Ford is used to chatting while he works, and similarly used to the chatter giving way to focused silence in irregular but frequent intervals. He's finished welding this particular joint when Ortus speaks up again. He's silent for a few moments himself, taking the time to shut his torch off and finally flip up his welding mask before he replies.

"The collapse of the portal itself shouldn't cause any additional harm. Like I said, it's more of a brace than anything else."

He taps the extinguished torch against his palm, gaze gone distant with thought.

"My concern is that a premature collapse is likely to be a symptom of a greater problem - like instability within the dimension itself. If it collapses it's difficult to predict what might happen to those within it."