2025-12-22 17:37:23
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THE THREAT BROADCAST
Ethan did not answer Selene’s question. His eyes stayed fixed on the television, and that silence told her more than any confession could. He was not the kind of man who admitted fear easily, but the tightness in his jaw and the stillness of his body gave him away.On the screen, Darius Herold stood before the Heroldian flag with a calm smile that made Ethan’s anger deepen. The reporter tried to look professional, but even through the broadcast, the fear in the room around Darius could be felt.Darius faced the camera fully. “The Tribunal Army thought I would build Thunderfall without protecting it. They thought I would prepare a nuclear program and forget the most important details. Security. Logistics. Defense. Counterattack. That is how pathetic their thinking has become.”Selene slowly sat up beside Ethan and pulled the sheet around herself. “He sounds like he is giving a victory speech.”“He is lying like a man who believes his own poison,” Ethan said.Darius continued, his tone
FEAR OF THE UNTHINKABLE
Ethan Xavier should have been asleep, but sleep refused to come. The room was quiet except for the low sound of the television playing in the background. Morning light slipped through the curtains and painted pale lines across the bedroom walls. Beside him, Selene lay close, one arm wrapped around his chest. She gently ran her fingers through his hair, watching him with the patience of someone who already knew exactly what was going on inside his head."You haven't slept properly in days," she said softly. "Every time I think you've finally drifted off, your eyes open again a few minutes later. At this rate, you're going to collapse before Darius ever manages to launch anything."Ethan stared at the ceiling for a few seconds before letting out a tired breath. "I've tried sleeping. The problem is that every time I close my eyes, Thunderfall is still there. Darius is still there. The warheads are still there. None of those things disappear just because I'm tired."Selene shifted closer
WE ARE COMPROMISED
Ethan spoke. “Tell me what happened.”The spy’s voice dropped. “Information about our purposed drone attack was leaked.”The room froze.Lorne’s face darkened. “Leaked?”“Yes,” the spy said. “Darius knew the drones were coming.”The statement landed heavily inside the command center.Nobody spoke for several seconds.The possibility of a leak was bad enough. The possibility that Darius had received advance warning of one of the Tribunal's most secret operations was even worse.Several officers exchanged uneasy glances.The disaster felt bigger than the loss of ten drones.It felt personal.Hisan stepped closer to the speaker. “How long did he know?”“I do not know exactly,” the spy answered. “But long enough to prepare. He moved special interceptors around the facility. They were hidden until the drones entered the inner zone.”Captain Zack slowly lowered his head.The more he listened, the more impossible the situation became.The Tucano drones were not ordinary machines. Entire gov
THREE SECONDS TOO LATE
The silence inside the Tribunal command center became heavier than gunfire.Every screen that had carried the drone feeds was now black. The operators did not move for a second. Their hands hovered above their consoles as if the machines had betrayed them. Red warning marks flashed across the control boards, but none of them gave a clear answer.Ethan Xavier stood in front of the main screen, his eyes fixed on the darkness.Captain Zack swallowed hard. “Sir, I am sorry. What just happened is very, very bad news.”Ethan turned his head slowly. “What is the bad news?”Captain Zack’s lips parted, but no words came out at once.Brigadier General Lorne stepped forward. “Captain, speak.”Captain Zack forced himself to look at Ethan. “The drones were shot down.”The words entered the room like a bomb.Ethan’s eyes widened. For a moment, he looked like he had not heard correctly. “Shot down?”“Yes, sir.”“No.” Ethan’s voice was low, but the disbelief in it was sharp. “That is impossible.”Cap
THE BLIND SKY
Three days later, the Tribunal command center was already awake when Ethan Xavier entered.Every screen on the wall carried live maps, drone feeds, and moving red marks that showed Herold defenses. Officers stood behind their stations with stiff backs and tired eyes. No one spoke louder than necessary. Everyone knew this was not a normal strike. If they failed, a nuclear war could begin before sunrise.Brigadier General Lorne stepped forward. “Master Ethan, all strike units are ready.”Ethan walked to the central table. His coat moved lightly behind him, but his face showed no pride. Only focus.“Where is Captain Zack?” he asked.A tall officer near the main console turned at once. “Here, sir.”Captain Zack was the head of the drone operation. His hands moved fast across the control board, but his voice remained calm.Ethan looked at the large map. “Has the location been confirmed?”Captain Zack nodded. “Yes, sir. The Herold command center has been confirmed. The second location has a
WHAT MUST BE DONE
Marcus Herold looked like a man who had just been buried while still breathing.The dark tablet remained in his hand, but his fingers had lost their strength. The screen showed nothing now. No image. No signal. No son. Only his own faint reflection staring back at him from the glass.Ethan Xavier stood a few steps away, silent.For some time, Marcus said nothing. His chest rose and fell slowly. The prison chamber was cold, but sweat had gathered around his forehead.“He was ready to kill me,” Marcus said at last.Ethan did not answer.Marcus turned slightly, his eyes still fixed on the tablet. “My own son. The boy I protected from every enemy I had. The boy I raised like my last hope.”Ethan’s face remained calm, but his eyes carried disappointment. “He has stopped seeing people, Marcus. He only sees targets.”Marcus swallowed hard. “No. He only sees himself.”The words came out weak, but they hurt him more than any weapon could. He lowered the tablet slowly and placed it on the metal
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