[Outside Lufen Portal]
Snow fell in thick sheets across the entire field, blanketing equipment and soldiers in white.
The portal entrance stood silent, its dimensional barrier showing no movement.
Around it, thousands of soldiers stood in formation, weapons ready, their eyes locked on the portal entrance.
Beyond the military cordon, hundreds of reporters had set up their equipment, cameras pointed at the shimmering barrier, broadcasting to every corner of the Federation.
In homes across all five regions, people sat frozen in front of their screens.
Factories had shut down production lines so workers could watch.
Schools had wheeled televisions into cafeterias, students packed shoulder to shoulder.
Bars and restaurants played the broadcast on every available screen, patrons standing rather than sitting, drinks forgotten.
The forums had exploded, comment counts climbing into the millions.
[FederationWatch - Live Thread]
