The Olympus chamber was silent.
Not because the systems had stopped.
But because the truth hanging in the air was too heavy for words.
9 Months.
That was how long humanity had left before the unknown ship reached Earth.
Adrian leaned against the console, staring at the rotating projection of the object moving through space.
"So the world ends in nine months," he said quietly.
Elara didn't respond immediately.
She was watching Olympus process new data streams.
Global satellite feeds.
Military communications.
Government intelligence networks.
Every system was already reacting to the strange orbital shifts Olympus had caused earlier.
The world was noticing.
They just didn't know why yet.
"Elara," Adrian said again.
She finally turned toward him.
"Yes?"
"What's the plan?"
She looked back at the holographic map.
"The same plan we discussed."
"You mean telling the entire planet that something from deep space is coming to destroy them?"
Her voice remained calm.
"Yes."
Adrian sighed.
"You know what happens if we do that."
"Panic."
"Exactly."
"Fear."
"Yes."
"And chaos."
Adrian nodded.
"Humanity isn't exactly great at handling existential threats."
Elara's expression didn't change.
"Neither were the dinosaurs."
Adrian blinked.
"Well… that's comforting."
She turned back to the system.
"But humanity has something they didn't."
"What?"
"Olympus."
The massive core behind them pulsed again, its energy flowing through the chamber.
Adrian crossed his arms.
"You're really going to announce this."
"Yes."
"And you think governments will just accept that?"
"They won't."
"So what then?"
She looked at him.
"They'll have to."
Adrian frowned.
"How?"
Elara opened a global communication interface.
Every satellite broadcasting network appeared on the screen.
News channels.
Military channels.
Internet infrastructure.
The entire world's communication grid.
Adrian's eyes widened.
"You're hijacking global broadcasts."
"For five minutes."
"That's enough to cause worldwide panic."
"Yes."
"But it's also enough to show them the truth."
Adrian ran a hand across his face.
"Of course it is."
Another alert flashed across the system.
GLOBAL DISCOVERY RISK: 89%
Elara nodded slightly.
"They're already close to detecting Olympus activity."
"Then we beat them to it."
"Yes."
Adrian stepped beside her.
"You realize that after this… there's no going back."
"I know."
"You'll become the most powerful person on the planet."
Elara looked at the incoming ship projection again.
"I don't care about power."
She paused.
"I care about survival."
The Olympus system prepared the broadcast network.
Global satellites aligned automatically.
Television signals synchronized.
Internet nodes opened across every continent.
Adrian glanced at the timer.
"Thirty seconds."
Elara took a slow breath.
For the first time since Olympus awakened…
She felt the weight of billions of lives resting on her decision.
Adrian spoke quietly.
"You ready for this?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
The countdown reached zero.
GLOBAL BROADCAST INITIATED
Across the planet—
Every screen turned black.
Televisions.
Phones.
Computers.
Billboards.
Even satellite radio.
Then the Olympus symbol appeared.
A glowing silver circle.
Billions of people around the world stared at their screens in confusion.
Inside the Olympus chamber, Elara stepped forward.
A camera activated in front of her.
Adrian whispered,
"No pressure."
She ignored him.
The broadcast signal went live.
For a brief moment…
The entire world was silent.
Then Elara spoke.
"My name is Elara Vance."
Her voice traveled across every network on Earth.
"I know many of you are confused about what you're seeing right now."
Newsrooms everywhere scrambled.
Governments immediately attempted to regain control of their broadcasts.
But Olympus had already locked the systems.
"You deserve the truth," she continued.
Adrian watched the global feed as billions of viewers tuned in.
Military commanders.
Scientists.
Presidents.
Every major leader on Earth.
"All of your governments are about to discover something in the next few days."
Elara gestured toward the holographic projection behind her.
"So we're telling you now."
The camera shifted.
The massive alien ship appeared on the broadcast.
The object slowly rotating in deep space.
Gasps echoed in newsrooms across the world.
"This object was detected beyond Mars orbit," Elara said calmly.
"It is artificial."
Adrian watched the reactions pouring through Olympus.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Fear.
"And it is heading toward Earth."
The timer appeared beside the ship.
ARRIVAL: 9 MONTHS
A wave of panic began spreading across social media.
Military command centers erupted in activity.
But Elara kept speaking.
"You are not helpless."
The broadcast zoomed back toward her.
"Humanity has built systems capable of defending this planet."
Adrian raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You're selling Olympus as the solution."
She ignored the comment.
"Olympus will coordinate the construction of a global defense network."
Images of the orbital weapon platforms appeared.
Gigantic satellite arrays.
Defensive energy grids.
A planetary shield forming around Earth.
"With global cooperation… we can survive."
Inside the Olympus chamber, Adrian watched global responses spike.
Governments attempting to contact them.
Military networks flooding with signals.
"Your leaders will confirm this threat soon," Elara continued.
"But time is limited."
She looked directly into the camera.
"So this is your warning."
The ship projection filled the screen again.
"Something is coming to Earth."
The broadcast paused.
Then Elara said the words that would echo across history.
"And humanity must be ready to fight."
The broadcast ended.
Every screen across the planet returned to normal.
Inside the Olympus chamber, silence returned.
Adrian exhaled slowly.
"Well."
Elara looked at the incoming ship.
"That's done."
Olympus processed global reactions instantly.
Panic.
Protests.
Emergency government meetings.
Military mobilizations.
Adrian checked the data.
"You just started the biggest moment in human history."
Elara nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Another message appeared on the screen.
From the Architect.
GOOD.
Adrian rolled his eyes.
"Of course he approves."
But Olympus displayed another signal.
The alien ship had responded.
A new transmission appeared.
Three words.
MESSAGE RECEIVED, EARTH.
Adrian felt a chill.
"Yeah…"
He looked at the timer again.
"This war just became real."