Bram joined the discussion with wind in the background.
He had moved out of the receiving shelter to make room for a supply transfer, and the surface line carried the scrape of a cart wheel before it carried his voice. Eli heard him ask an approach worker to keep the marked return width clear. Then Bram said he was ready.
Below, Juno pinned both plans against the table with the detached model case. The engineer stood at the load curve. Tessa kept the medical path clear. Mira faced the open passage so she could see both the conversation and the defense boundary beyond it.
The first surface volunteer spoke before Eli could begin.
“We’ve established his bridge is faster. I’m not saying it’s safe. I’m saying the captives don’t have the late end of our schedule to spare.”
“That makes it an option,” Bram said.
“The obvious option.”
“An option he can choose. You’re discussing it as though his ability has already volunteered him.”
