Kael remains still. “Define expanded.”
“One additional corridor under demilitarized supervision,” Voss says carefully. “Temporarily.”
“Temporary becomes permanent,” Rethan snaps.
Voss does not look at him. He looks at me.
“You understand political optics,” he says.
“Yes,” I reply. “Which is why I understand this move.”
The room feels smaller suddenly, the air heavier with the metallic tang of overworked processors.
I call up a restricted archive cluster and let it hover between us.
Valen auxiliary communications.
Unreleased.
Time-stamped.
Authenticated.
Voss’s jaw tightens almost imperceptibly.
“These files document coordination between Valen and external contractors whose network patterns overlap with some of the cyber disruptions currently cited,” I say quietly. “They are mirrored across three independent systems.”
Rethan turns sharply toward me. “You held those?”
“I held them because they are leverage,” I say.
Voss’s voice lowers. “You would fracture Alliance further?”
“I would fracture corruption,” I reply evenly. “If necessary.”
Silence spreads like a slow wave.
The projection hums faintly between us, the evidence hovering in standby.
Kael steps slightly closer, not intervening, simply anchoring the space.
Voss inhales slowly, then exhales through his nose.
“Buffer expansion withdrawn,” he says finally.
Rethan’s shoulders drop a fraction.
“Negotiations proceed under existing draft,” Voss continues.
I lower the archive projection but do not dismiss it.
“Transparency remains intact,” I say.
“Yes,” he replies.
He exits without further comment.
The door seals with a soft hydraulic hiss.
