Diego strode through the main corridor, his boots echoing against the polished floors. He paused at the common area's entrance, taking in the stark contrast between this facility and his compound back in Arizona.

  Plush leather couches formed a semicircle around a central holographic display, its soft blue light dancing across surfaces that probably cost more than his monthly salary. A massive wall screen cycled through environmental data - temperature, humidity, wind patterns - all presented in crisp, floating numbers.

  The furniture looked barely used, like a showroom rather than a working facility. Back at his compound, every chair showed wear, every table had its share of coffee rings and scattered papers. Here, everything screamed precision and wealth.

  "Quite different from APU standard issue," he muttered, running his hand along a leather armrest. The material felt butter-soft under his calloused fingers. Even the coffee maker in the corner looked like it belonged in a luxury hotel rather than a research facility.

  A holographic clock floated above one of the side tables - 13:45 displayed in gentle azure numerals. He had time before the meeting with Olivia and Kaito. His gaze drifted to the security cameras discretely mounted in the corners. At least those looked familiar - standard Nexus-grade equipment, probably tied into the facility's AI system.

  The whole setup felt too clean, too perfect. Diego preferred spaces that showed their history, their purpose. This place felt more like a corporate boardroom than a frontline research facility. Then again, maybe that was the point - to project an image of success and stability.

  Diego entered the conference room to find Dr. Smith perched at the far end of a glossy black table. Sunlight streamed through the window wall behind her, casting a halo around her perfectly styled hair. Her attention remained fixed on the tablet in front of her, fingers dancing across its surface.

  The sight caught him off guard. Gone was the grease-stained engineer he'd met earlier in the embarkation room. This Dr. Smith wore a crisp black blouse, her appearance as polished as the conference table she sat at.

  An open bottle of wine stood sentinel between two crystal glasses, the rich burgundy liquid catching the afternoon light. Not exactly standard protocol for a technical briefing.

  "Planning to soften up Kaito with some liquid diplomacy?" Diego kept his tone light as he moved toward the table.

  Dr. Smith glanced up from her tablet. "Sometimes negotiations go smoother with a good vintage." She tapped the screen one final time before setting it aside. "Besides, after crawling around fixing that dampener, I figured we both earned a glass."

  The casual confidence in her voice didn't quite match the formal setting she'd arranged. Diego had seen this dance before - the careful cultivation of an image to project authority. He'd done it himself countless times during his military career. But something about Dr. Smith's transformation from hands-on engineer to polished executive felt less like manipulation and more like... adaptation.

  Diego settled into the chair across from Dr. Smith, his cybernetic leg whirring softly as he adjusted his position. The leather seat molded to his form, too comfortable for the conversation ahead.

  "So what made a brilliant physicist like yourself choose this path? Most would've jumped at a cushy APU research position." Diego reached for the wine bottle, examining the label - a 2075 California vintage, one of the last good years before the drought killed most vineyards.

  Dr. Smith's fingers traced the rim of her empty glass. "I could ask you the same thing. With your service record, all those medals - why didn't they give you and your family spots on the ships?"

  Diego's jaw tightened. The familiar anger bubbled up as he remembered the meeting with Admiral Chen. The practiced speech about "optimal resource allocation" and "difficult choices for humanity's future." How they'd deemed his daughter's environmental work "non-essential" and his son-in-law's law enforcement background "redundant" for the colony mission. Twenty-five years of service, of bleeding for the APU, counted for nothing against their algorithms.

  The wine bottle clinked against the glass as he poured, harder than necessary. A few drops splashed onto the polished table. He watched the red liquid spread, remembering the blood on his hands from the water riots. All those people he couldn't save because some AI decided their lives weren't worth the resources.

  "Politics," he growled, pushing the filled glass toward Dr. Smith. "Turns out loyalty only matters when it's convenient for them." The words tasted bitter, like ash in his mouth.

  Dr. Smith tapped her tablet, and a holographic display materialized above the conference table. Blue light scattered across their faces as rows of personnel categories and numbers rotated in the air. Diego leaned forward, squinting at the projected figures.

  The list looked thin - too thin for what they were planning. Medical staff consisted of two field medics and a veterinarian. Engineering showed better numbers with Jack's team, but security relied heavily on automated systems. Diego had seen too many AI defenses fail when they were needed most.

  "We need to identify exactly what skills we're missing. Combat teams, medical staff, engineers - can't half-ass this kind of evacuation." Diego's finger traced through the hologram, disrupting the light as he pointed at the medical section. The numbers there concerned him most.

  Dr. Smith nodded, taking a sip of wine before responding. "We definitely need more medical personnel. The current staff can't handle large groups."

  Diego studied her face across the ethereal glow of the display. The confident executive facade had slipped slightly, revealing the weight of responsibility in her eyes. He recognized that look - he'd worn it himself before too many high-stakes operations.

  The hologram cast strange shadows across the wine glasses, turning the burgundy liquid almost black. Diego reached for his glass but stopped short as he noticed a critical gap in the personnel roster. No dedicated trauma surgeon, no emergency response team. If something went wrong during a crossing, they'd be flying blind with basic first aid kits.

  He'd seen too many good soldiers die from lack of proper medical care. The memory of Jensen bleeding out in his arms during the Bangkok operation still haunted him. All because their medic had been killed the day before, and the replacement hadn't arrived yet.

  Diego leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. The holographic display cast a blue glow across his weathered features as he studied the personnel roster. Years of combat experience had taught him the importance of building teams gradually, piece by piece.

  "Let's start with Jack and Alexis. Once they're in place, we can begin bringing in the others. Less attention that way." He paused, running a hand across his chin. "We might need someone to take care of the human resource side of this as well."

  The corner of Dr. Smith's mouth quirked up. "Actually, I might know someone perfect for managing all these people. Sarah Chen - Dr. Chen's sister."

  Diego's eyebrows rose. He knew Mei Chen's work in botany - her research on drought-resistant crops had saved thousands during the water wars. But her sister? The name triggered something in his memory - a personnel file he'd reviewed during his APU days.

  "Sarah Chen... wasn't she handling refugee processing during the Climate Wars?" The memories clicked into place. "Managed housing and supplies for camps of thousands. Heard she quit when APU started cutting funding to the programs."

  He remembered the chaos of those days - masses of displaced people seeking shelter, resources stretched thin. Someone who could handle that kind of pressure while maintaining discretion would be invaluable for what they were planning.

  The wine in his glass caught the afternoon light as he considered the possibility. Sarah Chen's experience with large-scale personnel management could be exactly what they needed. More importantly, her resignation from APU showed she had principles - something increasingly rare in their world of AI-driven decisions and optimal outcomes.

  Diego's eyes widened as he processed Dr. Smith's casual mention of the Chen sisters. The wine glass froze halfway to his lips.

  "Wait, does that mean you secured Mei Chen for the project?"

  Dr. Smith's smile broadened as she leaned back in her chair. "Mei and I go way back - we were roommates at MIT. She's been looking for an opportunity to continue her research without APU interference."

  Diego set his glass down, mind racing through the implications. Dr. Mei Chen's expertise in crop adaptation could mean the difference between survival and starvation in an alien environment. Her research had kept millions alive during Earth's worst famines.

  "And because Mei agreed to join us, Sarah might come along as well." Dr. Smith's fingers traced patterns on her wine glass. "They're incredibly close, and Sarah's been looking for meaningful work since she left APU."

  Diego nodded slowly, remembering the reports that had crossed his desk during the Climate Wars. Sarah Chen had managed to house and feed thousands of refugees with dwindling resources, often going against APU directives to help those deemed "non-essential" by the algorithms. The sisters' combined expertise could be exactly what they needed.

  "Having both Chen sisters would be a huge win," Diego said, taking another sip of wine. The rich flavor barely registered as his mind worked through the possibilities. "Mei's botanical knowledge for long-term survival, Sarah's experience with large-scale operations for the immediate human logistics..."

  The holographic display shifted, showing a new set of personnel categories. Dr. Smith tapped her tablet, and two new names appeared in blue light: "Dr. Mei Chen - Head of Agricultural Sciences" and "Sarah Chen - Human Operations Manager."

  Diego lifted the wine glass to his lips, savoring the rich flavor as he contemplated the weight of trust in their endeavor. The taste reminded him of shared bottles with his old unit - people he'd trusted with his life. Those bonds had been forged through combat and sacrifice, tested by fire and blood. Here, they'd have to build that kind of trust from scratch.

  He set the glass down, the crystal making a soft click against the polished table. "Every person we bring through that gateway needs to be vetted. Not just their skills - their character."

  The holographic display cast blue shadows across Dr. Smith's face as she frowned. "Finding people with the right skills is hard enough. Finding ones we can trust completely?"

  Diego thought of the water riots, of colleagues who'd followed AI directives instead of their conscience. Of friends who'd chosen career advancement over helping others. The memory of those betrayals still burned.

  "We will have to ensure that Sarah understands this." His fingers traced the stem of the wine glass. The Chen sisters had proven their integrity during the Climate Wars, but vetting others would be crucial. One wrong person, one leak to APU, and everything would collapse.

  Dr. Smith nodded, her expression serious. "Agreed. We can't afford any weak links."

  Diego watched her take another sip of wine, noting how her shoulders remained tense despite the casual gesture. The afternoon sun had shifted, casting longer shadows across the conference room.

  "What about family members of the people we bring on board?" Dr. Smith set her glass down, her fingers still wrapped around the stem.

  The question hit Diego like a punch to the gut. His mind immediately went to Manuel and Maria, to his grandchildren's faces. Isabella's gap-toothed smile when she'd lost her first tooth, Mateo's determined expression as he learned to ride a bike. The thought of leaving any of them behind made his chest tighten.

  He leaned forward, his cybernetic leg whirring softly with the movement. "Family stays together. Period." His voice came out rougher than intended. "We've seen what happens when systems tear families apart. I won't be part of that."

  The memory of separation camps during the Climate Wars flashed through his mind - children crying for parents they'd never see again, all because some AI decided it was the "optimal solution." He'd sworn then never to let that happen on his watch.

  "Besides," Diego continued, forcing his tone to remain steady, "people work better, fight harder, when they're protecting their own. We want committed people? Give them something worth fighting for."

  Diego watched as Olivia's shoulders relaxed slightly, the tension draining from her posture. His words about keeping families together had struck a chord. The fa?ade of the polished executive slipped further, revealing glimpses of the woman beneath - someone who understood the human cost of their decisions.

  She spoke up hesitantly: "At the start, we require individuals who can make a real impact - the workload is massive. Should we delay bringing in relatives until we've established ourselves properly in Haven?"

  Diego shook his head firmly. "That's exactly what APU did - prioritizing efficiency over humanity. Look where that got us." He gestured to the holographic display, its blue light casting strange shadows across their faces. "Every person we bring through needs to be all-in, committed to building something better. You don't get that by asking them to abandon their families."

  The wine in his glass caught the light as he lifted it, studying the deep red liquid. "Besides, separating families creates vulnerabilities. People get desperate when their loved ones are at risk. Better to have them working together from the start."

  He watched understanding dawn in Olivia's eyes. The rigid set of her shoulders softened further as she nodded, accepting his logic. It wasn't just about keeping families together - it was about building a foundation of trust and loyalty that would sustain them through whatever challenges Haven might present.

  "You're right," she said, her voice stronger now. "We're not just building a research station or a military outpost. We're building a community."

  Diego's throat tightened as he forced out the words. "My daughter and her family will need to come through eventually, but their immediate skill sets aren't needed right now."

  The admission felt like gravel in his mouth. His cybernetic leg twitched, a nervous tic he'd developed since the implant. The holographic display cast an eerie blue glow across his face as he stared at the personnel requirements.

  Manuel's police background and Maria's environmental consulting work weren't critical for the initial setup. The thought of leaving them behind, even temporarily, made his stomach churn. Isabella's face flashed through his mind - her bright eyes when she showed him her latest drawings, her endless questions about his military days. And little Mateo, just starting to show interest in his father's work...

  He reached for his wine glass, needing something to steady his hands. The rich burgundy liquid couldn't wash away the bitter taste of his words. How many times had he criticized APU for making these same kinds of choices? Yet here he was, prioritizing skills over family.

  "They'll understand," he said, more to himself than to Dr. Smith. "Maria's smart - she'll know why we have to do it this way."

  But would she? Would any of them? The memory of Isabella's last birthday party surfaced - her delight at the old-fashioned paper book he'd found for her, Manuel's approving nod at the gift choice. The thought of missing more moments like that made his chest ache.

  Diego watched as Olivia set down her wine glass, her expression softening.

  "Actually, Maria's environmental work could be valuable sooner than you think. We'll need someone who understands Earth's ecological systems to help us analyze Haven's environment. And Manuel's law enforcement background..." She tapped her tablet, bringing up a new personnel category. "We'll need someone to establish protocols, maintain order. These aren't just military operations we're running."

  The knot in Diego's chest loosened slightly. He hadn't considered Maria's expertise from that angle. His cybernetic leg whirred as he shifted in his chair, leaning forward to study the new category on the holographic display.

  "Plus," Olivia continued, "Isabella and Mateo would be perfect test subjects for how children adapt to Haven's environment. We need to understand how the next generation will develop there."

  Diego's hand tightened around his wine glass. The thought of his grandchildren as test subjects didn't sit well, but he understood the logic. They needed to know Haven was safe for everyone, not just hardy adults.

  "How soon?" The question came out rougher than he intended.

  "Once we've established basic infrastructure and confirmed Haven's safety parameters. A few months, maybe less." Olivia's eyes met his across the table. "We're not APU, Diego. We're not leaving families behind."

  Diego swirled the wine in his glass, his mind racing through combat scenarios. Years of military experience had taught him to look for weak points, vulnerabilities that could be exploited. Right now, he saw too many.

  "Security's my biggest concern. We need a proper defense force - both here and on the other side. For all we know, there could be dinosaurs prowling around Haven."

  The memory of past operations gone wrong flashed through his mind. Too many good soldiers lost because of inadequate intel and poor planning. He set the glass down with a sharp click against the table.

  "Those drones are impressive, but their range is limited," Diego said, frustration evident in his voice. "They won't be much help on Haven except our immediate area. And this facility? One determined strike team could shut us down before we even start the evacuation." He ran a hand through his hair, grimacing.

  Olivia added notes to her tablet, the blue glow from the holographic display cast shadows across her concentrated expression.

  "The drone surveillance shows no large predators in Haven, but you're right - we can't rule out hidden threats. And the facility's security does need strengthening." She looked up, meeting his gaze. "What would you recommend?"

  Diego's mind raced through potential candidates, faces from past operations flashing through his memory. Most of his old contacts were either dead, compromised, or too deeply embedded in APU's system to be trustworthy. His cybernetic leg twitched as he considered the risks of bringing in the wrong person.

  "We need a dedicated security specialist. Someone who knows tactical ops inside and out. Setting up defensive positions, organizing patrol routes, training civilian security teams." Diego leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Most of these people we're bringing over won't have combat experience. They'll need protection while they build their new home."

  The wine in his glass caught the afternoon light, reminding him of blood on Bangkok streets. He'd seen too many civilians caught in crossfire, too many operations go wrong because of inadequate security measures. The thought of Isabella and Mateo being vulnerable in an alien environment made his stomach clench.

  Olivia nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I agree. Do you have someone in mind? Someone you trust?"

  Diego's fingers drummed against the table as memories of past missions surfaced.

  Diego's cybernetic leg whirred as he shifted in his chair, the sound barely audible over the hum of the holographic display. His mind raced through potential candidates - Emily's team was solid, but they needed more. Much more.

  "Maybe. But first I need to know our exact numbers. How many security personnel can we support without compromising space for essential civilians?"

  Olivia tapped her tablet, bringing up a new set of figures. The blue light cast harsh shadows across her face as she studied the data. "With our current stabilization resources, we can manage twelve more gateway openings. Each opening can transport approximately twenty people."

  Diego did the quick math - two hundred and forty people total. His jaw clenched as he considered how quickly those spots would fill up. Scientists, engineers, medical staff, their families... Security would need to be lean but effective.

  "That's not much to work with," he muttered, taking another sip of wine. The rich flavor did nothing to ease the tension in his shoulders. Two hundred and forty souls, all depending on his ability to keep them safe in an alien environment. The responsibility felt heavier than any combat mission he'd led.

  Olivia nodded, her expression grim. "We need to balance security needs with other essential personnel. Dr. Chen's agricultural team alone will require at least fifteen spots."

  Diego's fingers tightened around the wine glass as he thought of his old unit. Good people, trusted people, who'd had his back through the worst of the resource wars. But with such limited spaces, every security position would mean one less spot for someone with critical survival skills.

  "Show me the current personnel breakdown," he said, leaning forward to study the holographic display more closely. They'd need to be strategic about this - maximize combat effectiveness with minimal headcount.

  Diego watched as Olivia adjusted the personnel numbers on her display, the blue light reflecting off her wine glass. He drummed his fingers as he calculated patrol schedules in his head. Years of combat experience had taught him the brutal mathematics of security - how many bodies it took to maintain a defensive perimeter, how quickly fatigue could compromise effectiveness.

  "So with that?" He set the glass down. "What maybe thirty for security?" The math rolled through his head, factoring in patrol rotations, defensive positions, and response teams. "That could work, assuming we get the right people. I'd want at least five drone operators - folks who can handle both aerial and ground units. And we'll need dedicated combat medics."

  The memory of field operations gone wrong flashed through his mind - good soldiers lost because medical help couldn't reach them in time. His fingers traced the condensation on his wine glass as he pictured Emily's current security team. They were solid, but nowhere near enough for what they were planning.

  Olivia frowned at her tablet, adjusting figures. "Thirty seems high, given our total capacity. Could we make do with twenty-five?"

  Diego shook his head, remembering nights in Bangkok when his unit had been stretched too thin. "Twenty-five leaves no redundancy. One injury, one illness, and we've got gaps in our coverage." His cybernetic leg whirred as he leaned forward. "And we're not just protecting the facility - we need boots on the ground in Haven too. Two separate locations, two complete security setups."

  The holographic display shifted, showing the personnel allocations in stark blue numbers. Diego felt the familiar weight of command. Two hundred and forty lives. Two hundred and forty souls depending on him to keep them safe.

  Diego shifted in his chair, memories of battlefield triage flashing through his mind. "Combat medics are worth their weight in gold. They're not just doctors - they're soldiers who can treat wounds under fire, handle emergency surgeries in the field, and still put rounds downrange when needed. Had one save my ass in Malaysia during the Resource Wars. Guy patched me up while calling in air support and keeping hostiles pinned with his sidearm."

  The medic's face flashed in his mind, a young kid named Anderson who'd looked barely old enough to drink. Kid had steady hands though, even with bullets flying. Anderson had gone on to become one of the best trauma surgeons in the APU, last Diego had heard. The kind of multi-talented person they desperately needed for Haven.

  His cybernetic leg twitched as phantom pain shot through his thigh, remembering the firefight where Anderson had saved him. The kid had worked fast, stemming the blood loss while coordinating with the quick reaction force. If it hadn't been for those steady hands and quick thinking, Diego would have bled out in that jungle.

  "I'd say minimum six combat medics. They can rotate between security duties and medical support, plus train civilians in basic field medicine. Essential for a pioneer operation like this."

  Diego leaned back, his cybernetic leg whirring softly as memories of field hospitals flashed through his mind. He'd seen combat medics turn civilians into capable field medics within weeks - necessity was one hell of a teacher.

  "Anderson could. He's got the patience for teaching, plus combat experience from Malaysia." Diego took another sip of wine. "Last I heard, he was running the trauma department at Phoenix General. Haven't talked to him in years, but..." He trailed off, remembering Anderson's disgust at APU's automated triage systems.

  Diego stared into his wine glass, memories of past evacuations washing over him. The screams in Malaysia still haunted his dreams - civilians caught in the crossfire when their extraction went sideways. Good people died that day because of poor planning and insufficient medical support.

  "Lost a whole family in Malaysia." His voice came out rougher than intended. "Father took a round protecting his kids. Combat medic did everything right, but we didn't have enough blood supplies. Kids made it to evac. Mother bled out on the chopper." He took a long drink. "Won't let that happen again."

  Olivia's expression softened. She twisted her wedding ring - a habit Diego had noticed earlier. "I understand. We lost Aiden, my husband, during the initial gateway tests. He insisted on being the first through, wanted to prove it was safe." She drew a shaky breath. "The gateway wasn't properly calibrated. The feedback loop... he never made it back."

  Diego recognized the look in her eyes - the same haunted gaze he saw in the mirror some mornings. The weight of command decisions, of lives lost under your watch. He'd carried that burden for decades.

  "That's why you stayed, even after APU pulled funding?"

  "Yes." Olivia's fingers traced the rim of her glass. "I couldn't let his death be meaningless. Had to make it work, make it safe. For everyone else's sake."

  Diego nodded. He understood that drive all too well - the need to ensure others didn't suffer the same losses.

  The holographic display cast blue shadows across the conference room as Diego pulled out his secure comm unit. "Mind if I make a quick call?"

  Olivia nodded, and Diego punched in the old emergency frequency he and Anderson had used during the wars. A long shot, but Anderson had always been paranoid about keeping his backup channels open.

  After three tense seconds, the comm crackled to life. "This better be important, old man. I'm up to my elbows in someone's chest cavity."

  Diego couldn't help grinning at the familiar voice. "Still patching up lost causes, Mike?"

  "Someone has to, since you're not around to create more work for me." There was a pause, followed by muffled instructions to a nurse. "Give me two minutes to wrap this up."

  Diego glanced at Olivia, who was watching the exchange with raised eyebrows. "Anderson's the best combat medic I've ever worked with. If we can get him on board, he'll have a training program up and running before the first week is out."

  The comm crackled again. "Alright, I'm here. What kind of trouble are you stirring up now, Martinez?"

  Diego's cybernetic leg twitched as he considered how to approach the subject. "How's the Exodus prep treating you? Still on the candidate list?"

  "Fuck that noise." Anderson's voice crackled with static and bitter amusement. "APU's automated selection system kicked my whole family off the list last month. Apparently, my wife's arthritis makes her a 'resource drain.' Twenty years of military service, and this is what we get."

  Diego exchanged a knowing look with Olivia. Another good person screwed by the system. "Your kids?"

  "Sara's seventeen now, top of her class in biology. Jimmy's fifteen, already building his own drones." Pride mixed with frustration in Anderson's voice. "But according to the AI, they're 'non-essential dependents' since they're not old enough for specialized training. Load of bullshit."

  The familiar anger rose in Diego's chest. He'd heard too many similar stories - good people left behind because they didn't fit the AI's perfect metrics. "The ships aren't the only way off this rock, Mike."

  A long pause followed. When Anderson spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper. "What are you saying, old man?"

  "Saying maybe we should catch up. In person. Like the old days."

  "Give me a time and place. I've got forty-eight hours before my next shift."

  Diego's shifted in his chair, the familiar sound a counterpoint to the static-filled silence on the comm. He could picture Anderson weighing the risks, running through contingencies like the thorough bastard he'd always been.

  "If you and your wife could make it down to Playa del Carmen, I can have Mia bring you to our location." Diego kept his voice steady, professional. The same tone he'd used during countless operations when lives hung in the balance.

  "Playa del Carmen?" Anderson's voice crackled with suspicion. "That's cartel territory these days."

  "Trust me, we've got arrangements." Diego glanced at Olivia, who nodded in confirmation. "The local players know to leave our people alone."

  Another pause, longer this time. Diego could hear muffled voices in the background, probably hospital staff passing by Anderson's office.

  "When?"

  "Day after tomorrow. Gives you time to wrap up your shift and make travel arrangements." Diego's fingers drummed against the conference table. "Bring basic gear, nothing military. Tourist cover."

  "Like Bangkok?" Anderson's voice held a hint of dark humor.

  "Better weather this time." Diego allowed himself a small smile at the memory. "And no one's shooting at us. Yet."

  "Copy that." The comm crackled. "Sara and Jimmy?"

  "Bring them. We need young blood." Diego caught Olivia's approving nod. "Smart kids with tech skills and biology knowledge? They'll fit right in."

  Diego's cybernetic leg whirred as he shifted in his chair, a grin spreading across his face at Anderson's words. Emily Carter - one of the best combat medics he'd ever worked with and married to an equally skilled doctor. The pieces were falling into place.

  "Doc Carter's exactly the kind of talent we need," Diego said, his mind already running through the possibilities. Having both Andersons on the medical team would be a massive advantage. "Johnson's unit could spare her, considering APU's cutting their funding anyway."

  "You know Sgt. Carter though," Anderson said with a grin, "she will have to check in with her boss to see about coming down."

  Diego chuckled, remembering Emily's dedication to protocol even in the most chaotic situations. She'd once insisted on filing a proper requisition form for medical supplies while under heavy fire in Malaysia. "Yeah, well, tell her to give Johnson a heads up. He's been looking for an exit strategy since the budget cuts started."

  The comm crackled with Anderson's laugh. "Two combat medics for the price of one, eh? Plus our kids who actually know their way around tech and bio studies. When did you become such an optimist, old man?"

  "Not optimism, Mike. Just good tactical planning." Diego glanced at Olivia, who was rapidly updating her personnel notes. "We need the best, and your family fits the bill perfectly."

  "Ok see you guys soon." Diego disconnected the call, his cybernetic leg whirring as he leaned back in his chair. The familiar weight of command settled over him - each decision now affecting not just soldiers, but entire families.

  He turned to Olivia, who was still updating her personnel files. "Anderson's one of the best. Having him and his wife on the medical team will give us combat-trained doctors who can handle themselves in the field. Their kids are a bonus - young minds who understand both tech and biology."

  The holographic display flickered as Olivia adjusted the numbers. The blue glow reminded Diego of night operations, planning missions while everyone else slept. But this wasn't just another military operation. This was about saving people the system had discarded.

  His leg twitched as he remembered Anderson patching him up in Malaysia, steady hands working even as bullets flew overhead. The man hadn't changed much since then - still fighting to save lives, still refusing to accept the AI's cold calculations.

  "We'll need to arrange transport from Playa del Carmen," Diego said, his mind already mapping out security protocols. "Mia can handle the pickup, but we'll need Emily's drones for surveillance coverage."

  The wine in his glass had gone warm, forgotten during the call. Diego pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand. Four more people added to their manifest - four more lives he'd be responsible for protecting. But these weren't just numbers on a spreadsheet. These were people he trusted, people who could help build something real in Haven.

  His fingers drummed against the conference table as he considered their next steps. Getting Anderson's family here was just the beginning. They still needed more security personnel, more specialists who could handle the challenges of pioneering a new world.

  Diego paused thoughtfully, memories of joint operations with Johnson's unit flooding back. The countless missions where their paths had crossed during the Resource Wars, each one cementing his respect for their capabilities.

  "So Sgt Carter works with another unit? Do you know anything about the people on that unit? Are they a viable option?" Olivia asked, her fingers hovering over her tablet.

  Diego nodded, a slight smile crossing his weathered face. "Carter's been with Johnson's team for years. They're more than viable - they're exactly what we need. Combat experience, specialized skills, and most importantly, they're all sick of APU's automated bullshit. Johnson's been looking for an alternative since they cut his unit's funding last month."

  Hise remembered their last conversation, the frustration in Johnson's voice when he'd described how the AI had classified his entire unit as "tactically redundant" despite their successful mission record.

  "Johnson's unit is solid. Hand-picked specialists, each one worth their weight in gold." His cybernetic leg whirred as he leaned forward. "Captain Alex Johnson - 'Hawk' to his team - runs a tight ship. Man's got more combat experience than half the APU command combined."

  Diego took another sip of wine, organizing his thoughts. "They've got Liam O'Reilly - goes by 'Tech' - best electronics specialist I've ever worked with. Guy can hack anything that runs on power. Then there's Jack O'Connor - 'Sparky' - who's already agreed to help us with the power systems here."

  The holographic display cast blue shadows across his face as he continued. "The whole unit's been getting the shaft from APU lately. Budget cuts, resource restrictions, the usual bureaucratic bullshit. Last I heard, they were running missions with outdated gear because the AI deemed them 'non-essential' for equipment upgrades."

  "They might be just what we need. I could leave Johnson to blend his team with the folks here and then build out the team with law enforcement personnel. That would help shape the unit long term from a combat unit to a home protection force" he said as he considered the idea.

  Diego set his glass down, pushing aside memories of Malaysia. Time to focus on the future, not the past. "Tell me more about Haven. Your drones must have gathered substantial data by now."

  Olivia's entire demeanor changed. The haunted look vanished, replaced by an eager gleam in her eyes. She waved her hand, bringing up a holographic display of terrain data.

  "The gateway opens onto a plateau overlooking a valley. Rich soil composition, similar to Earth's most fertile regions. Atmospheric readings show slightly higher oxygen content than Earth - about twenty-three percent." Her fingers danced through the display, zooming in on specific areas. "Fresh water sources throughout the valley, and preliminary soil samples indicate high mineral content perfect for agriculture."

  Diego studied the topographical layout. The plateau offered excellent defensive positions, with clear lines of sight across the valley. "Temperature ranges?"

  "Moderate. We've recorded variations between fifteen and twenty-eight degrees Celsius. Seasonal patterns suggest a climate similar to Mediterranean regions." She pulled up another overlay showing weather patterns. "Predictable rainfall, no extreme weather events recorded so far."

  The display shifted to show dense vegetation. "The plant life is remarkably similar to Earth's. We've identified several edible species that could supplement our food supplies immediately. The soil chemistry suggests we could start growing Earth crops with minimal modification."

  Diego leaned forward, noting the natural barriers - cliffs, rivers, dense forest sections. Good choke points for security. But something else caught his attention in the data scroll. "These mineral readings..."

  "Yes." Olivia's eyes lit up. "Rich deposits of rare earth elements, including the ones we need for the gateway. Once we establish mining operations, we could potentially increase our transport capacity significantly."

  Diego shifted in his chair, mind cataloging the essential roles they'd need. The list kept growing - each position critical for survival.

  "What about agriculture specialists? Keeping people fed is as important as keeping them breathing."

  "We have two botanists already." Olivia pulled up personnel files on the holo-display. "Dr. Chen, I mentioned earlier, specializes in crop adaptation and Dr. Rodriguez in soil chemistry. But we could use more hands - especially those with practical farming experience."

  Diego rubbed his chin, considering their medical readiness. "What about total medical personnel?"

  "Right now?" Olivia pulled up another holographic display. "We have one field medic, Sarah Chen - Dr. Chen's sister. She's got experience from the Climate Wars, but she's not a full doctor. We have one general practitioner and two nurses."

  One medic for an expanding colony was a recipe for disaster. He'd seen too many operations go sideways from lack of medical support.

  "That's not nearly enough. Anderson and Carter will help, but we need more. I've seen Sarah work - she's good in crisis situations, but we need specialized medical knowledge too." He scrolled through the personnel files. "What about equipment? Medical supplies?"

  "Basic field hospital setup." Olivia gestured to another section of the display. "Automated diagnostic systems, emergency surgical suite, standard trauma kits. Nothing fancy, but functional."

  Diego nodded, mentally adding medical supplies to his growing list of requirements. "We'll need to expand that. Anderson can give us a full inventory of what's needed once he's here. Man can squeeze a year's worth of supplies out of a basic med kit - saw him do it in Malaysia."

  The memory of Anderson working miracles with limited supplies during the Resource Wars made Diego even more certain about bringing him on board. They'd need that kind of resourcefulness in Haven.

  "I'll have Kaito add medical supplies to our acquisition list," Olivia said, making notes on her tablet. "Any specific items you know we'll need?"

  "Let's wait for Anderson's assessment. He'll know exactly what we need for long-term survival." Diego's leg whirred as he shifted in his chair. "Though I can tell you now, we'll need more than just trauma care. People get sick, babies get born, teeth need fixing. We need to plan for everything."

  Olivia made notes on her tablet. "The goal is complete self-sustainability within the first year. Each specialist plays a crucial role - the botanists ensure our crops adapt to Haven's soil, the medical team keeps our population healthy, engineers maintain our infrastructure." She paused, pulling up another file. "We've also identified several medicinal plants in Haven. That's why we need people who understand both Earth medicine and can study new biological compounds."

  "Makes sense." Diego rubbed his chin, thinking of the makeshift clinics he'd seen during the Wars. "Need to plan for everything - broken bones, infections, childbirth. Can't exactly call for emergency evac once we're through that gateway."

  "We need people who've proven themselves under pressure," he said. "People who've faced impossible odds and didn't break. I've got a few names in mind - good people who got pushed aside by the APU's politics. People I'd trust with my life."

  Diego drained his wine glass and set it down with purpose. Every hour they delayed meant another hour the APU could discover their plans. He'd seen too many operations fail because people waited too long to act.

  "We need to move fast. The exodus ships launch in eight months. That's our deadline." He pulled out his secure comm unit. "I can have my first picks here within seventy-two hours. Good people - the kind who know how to keep their mouths shut and get things done."

  "That soon?" Olivia straightened in her chair, her eyes bright with renewed energy. She swept the personnel files from the holo-display with a quick gesture. "I'll need to prepare the facility, get temporary quarters ready. And we'll need to coordinate security protocols for their arrival."

  "Already working on it." Diego's fingers flew over the comm unit's interface. "Jack can upgrade your power grid, and Alexis knows more about defensive systems than anyone I've met. Those two combined with Emily, they'll have this place running at peak efficiency within weeks."

  Olivia leaned forward, her earlier exhaustion seemingly forgotten. "This is really happening, isn't it? After all these years of theoretical work and failed tests..." She gathered her tablet and wine glass with quick, decisive movements. "I'll need to brief the current team, get everything ready. Your people will need security clearances, access codes..."

  Diego watched her renewed enthusiasm with satisfaction. Sometimes people just needed someone to light the fuse - get things moving. He recognized the look in her eyes now - the same determination he'd seen in soldiers who'd found their second wind during crucial missions.

  "Let's start with Jack and Alexis," he said. "Once they're in place, we can begin bringing in the others. Less attention that way."

  Diego studied the holographic display, the pieces falling into place in his mind like a well-planned operation. This wasn't just another evacuation mission or defensive position - this was a chance to build something real, something lasting. After years of watching the world crumble under AI control and resource wars, here was an opportunity to start fresh.

  His cybernetic leg whirred softly as he shifted in his chair, remembering the faces of those he'd seen crushed by the system - families torn apart by AI efficiency metrics, soldiers discarded when algorithms deemed them redundant. But here, in this facility on a forgotten island, they were gathering the right people. People who could think, adapt, and most importantly, care about more than just optimal outcomes.

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  The personnel files floating in the holographic display represented more than just skill sets and experience. Anderson's steady hands during combat surgery, Carter's unwavering dedication to her patients, Johnson's tactical brilliance - these were people who understood that humanity couldn't be reduced to numbers in a database.

  "Dr. Smith," he said, his voice carrying the weight of decades of command experience, "I think we make a damn good team. You've got the science, I've got the tactical experience, and together we're building something that could actually work."

  "Agreed." Olivia extended her hand across the table. "Partners?"

  Diego clasped her hand firmly, feeling the calluses that spoke of long hours working with tools and machinery. Not just a scientist in an ivory tower - a builder, a doer. Someone he could trust in the trenches.

  "Partners. Let's make Haven real."

  Diego jabbed at the holo-comm controls, fighting the urge to slam his fist into the console. The quantum-encrypted connection refused to establish, throwing up error messages in angry red text. He'd faced down AI drones and survived resource wars, but somehow technology always found new ways to piss him off.

  "Having trouble?"

  He turned to see Olivia entering the conference room, a tablet tucked under her arm. Her lab coat was stained with grease, evidence of her earlier work on the oscillation dampener.

  "Damn thing won't connect." Diego gestured at the holographic display. "Used to be you could just pick up a phone and call someone."

  "Here." Olivia set her tablet down and moved to the console. Her fingers flickered across the controls. "Easier than setting a timer on an oven." The display flickered, then stabilized into a waiting connection screen. "There."

  Diego grunted his thanks, impressed despite himself. He'd seen PhD types who couldn't change a light bulb, but Olivia clearly knew her way around equipment.

  "Mind if I sit in?" She pulled out a chair. "I have some technical specifications Kaito requested about the portal's power requirements."

  "Be my guest." Diego settled into his own chair, watching the connection progress bar inch forward. "Better you explain the technical details anyway. Last time Kaito asked me about quantum mechanics, I told him it was magic and changed the subject."

  Olivia laughed, a genuine sound that echoed off the conference room's walls. "Sometimes I think quantum mechanics is just magic with better math."

  The holo-comm chimed, indicating an incoming connection. Diego straightened in his chair, switching from casual to business mode.

  The holo-comm flickered to life, revealing Kaito's immaculate form. He straightened his already perfect tie and gave a slight bow. Diego fought back a smile - some habits died hard, even in informal meetings.

  "Mr. Martinez, Dr. Smith." Kaito's voice came through crystal clear. "I trust the facility upgrades are proceeding as planned?"

  "We're getting there," Diego said. "Olivia's team has the portal stabilized, and we're working on power distribution issues."

  "Excellent." Kaito's image shifted slightly as he settled into what Diego recognized as his favorite chair in the Tokyo office. "I've reviewed the personnel requirements you sent. Very thorough. I believe I have someone perfect for your network security needs."

  Olivia leaned forward, her tablet displaying a set of technical specifications. "Before we discuss candidates, I wanted to thank you for the quantum processors you supplied last month. They've significantly improved our portal stability."

  "It was my pleasure, Dr. Smith. Your success is paramount to all our futures." Kaito's expression softened slightly. "Now, regarding our potential network specialist - shall we establish contact?"

  Diego nodded. "Luna is that good!"

  "The best." Kaito's lips curved into a slight smile. "Though I should warn you - she has some... unique personality traits."

  "Don't we all?" Diego exchanged a knowing look with Olivia. "Let's make the call."

  Diego studied the holographic image of the young woman that materialized next to Kaito. Luna's poorly maintained red hair clashed with her professional demeanor, roots showing through like a badge of rebellion. Her eyes darted around, taking in the conference room's layout through the holo-feed.

  "Nice setup you've got there." Luna popped her gum, the sound carrying clearly through the quantum connection. "Though your firewall could use some work. Found three backdoors already."

  Diego's eyebrows shot up. He hadn't even told her where they were broadcasting from. Next to him, Olivia shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

  "Luna," Kaito's tone carried a gentle warning. "Perhaps we should focus on the matter at hand."

  Diego leaned forward, studying Luna's holographic form. Her skills were legendary in certain circles - the kind of circles that didn't officially exist. The kind that kept humanity's infrastructure running when AI systems threatened to take over completely.

  "Luna, before we continue, I need to know - did the APU offer you a spot on the exodus ships?"

  The question had been nagging at him since Kaito mentioned her name. Someone with her abilities should have been high on their list. The APU's AI systems relied heavily on network security experts to maintain their quantum encryption protocols.

  Luna's holographic form bristled at Diego's question. Her fingers twitched, a gesture he recognized from hackers who itched to be at their keyboards.

  Luna's image crackled as she leaned forward, her face reddening. "Are you fucking kidding me? I wrote the entire operating system for those ships! The navigation systems, the life support controls, the communications array - all of it runs on my code. Thousands of lines written and debugged by yours truly. Do you have any idea how complex it is to maintain stable communications through quantum entanglement across light-years of space?"

  Diego caught Kaito's slight nod confirming Luna's claims. He'd suspected she was good, but this was another level entirely.

  "Then why-" Diego started.

  "Because I wouldn't let them integrate their precious AI systems." Luna's gum-popping punctuated her words like gunshots. "Told them it was a security nightmare waiting to happen. Can't have a human questioning the almighty AI, can we?"

  Olivia leaned forward, her scientific curiosity evident. "You designed a completely human-controlled operating system?"

  "Damn right I did," Luna's projection declared as she sat taller. "Each operation can be controlled by hand. No artificial intelligence making crucial choices behind closed doors. APU wasn't thrilled about that. Not that it's completely manual, mind you. I've got some basic automated systems helping with the heavy lifting, but humans always have the final say."

  Diego exchanged glances with Olivia. Someone who could design systems like that, who understood both the technical and human elements - that was exactly what they needed.

  "Luna," Diego kept his voice level, "how would you like to work on something that will never have AI integration? Something completely human-controlled similar to what you are talking about?"

  For the first time since the call began, Luna's angry expression cracked. Interest flickered across her features.

  Kaito's hologram smiled slightly. "I believe, Ms. Harper, you'll find this project aligns perfectly with your... philosophical stance on artificial intelligence."

  Diego couldn't help but grin as he watched Luna's hologram fidget. The way she kept glancing at her off-screen monitors reminded him of a caged tiger ready to pounce. Across from him, Olivia's smile widened, and even Kaito's usually stoic expression had cracked into an amused grin.

  Luna's scowl deepened as she took in their expressions. Her red hair seemed to bristle like an angry cat's fur. "What the hell are you all grinning about?"

  Diego watched Luna's hologram flicker as she processed Kaito's words. Her fingers drummed against an unseen desk, the sound carrying through the quantum connection with surprising clarity. The gesture reminded him of combat veterans he'd known - always ready to move, to act, to survive.

  "All in?" Luna's gum-popping ceased. "Like the exodus ships weren't 'all in' enough? Those bastards had me working sixteen-hour days for months."

  "This is different," Diego said. "No AI oversight. No corporate interests. Just humans trying to survive."

  Luna's eyes narrowed. "And what makes this so special that Mr. Perfect Suit here is involved?" She jerked her thumb toward Kaito's hologram.

  Diego glanced at Olivia, who gave him a slight nod. They'd discussed disclosure protocols earlier - who to tell, when to tell them. Luna's skills made her essential enough to risk it.

  "We found another way off this rock," Diego said. "Not ships. Something else entirely. But we need someone who can build secure systems from the ground up. Human-controlled systems."

  Luna's constant movement stilled. Even through the hologram, Diego could see the sharp intelligence in her eyes as she processed the implications. Her hand reached off-screen, and he heard the rapid clicking of keys.

  "Holy shit," she whispered. "The power signatures from your location... that's not normal fusion tech, is it?"

  Diego smiled. Of course she'd already traced their signal. "No, it's not. Want to see what we're building?"

  Kaito cleared his throat. "Luna-san, what we're about to discuss is extremely sensitive. You can walk away now, no questions asked. But if we continue, you'll need to be all in."

  Diego watched as Olivia's typed something on her tablet. The conference room's holographic display shifted, filling with swirling patterns of weather systems spanning the globe. Angry reds and yellows dominated the visualization, showing extreme temperature variations that hadn't existed thirty years ago.

  "I assume you understand why everyone's jumping ship?" Olivia asked Luna.

  The weather patterns morphed, showing the progression of the last two decades. Diego's jaw tightened as he watched the devastating changes unfold. The Midwest's once-fertile farmland had transformed into an arid wasteland. Rising sea levels had swallowed coastal cities. Extreme weather patterns carved new scars across continents.

  Luna's hologram leaned forward, her earlier defiance replaced by grim understanding. "Yeah, I've seen the projections. Built some of the models myself. We've got what, maybe ten years before total agricultural collapse?"

  "Eight," Olivia corrected. "And that's our optimistic estimate."

  Diego remembered the riots he'd witnessed in Phoenix - desperate people fighting over water rations while AI systems calculated acceptable casualty rates. The memory of those screams still haunted his dreams.

  "The exodus ships are a band-aid," Luna said, her fingers drumming faster. "Even with my systems, the logistics of supporting that many people in deep space..." She shook her head. "Those colonization plans are more prayer than science."

  Diego nodded. He'd seen the real numbers, not the sanitized versions fed to the public. The exodus ships were humanity's Hail Mary pass, thrown into the dark with more hope than certainty.

  The holographic display zoomed in on North America, showing the creeping desertification that had triggered the wars. Diego had fought in those conflicts, watched good people die over dwindling supplies of water and food. Now, seeing the data laid out so clinically, he understood why even the AIs had started calculating evacuation scenarios.

  Diego watched Luna's hologram flicker as she processed the information. Her earlier bravado had faded, replaced by the calculating look he recognized from veterans assessing battlefield options. The conference room felt smaller somehow, more intimate, despite the discussion happening across quantum-encrypted channels.

  "Let me get this straight." Luna crossed her arms. "My choices are to die here with everyone else or do whatever mysterious thing you're planning that might keep me alive?"

  "Those aren't your only choices," Diego said, keeping his voice steady. "You could take your chances with the exodus ships. I'm sure the APU would love to have your expertise, even if they don't like your stance on AI."

  Luna's snort of derision echoed through the quantum connection. "Right. Because I'd love spending the next few decades trapped in a tin can with the same assholes who tried to override my security protocols with their precious AI systems."

  Diego caught Olivia hiding a smile behind her tablet. Even Kaito's usually stoic expression showed a hint of amusement. Luna's bluntness was refreshing after years of diplomatic double-speak and AI-mediated conversations.

  "Look," Diego said, "we're offering you a chance to build something new. Something completely human-controlled, like you wanted for the exodus ships. But I need to know - are you interested in hearing more, or should we end this conversation now?"

  Diego watched Luna's hologram intently as Olivia shifted in her seat.

  "We've created a breakthrough in quantum portal tech. Not for space travel, but to reach a parallel version of Earth - pristine and ready for settlement. We've named it Haven."

  Luna's constant movement froze. Her fingers stopped their endless drumming, and for several seconds, the only sound was the soft hum of the quantum connection. Diego had seen that look before - the moment when someone's entire worldview shifted. He'd worn it himself when Olivia first showed him the portal.

  "Bullshit." Luna's voice came out barely above a whisper. Her hologram flickered as she leaned forward. "That's... that's not possible. The energy requirements alone would be..."

  "Astronomical?" Olivia pulled up another set of specifications on her tablet. "You're right. That's why we can only open it twelve times with our current resources. Each opening requires rare stabilization metals that are nearly impossible to acquire now."

  Diego watched Luna's expression shift from disbelief to intense focus. Her eyes darted back and forth, likely reading data on screens they couldn't see. He recognized the look of someone running calculations in their head, testing possibilities against known physics.

  "You're serious." Luna's gum-popping resumed, but slower now, thoughtful rather than aggressive. "This isn't some elaborate joke?"

  "No joke," Diego said. "We've been there. Tested the atmosphere, soil samples, everything. It's Earth as it should be - before we broke it."

  Luna's gaze grew huge. "Count me in."

  Diego studied Luna's hologram, searching for any hint of hesitation. He'd seen too many people make snap decisions they later regretted. But her eyes held the same determined focus he'd noticed in survivors, people who understood exactly what they were getting into.

  "Can you be ready to leave in 48 hours?" Diego asked. "You won't be coming back, so pack what matters."

  Luna's fingers flew across her unseen keyboard. "I can be ready in 24. Just need to grab my equipment and torch everything else." Her gum-popping picked up speed. "Though I might need help getting my server rack out. That thing weighs a ton."

  "I'll have a team assist you," Kaito interjected smoothly. "They're quite experienced in... discrete relocations."

  Diego caught the slight emphasis on 'discrete' and nodded. Kaito's people knew how to move valuable assets without attracting attention. He'd worked with them before, back when the water wars first erupted.

  "What about my cat?" Luna's question caught Diego off guard. Her tough exterior cracked slightly. "I'm not leaving without Professor Whiskers."

  Diego exchanged glances with Olivia, who gave a slight nod. They'd already discussed allowing pets - maintaining some normalcy would be crucial for long-term success.

  "The cat comes too," Diego confirmed. "Just make sure it's up to date on vaccines. Our medical supplies are limited."

  "Done." Luna's hologram straightened. "here are my coordinates whenever you're ready. And uh, thanks. For not making me choose between Professor Whiskers and survival."

  Luna's hologram flickered out, leaving the conference room feeling oddly empty. Diego leaned back in his chair, his mind already calculating logistics for moving her equipment. The soft hum of the quantum connection filled the silence.

  "Well?" Diego looked between Kaito and Olivia. "What's your assessment?"

  Olivia tapped her tablet, bringing up Luna's technical credentials. "Her work on the exodus ships' operating systems is impressive. The fact she designed them to run without AI integration..." She shook her head in admiration. "That's exactly what we need."

  "She's unstable," Kaito said, his hologram shifting as he adjusted his tie. "But brilliant. And more importantly, she understands the stakes. I've worked with her before - she delivers results, even if her methods are... unconventional."

  Diego nodded, remembering Luna's fierce rejection of AI systems. That kind of conviction could be valuable, especially given what they were building. "And the cat?"

  "Professor Whiskers," Olivia corrected with a slight smile. "I think it's a good sign, actually. Shows she has something to care about beyond code."

  "Agreed." Diego had seen too many technical experts lose themselves in their work, forgetting the human element. Luna's attachment to her cat suggested she hadn't crossed that line, despite her obvious social quirks.

  Diego tapped his tablet, initiating another quantum connection. "Now we get Johnson and his group on the phone."

  The conference room's holographic display flickered as eight new figures materialized above the table. Diego leaned back in his chair, studying the holographic images of his old team floating above the conference table. Eight familiar faces stared back at him, their expressions a mix of surprise and curiosity.

  "Hawk, how the hell are you?" Diego's voice carried the warmth of decades of shared combat experience.

  "Martinez?" Johnson's hologram leaned forward, his weathered face breaking into a grin. "Damn, old man. Thought you'd retired to some beach somewhere."

  "You know me better than that, Hawk." Diego caught Olivia hiding a smile at the exchange. "Can't stay away from trouble for long."

  "Speaking of trouble," Bear Williams' deep voice rumbled through the connection, "what's with all the security protocols just to get on this call? Took us twenty minutes just to verify our identities."

  Diego noticed Ghost Lee and Blade O'Connor exchange knowing looks. As the team's tech specialists, they'd probably already figured out they were using quantum encryption.

  "That's actually part of why I called," Diego said, his tone shifting to the one he'd used during mission briefings. "I've got a proposition for all of you. One that might interest you more than those exodus ships you've been assigned to."

  The holograms shifted as his old team reacted to his words. Tech O'Reilly's eyebrows shot up, while Eagle Ramirez leaned closer to her camera. Doc Carter's usually calm expression showed a flicker of interest.

  Diego studied the familiar faces in the holograms, reading their expressions like he'd done countless times in the field. The years had added lines to their faces, but he still saw the same determination, the same readiness for action that had made them the best team he'd ever commanded.

  "Let me introduce Kaito Nakamura and Dr. Olivia Smith," Diego gestured to his companions. "But before we get into why I called - did the team get swept up to take care of?"

  "Yeah, about that," Hawk's hologram shifted uncomfortably. "APU's been... restructuring. Our entire unit got dropped from the exodus roster last week. Something about 'optimal resource allocation' and 'personnel efficiency metrics.'"

  Bear's massive frame tensed at the words. "Damn AI systems decided we were too old, too set in our ways. Said we wouldn't 'integrate effectively' with their automated security protocols."

  Diego caught Doc Carter rolling her eyes. "They wanted drones and yes-men, not soldiers who might question orders from a computer."

  The bitterness in their voices matched what Diego had felt when he'd received his own rejection. He glanced at Kaito, whose slight nod confirmed they'd made the right call in reaching out to the team now.

  "Sounds like the APU did us a favor," Ghost added, his quiet voice carrying the same dry humor Diego remembered. "Saved us the trouble of finding excuses to skip that space vacation."

  A few chuckles broke the tension, though Diego noticed Eagle's hand unconsciously checking where her sidearm would normally be - an old habit from their combat days that spoke volumes about their current stress levels.

  Diego shifted his attention to Doc Carter's hologram. Her question brought a slight smile to his face - trust her to cut straight to the point.

  "Yeah, Doc. Mike told you about our chat?"

  "He did. We've been discussing it with the kids." Carter's hologram flickered as she leaned forward. "Sarah's excited about the possibility, though Jimmy..." She shrugged. "You know teenagers."

  Diego nodded, remembering his own struggles with Maria at that age. "How's Mike feeling about it?"

  "Cautiously optimistic." Carter's expression softened slightly. "He's been running through worst-case medical scenarios, making lists of supplies we'd need. You know how he gets."

  Diego felt warmth spread through his chest. His old team, still together after all these years. He leaned forward, his expression turning serious.

  "Listen up. What I'm about to share is highly classified and compartmentalized. Anyone wants to back out, now's the time. No questions asked, no hard feelings. But once we start, you're all in. No halfway."

  The holograms shifted as his former team members exchanged glances. Diego caught the subtle nods between them - the same unspoken communication that had kept them alive through countless missions. Bear's massive frame straightened, while Ghost's usually impassive face showed a flicker of interest. Doc Carter's fingers drummed against something off-screen, a habit she'd developed during tense operations.

  Hawk broke the silence first. "Diego, we've followed you into hell more times than I can count. Whatever this is, we're with you."

  "Damn straight," Bear rumbled, his deep voice carrying the weight of decades of trust.

  Sgt. Ramirez hologram leaned forward, her sharp eyes focused. "Besides, not like we've got better offers on the table. APU made that pretty clear."

  Diego studied each face in turn, reading the determination in their expressions. These weren't just soldiers anymore - they were family. He'd fought beside them, bled with them, trusted them with his life countless times. Now he was about to trust them with something even bigger.

  The quantum encryption hummed softly in the background as Diego gathered his thoughts. The next few minutes would change everything - for his team, for their families, for the future they were trying to build.

  Diego nodded, gesturing to his companions. "Let me make proper introductions. This is Dr. Olivia Smith, quantum physicist and project lead. And Kaito Nakamura, our logistics specialist. Some of you might remember him from the Hydration Wars in Japan."

  Recognition flickered across several faces in the holograms. Bear's expression darkened slightly - he'd been there during the Osaka Drought Incident. But Doc Carter gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. She'd helped treat civilians after Kaito's team secured the water treatment facility.

  "Good to see you again, Nakamura-san," Ghost said quietly. His time stationed in Japan had left him with a deep respect for their customs.

  Kaito's hologram bowed slightly. "The honor is mine. Your team's reputation precedes you." He straightened, his expression turning businesslike. "How fast can your people get mobilized?"

  Diego watched his old team's reactions carefully. Years of combat experience had taught him to read the subtle shifts in their body language. Ghost's fingers twitched slightly - already mentally cataloging equipment. Eagle's posture straightened - the same alertness she showed before a mission. Even through the holograms, he could feel their focus sharpening.

  Bear spoke first, his deep voice thoughtful. "Depends on what you need us to move. Personnel? Equipment? Both?"

  "Everything," Diego said. "Full relocation. No coming back."

  Doc Carter's hologram leaned forward. "Our families?"

  "Non-negotiable part of the deal," Diego assured her. "We keep families together."

  Relief washed across several faces. They'd all seen what happened to military families during the resource wars - separations that became permanent as borders closed and communications broke down.

  Johnson leaned forward, his hologram flickering slightly. "What's the mission, boss?"

  Diego glanced at his old friend. "Basically, what you're doing now, plus some additional security work. You'll be training a civilian security force." He turned toward Olivia. "Dr. Smith can fill you in on the details."

  Diego watched his old team's reactions as Olivia stepped forward. The skepticism in their faces mirrored his own when he'd first heard about Haven. Through the quantum connection, he could see Bear's massive frame tense, while Ghost and Blade exchanged quick glances.

  "A parallel Earth?" Bear's deep voice carried his doubt. "You're saying you've built some kind of portal?"

  "Not just built it," Diego cut in before Olivia could respond. "I've been through it. Walked on the soil, breathed the air. It's Earth as it should be - before we broke everything."

  He noticed Doc Carter's expression shift from skepticism to intense focus. The same look she'd worn during mission briefings when analyzing potential medical risks.

  "The atmosphere is breathable?" she asked, her medical training evident in the question.

  "Identical atmospheric composition to Earth circa 1900," Olivia confirmed, pulling up environmental data on the holoprojector. "Before industrial pollution reached critical levels."

  Diego watched the data scroll past - oxygen levels, atmospheric pressure, radiation readings. He'd memorized these numbers himself, checked them against historical records. Each figure represented another piece of hope, another chance at survival.

  "Show them," Diego said quietly to Olivia.

  She nodded and tapped her tablet. The holographic display shifted, showing footage from their first expedition through the portal. Diego saw his team lean forward as the pristine landscape filled their view - untouched forests, clean rivers, clear skies unmarred by pollution or climate engineering attempts.

  Bear's skepticism faltered as he watched. "Those trees... they're like the ones from before the Resource Wars."

  "Because they are," Diego said. "Everything there is exactly as Earth was, just... unspoiled."

  "What's our operational capacity?" Sergeant Thompson asked. "How many people are we looking at protecting?"

  "Initially, two hundred civilians," Kaito answered. "With potential for more as we establish mining operations for the rare earth elements needed to stabilize the gateway."

  "My son's an agricultural engineer," Williams added. "Boy's got more degrees than a thermometer."

  The questions came rapid-fire. O'Connor mentioned his wife's expertise in drone operations, while Thompson spoke of her husband's background in sustainable farming. Each revelation felt like a piece clicking into place.

  Dr. Smith nodded and tapped her tablet. A detailed breakdown appeared on the main screen, the blue light casting shadows across her face. "Let me be clear about our needs for the first wave." She gestured at the scrolling data. "We require thirty security personnel - which you'll help fill. We need combat medics, surgeons, general practitioners - at least two surgeons, three GPs, and six nurses minimum. Someone versed in obstetrics is crucial."

  Diego studied the list as it continued. Drone operators, agricultural specialists, botanists, builders. Each category represented another piece of the survival puzzle.

  "If any of your relatives match these skill sets," Dr. Smith went on, her tone gentle yet resolute, "we can accept them immediately. Just keep in mind that those unable to assist with phase one will need to stay in the compound until we establish core systems. Everyone has to help ensure the colony's initial success. The first 200 settlers must succeed - otherwise no one else will follow."

  Captain Johnson's hologram straightened. "My wife's a trauma surgeon at Walter Reed. Twenty years' experience."

  "My daughter could cover emergency medicine and obstetrics," Carter added. "She's done rotations in both. Diego you know my husband he's the combat medic that drug you heavy ass to cover. He's a trauma surgeon now."

  The offerings continued - Williams' son with his agricultural knowledge, Thompson's husband with his farming background.

  Diego felt a smile tugging at his lips. "That's great - fewer positions we need to fill." He turned to Kaito's hologram. "Can you coordinate their pickup with Captain Johnson and the team?"

  Kaito nodded once, crisp and professional. "Yes."

  The holograms flickered out one by one, leaving Diego and Dr. Smith alone in the conference room. They both leaned back in their chairs, the weight of the day's accomplishments settling around them.

  "What a find," Dr. Smith breathed. "I never expected we'd secure so many qualified people in such a short time."

  Diego's lips curled into a knowing smile. "I was pretty sure we could pull some diamonds out of that coal. By the time this first round arrives, and Sarah Chen starts working with Kaito to fill the remaining spots, it'll be time to go before we know it."

  Dr. Smith's face brightened. "That truly is good news. I'll give Sarah a call with Mei later this evening. I'm certain she'll be on board." She tapped her fingers thoughtfully on the table. "I wonder what her husband does for a living?"

  Diego pushed back from the table. "If you'll excuse me, I need to check on those two sparkies. Make sure they haven't burned down the embarkation room."

  He turned to Dr. Smith. "Speaking of our electrical duo, how are Alexis and Jack adapting so far?"

  Diego shook his head wearily. "Jack's got this collection of prosthetic attachments for his artificial leg. One of them - a Halloween prop - looks exactly like a real dismembered limb. Last night while I was working in my room, Emily's shriek echoed through the facility. She'd discovered this fake leg propped behind her door." He sighed in frustration before continuing, "I rushed to her quarters to find her perched on the mattress, screaming. But here's the kicker - Jack had rigged the thing to bounce around on its own. Everything's settled now, but I'd steer clear of Cove if you spot Emily heading that way. She's definitely plotting her revenge."

  Diego watched Dr. Smith's expression shift from concern to barely contained amusement. Her shoulders started shaking, and she pressed her lips together in a futile attempt to maintain her professional composure.

  "I shouldn't laugh," she managed between suppressed giggles. "That's terrible." She took a deep breath, but her eyes still sparkled with mirth. "Though I have to admire the engineering that went into rigging a self-bouncing prosthetic leg."

  Diego rolled his eyes. "Don't encourage him. Jack's got enough ideas without an audience. Between his pranks and Alexis' obsession with finding new things to blow up, I'm starting to feel like I'm running a daycare instead of a security operation."

  "At least they're keeping morale up," Dr. Smith said, finally regaining her composure. "And their work on the power grid has been exceptional. The containment field's stability has improved significantly since they started."

  "True enough." Diego had to admit, despite their antics, both engineers were damn good at their jobs. "Just... maybe keep any expensive equipment away from Alexis. Yesterday I caught him eyeing one of the backup generators with that look he gets right before something explodes."

  Diego marched through the entrance of Cove HQ's shared space, his boots echoing against the polished floor. The room buzzed with activity, and he paused to take in the scene before him.

  Alexis and Jack huddled over a tablet, their heads close together as they gestured at something on the screen. Jack's latest leg attachment - painted in garish neon colors - stuck out from under the table. Emily sat nearby, pretending to ignore them while occasionally shooting suspicious glances their way.

  In the corner, Luna sprawled across two chairs, her boots propped up on a third as she typed furiously on her laptop. Her purple hair caught the light as she nodded along to whatever Peni was explaining, the two of them already falling into an easy working relationship.

  The Chen sisters occupied the far end of the room, their heads bent together in quiet conversation. Mei's tablet displayed what looked like agricultural diagrams, while Sarah made notes on her own device. Their efficiency reminded Diego of their reputation for getting things done.

  Mia lounged against the wall near the security team, trading war stories with Johnson and his crew. Carter's medical expertise had already drawn Anderson into their circle, the two of them discussing equipment needs for the medical bay.

  Diego felt something loosen in his chest. This ragtag group of misfits and specialists was starting to gel. He'd seen enough teams come together - and fall apart - to recognize when the pieces were fitting into place. These people weren't just colleagues anymore; they were becoming a unit.

  The familiar banter, the casual way they occupied each other's space, even the potential for chaos brewing between certain personalities - it all pointed to a team finding its rhythm. They'd need that cohesion where they were going. Haven wouldn't be forgiving of discord in the ranks.

  Diego moved forward, his footsteps cutting through the chatter. The conversations died one by one until silence filled the room. He caught Luna's eye and nodded toward the holo-comm controls.

  Luna's fingers flew across the interface, her purple hair falling across her face as she worked. The air above the central table shimmered as the holographic display activated, casting a soft blue glow across the gathered faces.

  "Listen up. Let's get this gathering started." Diego planted his hands on the table, scanning the faces before him. The familiar weight of leadership, not unwelcome, just different now that they weren't under APU control.

  Luna pulled up the first set of data streams, status reports from various sections floating in the air. Her combat boots thumped against the floor as she shifted to a better position, the sound echoing in the expectant quiet.

  "Comm's ok?" Diego asked, keeping his voice low.

  "Yes it's up and running." Luna's fingers danced across the controls. "Anyone tries to peek, all they'll see is maintenance logs for a tourist resort's pool filters." A hint of pride colored her voice. "Even got Professor Whiskers in there, sleeping on a pool chair."

  Diego suppressed a smile. Trust Luna to hide classified data behind cat photos. But her methods worked - they'd kept her off APU's radar for years. Now those same skills would help keep Haven's existence secret until they were ready.

  Diego gestured to the holographic figures that materialized above the table - Kaito in his immaculate suit and Dr. Smith with her lab coat. "Most of you have met them over holo-calls, but let's make it official. Kaito Nakamura and Dr. Olivia Smith."

  Kaito's holo-image gave a slight bow. "Your reputations precede you. I look forward to working together on this endeavor."

  "Dr. Smith's the brains behind Haven." Diego caught the slight flush on Olivia's face at the praise. "Without her work on the quantum gateway, none of this would be possible."

  "Please, just Olivia." She adjusted her glasses, her hologram flickering slightly. "And it wasn't just me - my team has been instrumental in getting us this far."

  Luna snorted from her corner. "Yeah, yeah, we're all awesome. Can we get to the part where we talk about not dying horribly in another dimension?"

  Diego shot Luna a look but noticed Olivia fighting back a smile. Good - she'd need that sense of humor where they were headed.

  "Right." Diego tapped the table, bringing up the latest scan data from Haven. "Let's get down to business."

  Olivia stepped forward, her formal blazer a stark contrast to the casual attire of the others. Diego noticed the slight tremor in her hands as she manipulated the holographic controls, bringing up complex quantum equations and gateway schematics that made his head spin.

  "My team and I have spent years developing this technology," Olivia said, her voice growing stronger with each word. "The quantum gateway operates on principles of dimensional resonance. We're not just punching holes in space-time - we're finding naturally occurring weak points between dimensions and stabilizing them."

  Diego crossed his arms, studying the rotating model of the gateway. The technical details went over his head, but he understood enough to know this wasn't like the science fiction movies his grandkids watched. This was real, tested, and dangerous as hell if handled wrong.

  "The breakthrough came when we stopped trying to force our way through," Olivia continued, highlighting specific sections of the equations. "Instead, we learned to listen for dimensional harmonics - places where our universe naturally brushes against others."

  Luna raised her hand, but Olivia was already nodding. "Yes, like ripples in a pond touching other ripples. The math is complex, but the principle is surprisingly elegant."

  Diego watched his team's reactions. The engineers - Jack and Alexis - were leaning forward, completely absorbed. Even Luna had stopped fidgeting with her laptop. But he caught the slight frown on Johnson's face, the way Carter's hand had drifted toward her medical tablet.

  "The gateway itself," Olivia manipulated the hologram again, "acts as both a stabilizer and a bridge. We're not creating a tunnel or a wormhole. We're more like..." she paused, searching for the right words, "we're more like tuning a radio to pick up a specific frequency. Only instead of music, we're accessing another dimension."

  Diego studied the holographic display as Olivia manipulated the quantum equations floating in the air. The complex mathematics meant little to him, but years of combat experience had taught him to focus on the practical implications.

  "Each gateway opening requires specific resources," Olivia explained, bringing up a new diagram. "We've identified rare earth elements and quantum-stabilized alloys that act as anchors between dimensions."

  Watching her study the data, Diego noticed Alexis's concerned expression as she considered their resource limitations. "What's our gateway capacity with the materials on hand?" she asked.

  "Twelve." Olivia's hologram flickered as she pulled up inventory data. "Each opening consumes a precise amount of stabilization metals. We can't skimp or substitute - the quantum harmonics are incredibly sensitive."

  "The stabilization resources are consumed during the process?" Jack asked, already knowing the answer but needing confirmation.

  "Yes." Olivia's expression grew serious. "Once used, the quantum-stabilized alloys break down at the molecular level. They can't be recycled or reused."

  Diego watched his team exchange glances. The finite number of gateway openings would make the evacuation schedule absolutely critical. No room for error, no second chances.

  "Kaito," Williams turned to the other hologram. "Any chance of securing additional stabilization metals?"

  Kaito's image shook his head. "The APU controls most known deposits. What we have was... acquired through careful negotiation. Getting more would draw unwanted attention."

  Diego fought back a smirk as Luna's voice cut through the tension.

  "Translation: stolen or bought on the black market." She didn't even look up from her laptop, her purple hair falling across her face as she continued typing.

  Diego caught Kaito's slight frown through the hologram. The Japanese businessman adjusted his perfectly tailored suit, a gesture Diego recognized as mild irritation.

  "The methods of acquisition are irrelevant," Kaito said, his tone clipped. "What matters is that we have enough stabilization metals for twelve gateway openings."

  Diego leaned back against the conference table, studying the faces around him. He'd worked with black market goods before - sometimes necessity trumped legality. But he needed to gauge how his team felt about it.

  Williams and Johnson exchanged knowing looks. They'd been in enough combat situations to understand that sometimes you worked with what you had, no questions asked. The Chen sisters kept their expressions carefully neutral, though Diego noticed Sarah's slight nod of approval.

  "Luna's right," Diego said, drawing everyone's attention. "Let's call it what it is. But she's also right that it doesn't matter. We've got twelve shots at this. That's what we work with."

  He watched Luna's lips curl into a satisfied smile as she continued her rapid typing. The girl had a talent for cutting through bullshit, even if her methods lacked diplomacy. In their current situation, that bluntness might be exactly what they needed.

  Diego straightened from his position against the conference table. The team needed clear direction, especially when it came to securing resources. Too many cooks in the kitchen would only lead to chaos - and possibly exposure.

  "If you need materials for mission success, run it through Kaito." Diego's voice carried across the room with the authority of someone used to being obeyed. "No independent acquisitions, no matter how good the deal looks."

  Luna's typing paused for a moment as she glanced up, a rebellious glint in her eye. Diego met her gaze steadily. He'd dealt with enough hackers and procurement specialists to know that sometimes the temptation to "help" could be overwhelming.

  "For essential personnel requests send that through Sarah Chen."

  Luna's fingers never stopped typing as she quipped, "Do male strippers count as essential personnel?"

  The room erupted in laughter. Even Kaito's hologram showed a rare smile. Diego watched Williams try to maintain his stern sergeant face and fail miserably, shoulders shaking with suppressed chuckles.

  Sarah Chen maintained her professional demeanor, though her eyes sparkled with amusement as she made a show of checking her tablet. "I'll add 'entertainment personnel' to the requirements list, shall I?"

  Diego shook his head, fighting back his own grin. Leave it to Luna to break the tension with inappropriate humor. But he noticed how the laughter had shifted the room's energy - the anxiety about limited resources giving way to something lighter, more manageable.

  Emily caught his eye from across the room and rolled her eyes at Luna's antics. But Diego saw the slight upturn of her lips. Good. They needed this mix of serious focus and irreverent humor to keep spirits up through what lay ahead.

  "Focus, people," Diego said, but without heat. These weren't fresh recruits needing discipline - they were professionals who knew when to joke and when to work. "Sarah's got final say on personnel additions. She'll coordinate with families and support staff to make sure we're not missing critical skills."

  The laughter died down, leaving behind a comfortable silence. Diego watched his team settle back into their seats, their faces still holding traces of amusement. Luna's purple hair bobbed as she returned to her typing, though her smirk remained firmly in place.

  Diego caught Mia's eye where she leaned against the wall. Her steady presence reminded him of countless missions where she'd pulled their asses out of the fire with her piloting skills.

  "For transportation funnel those requests through Mia." Diego gestured toward her. "She knows what our capabilities are and what we need to acquire."

  Mia straightened, her expression shifting from casual to professional in an instant. "I've already started compiling equipment lists. We'll need specialized vehicles for Haven's terrain, plus aircraft capable of handling whatever atmospheric conditions we encounter. We also have James to run transportation as well I will handle his schedulining."

  Diego nodded, remembering how she'd saved Kaito's life during that Pacific operation. If anyone could handle the logistics of moving people and equipment between dimensions, it was Mia. She had a knack for impossible situations - and this qualified as the most impossible yet.

  The room had fully settled now, the earlier levity giving way to focused attention. Even Luna's typing had slowed as she listened, though she tried to hide it behind her usual disaffected pose.

  Diego straightened, his old combat instincts kicking in as he addressed the security concerns. The weight of protecting these people - their families, their future - settled onto his shoulders like a familiar burden.

  "Captain Johnson will be heading up security concerns." Diego nodded toward his old friend. "His team's already proven themselves in worse situations than we're likely to face."

  Johnson stepped forward, his presence commanding attention without effort. The rest of his squad - Williams, Carter, and the others - shifted subtly, falling into their natural formations even in the casual setting of the conference room.

  "We'll be implementing a three-tier security system," Johnson said, his voice carrying the authority of years in command. "Emily's drones will handle perimeter surveillance. Williams will coordinate ground teams. Carter's in charge of medical response protocols."

  Diego watched the others react to Johnson's words. Luna had stopped pretending not to pay attention, her fingers still on her keyboard. The Chen sisters exchanged approving glances - they'd worked with Johnson's team before and knew their capabilities.

  "Each family unit gets basic security training," Johnson continued. "No exceptions. We're not running a civilian operation anymore - everyone needs to know how to respond in an emergency."

  Johnson looked toward Sarah. "Yes sir. Sarah, I'll send my personnel list after this meeting. Just let me know when you're ready to make those calls."

  Diego caught the slight tension in Sarah Chen's shoulders at those words. She dealt with civilian refugees during the Climate Wars - she knew how challenging it could be to turn ordinary people into a coordinated unit. But Johnson was right. They couldn't afford passengers where they were going.

  Diego turned to Emily. "You're heading up the drone and automation team. I need five people who can handle everything from swarm programming to long recon and survey mining rigs. Multi-rated operators preferred."

  Emily nodded sharply. "I've got three candidates in mind already. All ex-military with extensive drone experience. They can be here within forty-eight hours."

  "Jack, Alexis - coordinate with Sergeant Lee on clearing the LZ. That's priority one. Once we're ready for deployment, work with Emily's team on area clearance. And try to keep drone destruction to a minimum."

  Alexis' face fell. "Come on, boss. Not even one little explosion?"

  Diego ignored him and turned to Sarah. "Give us an update on Human Resources."

  Sarah tapped her tablet, bringing up a holographic list that hovered above the conference table. "We've confirmed thirty-eight families so far, primarily from military and scientific backgrounds. Dr. Anderson's medical team accounts for twelve of those slots."

  Diego studied the floating names, recognizing many from his past operations. Good people, reliable under pressure. The kind you wanted watching your back when things went sideways.

  "What about the agricultural specialists?"

  "Dr. Mei Chen has agreed to join us." Sarah's voice carried a hint of pride at mentioning her sister. "She's bringing four other botanists and their families. They're already working on seed preservation and hydroponics planning. Ethan Williams will also be joining us." Sarah smiled at Sgt. Williams, "you're absolutely right that young man has a lot of degrees.

  Sgt. Williams beams with pride, "Thanks."

  "Current headcount puts us at one hundred and seventy-three," Sarah continued, highlighting different sections of the list. "That includes support staff, security personnel, and their immediate families."

  Diego did the quick math - they'd need at least another sixty people to make the colony viable. But with only twelve gateway openings available, every slot had to count.

  "What's our skills gap looking like?"

  Sarah switched to another display. "We're light on maintenance technicians, especially those with water recycling experience. Could use more medical support staff too - nurses, pharmacists, that sort of thing."

  Sarah adjusted her tablet, bringing up detailed personnel files. "Dr. Anderson's bringing his entire trauma team - that's four surgeons including himself and his wife Emily. Plus three emergency medicine specialists."

  Diego nodded, remembering Michael's steady hands during combat operations. The man could perform surgery in a firefight without breaking a sweat.

  "What about general practice?" Diego asked, thinking of the day-to-day medical needs they'd face.

  "Two family physicians confirmed so far." Sarah scrolled through her list. "Dr. Chen's bringing her pediatrician and his family. We've also got a dentist and an optometrist in the mix."

  Diego caught Carter's slight frown. As their medical sergeant, she knew better than anyone what they'd need for a sustainable colony.

  "Sergeant Carter?" Diego prompted.

  "We're short on nursing staff," Carter said, her usual calm voice tinged with concern. "And we need more specialists - OB/GYN, orthopedics, that sort of thing. Plus pharmacy support."

  Sarah nodded in agreement. "I've got feelers out to several medical professionals who were rejected from the exodus program. Good people, just didn't meet the AI's optimization metrics."

  Diego remembered his own rejection letter. Sometimes the AI's "optimal" choices weren't worth a damn in real-world situations. He'd rather have a doctor with combat experience than one who scored perfectly on paper.

  "What about medical supplies?" he asked.

  "Dr. Anderson's coordinating with Kaito on that," Sarah replied. "They're focusing on equipment and medications we can't easily manufacture ourselves. Everything else, we'll need to produce on-site."

  Diego caught Olivia fidgeting with her hologram controls, a tell he'd noticed whenever she had information to share but wasn't sure how to bring it up. Time to give her an opening.

  "Dr. Smith, why don't you update the group on your latest animal trials?"

  Olivia's face brightened. She adjusted her glasses and pulled up a new holographic display showing medical readouts and test data.

  "We've successfully transported a rat through the gateway and back," she said, expanding the image to show video footage of the experiment. "The subject remained conscious throughout the entire process and showed no adverse physiological responses."

  Diego watched the footage of the small white rat moving naturally on the other side of the portal, its whiskers twitching as it explored its new environment. The animal seemed completely unfazed by the dimensional transition.

  "All test results have come back normal," Olivia continued, scrolling through various medical charts. "No cellular damage, no brain chemistry alterations, nothing to indicate any negative effects from the transport process."

  "The rat's still alive?" Luna asked, finally looking up from her laptop.

  "Yes, and thriving. We've been monitoring it for any delayed reactions, but so far everything points to the gateway being completely safe for organic matter."

  Diego nodded, understanding the significance. They'd all seen too many sci-fi movies where teleportation went horribly wrong. Having concrete proof that living creatures could survive the journey intact would help ease people's fears about the gateway.

  "How long was the rat on the other side?" Williams asked, his tactical mind already working through scenarios.

  "Four hours," Olivia replied. "We wanted an extended observation period to ensure there were no environmental factors we needed to account for."

  Diego shifted his weight, ready to move on to the next agenda item. "Kaito, update us on those resource deliveries."

  "Yes, the first shipment of rare earth elements will arrive via-" Kaito's hologram froze mid-sentence, his face twisted with concern. "Are you seeing this? Check the news feeds, now."

  Luna's fingers flew across her console. "Patching my glasses feed to the main screen."

  Multiple news broadcasts flickered across the display, their anchors speaking over each other in urgent tones.

  "Breaking news from the Pacific Ring of Fire," a BBC reporter announced. "Multiple earthquakes registering above 7.0 on the Richter scale have struck Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines simultaneously."

  The feed cut to CNN: "Tsunami warnings have been issued for coastal regions of Japan, Hawaii, and the entire Pacific basin. Residents are urged to evacuate immediately to higher ground."

  "Mount St. Helens has shown unprecedented activity," a local Washington state reporter shouted over the roar of helicopter blades. Behind her, red-hot lava poured from the mountain's crater. "Scientists report this is the first surface lava flow since the 1980 eruption."

  Al Jazeera's feed showed massive waves already hitting Japanese coastal cities. The reporter's voice crackled with static: "The first tsunami waves have reached Fukushima, with estimated heights of-"

  "Guys, the tsunami w-" Kaito's hologram dissolved into static, then vanished completely.

  Diego's stomach knotted as he watched the chaos unfold across the screens. Years of battlefield training had taught him this was merely the first wave.

  "Mia, prepare the aircraft," Diego commanded. "Luna, try to reestablish contact with Kaito - if the waves haven't reached his position yet, we need to coordinate his extraction."

  Luna nodded briskly. "Working on it, Commander." She paused, fingers flying across her console. "I may have a backup solution - assuming that relic is still functioning in orbit." Diego recognized her reference to Bruno, the ancient military satellite only she seemed to remember existed. He watched as she worked her magic, attempting to establish a connection. "There," she announced. "I believe I've found his personal comm unit. "

  Diego watched the console, his heart pounding as he waited for a response. Seconds ticked by intense silence, no sound or static to break the tension. Then, a voice crackled through the speakers.

  "Yeah, Luna, I'm alive. I've got a secure shelter that can withstand this level of flooding. As long as the waters recede in the next 48 hours, I should be alright. But I may need extraction after that."

  Relief flooded through Diego as he exhaled deeply. His muscles unclenched slightly, but decades of combat experience kept him from fully relaxing. Kaito was safe for now, but the situation remained volatile.

  "Listen, Kaito," Diego said, his voice steady despite the tension coursing through him. "I've got Mia here, and I'll arrange for some of Captain Johnson's personnel to head your way. Mia can work out the logistics for staging the rescue team nearby, keeping them within a few hours' reach once you make contact."

  He watched as Captain Johnson gestured toward three members of his security detail. Diego recognized Carter among them - good choice, given his medical background. If Kaito needed patching up, Carter could handle it.

  "Works for me," Kaito's voice crackled through the connection. Despite everything, the man still maintained his usual composure. "I'm going to get myself dry and pour myself something strong."

  "Understood," Diego replied, ending the transmission. He'd seen enough natural disasters to know this was just the beginning. The Ring of Fire didn't just wake up for nothing, and his gut told him worse was coming.

  He glanced around the room at his assembled team. Their faces showed varying degrees of concern, but they remained focused, professional. Diego had chosen well - these weren't the type to panic when things went sideways. They had work to do, and not much time to do it. Kaito's rescue was just one piece of a rapidly complicating puzzle. Diego knew from experience that in situations like this, every second counted.

  Diego straightened, his military bearing taking over as he addressed the room. "Alright people, you have your assignments. Johnson, get your team prepped for Kaito's extraction. I want them wheels up within two hours."

  "On it," Johnson replied, already moving toward the door with his selected team members.

  "Luna, stay on those comms. If Kaito's situation changes, I want to know immediately." Diego watched as she nodded, her fingers never stopping their dance across the keyboard.

  "Sarah, expedite those personnel calls. With these earthquakes, our timeline just got tighter." Diego caught her slight nod as she gathered her materials.

  "Dr. Smith..." He turned to Olivia, who was still studying the seismic data scrolling across her screen. "Let's meet in an hour to discuss power requirements. If we need to accelerate the gateway testing, I want to know our options."

  The room cleared quickly, each person focused on their tasks. Diego watched them file out, their determined expressions telling him they understood the gravity of the situation. These weren't just random disasters - the Ring of Fire was waking up, and they needed to be ready for whatever came next.

  Mia lingered by the door, waiting for final instructions. "I'll have the aircraft prepped and ready," she said. "Just give the word."

  Diego nodded, grateful for her efficiency. "Good. And Mia? Make sure we have backup extraction routes plotted. If these quakes continue, we might need alternatives."

  She flashed a quick smile. "Already on it, boss." Then she was gone, leaving Diego alone with the news feeds still playing silently across the screens.