"You've been quiet, Sam," Alex noted, catching the younger man's contemplative gaze. "Your take on these signal inconsistencies?" There was a respect in Alex's tone, though a respectful distance remained—a gulf of experience and a hint of protective mentorship that stood between them. Sam nodded, recognizing the space afforded to him, and he couldn't help but feel the weight of expectation pressing upon his shoulders. It wasn't just the mission that was immense, it was the trust being placed in him. "The patterns are... off," Sam admitted, hesitant but driven. "If I'm right, what we're looking at isn't random—it's a structured anomaly. We need to be ready for anything."