The council room buzzed with urgency and fear. Alarms from the ground outside rattled the walls, reports coming in over radios of chaos and impending doom.

Clarke’s voice carried across the room, determined but heavy with the impossible. “We have to follow the protocol. Evacuate some zones… sacrifice the others. It’s the only way to save the majority.”

Monty’s hands were clenched at his sides. His jaw tightened. He shook his head slowly. “I… I can’t do it,” he said quietly, and the room went still. “I won’t. It’s wrong.”

Gasps echoed around the table. Eyes widened. Voices raised. “You’re risking all of us!” one of the commanders shouted.

Monty didn’t flinch. He met Clarke’s gaze, steady, unwavering. “There’s another way. I’ve calculated alternatives, and we can save more people without… making that choice.”

You stepped forward beside him, heart racing. “He’s right,” you said, your voice firmer than you felt. “If we follow the command, we’re choosing a path we won’t be able to live with. Monty’s not alone in this. I’m with him.”

The room fell silent. Your declaration carried weight, even in the storm of panic. People looked between the two of you, some angry, some confused.

Monty exhaled, a mix of relief and fear passing through his eyes. “Thank you,” he whispered, barely audible, but it was enough.