Sarah nods. "Exactly. A logistics contractor mentions delivery schedules. An intelligence contact discusses operational tempo. A technical consultant references equipment specifications." She highlights specific intercepts as she talks. "None of them knows the full picture, but the Committee's assembling fragments into actionable intelligence."
"How do we fix it?" Willa asks.
Sarah and I exchange a glance. We haven't discussed this, but we both know the answer. Years of working together, understanding how the other thinks, means we're already running parallel analysis.
"Restructure our entire external network," Sarah says. "Implement new compartmentalization protocols. Each contact only interfaces with Echo Ridge through isolated channels. No lateral communication between assets. Information flow becomes one-way instead of networked."
"That's a massive undertaking," Kane says.
"It's the only way to close the leak without burning valuable contacts." I move to the display, highlighting key nodes. "Sarah handles the signals intelligence architecture. I handle operational security protocols. Tommy builds the technical implementation. Together, we have the skill set to redesign the network without creating new vulnerabilities."
"How long?"
Sarah runs calculations, her fingers moving across her tablet. "At least a few days. We're talking about rebuilding communication protocols for dozens of external assets, each requiring custom encryption and compartmentalization."
"We don't have that kind of time." Kane brings Reeve's search pattern back onto the screen. "He's moving methodically. Visual reconnaissance of high-probability locations. If he gets lucky and is able to zero in on Echo Base from the dataor aerial survey, our location is compromised regardless of communication security."
"Then we need a two-track approach," I say. "Sarah and I work the network restructure while we simultaneously plan to neutralize Reeve before he can complete his search."
Kane studies me for a long moment, measuring and assessing what I'm proposing—fieldwork, combat operations, the kind of mission that could put Echo Ridge's newest operative in the ground before I've fully integrated into the team.
"Reeve's not operating alone," Kane says finally. "Committee has assets supporting his search. Taking him down means engaging a team, not a single target."
"I've engaged worse odds." True enough. Years of deep cover in Committee networks taught me how they operate. Their tactics. Their vulnerabilities. "But this isn't a solo operation. We hit Reeve with a team. Fast, surgical, no survivors who've seen Echo Base's location."
"Planning that operation while restructuring the network means you and Sarah work around the clock," Willa points out. "That's not sustainable."
Sarah meets my eyes across the operations center. We crossed a line tonight. Rebuilt a foundation that's been cracked for years. Now we're committing to work that will test whether that foundation can actually hold.
"We can handle it," Sarah says.
Kane looks between us, and I see the moment he registers what's changed. The careful professional distance Sarah and I have maintained since I arrived has evaporated. We're standing too close. Moving in sync without conscious coordination. The body language between us has shifted from avoidance to connection.
His expression doesn't change, but something in his stance relaxes slightly. "Get started on the network restructure. I'llcoordinate with Dylan and Stryker on operation planning for Reeve. We hit both problems simultaneously."
"Everyone needs to know about the compromise," Kane says. "But the technical work falls to Sarah and Micah. They're the only ones with the combined expertise to pull this off."
Willa stands. "I'll set up a rotating schedule for meals and rest periods. You two are going to burn out if someone doesn't manage your logistics."
"Appreciated," Sarah says.
The briefing breaks up. Tommy heads off to run analysis on the intercept data from his own workstation. Willa heads toward medical to make her own preparations for the operation. Kane catches my arm as I move toward Sarah's workstation.
"You good for this?" His voice drops low enough that only I can hear.
"The network restructure or the operation against Reeve?"
"Both. Either. Sarah's been angry with you for years. Now you're working together under crisis conditions on a technical challenge that requires perfect coordination." Kane's gaze is steady. "If there's going to be a problem, I need to know now."
"There won't be a problem. Whatever was broken between Sarah and me, we're fixing it. The work comes first."
"That's not what I asked."
Fair enough. Kane's too experienced to accept surface answers when the team's survival depends on honest assessment.
"We're good," I say. "Better than we've been in years, actually. She needed to rage at me for leaving. I needed to let her. That's done now. What's left is the work and figuring out what we can be to each other going forward."
Kane examines me for a long moment, then nods. "Keep it that way. Echo Ridge needs both of you functional."
