The Reef twitched.
Not the wards, not the meters—my skin. The Tranquil Reef we'd laid around Tycho Yard is a soft rule, like a held breath. When something heavy leans on it, the breath forgets how to finish. Luna's head lifted. Rachel went still. Reika's hand slid to her sword. We all felt it.
"South rim," Seraphina said, eyes half-closed. "Pressure… sweet, but wrong."
"Courtesy pings are out," Reika said into short-band. "South, North—both houses—West, East—both lines—Central, and the Seven. All acknowledged."
"Good," I said. "Keep it that way."
We stood on the Moon, Tycho's far rim, the yard lights throwing clean cones across gray rock. No air, but our suits carried voices fine. The Reef did the rest—Harmony from Luna told stray forces to behave. It wouldn't stop a high Radiant. It would make the ground honest while we fought.
"Arthur?" Rachel's voice in my ear was warm and steady. "Breathe on fours."
I did. In, two, three, four. Out, two, three, four.
