Morning broke over. Pale light filtering through the narrow slits of the windows. The underground base remained cloaked in its perpetual artificial lighting but above it, the world had turned golden with the sun.
General Lennard, in his own home, stirred in his bed. His instincts were already pushing him toward wakefulness.
Years of commanding elite forces had hardwired him to wake early. Even on days when he didn't need to.
He reached for his phone on the bedside table while still half-lying down. His eyes squinted at the screen.
His thumb slid across the locked display. His inbox showed a single message at the top:
"From: Sergeant Erend Drake."
"10 Targets Neutralized. No mortal casualties. Evidence secured."
Lennard exhaled through his nose and gave a quiet scoff of approval.
