By the time the APCs returned to the northwestern industrial sector, the base was already waiting for them.
Not with celebration, but with procedure.
The driver of the leading APC connected the vehicle's comms to the base's channel.
"Bastion One and Two approaching base."
"Copy, Bastion One. Watcher Two confirms. Route is clear. Proceed."
Floodlights opened across the road the moment the vehicles crossed the outer checkpoint. Two Guardian APCs shifted aside to clear the route.
Cell 7 watched everything in silence.
No one shouted questions at them. No one rushed forward to welcome them. No one even seemed to verify the approaching Guardian APCs.
All they heard was a simple exchange between two radio operators, and somehow, that was enough.
Is this base too trusting? What if someone hijacked the vehicle? Genevieve frowned.
