Just differential relationships, tolerances, frequency estimates, duty-cycle assumptions, and the kind of handwriting developed by a man who had spent years writing equations on crowded whiteboards.
Eleanor eventually asked, “When was the last time you did this?”
Isaac did not look up.
“This morning.”
“I mean propulsion analysis.”
“So do I.”
She frowned.
Isaac pointed toward Raymond’s truck.
“Pressure, heat, vibration, tolerance.”
He moved the pencil.
“Machines don’t care whether they’re in orbit or leaking oil in Harlow.”
That night Eleanor called Houston.
Isaac stayed until nearly two in the morning.
The next day, Cameron Ashford arrived.
He came alone.
That fact told Isaac more than the visit itself.
Cameron had always travelled with program staff when acting officially.
The rental sedan stopped near the garage at 9:38.
Cameron stepped out two minutes later.
He wore a navy blazer despite the Texas heat.
No tie.
Controlled informality.
He entered without knocking.
Isaac sat at the workbench, mechanical pencil moving across another sheet.
“Good morning, Isaac.”
Isaac continued writing.
“Cameron.”
“It’s been a long time.”
“Six years.”
Cameron looked around.
His gaze moved across the old tool wall.
The stained concrete.
Engine blocks.
Portable technical case Eleanor had left.
“You seem well.”
Isaac stopped writing.
“You came six hours from Houston to tell me that?”
“I was already in the region.”
“No, you weren’t.”
Cameron smiled thinly.
“Still direct.”
“Still busy.”
Cameron walked closer.
“I understand Eleanor Voss contacted you regarding OBSIDIAN-7.”
Isaac said nothing.
“I want to make sure you have context.”
“That phrase usually means somebody wants to control the order in which facts arrive.”
Cameron ignored it.
“Nexora’s current engineering team is developing a software-based mitigation.”
“I heard.”
“It remains the most mature solution.”
“No.”
Cameron’s eyes narrowed.
“You haven’t seen the complete package.”
“I don’t need the complete package to know reducing activation frequency trades vibration margin for pressure authority.”
A pause.
Cameron recovered quickly.
“That trade is manageable.”
“For how long?”
“We’re still modelling.”
“Then you don’t know.”
“We know enough.”
Isaac finally looked directly at him.
“That sentence got me fired.”
Cameron exhaled slowly.
“Your termination had nothing to do with technical disagreement.”
“Don’t.”
“I’m telling you—”
“No.”
Isaac put down the pencil.
“We don’t need to rewrite 2017 for what’s happening now.”
Cameron’s jaw tightened.
“My concern is that you understand any current contribution must go through formal review.”
“Talk to Eleanor.”
“I’m talking to you.”
“You shouldn’t be.”
For the first time, Cameron lost the polished expression.
Only for a second.
Then it returned.
“Isaac, if you become involved outside established channels, you expose yourself legally.”
“There it is.”
“I’m trying to prevent a problem.”
“You’re trying to remind me you can create one.”
“That’s not what I said.”
“No.”
Isaac nodded.
“You’re better than that.”
Cameron stood silent.
Then he said, “Your 2017 report was not validated.”
Isaac looked at him.
“You read it.”
Cameron did not answer.
“You read it four times.”