EDGE OF THE STORM

[SCENE — HIDDEN CATTO WEATHER FACILITY / HARDENED CLIFFSIDE BUNKER] [sound design: hurricane-force wind against reinforced concrete, deep structural vibration, radar equipment humming] [LAIZER BEAM — confident female broadcast voice, professional] Catto Weather Radio, BEAM-1. Lyra-9 remains offshore. Coastal impact has not occurred. Our hardened observation facility remains secure. [sound design: radio static, aircraft engine emerging] [UNKNOWN FLIGHT CREW — professional radio voice] CATTO Weather Radio, Lima Bravo Zero Zero One. Do you copy? [LAIZER BEAM — professional] Lima Bravo Zero Zero One, CATTO copies. Report. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE — flight crew, cautious] We're operating along the outer edge of Lyra-9. Primary research aircraft is grounded. We've relocated to an alternate aircraft. [LAIZER BEAM — focused] Understood. Report your conditions. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] Extreme turbulence. Crosswinds increasing. We cannot enter the main circulation. We're holding the edge. [LAIZER BEAM — confident] That's the correct decision. Do not enter the core. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] CATTO, we need a safe flight corridor. Your last route disappeared from our systems. [LAIZER BEAM — focused] Stand by. [sound design: keyboard inputs, radar sweep accelerating] [LAIZER BEAM — quietly reading data] I have your position. Wind shear building ahead. Turn ten degrees east. Maintain altitude. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE — surprised] CATTO, confirm you have our position. [LAIZER BEAM] Your aircraft is transmitting. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] Our onboard radar isn't showing that shear. [LAIZER BEAM — tense] Your radar is behind the storm. Mine isn't. Turn now. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] Turning. [sound design: aircraft engine strains, turbulence] [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] CATTO... That was close. [LAIZER BEAM — controlled] You're clear. Continue along the outer edge. Do not cross the boundary. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] Copy. [sound design: deep thunder, radar interference] [LAIZER BEAM — suddenly urgent] Hold. Stop your turn. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] CATTO? [LAIZER BEAM] Do not follow the rotation. There is something moving inside the circulation. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] Debris? [LAIZER BEAM — guarded] Unknown. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] CATTO, how are you seeing this? [LAIZER BEAM] Your telemetry. Keep transmitting. [sound design: static, aircraft engine] [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] CATTO, who exactly are you? [LAIZER BEAM — brief pause] CATTO Weather Radio. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] No. I mean who are you? [LAIZER BEAM — guarded] Your weather guide. [sound design: radar pulse, distant unnatural energy surge] [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE — alarmed] We've got another energy spike! [LAIZER BEAM — watching monitors] I see it. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] It crossed our flight path. [LAIZER BEAM — urgent] Do not chase it. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] We weren't planning to. [sound design: turbulence intensifies] [LAIZER BEAM] Turn north. Now. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] We're already at the storm boundary. [LAIZER BEAM] Then stay there. You cannot outrun the inner circulation. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] Understood. [sound design: aircraft engine, wind, radio static] [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE — quieter] CATTO... Whatever you're seeing from that ground station... You're the only thing keeping us out of the core. [LAIZER BEAM — confident female broadcast voice, restrained] That's what we're here for. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] We're going to keep transmitting. [LAIZER BEAM — focused] Good. I need your sensor data. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] For the storm? [LAIZER BEAM — slight pause] For everything. [sound design: radar sweep accelerates] [CATTO SYSTEM VOICE — synthesized procedural voice] New unidentified returns detected. [LAIZER BEAM — focused] How many? [CATTO SYSTEM VOICE] Unable to determine. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] CATTO? [LAIZER BEAM — urgent] Lima Bravo Zero Zero One, change heading immediately. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] Why? [LAIZER BEAM — quiet, unsettled] Something just crossed behind you. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] Our rear sensors are clear. [LAIZER BEAM] Mine aren't. [sound design: sudden static burst] [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] CATTO, what are you seeing? [LAIZER BEAM — controlled fear] I don't know. Stay on the edge. Keep transmitting. [LIMA BRAVO ZERO ZERO ONE] Copy. [sound design: aircraft fades into hurricane winds, radar continues] [LAIZER BEAM — final broadcast] Catto Weather Radio, BEAM-1. Lyra-9 remains offshore. The storm core remains inaccessible. Lima Bravo Zero Zero One is operating along the outer circulation. Their aircraft is our eyes inside the system. And whatever is moving through Lyra-9... We're going to keep watching. [sound design: radar sweep continues into static]