Shadows in the Ranks

The Vanguard base was unnervingly quiet as Tobi and Hannah escorted the mole—a trembling, broken man named Aldo—to the detention cells. 

His betrayal weighed heavily on Tobi, but Aldo's claims of coercion and threats against his family added a layer of complexity. He wasn't just a traitor; he was a man cornered by fear.

As they handed Aldo over to the guards, Tobi turned to him one last time.

"Tell the truth when they interrogate you," Tobi said. "It might save your life."

Aldo nodded weakly but said nothing.

Hours later, the base was roused by alarms blaring through its corridors. Tobi and Hannah, who had barely begun analyzing the evidence they'd recovered from the cultists' camp, rushed toward the detention block.

When they arrived, the scene was grim. Aldo's lifeless body lay slumped against the wall of his cell, his neck at an unnatural angle. Blood seeped from his temple, staining the cold metal floor.