They had just completed the departure planning for Facility D-7 when a message came through on Furqon and Zafran's secure communication channel.
"Your presence is required in Room 03 immediately."
Without wasting a second, they left their preparations behind and moved swiftly through the quiet halls of Fortex Intelligence Headquarters.
Room 03 was a small, sparsely decorated chamber—designated solely for high-level internal communications.
Inside, Dr. Jarir was already waiting, standing in front of a black screen that projected the emblem of the Liaison Council.
Something felt different.There was a shift in the air—and it wasn't a small one.
"There's a new directive," Dr. Jarir said bluntly, his voice as cold as ever."In light of your dual responsibilities as Heads of the Time Travel Division and Project Interstellar-X, the Liaison Council has approved the construction of an additional facility."
Furqon and Zafran exchanged surprised glances.
"This facility will be built halfway between the Main Headquarters and Facility D-7," Dr. Jarir continued."For now, it will be called: 'Unified Forward Base.'"
A holographic blueprint slowly opened in front of them, displaying the design of the new base:
A hexagonal structure
A hidden hangar for both ground and aerial vehicles
A central command hub connecting the Main HQ, Facility D-7, and Fortex's time-space room
And a classified quarantine zone for experiments and storage of time-machine components
"This Unified Forward Base," Dr. Jarir emphasized,"will serve as the primary hub between Fortex's major projects.Only you two, the Unified Division team, and oath-cleared personnel will have access to it."
Once again, the emphasis on secrecy was unmistakable.
Furqon finally spoke, his voice calm but thoughtful.
"Does this mean Project Interstellar-X and the Time Travel Division will now share resources?"
Dr. Jarir nodded.
"Correct. This isn't just about building a spacecraft.It's about creating an operational ecosystem—for the future... and the past."
His words were weighty.A deep silence filled the room afterward.
Zafran stared at the holographic blueprint for a long moment.He knew—with this new base, the scale of their project had just expanded far beyond their original expectations.
"How much time do we have?" Zafran asked.
"Construction begins in 48 hours," Dr. Jarir replied."You will take full responsibility for the initial planning. A special team from the Unified Division will support you."
Furqon took a deep breath, truly feeling the weight of this decision.But deep in his heart, there was a flicker of pride—They were being entrusted with building the foundation of the two greatest projects in Fortex Intelligence history.
They nodded.They understood what was at stake.And they were ready.