Ladders transfer a projection between intermediate sectors. The final bulkhead hatch returns the active neural pattern to the Agency receiver. An open gate is a temporary coordinate agreement, not proof that the surrounding sector is safe.
Spacetime compression accelerates after full synchronisation, which is why the link has a clock. T-MINUS is the time before the current link collapses.
The hatch in the perimeter
During the armed response the last Node calibrated opens the hatch in the hall farthest from it, and the final breach begins, with the crowd at its fullest. The Warden steps through between the operatives and the hatch. Every operative still standing in the hatch's reach long enough is out.
Three green lamps
A lift inspection note found beneath the lit floor records that the hatch assembly below needs three synchronised Escape Nodes, and that cycling the upper lift will not replace any of them. It asks for any green indication above the lower landing to be recorded, and says nobody has confirmed where that route leads.
See also
Records cited
- LP-MAN-1993-S7, section 5
- Critical Response field manual, OBJECTIVE
- Three Green Lamps (Beyond Dawn)