The room was quiet, but you could feel the tension pulsing in the air like a storm about to break. The lights were low, and the only sound came from the soft hum and occasional crackle of the glowing holograms floating above the table. The air smelled faintly metallic, like rain on hot wires. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the shimmering image in the center of the room: a 3D layout of a building that looked boring on the outside but was anything but.

Amelia appeared on the screen, her face lit by the cold blue light of her satellite link. Even miles away, her presence was commanding. She pointed...