With a quiet hum, the decoy ships were launched into the atmosphere, their engines flaring brightly as they shot toward the council's approaching fleet. The false signals they sent out were designed to mimic the energy signatures of a larger force—just enough to confuse and mislead the alien council, buying them the precious time they needed.Lena stood at the command center, watching the monitors intently. The pulse of her heartbeat seemed to match the rhythm of the energy coursing through the core. She could feel the tension in the air—every second stretched thin, every action carrying the weight of a future they still couldn't fully comprehend."Everything's in motion," Kira said, her fingers dancing across the interface. "The council is responding. They've detected the decoys and are adjusting their course to intercept."Lena clenched her fists. "We need to make sure the energy spike from the core hits at the right moment. If we wait too long, they'll figure out the deception.""We're on it," Kira replied.