The Hunt Begins

Location: Tavara – Atlas War Room

A wall-sized digital map illuminated the high-tech war room as red markers blinked across the continents. Each pulse represented a potential target, a trace left by former Dominion operatives trying to regroup.

Victor Kane stood in front of it, arms folded, the shadows on his face sharpened by the glow. His core team gathered—Nora, Echo, Zuri, Elros, Damien, and a few newly recruited tacticians.

"This isn't war," Victor began, his voice low but firm. "It's eradication. We find the survivors of the Dominion and neutralize them before they infect the world again."

Zuri tapped a command console, and the map zoomed in to highlight a remote island cluster near the Asian coast.

"First signal is from the Sagon Archipelago. We've picked up encrypted chatter from a dormant submarine base. Satellite sweeps show minimal activity, but enough to raise flags."

Elros chimed in, "That location was scrubbed clean two years ago. Someone's moved in recently. The heat signature is too coordinated for scavengers."

Damien nodded. "We send a scout team. Quiet. Fast. Surgical."

Victor's gaze flicked to Nora. She read his thoughts without a word.

"I'll lead them," she said. "Elros, Echo, and two Ghost Squad operatives. In and out before sunrise."

Victor's brow furrowed slightly. "No visible trail, Nora. No mistakes."

She smirked. "You taught me better than that."

---

Location: Sagon Archipelago – Submarine Base, Midnight

Thick fog blanketed the coastline, clinging to the cliffs like a shroud. The silent hum of an Atlas stealth skimmer cut through the mist, gliding just above water. Nora crouched at the front, night-vision lenses glowing faintly green over her eyes.

Behind her, Echo tapped into the old submarine base's grid. "Cameras are dead, power lines rerouted. Whoever moved in, they're not amateurs."

They docked silently at a decayed loading bay. The metal floor groaned under their boots, but Nora raised her hand for silence.

Elros scouted the west corridor while Echo disabled the defense tripwires. Within minutes, they reached the core bunker.

The heavy blast door was ajar.

"Not a good sign," Echo whispered.

Nora entered first, gun drawn, senses sharp. Inside, they found what looked like a lab—dismantled servers, crates of bio-ammunition, and a wall of burned documents. A lone monitor flickered, revealing a cryptic countdown.

00:41:52.

"What the hell—" Elros started.

Suddenly, the screen flashed red.

PROJECT HADES INITIALIZING.

Nora's voice rang with urgency. "Back to the skimmer. Now!"

---

Location: Tavara – Atlas HQ

Victor watched the screen as Echo's live feed buzzed back to life. The moment Nora's team emerged from the shadows, he saw it—the look in her eyes.

"They've started something," she said. "Something big. Something meant to finish what the Dominion couldn't."

Victor's face hardened. "Then we make sure it never reaches the light of day."

He turned to his generals.

"Prepare all units. Atlas is going dark. Operation Nightfall begins."