Page 183 of Silent Target

“No,” I say. “They didn’t need your permission. They needed the system to believe you had given it.”

Mac looks toward the command diagram.

“The Chairman planned for my return.”

“He planned for your obedience,” Caleb says.

Mac’s hand trembles as he reaches toward the screen.

“I don’t deserve this authority.”

Rook steps beside him.

“This isn’t about deserving it.”

Mac looks up.

“It’s about ending it.”

The timer resumes.

Two minutes, fifty-nine seconds.

Mac presses his palm to the scanner.

A white beam passes across his hand.

“Executive authority recognized.”

A second light scans his face.

“Successor credentials accepted.”

Fathom exhales.

“I’m in.”

The download begins.

The barricade explodes.

Concrete and steel fly into the vault.

Victor Kane steps through the breach.

His armor is blackened. Blood runs from the bullet wound in his arm.

Behind him, the remaining Inner Guard advances.

“No more running,” Victor says.

Mac moves in front of the server.

His fear is visible in the tremor of his hands.

But he doesn’t step aside.

“No.”