“Alpha team, you reached the objective. One man, alone. That’s not a victory condition—it’s a vulnerability.”

Chase lowers his eyes.

Conversations bloom.

Aurruoff draws near. Farah turns to Asaris. He stays on Injirri.

He waits.

A long emitter emerges from the shadow in the mezzanine. Light cuts across a scope as it shifts forward.

The scope magnifies a large, steel-blue eye.

Crosshairs overlay the team.