They Don't Know Yet

The former SM Mall of Asia reclamation area, now an improvised military airfield, hummed with life even in the dead of night. Makeshift hangars housed a handful of UAVs, fuel trucks lined the periphery, and armed guards patrolled the area.

In the middle of the tarmac sat an MQ-9 Reaper. Ground crews moved around it, running final checks as its engine idled in anticipation.

Inside the UAV Operations Center, a small control room filled with glowing monitors and quiet urgency, Javier Cruz, the designated drone pilot, adjusted his headset. His hands hovered over the controls, eyes locked onto the live feed from the Reaper's camera.

A voice crackled through his headset—Miguel Lopez, the air traffic controller overseeing the launch.

"Reaper One-One, this is MOA Tower. Status check?"

Cruz toggled his mic. "MOA Tower, this is Reaper One-One. Pre-flight checklist complete. Engine running at optimal levels, payload systems green."