Elevated Reconnaissance

The vertical weave of the curtain provided reliable traction. Hand over hand, I climbed until my boots cleared the painted sill. Gaining the high ground changes the perimeter assessment entirely. Beyond the pane sits an expansive exterior sector—distant asphalt, shifting branches, and wheeled civilian transports moving along fixed lanes. Sunlight angles through the glass, warming my armor plating. Beside my position, a heavy brass sash lock secures the lower frame. I pressed down on the lever arm to test its tolerance. The mechanism is rigid, locked with zero play. From this elevation, every possible approach is accounted for.