Page 460 of Black Reign

I open the case.

Her entire face changes.

There.

That's the reaction I wanted.

Inside is a modular quantum-development workstation built around Blackwell's newest experimental photonic processor.

Not a room-sized quantum computer.

Not the laboratory monstrosities most people imagine.

This is a self-contained research platform designed for hybrid computation—classical processing paired with a low-error photonic quantum coprocessor, secure development hardware, reconfigurable logic boards and enough custom silicon to keep Sabine occupied for months.

Several sealed cases sit beside it.

Prototype chips.

Hardware security modules.

FPGA boards.

Two neuromorphic processors.

A ridiculous amount of memory.

An isolated encrypted storage array.

Three custom keyboards because Sabine destroys keys when she gets excited.

And a handwritten card.

PLEASE TRY NOT TO HACK NATO BEFORE NEW YEAR'S.

Sabine reads the card.

Then looks inside the case.

Then back at me.

“Is that⁠—”

“Yes.”

Her eyes widen.

“The Q-series photonic board?”

“Latest revision.”

“You said they weren't shipping yet.”

“They aren't.”

“How did you get one?”

I look at her.