“Attention! Unauthorized movement near the perimeter!” The alarm rang through every corridor, and the red lights started flashing. Recruits scrambled in confusion, their training gear half fastened.“It’s another drill,” one of them said, laughing nervously.But Kai’s eyes locked onto the System display in his vision.System Alert: Hostile Signatures Detected: Real Combat Engagement. Estimated force count: 27. Weapon calibration: live.Kai’s tone cut through the noise. “Those aren’t simulations. The System confirms real signatures.”A hush spread for a brief second before chaos resumed.Riven muttered from across the hall, “You’re bluffing again, academy boy.”Kai turned to him with a calm expression. “You can check the radar log yourself.”Before Riven could reply, Commander Draegon entered the hall with three officers behind him. “All recruits, formation! This is not a drill.”Lyle swallowed hard. “Wait, seriously? Real mercs? Here?”“Quiet!” Draegon barked. “Perimeter Squad Alpha w

Explosions shook the ground as smoke covered the entire western corridor. The gunfire was loud and constant. The air smelled of burning metal. Kai ran forward through the haze and grabbed Riven by the vest, pulling him away from the open field before the next burst of bullets struck the wall where he had been standing.“Get down!” Kai shouted.Riven struggled against his grip. “Let me go! I had them!”Kai pushed him behind a crate and pointed at the field. “You were about to die. You exposed the entire squad!”Riven glared back, his face red with anger. “You don’t command me.”Kai ignored him and turned his focus to the battle outside. The System’s holographic overlay appeared in his vision, marking moving red outlines through the smoke.System Scan: Hostile units – 21. Drone activity – active. Probability of secondary ambush: 62%.He spoke quickly over the comms. “Halen, keep your squad low. Vera, get med support ready. Lyle, reload and cover the east wall. Enemy drones are moving in