The Strategist's Gambit

Location: Damien's Underground Command Hub, Tavara – 2:15 AM

The command hub was silent but alive, the soft hum of servers pulsing like a heartbeat in the belly of the earth. Damien stood in front of a giant holographic map, red and blue data streams flowing across Tavara's geopolitical grid.

His black coat was slung across the back of the chair, sleeves rolled up, revealing faint scars—remnants of the covert battles he never spoke of.

Leo entered quietly. "Sir, we've confirmed Nora's flight out of Tavara. She activated something called Protocol Echo."

Damien's jaw tightened. "She's chasing the ghosts from the Vale Institute."

"Isn't that the facility linked to Project Requiem?"

Damien nodded. "The same. We once believed it was shut down. Now it's clear it was restructured—quietly, and with Cassian's fingerprints all over it."

Leo stepped forward. "Sir, there's something else. We intercepted an encrypted communique. Cassian's holding a private summit in the Portgrave Sector. Elite families. Arms dealers. Pharma execs. It's not just a business meeting—it's a recruitment operation."

Damien's eyes narrowed. "He's rebuilding the old Hydra structure."

Leo hesitated. "And he's bringing up the name... Kane."

Damien turned slowly. "Kane?"

Leo nodded. "It's not clear if it's a codename or a person. But one of the investors backing Cassian's pharma front is listed under Kane Holdings, based out of Zurich."

Damien's voice dropped. "Legacy name... could be a ghost investor. Or someone trying to mimic the old-world power circles."

He moved to the control panel and tapped in a command. Instantly, files about the Portgrave Sector and Project Requiem lit up the screen.

"Get me Anton," Damien ordered. "We're setting up a strike simulation. I want scenarios for extraction, exposure, and blackout. And Leo?"

"Yes, sir?"

"When this is done, I want the Kane name scrubbed from every angle. We end them before they grow roots."

Leo nodded and disappeared into the shadows.

Damien took a breath. For a moment, the silence settled, then he whispered to himself, "Nora... hold your ground. We're both at war now."