Scene: Sector E7 – Frozen Ravine, 4km East of Entry Point Sigma
POV: General Soren Vask
He thought he was clever.
He thought snow would cover his tracks.
He thought a single well-placed bullet would shake an empire.
He was wrong.
I stood above the ravine, breathing slow and steady, my rifle slung behind me. Below, six Shadow Hawks had the bastard pinned. His sniper rifle lay snapped in two at his feet, and his left leg was bent at an angle no bone should allow.
The bastard was crawling. Not to run.
To beg.
> "Please…" he rasped. "I didn't mean to kill him—just a warning, I swear, I swear it wasn't supposed to hit the heart—"
> "You shot a king," I growled, descending toward him. "There are no warnings when you aim for the crown."
His eyes widened as I approached. My boots cracked the ice with every step. The other operatives backed off like wolves making room for their alpha.
> "Wait! Wait!" he gasped. "I can talk—I have info—names—there's others involved!"
> "You should've thought about that before pulling the trigger."
> "Please—General Vask—mercy—"
I dropped to one knee beside him.
Leveled my eyes with his.
And for the first time in years, I let my voice drop to a whisper. Not for intimidation.
For finality.
> "There is no mercy for traitors."
> "It was just a job," he sobbed. "They paid me! I didn't even know the bullet would hit—"
> "Wrong."
I drew my knife.
Not for flair.
For message.
> "You knew exactly what you were doing."
And you knew who you were doing it to.
---
One swift motion. Silence followed.
Blood soaked the snow like spilled ink on a surrender note.
I stood. Wiped the blade on his jacket. Turned to my team.
> "Pack him up. Send the body to the Queen. But…"
I looked back at the shattered rifle.
> "Wrap it in his own weapon. I want it hand-delivered."
The team nodded.
I tapped my comm.
> "This is General Soren Vask. Target neutralized. Body en route to Blackwood Medical. Inform Her Majesty: 'Message received. Delivered.'"
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The empire bleeds for no one.
But it sure as hell makes others bleed for daring to try.
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