“They’ve already transformed Mercury, are well on their way here on Venus, and are making headway on Mars,” Saint informed. “They have Earth and the Traveler surrounded. If we don’t figure out how to stop them here, there’s no way of knowing if we could stop them if they arrived at home.” “They sound as bad as the Hive,” Ax muttered despairingly. “If you ever heard Osiris talking about them,” Patriot said, “you’d start thinking they’re way—” Suddenly the room shook, causing some of the lights and war table to flicker and making those gathered widen their stance. “The hell was that?” Orion called. Felwinter turned to an Exo at the monitor. “Was that volcanic activity?” “Negative,” the soldier replied. “Seismic readings indicate it originated several hundred meters below the Academy.” Saint groaned, “Osiris, what the hell are you up to now?”