Location: Tavara – Northern Border Outpost, Midnight
Ashford moved like a ghost through the abandoned facility. The meeting point was deep in no-man's land, a place buried in Tavara's forgotten military records. He wore a cloaking vest lined with anti-surveillance tech and carried a sidearm loaded with silent rounds.
He paused at a rusted steel door—two knocks, a pause, then one knock.
The door creaked open.
Inside stood a thin man with a trembling hand and an eye-patch. His name was Cole Verin—former communications specialist for Unit Thirteen. Officially dead for seven years.
"You came alone?" Cole rasped.
Ashford nodded. "You said you had intel. Talk."
Cole coughed into his sleeve. "They're activating 'Sovereign Fall.' It's the next phase of Eclipse. Coordinated financial strikes. They'll collapse Tavara's central bank and make it look like internal fraud. After that, foreign control—complete dependency."
Ashford's pulse spiked. "Names. Who's leading this?"
Cole's eyes darted toward the shadows. "Director Vale is just one head. But you need to find Cipher. She's the real architect. Vale's just a weapon she controls."
A click echoed in the darkness.
Ashford drew instantly, but it was too late. A sniper round shattered the far wall behind them. Ashford shoved Cole down and fired toward the sound—hitting nothing. Shadows moved—silent, trained.
"They found me!" Cole screamed.
Ashford grabbed him. "Then you're coming with me."
They sprinted through the underpass as bullets hissed by, a trail of blood and desperation. Ashford activated the beacon: Extraction Code-Red: Raven's Nest. Immediate evac.
---
Location: Kane Estate – Underground Safehouse Alpha
Damien watched the feed from Ashford's bodycam. He slammed his hand on the metal table. "They've started. Sovereign Fall will trigger a global panic."
Logan exhaled. "If we don't secure the Central Bank within forty-eight hours, the economy crashes—and Eclipse walks in to 'rescue' Tavara."
Nora's voice was calm, cold. "Then we beat them at their own game. Ashford buys us time. We mobilize Ghost Teams One through Four. We infiltrate the Reserve. No one gets in or out without our scan."
Damien nodded. "And I'll deal with Cipher."
Logan raised a brow. "You think she's real?"
"I know she is," Damien said. "Because I've met her before—years ago. Before the world knew who I really was."
---
Location: Eclipse Central Command – Cipher's Private Quarters
A woman in a crimson robe stood in front of a mirrored wall. Her eyes were sharp, cold, intelligent. A scar trailed down her neck—a reminder of the price of betrayal.
She placed a chess piece on the board. The king.
"Time to topple Tavara."