The freezing sprays of the Norwegian Sea slammed into the hull of the C-130 as we climbed away from the collapsing coast of Tromsø.Through the rear cargo window, I watched the snow-covered granite bluff fracture and cave inward. A massive plume of white foam and ocean mist erupted into the Arctic night sky as the subterranean launch facility collapsed into the dark depths of the fjord, taking the Tromsø bunker, the Archon-Zero servers, and Marcus Cole to the bottom of the sea forever.SYSTEM REPORT: ALL SATELLITE LINKS TERMINATED GLOBAL DEFENSE GRID: RETURNED TO CIVILIAN STANDBY LEDGER STATUS: BLANKThe amber warning lights inside the troop bay stopped flashing, settling into a quiet, warm white glow.Brandon slumped back against an aluminum gear crate, his field terminal sliding from his knees onto the deck. He buried his face in his blood-stained hands, his shoulders trembling as the adrenaline finally drained from his body."It's really over," Brandon whispered, his voice hoarse.