The Psalm Is Altered

Script

INT. PSALTER CHAPEL (FLAGSHIP) - SHIPNIGHT

A narrow sanctum of iron ribs and fiber-optic candles. At the center: THE IRON PSALTER CORE—an obelisk of black alloy humming with archived orders.

TRIBUNE JANNIK COR stands with a half-circle of ARMORED LEGIONARIES. Their helmets are clipped to belts—faces bare, committed.

On the far wall, projected in pale script:

> ANNEX // MARTYR PROTOCOL: PRE-AUTHORIZED ASSAULT PATTERNS  
> “LOSSES MUST READ AS LEGIBLE.”  
> TIMESTAMPED / SIGNED / IMMUTABLE.

DR. IVO RELLAN’s hands shake as he scrolls through orbital plots on a slate. LEGATE SERA KEST watches without blinking, jaw clenched like a blade.

COR  
Quiet mutiny. No blood. We take the core, we lock the annex, and we stop tomorrow’s—  

He can’t say it. Martyrdom. Slaughter.

KEST  
(ice)  
You seize it, you fracture command. The Legion becomes a story before it becomes a shield.

RELLAN  
Tomorrow’s insertion is tuned to fail. The corridor exit vector— it’s not merely risky. It’s choreographed. The Psalter will certify the choreography as obedience.

Cor steps to the obelisk. His palm hovers over a seal engraved with the Legion’s oath.

COR  
Then obedience is the weapon. And we’ve been aimed.

A LEGIONARY produces a compact breaching key—military issue, tribunal-coded.

KEST  
Jannik. If you do this… I can’t protect you.

COR  
I’m not asking protection. I’m asking you not to stop me.

A beat. Kest’s eyes flick to the projected line: “KEEP THE LOSSES CLEAN.”

KEST  
(low)  
Do it. But if the Psalter screams, we all hang.

Cor nods. He inserts the breaching key.

The obelisk emits a low, animal tone—then a NEW LINE auto-etches on the wall:

> ENTRY 09:02:11 // UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS INITIATED  
> FLAG: MUTINY RISK

RELLAN  
It’s tagging us.

COR  
Let it tag.

He twists. The tone deepens—alarms begin to build—

—and CUT OUT.

Dark.

A thin emergency glow. The obelisk’s hum becomes a tight, contained purr. Cor exhales.

COR (CONT'D)  
Core in tribunal custody.

Kest looks at