Partridge is in the war room now, and he's looking at a screen filled with small dots.
Yep, those dots are wretches, and they're coming at the Dome.
Beckley tells him they have a liaison to go outside the Dome and consult El Capitan and Bradwell.
Who else but Hastings?
Unfortunately, Hastings' behavioral coding has been doubled, so he can't make any of his own decisions anymore.
He's also fully bugged, acting as the Dome's eyes and ears.
Partridge isn't too happy that Hastings can't make his own decisions. When Hastings leaves the room, he shoots Partridge a look — it's terrifyingly somber.
Beckley then adds one thing: Cygnus thought it would be best to separate Partridge and Lyda.