Heartstone - Chapter 16: Chapter 16
You are reading Heartstone, Chapter 16: Chapter 16. Read more chapters of Heartstone.
Far from the mountains, beyond forests and valleys untouched by time, a city burned with artificial light—a monument to iron, glass, and control. This was Axiom Citadel, the heart of the United World Military Command.
In a tower that scraped the sky, men in dark suits and cold eyes stood around a circular table. Holograms danced in the air—images of the , of the village in the mountains, and satellite heat signatures frozen mid-flicker.
At the head of the table sat General Thorne, commander of covert division Vanguard Black. Beside him stood Dr. Kael Varin, one of the last technologists trained in ancient weapon-fusion science.
“The stone has been activated,” Thorne said grimly. “Its pulse was recorded three days ago, beneath a mountain cluster in Sector X-3. We’ve confirmed: it’s real.”
Dr. Varin adjusted his gloves, eyes gleaming. “The of Faeron. Said to be a myth, but now proven. If we extract it, it could power an entire fleet for decades—enhance soldiers beyond human limits. And the psychic resonance it emits... it could make anyone with the right bloodline a weapon of unimaginable control.”
Thorne narrowed his eyes. “That’s exactly why we need it. The old nations are fracturing. We don’t need more allies—we need absolute compliance.”
Another officer stepped forward, voice cautious. “We sent a retrieval team. Riders. None returned.”
Thorne didn’t flinch. “Then we send a force that doesn’t fail.”
He turned to a screen, where a grainy, flickering image of Dalen stood.
“This one concerns me. He was supposed to be dead. He’s a defector.”
Varin leaned in. “Or worse—his memory wipe was incomplete.”
Thorne’s jaw clenched. “If he's alive and bonds with the people, we lose control of the entire operation.”
He turned back to the table.
“I want a full tactical unit prepped. Airborne, cold-trained, equipped with neural dampeners. We drop them above the village with one order: retrieve the . Kill anyone who resists. No survivors this time.”
Varin smiled thinly.
Thorne’s voice was ice.
In a tower that scraped the sky, men in dark suits and cold eyes stood around a circular table. Holograms danced in the air—images of the , of the village in the mountains, and satellite heat signatures frozen mid-flicker.
At the head of the table sat General Thorne, commander of covert division Vanguard Black. Beside him stood Dr. Kael Varin, one of the last technologists trained in ancient weapon-fusion science.
“The stone has been activated,” Thorne said grimly. “Its pulse was recorded three days ago, beneath a mountain cluster in Sector X-3. We’ve confirmed: it’s real.”
Dr. Varin adjusted his gloves, eyes gleaming. “The of Faeron. Said to be a myth, but now proven. If we extract it, it could power an entire fleet for decades—enhance soldiers beyond human limits. And the psychic resonance it emits... it could make anyone with the right bloodline a weapon of unimaginable control.”
Thorne narrowed his eyes. “That’s exactly why we need it. The old nations are fracturing. We don’t need more allies—we need absolute compliance.”
Another officer stepped forward, voice cautious. “We sent a retrieval team. Riders. None returned.”
Thorne didn’t flinch. “Then we send a force that doesn’t fail.”
He turned to a screen, where a grainy, flickering image of Dalen stood.
“This one concerns me. He was supposed to be dead. He’s a defector.”
Varin leaned in. “Or worse—his memory wipe was incomplete.”
Thorne’s jaw clenched. “If he's alive and bonds with the people, we lose control of the entire operation.”
He turned back to the table.
“I want a full tactical unit prepped. Airborne, cold-trained, equipped with neural dampeners. We drop them above the village with one order: retrieve the . Kill anyone who resists. No survivors this time.”
Varin smiled thinly.
Thorne’s voice was ice.
End of Heartstone Chapter 16. Continue reading Chapter 17 or return to Heartstone book page.