The harsh red lights from the earlier crisis meeting had dimmed, giving way to a cold, white light that seemed to drain color from everyone in the room.
The once-blaring holographic displays were now flashing slowly, rhythmically, like a predator waiting to pounce.
The ten CEOs of Concord sat around a sleek black glass table, a representation of their arrogance, strength, and sheer will to survive.
Darius Veyne was the first to break the heavy silence. His voice had dropped to a lower tone, layered with the calmness of someone who had channeled their anger into a strategic mindset.
"Alright, we've panicked enough; it's time to strategize!"
Lira Solmarr leaned in, her angular features highlighted by the soft glow of the table's holograph. "We've been through this before," she remarked. "We know how this ends."
Working quickly on her datapad, she pulled up an old Osborn patent: the AMHP-9 Emerald Rebirth Pod. Its sleek emerald surface and silver wiring sparkled in the air.
