The fleet fired until its cannon decks grew too hot to touch.
Austin’s grounding system carried the attack into storage. The banks filled, and the controller sent the extra power into the regional grid.
In Great Yan, streetlamps came on. In southern villages, public cookers warmed. Northern clinics drew heat through the temporary lines Austin had protected since the first overload.
None of that made the attack harmless.
At the summit, every surge shook the tower. Tie Kuang’s revised joints kept their clamp, but two damper valves overheated. Crews worked behind shields to switch cooling loops. At the foundation, Jiang logged new movement around Alpha-One and called for another grout pressure check.
Austin kept his attention on those reports. A tower did not become safe because it was still standing.
“Reduce the ground draw on Bank Twelve,” he told Floor Nine. “Its power factor is point six two lagging, and it’s above its heat limit. Shed nonessential valley loads if you have to. Keep hospitals and shelters connected.”
Xiaoyao answered from the control room. “Commercial foundries are already dropping.”
