Alexander surveyed the small clearing they'd cimed on the eastern edge of the forest. A stream gurgled nearby, providing fresh water, while thick canopy offered protection from the elements. Most importantly, the single entry point made it defensible—a priority that had been drilled into him since childhood.

  "Tullian, I want a perimeter set up before nightfall," Alexander said, pointing to specific points around the clearing. "Three yers. Tripwires on the outer ring, sound arms in the middle, and your specialty traps for the inner defense."

  Marcus Tullian nodded sharply, his military background evident in his posture. "Yes, sir. I'll have it secured within the hour."

  "Ellis, survey the immediate area for resource nodes. Focus on medicinal pnts and tech components."

  Riva Ellis, their tech specialist, pulled up her HUD map overy. "Already identified three potential sites within five hundred meters. I'll fg them as I verify."

  "And Elijah—"

  "Healing station?" his brother anticipated with a slight smile. "I've already picked the spot by that cluster of stones. Good shelter and I noticed some flora nearby I can use."

  Alexander nodded, pleased with their efficiency. They were functioning like a well-oiled machine—almost. His gaze fell on Valeria Krane, who stood slightly apart from the others, her arms crossed.

  "Krane," he said. "Scout the high ground to the north. We need visibility on approaching pyers or guardians."

  The scout regarded him coolly. "The western ridge offers better vantage points. The north is obscured by those massive oak formations."

  Her tone carried the subtle inflection of someone used to having her suggestions treated as commands—a privilege that came with being the daughter of ProtectoCorp's Deputy Director. It was the same tone Alexander had heard countless times during corporate functions, the sound of one executive correcting another.

  But this wasn't a corporate boardroom. This was the Game, and in the Game, he led.

  "The western ridge is too exposed," Alexander replied evenly. "We'd be silhouetted against the skyline. The north has cover while still providing adequate sight lines. Proceed as instructed."

  A tense silence fell over the group. The other team members paused in their preparations, sensing the power struggle unfolding.

  Valeria's jaw tightened minutely—a tell he'd been trained to recognize during negotiation workshops. After a calcuted pause, she inclined her head. "As you say."

  The tension broke, but Alexander knew it wasn't resolved. As Valeria departed, he caught the look Marcus Tullian sent after her—a mixture of annoyance and something else. Frustration? Resentment?

  "Something to add, Tullian?" Alexander asked quietly.

  The security specialist stiffened, clearly not expecting to be observed. "No, sir."

  "If you have concerns about team dynamics, now's the time to voice them. Not ter."

  Tullian hesitated, then replied with military precision: "Permission to speak freely?"

  Alexander gestured for him to continue.

  "Krane acts like her father's rank means something in here," Tullian said, voice low enough that only Alexander could hear. "Tried to override my security protocols yesterday. Said they weren't 'up to standard.' Servicer-css standards, she meant."

  And there it was—the first crack in their carefully assembled team. Valeria Krane was Privileged-tier like the twins, while Marcus Tullian, despite his exceptional military record, came from a Servicer family.

  "Her father's rank means nothing in the Game," Alexander said firmly. "In here, we're judged solely on performance. And your security work has been exempry."

  Something in Tullian's posture eased slightly. "Thank you, sir. Won't be an issue."

  But Alexander knew it would be. The social structures of Terminus didn't simply disappear upon entering the Game. They were encoded into every interaction, every assumption, every gnce between pyers of different backgrounds. Even their neural interfaces reflected the stratification—Privileged-css models offering clearer visuals and faster response times than Servicer-css equipment.

  As Tullian resumed his perimeter work, Alexander turned his attention to establishing their base. He'd been trained for this since childhood—not just the tactical elements, but the social management of teams comprised of different csses. His father had insisted on it, expining in his clinical way that "leadership requires understanding the hierarchies people carry inside them."

  By evening, their camp had taken shape. Tullian's security perimeter was in pce, Ellis had cataloged nearby resources, Elijah had established a functional healing station, and Valeria had returned with detailed topographical data despite her initial resistance.

  Alexander set the watch rotation, deliberately pairing Tullian with Valeria for the midnight shift. Either they'd resolve their tension, or he'd know exactly how serious the problem was by morning.

  With basic security established, the team gathered around the small fire that Ellis had engineered to produce minimal smoke. As they ate the standard ration packs, Alexander activated his neural interface and accessed his personal library function.

  The library materialized as an elegant oak bookshelf, hovering just at the edge of their camp. It was one of the Game's more useful features—a knowledge repository that expanded as pyers progressed. For now, it contained only basic survival guides and tactical manuals, but these resources alone gave them an edge over most new entrants.

  "Impressive collection," Ellis commented, eyeing Alexander's library. "Mine only has technical specifications and basic flora identification guides."

  Alexander looked up, momentarily surprised. He hadn't considered that each pyer's library might differ. "Really? What about combat tactics or guardian analysis?"

  Ellis shook her head. "Nothing that advanced. Mostly practical repair manuals and resource gathering techniques."

  "Servicer-css pyers get functionality-focused content," Tullian said matter-of-factly. "Nothing theoretical or advanced. Just what we need to perform our roles."

  An uncomfortable silence fell over the group. Even in the supposedly meritocratic Game environment, their interfaces were provisioned according to their outside status.

  Alexander made a quick decision. "Ellis, Tullian—send me your library categories. I'll share the corresponding materials from mine."

  "That's against regution," Valeria interjected immediately. "Interface resources are individualized based on pyer cssification and—"

  "And we're a team," Alexander cut her off firmly. "In here, our survival depends on maximizing our collective knowledge. If my library contains information that helps Tullian secure our perimeter more effectively or Ellis identify valuable resources, then restricting that information endangers us all."

  He turned to face Valeria directly, maintaining eye contact. "Unless you believe maintaining social hierarchy is more important than our survival?"

  The challenge hung in the air. Alexander was clearly offering her a choice: adapt to his leadership approach or publicly oppose the team's interests.

  After a moment that felt much longer than it was, Valeria picked up her food ration again. "Your team, your rules."

  It wasn't enthusiastic agreement, but it was acquiescence. For now.

  "Let's review our strategic priorities," Alexander said, pulling a virtual map from his library and expanding it in the center of their circle. The detailed topographical dispy showed far more than the standard map avaible to most pyers, including resource density indicators and terrain analysis.

  "Our immediate goal is resource acquisition," he continued, highlighting several areas on the map. "Food, water, crafting materials. Secondary objective is reconnaissance of the surrounding territory to identify potential threats and opportunities."

  "What about the guardians?" Elijah asked, leaning forward to study the map. "We should gather intelligence on their patterns before attempting engagement."

  Alexander nodded. "Agreed. But we need sustainable resource collection first. Tullian, I want you to design mobile security measures we can deploy while foraging. Ellis, focus on identifying high-yield resource nodes. Elijah, medicinal preparations are priority—especially anything that enhances stamina or healing rates."

  He turned to Valeria st. "Krane, you'll establish observation posts at these three locations." He marked points on the map, including the northern ridge she had questioned earlier. "Rotate between them on a schedule we'll establish tomorrow. Your primary objective is early warning of pyer or guardian movement."

  As he outlined their strategy, Alexander watched the team dynamics closely. Ellis was already taking notes, clearly comfortable with her assigned role. Tullian's posture had rexed somewhat, his expression attentive. Elijah was studying the map, occasionally gncing at Alexander with quiet approval.

  Valeria's face remained neutral, but she was engaged, studying the designated observation points with professional interest. Whatever her feelings about the team hierarchy, she respected competence—and so far, Alexander's leadership demonstrated exactly that.

  When the briefing concluded, the team dispersed to their assigned areas. Elijah lingered, waiting until the others were out of earshot.

  "You handled that well," he said quietly. "Father would be impressed."

  Alexander felt a familiar tightness in his chest at the mention of their father. "Father would expect nothing less."

  "True," Elijah acknowledged with a slight smile. "But mother would be proud of how you're managing the css tensions. Sharing the library access was a good move."

  Alexander hadn't considered their mother's perspective. Helena had always emphasized maximizing avaible resources, regardless of arbitrary restrictions. Perhaps she'd influenced his approach more than he realized.

  "It's not about being noble," he said, closing the map dispy. "It's practical. We can't afford to have Tullian and Ellis operating with limited information. And we need Valeria's skills without her attitude."

  "Nobility disguised as practicality is still nobility," Elijah replied with a knowing look. "Get some rest. I'll take first watch."

  As his brother walked away, Alexander accessed his personal library again, this time navigating to a section on team psychology. He materialized a specific volume—"Cross-Css Colboration: Maximizing Performance in Stratified Groups"—and began to read.

  The Game might mirror the social structures of Terminus, but Alexander was determined to build something different within his team. Not out of idealism, but because their survival demanded it. And if that meant challenging the hierarchies they'd all been raised to accept, then so be it.

  He had a team to lead, and a Game to win.