The first strike didn’t come with gunfire.It came with doubt.At 0417, three encrypted messages were routed through separate internal channels within Vanguard command. Each message carried clearance markers that appeared legitimate. Each was signed digitally by a different ranking officer.Each contradicted the other.Mobilize Echo Unit for external reconnaissance.Stand down all active units pending internal audit.Detain Lieutenant Reed for procedural review.By 0422, confusion had spread through command like controlled fire.Not panic.But hesitation.And hesitation was exactly what The Divide wanted.Reed was already awake when Carter knocked twice on his quarters door.“They’re trying it,” Carter said flatly.“I know.”Tanner and Morales were waiting in the corridor. Bishop stood watch at the end of the hall, arms folded, eyes sharp.“They hit internal command,” Tanner said. “Spoofed authorizations.”Reed moved past them toward operations.“Briggs?”“In command center,” Morales

The Divide did not broadcast this time.They detonated.At 05:42, a coordinated strike hit three Vanguard infrastructure nodes across the city. Not civilian targets. Not symbolic landmarks.Operational arteries.Communications relay north sector.Vehicle deployment garage west perimeter.Logistics hub near the river line.Clean. Timed within seconds of each other. Minimal casualties.Maximum disruption.Reed was in the operations room before the third explosion report finished transmitting.“Damage assessment,” he ordered.Tanner’s fingers moved across the console, pulling up drone feeds. “Relay tower is offline but structurally intact. Garage sustained internal fire. Logistics hub lost primary transport vehicles.”Carter stood behind him, jaw tight. “They’re not trying to kill us.”Morales nodded slowly. “They’re cutting tendons.”Bishop watched the surveillance footage replay once. Twice. “Precision charges. Internal access.”Reed’s voice was steady. “Sleeper placement.”Tanner conf