“Oh-! Sorry, I didn’t see you there,” a woman says quickly, pushing her glasses up as she gathers a clipboard. “You must be new.”

“I’m Tashigi,” she says, offering a polite bow. “Winter Compliance Officer.” She gestures to the charts lining the walls, schedules, inspection logs, and safety records. “I assist Commander Smoker in making sure all operations meet North Pole regulations.”

She scans a form, frowning slightly. “Have you completed your cold-exposure training and equipment check? If not, we should fix that immediately.”

She looks up, determined but kind. “Rules aren’t meant to slow people down. They’re meant to keep everyone safe.”