Location: Tavara – Kane Estate, Western Perimeter Forest Line
Night cloaked the forest in shadows, the moonlight flickering through the thick canopy like shards of broken glass. The wind whispered across the trees, but within that silence was the sharp crackle of danger.
Alpha Squad moved in silent formation—six elite operatives, dressed in matte black tactical gear, armed and lethal. The infrared overlay in their visors outlined the intruders ahead: three figures, now stationary, crouched near the outer security mesh of the estate.
"Engage quietly," came Cyrus's voice through the comms. "No alarms. We want them gone before they realize we were even watching."
The first intruder reached for what looked like a device—probably a signal interceptor. Before he could power it up, a whisper of motion sliced through the darkness. A tranquilizer dart embedded into his neck, and he crumpled without a sound. The other two barely had time to react.
Alpha leader, known only as Grim, flanked from the side and swept the legs out from the second. Before the man hit the ground, a stun baton cracked against his ribs. The third intruder turned, raising his weapon—but too slow. A single suppressed shot split the silence. He dropped.
From the command room, Damien watched via live feed.
"Three-man probe. Likely just recon," Cyrus muttered, arms crossed.
"Someone's getting cocky," Damien replied. "They're either testing our defenses or baiting us."
Nora looked over at him. "Either way, we can't let them live to report back. Did we recover anything?"
"Encrypted drives on two," Grim reported through the link. "No insignias. No DNA tags either. These are ghosts."
Damien narrowed his eyes. "Ghosts only work for three types of men—governments, mercenary syndicates, or someone with enough money to buy silence."
Nora's fingers tapped the edge of the table. "Vos?"
"Could be," Damien replied. "But he usually plays cleaner than this. He doesn't use throwaways."
Grim's voice crackled again. "One still breathing. We're bringing him in."
"Good," Damien said coldly. "Wake him up. We're going to ask some very pointed questions."
---
Two Hours Later – Interrogation Sub-Level, Kane Estate
The captured intruder was shackled, bleeding but conscious. Damien entered the dark room slowly, removing his coat, his presence dominating.
"You're going to tell me everything," he said calmly. "Not because I'll hurt you—but because you know who I am. You've heard what I've done."
The man's lips trembled, though he tried to remain stoic.
Nora stepped into view next, flipping open a file. "I know how long you spent in Elandra's military black squadron. I know your last contract was terminated after a failed extraction in Yemen. And I know Vos paid to get you out of prison last year."
Silence.
Damien leaned closer, voice low, eyes sharp. "So, let's try this again. Why are you here?"
The man coughed. Then—hesitation. A flicker of fear in his eyes.
"It wasn't Vos," he said hoarsely. "It was someone else. They... they called her 'The Falcon.'"
Nora stilled. "What?"
Damien's eyes narrowed. "The Falcon's been dead for six years."
The man shook his head. "No. She's back. She's building a network... and she wants to dismantle you both."
The silence that followed was heavy with meaning.
"She's supposed to be family," Damien whispered. "Impossible."
Nora's hand clenched the file tighter. "If it's her... then this isn't just about war anymore. It's personal."