voice entered next, dry but alert. "Inconsistent how?"
"Some parts behave like airborne contamination. Some behave like energy residue. Some do not fit either."
Aurelian looked at the central district feed. "What about the civilians?"
Eirenne adjusted the drone path. The image moved farther along a wide avenue and reached a plaza outside what seemed to be a public assembly building.
There were people there.
Too many.
Thousands of civilians stood packed inside the plaza and the surrounding streets, most of them surrounded by Kharov soldiers.
Some were kneeling. Some were standing with heads lowered. Some looked dazed, swaying slightly in the haze.
