Jolie pov

I'm in the middle of reviewing facility extraction reports when Knox comes to the command center looking tense. "We've got incoming." He jerks his thumb toward the compound entrance. "Official Council delegation. Three vehicles, armed escort, and Councilor Ironwood himself."

My stomach drops. "Armed escort?"

"Just for show, probably." Knox reassures me. "They requested formal entry and promised no hostile action. But Ryder's already mobilizing defensive positions just in case."

I ...