The massive, reinforced outer blast doors of Aegis Hub 01 ground open with a deep, industrial groan that sent a shockwave through the freshly formed sheets of black ice on the staging ramp. Outside, the endless, toxic blizzard of the lowlands howled against the threshold, carrying the faint, bitter scent of alkaline ash and sulfur.Three heavily modified multi-axle convoy rigs sat idling in the driving snow exactly fifty meters beyond the perimeter wire. Their corporate headlights cut through the dark in long, pale yellow beams, reflecting off the dark, wet plating of the automated defense turrets tracking their every chassis."The trade handshakes are completely locked," Leo reported, his hands trembling slightly as he monitored the external comms console from the shelter of the bay doors. "Vivian, it’s the logistics representatives from the southern trade basins. They didn't just bring fuel cells—they’ve completely cleared out their local silos to offer raw copper components and
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