The stillness of the war room was broken by the hum of holographic displays, the bright blue lights casting eerie shadows on the walls. Lena stood before the map, her fingers brushing across the projected image of the galaxy. Stars blinked like distant lanterns, and planets glowed softly beneath her touch. The alliance fleet, once a beacon of unity, now moved sluggishly through the darkness, weighed down by uncertainty and mistrust.She clenched her fists, feeling the familiar pulse of the core beneath her skin. It was there, always. The power that surged within her, urging her to take control, to use it, to become something more than just a leader. The whispers were louder now, insistent, drowning out the voices of those around her. She could feel it, the possibility of total domination. The desire to use the core's power to obliterate the Rhytil and any other threat to her world was intoxicating. But deep down, she knew it came at a cost—a price that no one could predict.The others were watching her, waiting for her to speak. She had led them this far, through every battle and hardship. Yet now, it felt as if the very foundation of the alliance was crumbling. The factions within it were growing restless, and the possibility of a full-on civil war within their ranks loomed ever closer."General Jorvik," Lena said, her voice steady but laced with fatigue. "What's the status of our fleet?"Jorvik's face was lined with worry, the deep creases around his eyes revealing the toll the war had taken on him. "We're holding steady, but morale is low. The soldiers are... unsure. Some think we've lost our way, that the core is changing you. Others are afraid you're becoming too dependent on it. It's dividing us, Lena."Lena's eyes flicked to Elias, standing just behind her. His presence was a grounding force, and she sought his gaze for comfort. His lips parted as if to say something, but he remained silent, perhaps sensing that she needed space to make this decision alone. The internal war she fought wasn't just against the Rhytil—it was against herself.Her hand trembled as it hovered over the map, uncertain of what move to make next."We need a strategy," she said, more to herself than to the others. "The Rhytil will strike soon, and we must be ready." Her voice grew stronger, pushing past the uncertainty. "Prepare for a full defensive stance. Double the patrols along the borders, fortify our strongholds, and prepare to evacuate civilians if necessary.""Yes, Commander," Jorvik said, his voice sharp, but there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes. He didn't fully trust her anymore. None of them did. They all felt the weight of her decisions, and more importantly, the growing power of the core.Before he could leave, Admiral Vora stepped forward, her face pale with worry. "Lena, we've been monitoring the Rhytil's fleet movements. They've been unusually quiet. It's almost as if they're waiting for something... or someone."Lena turned sharply toward the admiral. "Waiting for what?"Vora hesitated. "An opening. A moment of weakness. They know our strengths, but they've also been studying our vulnerabilities. And we've exposed more than we realize."The room grew tense as Lena absorbed the weight of Vora's words. The Rhytil, ever the tacticians, were plotting something far more insidious than just a straight-up attack. They were waiting for her to make a mistake—waiting for her to reveal her true intentions. And the core, for all its power, was now the greatest weakness they had.