“Federal authority. Clear the hallways.”

Turner’s face went from red to a pale, chalky gray.

He looked at the terminal screen, then at the door, then back at me.

“You think you’ve won something here, Mitchell?” Turner whispered.

“I saved the crew of the *Providence*,” I said. “That’s all I cared about.”

The sound of rapid footsteps echoed from the stairwell at the end of the hall.

They were loud, heavy, and moving with absolute purpose.

Hayes did not lower his weapon, but he shifted his stance to face the hallway.

“Here they come,” Hayes said.

A red light on the secondary communications rack suddenly began to flash, its steady beep filling the silence of the room.

The beep was high-pitched and metallic.

I looked at the console, where the label *Uplink 4* was engraved in faded plastic.

“He’s transmitting,” I said.

Turner did not move.

His hand remained hovered over the edge of the desk, close to the hard drive override switch.

“Step away from the console, Captain,” Hayes said.

Hayes raised his weapon slightly, the barrel pointing directly at Turner’s chest.