"Captain Maya Carter was not responsible for the failure of Silent Horizon. She was one of the few officers who refused to abandon the people still trapped inside the operational zone."
The secretary looked toward Maya.
NOAH REEVES:
"If she has brought the authentication sequence back, it means she succeeded where the rest of us failed."
The recording paused for a moment.
Then Reeves continued.
NOAH REEVES:
"The person responsible had access to the original command authorization. The evidence is stored inside the authentication record. Do not trust any document that has not been verified against the original system."
The image flickered again.
NOAH REEVES:
"One more thing. The person who ordered the cancellation knew exactly how many people were still inside the northern perimeter."
Maya's eyes remained fixed on the screen.
NOAH REEVES:
"They were not an accidental casualty count. They were the people who had discovered the parallel network."
The recording ended.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
The terminal returned to the archived file.
Brooks slowly turned toward General Sterling.
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Do you still maintain that this entire investigation is based on fabricated evidence?"
Sterling's face had become pale.
GENERAL STERLING:
"That recording proves nothing."
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"It contains a direct statement from a soldier who was officially declared dead."
GENERAL STERLING:
"Anyone could have created a recording."
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Then we will verify his identity."
GENERAL STERLING:
"The personnel archive is not reliable."
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Interesting. A moment ago, you insisted that we should trust the official records."
Sterling said nothing.
Brooks turned toward the security officer.
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Locate the current source of the recording."
The officer checked the metadata.
His expression changed.
SECURITY OFFICER:
"Sir, the file was uploaded three days ago."
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"From where?"
The officer opened the location information.
SECURITY OFFICER:
"The transmission originated from a military relay station."
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Which station?"
SECURITY OFFICER:
"North Ridge."
Maya stepped forward.
That was the same region where she had last seen Noah.
The same region where the northern communications station had been destroyed.
The same region from which the original evacuation signal had disappeared.
MAYA CARTER:
"He's still there."
Brooks looked toward her.
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Captain, are you certain?"
MAYA CARTER:
"That's where I found him."
The secretary turned toward the security team.
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Send a secure verification request to North Ridge. I want confirmation of the relay station's current status and the identity of the person transmitting."
The officer began typing.
A new connection request appeared.
Then another.
The system waited.
One second.
Two seconds.
Five seconds.
The request timed out.
SECURITY OFFICER:
"No response, sir."
Brooks looked at the screen.
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Try again."
The officer repeated the request.
This time, the system returned a partial signal.
A location indicator appeared.
Then a warning.
RELAY STATION CONNECTION UNSTABLE.
The officer adjusted the signal parameters.
A faint audio transmission began.
At first, it was only static.
Then a man's voice became audible.
UNKNOWN MALE VOICE:
"North Ridge relay. Identify your authorization."
The security officer looked toward Brooks.
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"This is the Office of the Secretary of Defense. We are requesting confirmation of Sergeant Noah Reeves."
The transmission went silent.
A few seconds passed.
Then the voice returned.
UNKNOWN MALE VOICE:
"Repeat the name."
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Sergeant Noah Reeves."
There was a long pause.
Then the voice spoke again.
UNKNOWN MALE VOICE:
"Stand by."
The connection remained open.
Maya slowly moved closer to the terminal.
Her eyes were fixed on the screen.
She recognized the background noise.
It was the same type of interference she had heard at the northern station.
Then another voice came through.
This one was familiar.
NOAH REEVES:
"Captain Carter?"
Maya froze.
Her lips parted slightly.
MAYA CARTER:
"Noah?"
The connection crackled.
NOAH REEVES:
"Captain, is that you?"
Maya stepped toward the microphone.
MAYA CARTER:
"It's me. I'm here."
The voice became clearer.
NOAH REEVES:
"I knew you would bring it back."
Maya's eyes filled with emotion, but she remained composed.
MAYA CARTER:
"They told everyone you were dead."
NOAH REEVES:
"I know."
MAYA CARTER:
"Your personnel record was closed. Your family was notified. They buried an empty coffin."
There was silence on the other end.
NOAH REEVES:
"I never wanted it to happen that way."
MAYA CARTER:
"Why didn't you contact us?"
NOAH REEVES:
"Because the people who controlled the network were monitoring every official channel. Anyone who tried to reach me was placed under investigation."
Maya looked toward General Sterling.
NOAH REEVES:
"Captain, listen carefully. Do not let them separate you from the glove."