When the 373 reached the elevator shaft, Naia felt her body tense. It wasn't until she was a few steps closer that she understood. The voice she spoke with retained that slow distance and her helmet's front glass plate was lit up by a glow in her eyes.
"I need to stay. Drop me on the level with the artifact."
"Why is that?"
The squad leader asked without an immediate refusal, trusting their Navigator's assessment. But he was also wary after what happened to the 218.
"It's influence is actually less if I'm closer to it... like distance adds some forcefulness to its request. There is a risk if I try to keep controlling it from afar that I will fail before we reach the surface."
"I see. So your suggesting that we split up and reach the transit pods first while you bring the artifact yourself?"
