The tension in Valeris alpable. Even with the immediate chaos of the Syndicate's terror attacks temporarily subsiding, the lingering dread of their move hung in the air like smoke. Every merary, resistance fighter, and Federation guard walked with a nervous energy, knowing that the city remained a prime target. Ethan, however, had little time to dwell on the sileween storms. His ret iigation into the Syndicate's logistics had uhed troubling evidence, evidehat could shatter the fragile coalition holding Kynara together.

  Iris's voice broke the stillness of Ethan's ship as she delivered her findings. "Ethan, the analysis is plete. The patterns you requested have revealed signifit anomalies."

  Ethan leaned forward, his fingers drumming the edge of the sole as lines of encrypted messages scrolled across the s. "Let's hear it," he said, his tone sharp.

  "The Syndicate's logistical movements indicate bypasses of heavily monitored Federation-trolled zones," Iris expined. "The probability of this being tal is less than five pert. Additionally, encrypted messages embedded within their supply logs suggest insider knowledge of Federation patrol schedules."

  Ethan's jaw tightened as he reviewed the data. "Someone's feeding them information."

  "Correct," Iris replied. "It appears there is a mole within the Federation's Kynaran and. However, the identities or specifics remain obscured due to yered encryption. The messages reference operational codes and specifiames, but without access to higher-level clearance, I ot fully decrypt them."

  The weight of the revetioled over Ethan like a leaden cloak. A Syndicate mole within the Federation forces was a devastating prospect, ohat could uhe coalition from within.

  "Send everything to Voss," Ethan said after a long pause. "We o a this, but carefully. If this gets out without proof, it'll tear the coalition apart."

  The Guild's private meeting room was dimly lit, the air heavy with anticipatioed around the circur table were Darrik Voss, Kael, Eliara Venn, and Zyrix Korran. The faint hum of holographic projectors filled the silence as Ethan began his presentation.

  "As you see," Ethan said, gesturing to the glowing dispy, "the Syndicate's supply s show deliberate gaps where Federation patrols should have intercepted them. The encrypted messages embedded in their logs suggest someohin the Federation is aiding their movements."

  Voss leaned ba his chair, his expression grim. "A mole within the Federation," he muttered. "If this is true, it expins a lot, the precision of their attacks, the ease of their infiltration. But it's also a dangerous accusation."

  Eliara studied the data with a critical eye. "It's pelling, but we 't rule out the possibility of disinformation. The Syndicate could be pnting these breadcrumbs to fracture us further."

  Zyrix crossed his arms, make himself more fortable in his seat. "Either way, it warrants a. We 't ighe possibility. Surveiln Federation personnel should begin immediately."

  Ethan nodded. "I agree, but we o tread carefully. If we're wrong, we risk alienating our stro ally in Valeris."

  Voss sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "I'll vene an emergency meeting with Captain Thorne and Jorahis o be handled delicately. Ethan, I want you there to present the findings. Be ready."

  The emergency coalitioing took p a secured feren within the Guild Hall. Captain Alrik Thor at one end of the table, his Federation uniform immacute but his expression tight with barely tained irritation. Opposite him, a holographic proje of Joran Kren flickered iehe Resistance leader's stern face framed by the muted lighting of his desert stronghold.

  Voss opehe meeting with a summary of Ethan's findings, his tone measured but firm. As Ethan id out the evidence, detailing the Syndicate's unchallenged movements through Federation zones and the encrypted messages, the tension in the room grew thicker with each passing moment.

  Whehan finished, Captain Thorne's response was immediate and fiery. "This is eous," he snapped, his voice eg in the chamber. "You're acg my men of treason? We've been fighting to protect this city, risking our lives every day, and now you're saying we're the problem?"

  Joran Kren's hologram flickered as he leaned forward, his expression cold. "No one's acg your entire force, Captain. But the data doesn't lie. Someone in your and is feeding the Syndicate information."

  Thorne's face reddened, his fists g. "You don't know that. For all we know, this is another Syndicate trick. Pnting false io sow distrust."

  Joran's eyes narrowed. "ve excuse. The Federation's refusal to assist in mid-tier settlements already showed where your priorities lie. Now it seems your forces might be promised as well."

  The room erupted into heated arguments, voices g as accusations and defenses were thrown bad forth.

  "Enough!" Voss's voice cut through the noise like a whip. The room fell silent as all eyes turo him. "We're on the same side, dammit. Infighting is exactly what the Syndicate wants. We o work together to root out the mole, if there is one. But we need proof before making any accusations."

  Thor back, his jaw tight, while Joran's hologram flickered ominously.

  After the meeting, Joran requested a private word with Voss ahan.

  "You're pying with fire, Voss," Joran said, his voice low but firm. "The Federation's alrioritized their own is. If there's a mole, it's because they allowed oo fester. Don't trust them blindly."

  Voss nodded solemnly. "I hear you, Joran. But if we act without proof, we risk breaking the coalitioirely. We'll iigate, quietly."

  Meanwhile, Captain Thoruro the Federation barracks, pag angrily as he spoke with his trusted lieutenant. "They dare question us after everything we've done? Fine. We'll double patrols, tighten security. Let them see h they are."

  Far from Valeris, in the shadows of a fortified underground facility, Raeth watched the coalition's turmoil with cold satisfa. The aer was a dimly lit hive of activity, its walls lined with ss dispying live feeds of Syndicate operations across Kynara.

  A Syndicate lieutenant approached, bowing slightly. "ahe coalition is fracturing as pnned."

  Raeth allowed a faint smile to curl across his lips. "Of course they are. Mistrust is the easiest seed to sow."

  He gestured toward a s dispying encrypted unications. "The mole set by our beor has been instrumental in diverting patrols and allowing our movements. Now it's time to escate."

  "What is your and, sir?" the lieutenant asked.

  Raeth's smile widened, his eyes glinting with malice. "Prepare the prototypes, we o show our leader more results. Let the coalition see what true fear looks like. And tinue feeding them just enough truth to keep them chasing shadows."

  As the lieutenaed, Raeth turo a holographic map of Kynara, his voice a cold whisper. "Let them tear themselves apart. By the time they realize the truth, it'll be too te."