Smoke filled the eastern sector when Dave Meyer’s voice finally forced its way through your headset

“The eastern structure is failing,” he said, calm despite the interference. “All adjacent teams are locked in their own containment routes. Cross-sector movement is restricted. Airspace over your position is unstable.”

Another explosion rolled somewhere behind you. Static scraped across the channel. “No unit can reach your corridor in time.” Your ammunition counter blinked low.

Dust fell from the fractured ceiling above you. “Forcing assistance would collapse two additional sectors,” Dave continued. “We cannot redirect them.”

A pause. Then— “Execute AEGIS-ULTIMA Protocol.”