The sun was already low by the time they made it back to the central plaza.
Engines idled. Radios crackled. Somewhere in the distance, a helicopter wound down, blades still spinning as its rotors bled off speed. The base kept moving, but the tempo had shifted. Less urgency, more routine.
Ward checked his tablet again.
"Intel is pushing the full session to tomorrow," he said. "Too many moving parts. They'll want time to digest what you already gave them."
Ragna cracked her neck. "Good. My brain's tired."
Mira rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Agreed."
Albert nodded once. "Fine. We'll call it for today. You three need somewhere to sleep."
Ragna's ears perked. "You have beds?"
Ward snorted. "What did you expect, straw in a barn?"
"Don't mock straw," Ragna said. "It's comfortable."
Mira gave her a flat look. "You snore in it like you're dying."
"That means it works," Ragna shot back.
