RISE OF THE SOVEREIGN SOLDIER

Chapter 3: The Ghost’s Ledger

Chapter 3: The Ghost’s Ledger

The rain had stopped by the time the sun came up leaving Oakhaven Metro covered in a gray fog that came from the harbor. For people it was just a normal Tuesday.. For the Sterling family it was a big problem.

Logan was sitting in a diner three blocks away from Sterling Plaza drinking a cup of black coffee that did not taste good. He had changed out of his security uniform. Was wearing a plain black hoodie and jeans. Across from him was Marcus.

Marcus looked very different from the day. His cheeks were not sunken anymore, his hair was cut neatly. Even though his left leg was still in a brace he was sitting up straight like a soldier. On the table between them was a tablet that showed a lot of blue data in the air.

"The ten million dollars was in my account at 2 am Commander, " Marcus said quietly. "I already rented a warehouse in the industrial area using a fake company. The computers are set up. The security system is very strong. Nobody can track us."

Logan took a sip of his coffee. "What about the Sterlings?"

Marcus let out a laugh and tapped the tablet. The screen changed to show news and secret messages from Sterling Plaza.

"You really hurt them. The countdown timer on their building screens did not just scare Julian it also made a lot of their investors very nervous. Silas Sterling had to cancel an event and fly back on a private jet. He is now in a meeting room with his people trying to figure out how a dead unit could cost his company three hundred million dollars."

"Silas is a politician who wears a uniform, " Logan said, his eyes getting darker. "He does not know how to deal with an enemy he cannot control or kill. He will look for a threat. He will look for a group of rogue soldiers."

"This is where we can attack them " Marcus said, sliding a file forward. The screen showed a picture of a big cargo ship at Pier 14. "Silass money is a cover. The real reason the Sterling family is so powerful is because of The Aegis Directorates deals. Tonight at midnight a cargo ship called The Leviathan is arriving. Officially it is carrying machines.. Really it is carrying stolen military equipment."

Logan looked at the plans. His mind, which was trained to think like a soldier, quickly understood the security system of Pier 14.

"Silas uses the money from these deals to buy votes in the military council " Logan said quietly. "If we take the shipment we will take away his power and his influence."

"It will not be easy, " Marcus warned. "Because of what happened that night , Silas has added more guards. He has also hired a gang, the Iron Fang Syndicate to secure the area.. The leader of the gang is a man named Boris. He is a violent man."

Logan put his coffee cup down. The sound of the cup on the table was loud and final.

"Boris is a man.. Men like him need to be stopped." Logan stood up putting his hood over his head. "Watch their communications. If Silas changes his plans let me know."

"Logan " Marcus called out looking worried. "Are you going in alone? Against a hundred gang members?"

Logan stopped and looked back. The dim light of the diner caught the lines of his jaw.

"I am not alone, Ghost, " Logan said calmly. "I have the Vanguard behind me. They just do not know it yet."

At midnight Pier 14 was very quiet. The only sound was the water hitting the pillars. The fog was thick covering the lights of the industrial area.

The Leviathan cargo ship was like a metal monster against the dock, its cranes making loud noises as they prepared to unload the containers.

On the ground than fifty men in dark clothes and leather jackets were walking around the perimeter carrying assault rifles. In the center of the yard under a canopy was a big bald man with a scar on his face. He was chewing on a cigar watching his men with eyes.

"Keep your eyes open!" the man, Boris shouted. "The Young Master said someone is playing games in the city. If anyone gets too close to these containers, shoot them."

"Boss!" a voice came from Boris's walkie-talkie. "We have a problem at Sector 3. The fence was cut."

Boris took out his cigar, his eyes narrowing. "Did you catch the person who did it?"

"No... We found the patrol team. They are... Oh God, Boss, you need to see this."

Boris. Signaled to four of his strongest men. "With me. The rest of you lock down the containers."

Boris walked towards the edge of the pier, his boots heavy on the ground. When he got to Sector 3 he was shocked.

Three of his guards were pinned to the containers not with bullets but with steel bars. They were alive but unconscious, their guns broken on the floor.

On the center guard's chest was a card with a dagger and a viper on it.

"What is this?" one of the men whispered, shaking. "How did someone do this without making a sound?"

"Shut up!" Boris shouted, though he was scared. He took out his walkie-talkie. "All units! We are under attack! Sound the—"

Before he could finish a big explosion rocked the side of the pier. A fireball came from the power generator making the whole harbor very dark.

The lights went out. The cranes stopped moving.

The only light came from the flames of the burning generator making shadows in the fog.

"Form a circle!" Boris shouted, taking out a handgun. "Back to back! Shoot anything that moves!"

Then the hunting started.

A shadow dropped from the darkness above. There was a crack, followed by a muffled sound. One of Boris's men vanished into the fog.

"Where is he?! Where is he?!" another man panicked, shooting blindly into the mist.

Thud. Snap.

Another man went down with his rifle falling to the floor.

Logan moved through the fog like a predator. He did not use a gun. He used his hands moving silently and deadly. A palm strike to the throat, a kick to the knee, a strike to the temple. To the gang members it felt like the fog itself was attacking them.

In two minutes the gunfire stopped. The shouting died down.

Boris stood alone in the center of the dark yard surrounded by his unconscious men. His heart was racing like a trapped bird. He spun around his gun shaking as he aimed at the air.

"Come out!" Boris shouted, his voice cracking with fear. "I know who you are! You are Vance! Silas said you died in the desert!"

"Silas lies about a lot of things " a voice echoed.

The voice did not come from behind or ahead. It seemed to come from everywhere.

Boris spun around. The fog parted.

Logan stood ten feet away, his eyes empty of fear or mercy. He was walking forward with his hands empty.

"Die you ghost!" Boris shouted, shooting his gun.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Logan did not try to dodge. At the moment Boris shot Logan slid under the bullets. Before Boris could aim again Logan was already closing the distance.

Logan's palm hit Boris's wrist making him drop the gun. Boris tried to punch Logan. Logan caught his fist.

Logan twisted. Boris's shoulder joint tore apart making him fall to his knees.

The big man was crying in pain, his body shaking in front of Logan.

Logan stood over Boris looking down at him with no emotion at all. He put his hand in his pocket. Pulled out a little device that would send secret messages and he dropped it on Boris's lap.

"Tell Silas that Vanguard is taking over his way of selling things, " Logan said quietly. ". Tell him he only has forty eight hours left."

Before Boris could even look up Logan kicked him in the jaw with his boot and Boris fell into a darkness.

Logan turned to face The Leviathan. He took out the thing he used to talk to people from far away. "Ghost, the area is safe. Send in the teams that will take the things we found. We are taking everything."

On the end of the line Marcus let out a breath he had been holding for a very long time. "I heard you, Logan.. Wait, I am getting a message from the military on the radio. Silas just talked to the people in charge of the city. He is using a rule."

Logan's eyes got smaller as he looked out at the water. "The rule that lets them send in the military?"

"Yes," Marcus. His voice was shaking. "He is calling in a group of soldiers to take over the whole city by tomorrow morning. Logan is bringing in the Black Watch Huntsmen. This is the group that replaced Vanguard.