Chapter 16: Perimeter Breach

The community of Sawyer's Reach is thriving, celebrating their self-sufficiency and deep human connection amidst the biting winter. But the peace is shattered when KAELA broadcasts a dire perimeter alert.

The idyllic morning is violently interrupted by the arrival of a ZevraCorp security patrol—complete with Tharox-enhanced armor, humanoid robots, and armed drones—emerging from the direction of Site A. The highly technological threat stands in stark contrast to the residents, armed only with repurposed hunting rifles, a chilling reminder of the society they left behind.

The patrol leader issues a cold ultimatum: the community's unsanctioned energy generation and unauthorized settlement are in violation of the LifeSync Accords. They are out of compliance and must be relocated.

Though the patrol retreats, the confrontation leaves behind a heightened sense of vulnerability and a grim certainty. The global struggle for independence has arrived at their doorstep. Now on ZevraCorp's radar, Sawyer's Reach prepares for the inevitable siege, knowing the fight for their freedom has just escalated.