We had just secured our position outside Grimwood Forest, the air thick with tension as we awaited the next command. The forest loomed before us, its dark silhouette foreboding against the fading twilight. Our mission had been fraught with danger from the start, but now, with the arrival of Operation Commander Richard Harris, it felt like the stakes had been raised even higher.
Commander Harris had been a distant figure until now—his orders relayed through intermediaries, his presence felt but never seen. But this time was different. For the first time, he stepped into the spotlight of this mission, his face appearing on our screens as we gathered around for a video conference. His demeanor was as cold and calculated as we had imagined. He was a man of few words, every syllable clipped and to the point, with no time wasted on pleasantries or encouragement.