GATE: In the Company of Shadows

by Krueger-X

The JSDF handled the opening of the gate well, but what they don't know is that another gate has opened within the Special Region. On the opposite side? A multinational tier one private military company. Will Japan be able to share this new resource rich fantasy world with a group of shady mercenaries or will rising political tensions cause them to reach their breaking point?

24. Black Waters and Red Harbors

Pre Author's Notes:

We're back at it with some more of our favorite private military! Coming up… clinical, dehumanizing, corporate speak — AKA — sanitized big lingo to describe hyper violence and questionable ethics. Strap in and prepare yourselves...

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Gate: In the Company of Shadows

Chapter 24

Black Waters and Red Harbors

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"The old wood burns, we fire at will. Sinners by deed, but righteous still. So crooked are we, as those we kill. Into the coals we go..." — Buffalo Jones

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[REDACTED] VALE [REDACTED] - SHADOW CO.

SITE HOTEL GAMMA, FALMART

IMPERIAL CALENDAR 687 - 21:00:00

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Vale had seen many faces come and go throughout his time in the private sector.

The corporate world, especially in certain industries like theirs, could expose individuals to situations that tested the values, ethics, and resilience instilled into them from their prior military service. Some, witnessing the more challenging and morally questionable aspects of the job, found it hard to reconcile their personal principles with the demands of the work, leading to a swift departure.

On the other hand, there were those like the veterans who remained unfazed by the darker aspects of the company's business. Those that didn't even bat an eye when they had to take the gloves off an get their hands dirty. These individuals had likely developed a thicker skin over time, desensitized by their exposure to challenging scenarios and ethical dilemmas. Perhaps they had learned to compartmentalize their emotions, prioritizing their professional responsibilities for a paycheck over personal discomfort.

Vale sensed that the masked man, Arthur, and his canine companion, Merlin, were cut from a different cloth altogether.

As he observed them from across the dimly lit hangar, he could tell that their demeanor and body language set them apart from the typical newcomers or hardened veterans he had encountered before. Arthur's posture exuded a quiet confidence, while Merlin's watchful, yet relaxed, presence hinted at a deep bond between man and man's best friend.

Vale's experienced eye caught the subtle signs of their awareness. The occasional tilt of Arthur's head around the room and the way the dog's ears perked up at the slightest change in the environment spoke of a heightened sense of vigilance. These were traits often honed through thorough training, suggesting that Arthur and his loyal companion had a history that — of course — came from a military background.

Not something he had come to expect from a 'liaison' sent by a representative from the company's board of directors.

Despite that, Vale wasn't too surprised. He had come across many mysterious individuals who concealed their pasts, using the private sector as a new battleground for their skills. But Arthur and Merlin seemed like a puzzle he was determined to solve. Their presence intrigued him, and from Graves' words, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to them.

Especially when they came from BlackCell…

Vale was pulled from his musings as he felt a nudge on his arm. He turned to see Viper, with their other squad member, Ronin, at his side. His fellow American looked at him with a quizzical expression as he offered a mug of freshly brewed coffee, the steam curling up invitingly.

"Eying the new company?" Viper asked, his voice low but friendly.

Vale accepted the mug with a nod of gratitude, taking a deliberately slow sip alongside his teammates as he gathered his thoughts. Just the way he liked his coffee too. Black; a no-nonsense, straightforward, low-calorie, kick of caffeine… perfect for keeping him alert.

"Always," Vale replied with a half-smile, his attention briefly shifting from their new members to Viper. "There's something about them, though. Arthur fits the mold of a Shadow perfectly… almost a little too perfectly..."

Ronin leaned in slightly, his eyes focused on the duo. "I noticed it too. He's not like the usual weirdos we see around here. And that dog of his? Not your average pet, yes?"

Merlin looked up at the Shadows currently eyeing him, the dog curiously tilting his head, as if he could somehow understand that the conversation was about him.

Vale chuckled softly at the sight. "Definitely not. There's more to that mutt than just playing fetch and belly rubs. That's a killer if I've ever seen one. A beast just waiting to sink its fangs into the jugular of some poor imp."

Ronin raised an eyebrow, letting his voice drop a notch as he idly swirled the coffee in his mug. "I'd hate to be the poor bastard that gets munched on. So, what's your take on them, 'mister detective'?" He asked jokingly.

Vale's gaze returned to Viper and Ronin, his expression thoughtful. What was his take on them? He could usually get a good read on people, but Arthur? Well, it's not like Graves was much help either. He didn't have much to go off of, aside from his previous experience with the company.

"Graves mentioned that Arthur's a liaison, but his background goes much deeper than that," he replied, his voice dropping to a near whisper as he leaned in slightly, mirroring Ronin's conspiratorial tone. "Former Shadow turned BlackCell…"

Viper let out an impressed whistle as he leaned back, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the side of his mug. "BlackCell, huh? Not people you usually, if ever, stumble upon in the field. Makes sense though. It's not like Graves to just let any old operator through the gate."

"No, I imagine that someone on the board pressured him internally."

"What do you think they're interested in the SR for?" Ronin asked, glancing at the nearby map on the projector display.

"My guess? They're more than likely dipping their finger in the pie, seeing if there's anything that's worth sending more of their own people over for. Arthur's likely just here to report back on our progress. Take my words with a massive grain of salt though. If I truly knew the inner workings of a group like BlackCell, then I'd be in a different line of work, and I wouldn't be standing here discussing it with you now would I?"

Viper gave a small, mirthless laugh at that. "Hm, a different line of work doesn't necessarily constitute a better line of work, Vale."

"Speaking from experience?"

"Plenty," Ronin answered for him, briefly glancing at Viper and sharing a knowing look. "Viper and I used to do maritime private security before Shadow Company. Quite a few interesting stories to tell. Remind me to tell you all about it after tonight."

"In the meantime though, we should probably stop theorizing about our new guests. Especially right in front of them." Viper cut in, his tone lighthearted, but with a hint of caution as he brought the mug up to his lips. "Plus, curiosity killed the cat and all that…"

With their hushed conversation coming to a halt, Vale was content to just stand around in silence, relaxing with the ambience of a busy base, lights, and electronic equipment idly humming nearby as he enjoyed his coffee. Of course, the soft murmur of voices steadily increasing from just outside the hangar signaled that he wouldn't get to enjoy it for very long.

The push bar door near the back wall of the hangar opened a moment later, with Bristol and Angel clearly in the midst of their own conversation as they hefted some ammo boxes in.

"Are you actually from Bristol?" Angel asked the team's resident Englishman, the question echoing through the hangar as he held the door open with his foot.

Bristol let out a small snort, not bothering to turn around as he shrugged his shoulders in response. "Maybe, maybe not. I don't know, güey… are you actually an angel in disguise?" He asked sarcastically, setting the ammo boxes down next to some crates.

Angel chuckled at his retort, shaking his head slightly as he put down his set of ammo. "It just seems a little on the nose, you know what I mean?"

Bristol briefly turned around, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I assure you mate, I'm as English as they come. It'd be impossible to replicate my beautiful British accent." He answered in a cocksure tone.

The rest of the team all collectively rolled their eyes at his pride.

As the friendly exchange subsided, their focus shifted to the hangar entrance once more. Not a moment later, the door swung open again, revealing Graves with an entourage of Shadows at his beck and call, with the atmosphere seeming to shift as the man's presence commanded attention.

As the commander stepped in, his eyes roamed over the hangar's current occupants, briefly analyzing every Shadow in attendance as the door slowly creaked behind him, before shutting with a solid click. The searching finally stopped as his eyes landed upon the company's newest addition.

"Arthur," Graves greeted easily, holding a hand out to shake. "Welcome back to the company."

"Commander Graves," Arthur's hand met Graves', a firm grip exchanged between them. "Good to be back, sir." Arthur responded professionally, his voice carrying a hint of respect, though his tone remained steady. Merlin stood beside him, watchful, yet relaxed.

Graves looked down, his eyes meeting the dog's as recognition appeared in his eyes.

"And I see you brought back Merlin as well," he noted, kneeling down to offer his hand. Merlin gave the hand a cautious sniff, before hanging his tongue out and wagging his tail in a friendly manner, seemingly comfortable in the presence of the familiar commander. The dog met the hand with his own paw, mimicking a human handshake and causing an impressed smirk to appear on Graves' face. In response, Graves briefly rubbed the dog's ear, remarking "Good boy," before standing back up.

"I see you're still in one piece, sir," Arthur noted. "So I take it that the board didn't tear into you like a pack of wild hyenas."

Graves let out a small huff in response to the comment. "Business is business, Arthur. It went about as smoothly as can be expected when dealing with a bunch of prickly suits. Did have a member walk out on us, but to that I say good riddance. Can't afford to have people on board that aren't thick skinned enough for something like this. That reminds me, send Blackwood my thanks the next time you see her as well. I have a feeling I might have lost a couple more backers had it not been for her speaking up in support of me."

"Will do, sir."

Graves straightened up, his expression becoming more serious as he turned to address the rest of the Shadows assembled in the hangar. "Well, now that pleasantries are out of the way, let's get down to business. Y'all ready to dive back into action?"

Several squads of Shadows shouted back their signature phrase in sync like some sort of hivemind.

"Yup-yup!"

"C'mon, that was weak!" Graves complained, narrowing his eyes and frowning in dissatisfaction at the so-called 'energetic' response. "I said, y'all ready to dive back into action?!"

This timer, the hangar resonated with a much louder, more energetic chorus of, "YUP-YUP!"

As they finished their synchronized response, and as the sound finished reverberating through the hangar once more, Graves surveyed all of the Shadows, his eyes taking in the determination and readiness that radiated from each operator clustered in their small little groups in front of him. Vale could sense a shift in the atmosphere, the transition from speculation and discussion... to a mixture of anticipation and eagerness to be let loose. It was a feeling he knew well...

A shared sense of unified purpose.

With a satisfied smirk curling on his lips, Graves nodded in approval, his voice carrying authority as he addressed the group. "Now that's more like it, y'all! Alright folks, gather 'round, let's brief up," he ordered, prompting the Shadows to assemble closer, some opting to sit on the myriad of metal folding chairs, others choosing to lean against equipment or stand in loose formations.

Vale and his squad were part of the former, with all of them choosing to sit at the front row in front of the portable projector screen, which still displayed an overhead view of Falmart.

Expectedly, the room immediately grew quiet as Graves held a remote up, changing the slide on display. What was now being projected was an overhead view of the Kingdom of League Principality, a decent portion of the lands now burnt black and strategically surrounded by blue arrows, which represented Shadow Company forces moving in to squeeze the life out of the kingdom like a boa constrictor would its prey.

"As I'm sure most of you no doubt recall, the company just recently conducted a kingdom wide raid earlier this week in search of primary HVI, Crius Odoacer Centumalus; secondary HVI, Plutarch Imbrex; and client VIP's, Mikami Michio and Mikami Toshiaki. The job was only half complete, with the company successfully locating Plutarch Imbrex and Mikami Michio in the city of Phaelus."

Vale's focus was fully on the projection as the map zoomed in to display the targeted area. The city of Phaelus, scarred by the aftermath of the recent raid, was now presented before everyone in great detail. Overlaying the top-down geographical view was a still frame from a Shadow's helmet cam, showing city guards in their green and yellow uniforms being rounded up alongside citizens; an image of a bandaged and weary looking Mikami Michio, looking into the camera of a phone as his photo was taken for authentication; and finally, the gruesome remains of Plutarch Imbrex, laying in a large puddle of his own blood.

All vivid pictures that silently told the story of how chaos unfolded that night in just the city alone...

"A rather brief interrogation of Plutarch confirms that Mikami Toshiaki is being moved with primary HVI Crius. They're said to be moving south, to depart from the docks of the Kingdom of Toumaren. With the help of a reliable source pointing us in the right direction, we've been running aerial surveillance operations along the coast, keeping an eye out for any possible signs of either of them. Pause for dramatic effect… we believe we may have found one."

The projector display transitioned to show an overhead view of a large port along the coast, with several long, oar-driven, sailing ships anchored at the many docks. On a nearby path not too far from a small clearing near the edge of a forest, a large convoy of caravans flanked by armed guards could be seen moving with purpose. Vale leaned forward in his seat, his attention fully captured by the image.

The details were somewhat obscured due to the distance, and the time stamp indicated that it was early morning, judging by the faint orange glow on the horizon, but it was still clear that a significant operation was in progress.

"We picked up a recent surge in activity along the harbor here. As you can see, several ships are being prepped to depart from the docks. We have reason to believe that the cargo is slaves." Graves kept his voice steady and clear the entire time, ensuring that everyone heard him right. "Given the distance required to travel from Phaelus to Toumaren, and the convoy clearly seen here, it's safe to assume that neither of them have left… yet."

"Yet?" One of the Shadows asked from the sea of Shadows.

"I can not stress this enough, Shadows. Time is of the essence here. Because we do not know of their destination, it's imperative that this gets done tonight." Graves emphasized. "We have one window of opportunity to intercept them before they leave the kingdom's waters and reach any other bodies of land. We're already overstretching a bit here, and if we lose them, we lose them for good…"

The more Graves spoke, the more pressured Vale felt as his mind raced to absorb every detail. The sense of urgency was almost palpable as the commander really focused on hammering home the critical nature of this high-stakes operation.

The atmosphere in the hangar had shifted again, this time to one of understanding, intensified focus, and silent determination. Graves' words held weight to them, reminding everyone of the gravity of the situation.

The fate of Mikami Toshiaki, and an asset with possibly crucial intelligence for the company, hung in the balance…

"So how are we going about this?" Boxer spoke up from nearby, Sentinel's squad leader now healthy enough to be back up on his feet and operating out in the field. "Are we bringing the hammer down or are we doing things swiftly and silently?"

"We're aiming for speed and precision here," Graves answered in a measured tone. "With the sheer number of armed guards they have on patrol, it could be a bloody mess if they're alerted to our presence and we don't find who we're looking for in time. That means a frontal assault on the ground won't work, and will just draw more eyes to us that we don't want or need. Sure, we're there to sever the lifeline, but this is an extraction job first and foremost." The commander briefly let his words hang in the air, before turning to look at Vale and giving him a small nod as he passed the floor to him.

With his mug of coffee now empty, Vale set it down on the ground by the foot of his seat before standing up, rolling his shoulders as his mind focused on the task at hand. He took a deep breath as he turned around, before addressing the gathered crowd.

"Listen up, everyone," he began, his voice carrying a sense of practiced authority and confidence honed in from years of sitting through and giving his own countless briefings. "What Graves said is right. A frontal assault will likely lead to casualties and compromise our mission before it's even begun, which is why the element of surprise is crucial here. Thankfully, we have just what we need for a mission such as this."

Vale made his way to the black weapon crates stashed nearby, unlatching one open and revealing a deadly arsenal of suppressed weapons. Most notably, several MCX VIRTUS rifles in all-black, with several empty, transparent magazines. He picked up one of the rifles and unfolded the stock, before digging into a nearby ammo box and fishing out a single round. Having what he wanted in hand, he turned back around to face the group.

"Those of us that are getting up close and personal to sweep and clear will be equipped with a suppressed, nine inch barrel, MCX VIRTUS. Keep in mind that these rifles are not chambered in your standard 5.56. They've been converted to fire .300 Blackout." He held up the round he had taken from the ammo box, the dim light of the hangar glinting off its sleek casing. "More specifically, this subsonic, 220 grain, .300 Blackout round. Don't fret, it'll still pack a nasty punch through any imp bastard's outdated armor, but with the added benefit of a massively reduced noise signature. They won't see us coming, and they sure as hell won't hear us coming."

"Okay… I see what we're going for, but how exactly are we gonna infil?" Bristol interrupted, his eyebrow raised as he crossed his arms and leaned forward in his seat. "I mean, there's no way we're just dropping in by bird, right? Not unless we wanna announce our presence like the bloody queen."

Vale couldn't help the mischievous smile that appeared on his face as he answered Bristol's question with his own.

"How do you feel about getting your feet wet?"

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[REDACTED] ANGEL [REDACTED] - SHADOW CO.

TOUMAREN BLUE SEA COASTLINE, FALMART

IMPERIAL CALENDAR 687 - 00:30:00

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"Bishop 1-1, this is Oxide. Comms check, what's your status?"

"Reading you five-by-five, Oxide. We're about a klick and a half off the coast. Time to target, twenty seconds out."

"Understood. Be advised, your containment-cover package is on the way. ETA to station, eight mikes. Shadow-Actual is awaiting a sitrep. Report back when able. How copy? Over."

"Solid copy on all, Oxide. We'll get it done. 1-1, out."

As the small, all-black, RHIB sliced through the water, the moonlight cast shimmering reflections on its sleek surface. It was a small vessel built for stealth and speed, designed to navigate even the most treacherous of waters with minimal noise and disruption.

Perfect for what they were doing.

The Shadow that was behind the wheel maintained a steady course, his gloved hands expertly maneuvering the craft with precision as he kept his focus forward. The rest of the team was poised and alert, some doing last minute checks on their gear and equipment, others scanning their surroundings for any signs of potential threats.

The combination of the cool and crisp night air, the light sprinkle of rain, and the familiar scent of salt water helped to keep Angel somewhat grounded.

Emphasis on somewhat...

Sure, he had a background in Mexican special forces before his short stint as an enforcer in the La Araña Cartel — now known as the Las Almas Cartel — but never did he think that he'd actually be making use of such a niche aspect of his military training in the real world. Dressed in a rubber wetsuit, equipped with scuba gear, and packed into a rigid inflatable boat with his squad like some sort of SEAL team was not how he was expecting his night to go.

Although he definitely wasn't going to be writing any books about his experiences in the company any time soon…

"This is it, we're here," the driver quietly announced, pulling Angel from his thoughts. The boat rocked to a halt a moment later as the engine turned off, leaving only the ambient sounds of the waves around them.

Angel looked up and raised a pair of binoculars up to his face, eyeing the guards patrolling on the docks of the harbor out in the distance, the dark silhouettes of buildings and structures barely visible against the night sky. Of course, considering where they were, the lighting wasn't up to modern standards. The lighthouse instead had to rely on a burning fire and the guards instead had to rely on hand held lamps or torches the further away they got from their braziers. That didn't mean they didn't have other methods to carefully watch for intruders. Other naval ships patrolled near the edges, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.

"This is as close as we can get?" Angel asked, turning to their driver.

"It'll have to do. Any closer and we risk getting spotted." Vale answered for him. The squad leader reached for his PTT as he turned to his right, spotting another two boats filled with Shadows spaced not too far away from them. "Oz, your team good to go?"

The other squad leader's voice crackled through their comms in response. "Affirm Vale, Rook is ready to rock and roll."

"Sentinel?"

"Jawohl," Boxer responded. "We're set."

"Warden?"

Angel looked to his left, spotting another boat spaced at a similar distance. The Shadow near the back looked over, raising a thumbs up in their direction.

"Oui," he answered in a French accent, the man no doubt originating from a GIGN background. "My team is ready."

"Rog," Vale responded, before putting on his diving mask. The rest of the team followed suit, putting on their own masks and ensuring they had a proper full seal. "Shadow-Actual, infil teams have arrived at our set points. Standing by to dip our toes in the water. You're the trigger, sir."

Not a moment later, Graves' voice came over the comms in place of Oxide's. "Acknowledged, Vale. You're green-lit. No time to waste, get that show on the road. Out here."

With permission granted, Vale glanced at the other boats as he hefted up his handheld diver propulsion vehicle, or otherwise aptly named, sea scooter. "Alright Shadows, you heard the boss. Let's get to work," he said, moving to the back of the boat, before sitting at the edge and turning so his back faced the water. He pulled out a red chem light from his kit, before bending the stick till it snapped, and then shaking it to activate the chemicals inside. Once there was a sufficient glow radiating from the stick, he clipped it onto his belt via a utility hook.

The rest of Bishop followed his lead, and over the shoulders of Viper and Ronin, Angel could spot the other squad of Shadows getting ready to do the same.

With a quick glance to the rest of the team, Vale gave a firm nod, signaling that it was time to execute the plan, before rolling backwards off the edge of the boat and submerging into the water with a small splash.

As Vale's form disappeared beneath the surface, the next two to go were Viper and Ronin, who quickly fist bumped each other, before smoothly rolling over the edge together. Angel glanced to his right, meeting Bristol's eyes through the lens of the scuba mask. Seeing that he had his attention, the Brit briefly shot a cheeky wink his way, before executing his own backwards roll with practiced ease, joining the others that had disappeared beneath the surface as they embraced the darkness of the deep.

Now being the only one left on the boat — aside from the Shadow that was steering it — Angel took a deep breath, before looking up at the moon above, its glow casting an almost ethereal light over the rippling of the water's surface, shimmering like a pathway of diamonds and leading him into the unknown.

It was a moment of solitude and anticipation for him — a pause before the action was set to unfold.

Not wanting to delay any longer, Angel steadied himself as he let out a determined exhale, before taking one final glance at the abyss that was the dark waters below and muttering to himself.

"Into the shadows we go…"

With his resolve steeled, Angel pushed himself off the edge of the boat, plunging his body into the sea with a controlled splash.

Angel felt his heart rate spiking slightly as he found himself enveloped by the water, the cold shock of it momentarily stealing his breath. But years of training kicked in, and he quickly adjusted, the sudden sensation of weightlessness easily overriding the adrenaline coursing through his veins that he'd deny was steadily building up during their approach.

The sound of a rumbling engine turning on drew his attention, and he looked back up to spot the boat that had dropped them off was now leaving, its noise gradually fading into the distance as it moved away from their position. Gone was the sound of a modern engine, replaced instead by the ambience of the tranquil underwater realm that now surrounded him.

Angel glanced to his left and right, spotting the other Shadows in their own little groups, their dark wetsuits almost blending into the night as they gathered just below the surface. Seeing the beams of light that emanated from each Shadow, Angel took a moment to adjust as he turned on his own mounted flashlight, cutting through the water and joining the web of white lights as he outlined his own squad.

Sensing the light on him, Bristol looked back as he leisurely floated in place, the soft illumination revealing his profile through the mask's lens. Bubbles could be seen streaming from the regulator that masked his mouth, but despite that, Angel could very clearly imagine the smile that was likely on the Brit's face as he extended a thumb and pinky, forming a shaka with his hand and shaking his wrist as if to say, "Hang loose!" or "Everything's cool!" like some sort of Hawaiian surfer.

Angel couldn't help but let out a small huff as he rolled his eyes at him, not entirely surprised by how casual Bristol's demeanor remained, even in the midst of such a high-stakes mission.

Though he'd be lying if he said that it didn't help soothe his nerves a little…

He responded in kind, giving Bristol a shaka gesture of his own, before they both turned their attention back to the task at hand.

"Oxygen levels look good," Vale's voice cut in, resonating through the comms, crisp and focused as the signal effortlessly carried it through the water. "Start descending, fifty meters."

As Vale began his descent, the other Shadows began to follow his lead. The moonlight that penetrated the surface above dimmed as they went deeper, the water absorbing the natural light and adding on to the eerie tranquilness of the undersea environment, its otherworldly silence only broken by the sound of his regulated breaths. The squad maintained their tight formation, each member diligently scanning their surroundings just in case, keeping an eye out for any signs of activity or potential threats.

The team of Shadows eventually reached the seabed, the ocean floor unfolding before them in a rugged expanse of sand, rock formations, swaying seaweeds, and even old ship debris. If there were any signs of marine life in the area, then it sure as hell wasn't obvious to Angel. There were no schools of fish swimming about. Just coral, and the occasional glimpse of a hidden creature darting about, just out of sight.

"So uh, Vale?" Angel spoke up, cutting through the silence. A slight head turn and an inquisitive hum told him that the lieutenant was indeed listening. "Why are we so close to the ocean floor? Pinches cabrónes don't got sonar or anything like that."

"Just a precaution. The deeper we are, the more cover we have. Less chance of being detected from the surface, especially with the white-light we're running… Why do you ask? You got a bad case of thalassophobia?"

"Nah, I just hoped we'd be seeing mermaids or something… But knowing our luck, it'd probably be sirens instead."

"Ah, the sweet melodies of the sea..." Viper muttered as if he were daydreaming. "Nothing like being lured to our doom by mythical sea creatures."

He ignored the comment as he began to scan their surroundings, his light focusing on the reefs that decorated the sea floor, as if searching for something. "Hey, I'm not an expert on marine biology or anything, but… does anyone else think this place is a little too empty? Where are all the fish?"

Bristol's voice chimed in, his usual nonchalant tone evident even through the filter. "Maybe the fish are on vacation," he joked dryly.

Vale let out a small chuckle as he shook his head. "Even fish need to sleep, Angel" he answered, though there was a noticeable moment of pause as he clearly had more to say. "Although don't be too surprised if we see any sharks…"

"¿Qué chingados, güey? Don't even joke about that shit right now!" Angel admonished, glaring at the back of Vale's head. "I don't want that on my mind when we're quite literally swimming in uncharted waters!"

Though their backs were turned to him, he could deduce from their body language that the rest of Bishop were letting out their own hearty laughs alongside their squad leader.

"Relax, Angel. Sharks are more afraid of you than you are of them." Ronin reassured in an amused tone. "Besides, we're not the ones on the menu tonight."

With that, the conversation ended, and the silence returned as everyone focused on the task at hand. Every Shadow was on autopilot now as their sea scooters propelled them smoothly through the depths, their movements practically in sync, with each stroke bringing them closer and closer, until eventually…

They reached their destination.

"Bishop 1-1, Oxide. What's your status?"

"Oxide, all Shadows have arrived at the target and are in position. Phase one complete."

"Copy that. Be advised, your containment-cover package is up. Avatar 1 is now on station and in the AO to provide ISR support. Remember, Graves wants things kept tight here. Don't turn it into a circus."

"Wilco. We'll stay frosty here," Vale responded, before addressing one of the other listeners tuned into their channel. "Avatar, we're on target now, confirm visual."

"A-firm, Vale. Visual acquired. IR strobes look good, tracking all Shadow elements on ISR. We'll keep an eye out on things for you up here. Over."

"Roger that." Vale answered, before turning around to the rest of the team and pointing up, signaling for them to surface.

The squad leader took point as the team began their ascent from the depths, their flashlights turning off one by one as they left their sea scooters behind to gently drift to the sea floor as they rose closer to the moonlit surface. The decision to abandon such equipment was definitely a brow raiser to Angel when he initially heard the plan, but he was fairly certain that the company had more than enough funds that they could afford to do so, and that replacing them was likely more convenient than going back to track them down and retrieve them later at the bottom of the sea.

A moment later, Bishop broke through the water's surface in a controlled sequence, their dark forms emerging like phantoms into the night and the sound of their splashes muffled by the surrounding waves. Droplets cascaded from their gear, and Angel found a sense of relief washing over him as the weight of the water was replaced by cool, open air; the sea of stars above being a bit more comforting for him in comparison to the dark depths they had just left behind.

Though their job was far from done…

"Hot damn, talk about a target rich environment…" Viper muttered as he grabbed on to the rock formation that the team decided to huddle together by, eyeing the multitude of guards scattered ahead of them.

As Angel's eyes scanned the area to assess the situation, he couldn't help but agree with Viper's sentiment now that they were closer.

The soft glow of burning braziers, torches, and lamps illuminated the maze of wooden structures and ships tethered to the piers that made up the docks. Guards regularly patrolled and stood guard, their archaic light sources highlighting them and turning the night into a dance of shadows and light, while the faint sound of rainfall and waves crashing against the shore provided a rhythmic backdrop to the quiet scene.

"Avatar, what's it lookin' like?" Vale asked, speaking into his radio once more.

"Avatar spots multiple crows on foot guarding the docks, several more patrolling along the perimeter as sentries," came the response from the UAV drone operator. "Looks like you've got guys moving in and out of the buildings to the north too."

No surprise there. They were diving into a heavily guarded area, but that was to be expected considering the nature of who they were after. As much as Angel would have preferred going in loud and proud, such a move would have been too risky, especially considering the stakes.

"Let's kick off phase two. Warden and Sentinel, clean up the perimeter. Rook, start sweeping your side of the harbor. Keep it quiet and we'll work our way to search each ship before moving on to the buildings. Leave no stone unturned tonight. We'll RV topside once we're all clear."

"Check."

"Copy."

"Roger that, on the move now."

"Alright," Vale said, giving the docks a quick once-over. "Let's get back under and turn these waters red…"

"sí teniente, hagámoslo."

Vale glanced behind him and returned a small nod of acknowledgement to the squad, before letting go of the rock and diving back under the surface of the water. The rest of Bishop wordlessly followed suit, their bodies disappearing one by one once more as they moved in closer.

Eventually, as they swam, the silhouette of the docks materialized in front of them, the dim glow of lights casting elongated black shapes on the seafloor. Up above, two guards could be seen standing on the docks and having a casual conversation, their forms distorted from beneath the water's rippling surface.

"Two hostiles. Angel, take the one near the edge of the pier," Vale whispered through the comms. "Bristol, get his friend."

"We're on it."

The distorted shapes above him sharpened into focus as Angel cautiously began his ascent towards the surface, being deliberately slow so as to not get the guard's attention by loudly disrupting the water when he broke through. Once through, he could clearly see the two guards chatting away, and the closer he got, the more clearly he could hear snippets of their conversation.

"...Quite a bit of cargo, isn't it? I'm assuming the coin is good this time around, eh?"

"I wish. All these slaves are being shipped out as per Sir Crius' orders. Why? I haven't the slightest clue. He didn't bother to explain a single thing to any of us when he suddenly decided that we needed to leave Toumaren."

"Sounds rather important."

"Yes, important enough for him to hurriedly shove as many of his personal treasures into the back of a wagon as possible, before having us escort the convoy the entire journey down here."

"And now he's got you doing guard duty alongside us?" The man rubbed his eyes as he let out a loud yawn, causing his fellow guard to let out their own yawn that they failed to stifle. "Something clearly must have frightened him, don't you think?"

"Oh please. I think he's just jumping at shadows."

Angel hung suspended in the water, his legs gently kicking to keep himself afloat while he listened intently to the conversation between the two guards, their voices tinged with a mixture of curiosity and minor annoyance as they talked behind Crius' back and speculated. It was obvious that they weren't privy to all of the details, and clearly still had no idea who or what had their boss so spooked.

They'd find out the hard way in just a moment…

As he waited, a slight disturbance in the water caught his attention, and he shifted his gaze to the side, spotting Bristol slowly rising from the depths with finesse. The Brit's eyes were locked onto the guard that was idly leaning against a post, whose attention remained on their companion as they continued conversing, the both of them still completely oblivious to the silent threat that was steadily approaching from below.

"On your go, Angel."

Angel's gloved hands moved with precision as he drew a slim, matte black blade from his sheath. His fingers tightened around the handle of his combat knife, the cold metal a reassuring presence against his palm.

Although the water provided some resistance, the element of surprise was still on his side.

In one swift motion, he suddenly lunged forward and reached up to grab the back of the guard's belt, before yanking them back, disrupting the man's balance just enough for him to stumble backwards. His arms flailed as they tried to regain their footing, but his efforts were in vain as he fell off the end of the pier and splashed into the water.

Angel didn't waste any time as he seized the moment, plunging the combat knife into the guard's throat as they struggled to keep their eyes open under the salty ocean. He watched as blood spurted out from the open wound, forming a misty cloud of crimson red as the guard's gurgled gasp was swallowed up by the water.

In a final burst of fleeting strength, the guard's hand flailed out to grip Angel on the arm like he was some sort of lifeline – an act which was ultimately fruitless as his thrashing eventually ceased, his life quickly being snuffed out like a blown candle wick.

Angel watched as the guard's form sank slowly, the body disappearing into the darkness below to become nothing more than fish food.

"Clear up here," Vale reported in a hushed voice. "All Shadows, Bishop is topside."

Angel surfaced once more, looking back up to see Ronin now standing at the edge of the pier, offering his hand to help haul him up. Angel took it gratefully, his fingers wrapping around Ronin's wrist as he was hoisted out of the water. As he stopped onto the pier, he noticed that Viper was also helping Bristol up, while Vale was knelt down with his rifle raised, providing security for them as he kept a vigilant eye out for any threats.

Seeing that they had a moment to themselves, the team took the opportunity to hurriedly take off most of the cumbersome swimming gear that they weren't using anymore. Flippers and masks were hooked onto vests via carabiner clips, oxygen tanks were left on the pier, and red chem lights were discarded into the water as they prepared to move further in.

The night air was brisk against Angel's damp skin as he unfolded his rifle's stock, taking a moment to survey the rest of the harbor.

Crates and barrels were scattered about, providing ample concealment, while the guards patrolling the area were still oblivious to their presence, their focus on the structures and pathways they were responsible for securing. It was obvious that they did their best to remain alert… but with how late into the night they were, with what was likely not enough rest, their attention was divided, providing many opportunities for the Shadows to slip through undetected – as evidenced by the other team of Shadows not too far away from them on the other side of the harbor.

The team moved together with purpose, their every footfall near silent on the moist wooden docks as they started their search.

They began by checking the nearest vessel to them, with Vale taking point as he walked across the dock board and made his way to check the crew cabin near the back, while the rest of them moved in pairs towards the two hatches on the ships deck to check the cargo hold.

Angel lifted the hatch cover, allowing Bristol to briefly peek inside the dimly lit interior as he turned on the flashlight attached to his rifle. Once they were sure that there weren't any unexpected surprises waiting for them, Bristol signaled for him to cover as he entered the hold to get a better look.

The rest of the team remained on high alert, keeping watch as Bristol and Ronin worked on checking inside. The deck creaked softly beneath their boots, the subtle sound blending with the quiet lap of waves against the ship's hull.

Bristol and Ronin emerged from the hold moments later, the former shaking his head as they signaled that it was clear.

"Nothin' but spices and textiles in this one," Bristol sighed.

"Copy," Vale responded briskly. "Come on then, let's move on to the next one. We've still got plenty of ground to cover, and the night's still young."

As per his orders, they moved to the next ship, repeating the process with practiced efficiency.

"Just barrels and fishing nets."

Another deck sweeped…

"Only ceramics and pottery."

Another cargo hold filled with useless items…

"Sculptures, artworks, and artifacts."

Another ship off the list and another batch of guards sinking to the bottom of the sea.

Each vessel varied in type and size, each having their own nooks and crannies to search, and each of them filled with different cargo — but they still had yet to find one that had the 'cargo' that they were looking for. Still, every ship searched was sure to bring them closer and closer to getting their VIP and their HVI… and their paycheck.

Which reminded him…

"Hey, Vale?" Angel began, catching Vale's attention as they stood on the deck of another ship.

"Yeah, what's up?"

Angel adjusted his grip on his rifle, his eyes scanning the surroundings as they continued keeping watch. He doubted that he needed to remain so alert, but it never hurt to play it safe. "So, not to sound cavalier about this, but… this husband and kid… you think they're worth all this trouble?"

Vale's brows furrowed slightly, and he cast a sidelong glance at Angel from the corner of his eye, before refocusing back on their surroundings. "What 'trouble' are you talking about?"

"All this," Angel said, gesturing around him to the harbor they were standing in. "Conducting raids in the dead of night, razing a city to the ground, getting involved with this world's politics, and by extension, Japan's—"

"Would it make you feel any better if we were doing this sort of stuff back in Afghanistan?" Vale countered, keeping his eyes forward. After a moment of silence from Angel, he continued his line of sudden questioning. "What if we were in Iraq? Syria, Yemen, Libya? This ain't nothin' new for the company that we haven't done before… excluding the whole, 'dimensional gate to a fantasy world' thing."

Angel shook his head, understanding what Vale was getting at. It made sense, but it still didn't help to erase the unease he felt about the current situation. "I get that, but it just feels... different... here this time around, if that makes sense? The reason for us even being out here tonight was just riding on a gamble. Initial intel didn't guarantee that we'd be finding either the VIP or the HVI here, just that this was the most likely spot."

Though Angel didn't outright say it, it was clear what he was suggesting.

They had done a lot these past few weeks…

what if it was all for naught?

Vale's expression softened, and he glanced at Angel with a hint of understanding. "Listen, every op we undertake comes with risks. Hell, even being in this business is risky considering the complicated politics that we're getting involved in. But at the end of the day, it's you making the judgment call about whether or not it's worth signing your name on the line to renew your contract with the company… and because it's a company, you're doing a job. You deal with things pragmatically, not ethically."

"Considering my past, what we've done so far, and how far we've come, I more than understand that, Vale. Where are you going with this?" Angel asked, cocking a brow up at him in confusion.

"Graves, being the CEO of the company, has to do the same. There's more weighing on his shoulders here than anybody else's when he has to make judgment calls, and he doesn't make them lightly. If he says there's no time to waste on more surveillance, then there's no time to waste on more surveillance. If he says we have to move tonight, then we have to move tonight. If he says they're here, then they're here. They have to be…"

Angel kept his gaze on lingering on the squad leader for a moment longer, before nodding and redirecting his gaze to the dark expanse of water leading out beyond the harbor. He knew Vale was right. What the boss wanted, the boss would get. And if things didn't go his way… he'd damn sure make them go his way. He took a deep breath, letting the salty sea breeze wash over him.

"Yeah, here's hoping," Angel finally agreed, his voice tinged with a mix of resignation and determination. "I guess I'm just worrying too much. Also, you still never answered my question."

"Hell yeah it's fuckin' worth it," Vale suddenly said, shooting him an incredulous look. "Bagging Crius and putting him into company hands can potentially net us valuable intel, allow us to disrupt any further operations, and make a rather significant change to the already shifting power structure in this region. We'll be dealing a huge blow to the prestige of any slavers that are thinking of selling product coming from across the Gate. Plus, the kid's big money, and that's not even mentioning the fat bonus that Graves will throw in for Crius as well."

"Shit man… well, when you put it like that… I guess everywhere is really the same, huh?"

Vale gave him a slow nod of confirmation, gently patting him on the back. "Everywhere is the same…"

"Shadow-Actual to Bishop," the voice of Graves interrupted, coming through the comms. "Gimme a sitrep, how's it goin' over there?"

"Still working on sweeping the docks right now, sir," he paused as he heard a couple of suppressed shots nearby, followed by the sound of bodies splashing into the water. "Dumping bodies under the cover of darkness. Fish are gonna be eatin' good tonight." Vale finished, his voice kept casual despite the messy nature of the task he was describing.

"Good, that's what I like to hear. Make quick work of those assholes and see what you can find," Graves responded. "Get this done as soon as you can, Vale. The longer we stay, the higher the chances are of someone noticing our presence."

"1-1, roger."

Bristol and Ronin emerged from the hold of the ship once more, the expression on their faces already giving away what they had found.

"Nothing."

"Of course…" Vale sighed, before speaking into his comms again. "All Shadows, report status."

"This is Sentinel, we're with Warden. Perimeter is clear of sentries."

"Rook here, all is clear on our side of the docks."

"Copy that. Phase three. Sentinel and Warden, set up a temporary cordon around the harbor. Rook, move to begin clearing structures."

The team divided their tasks seamlessly, each member falling into their respective roles like clockwork as they pressed on, with Vale leading the team towards the nearby buildings further inland. Despite the initial disappointment of not finding their objectives yet, their professionalism remained unshaken. They still had yet to finish their search before they could even claim that they were thorough.

And thoroughness was key to their success.

"Avatar, Bishop and Rook are moving to sweep and clear possible crow's nests, north side. Glinting now." Vale pressed the pressure switch of his rifle's PEQ box as he aimed at the buildings not too far from them.

"Bishop 1-1, copy visual. Overlay-ID set on possible crow's nest structures. We'll watch external for you. How copy?"

"Good copy, Avatar. We're moving now."

As the team made their way to the first building, they spotted a guard walking out of the entrance with a lantern and a small piece of bread in hand, his pace leisurely as he placed the lantern on top of a barrel and moved to lean against the wall. It wasn't until he looked up and squinted into the darkness did he realize that there was something bumping in the night.

Before the guard could even react, a suppressed shot rang out, the bullet leaving the barrel of Angel's rifle and finding its mark, sending the guard slumping against the wall. The piece of bread in his hands was completely forgotten about — dropped and ignored while his hands went to clutch the new hole in his throat in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

Panicked eyes looked up at their approaching forms, a bloody palm weakly raising up in their direction, as if to plead for them to wait.

Angel didn't even think twice about it as he acquired the man's face in his optic's sight picture, before squeezing the trigger and double tapping him, ensuring that the man could plead no longer.

As the team reached the open doors of the first building, they split the stack, standing against the wall on either side of the entrance. From where he was standing, Angel could spot the other team of Shadows moving to the other building's entrance, positioning themselves to coordinate a simultaneous entry.

"Rook 1-1, at the breach."

"Copy. Bishop 1-1 at breach. Going internal. On me…"

Without waiting, Vale immediately took point, being the first to make entry inside the building. The rest of the team followed closely, stepping inside the dimly lit corridor one by one. The air was musty, carrying the scent of old wood and mildew, and their footsteps were almost soundless on the worn wooden floors as they moved deeper inside.

"Who does he think he is? Sneaking my bread away like some sort of commoner thief?" A voice could be heard muttering angrily to themselves from around the corner, steadily increasing in volume. "I swear to the gods above, he'll get what's coming to him when I get my hands on—"

As the form of the approaching guard rounded the corner into the hall, the man's eyes quickly widened, and he cut himself off with a startled gasp as he was greeted by the unexpected sight of several mysterious figures dressed in all-black wetsuits.

Vale didn't hesitate once the guard was in his sights, and before the man could even begin reaching for the sword in his scabbard, put several rounds into his body, sending him crumpling lifelessly to the floor like a puppet that just had its strings cut.

With the immediate 'threat' neutralized, the team continued their stealthy advance, paying the fresh corpse no heed as they stepped over it, treating it as if it were nothing more than mere trash in their path.

Vale and Viper went to sweep the room on the right that the guard had come out of, leaving Angel to clear the room on the left with Ronin as Bristol kept his rifle leveled at the door at the end of the hall.

As he pushed the door open, he was greeted by the sight of several guards in a room full of beds. Some casually whispering to each other, some resting for the night, some reading books or writing letters back home. None of which mattered to him as he aimed at the first guard to look up and notice their presence.

The only thing he felt in that moment was the recoil of his rifle's stock digging into his shoulder with every bullet fired, until eventually, there were no more enemies left alive to shoot.

They took a moment to survey the scene in front of them. Bloody pages, bloody beds, and bloody bodies littered the room, painting the image that some sort of ravenous beast must have come in and butchered these men in their sleep.

Good…

That would give the people of this world something to be more scared of than the Empire.

He was pulled back into focus as the sound of several more suppressed shots could be heard, followed by the thudding of bodies and the clinking of bullet casings hitting the floor above him. "1-1, room clear, second deck clear. Ascending to third."

"1-5, room clear, first deck clear. Coming out." He reported, stepping out of the room with Ronin and returning to the hall that Bristol was still standing in. As Ronin moved to rejoin the others, the remaining two both watched the door at the end of the hall, their rifles kept leveled and ready in case anyone decided to step through.

"Bishop," the voice of their drone operator suddenly rang out through their comms. "Be advised, you've got contact approaching white side, building one. Four crows about to enter the nest."

Angel and Bristol wordlessly shared a brief glance with each other as they processed the incoming information.

They adjusted their positions, each taking a side of the hallway to ensure they had the best angle of fire. Tension hung in the air as they listened for any signs of movement.

The seconds ticked by, each one stretching out as anticipation grew, until as expected… the distinct sound of footsteps and muffled conversation reached their ears, echoing down the hallway and on the other side of the door.

Suddenly, the door started to swing in with a creak as it was gently pushed open, the guard stepping in clearly distracted and in the midst of a conversation.

"And I'm telling you, he's paranoid. Seriously, what could possibly be out here to—"

Suppressed shots echoed in the narrow corridor as the guard suddenly collapsed to the floor, the lantern in his hand shattering as it hit the boards. Although the two guards following behind him in the doorway barely had any time to react as they too dropped to the ground, the same could not be said for the last guard, who was quick enough to get out of view, clumsily stumbling to the ground and crawling backwards as he began shouting frantically into the night.

"A-Alert! We have intruders here! There's intruders—!"

The shout was cut short as Angel briefly leaned out of the doorframe and let his rifle fire off once more, a round of .300 Blackout ending the guard's desperate call for help.

Unfortunately, the damage was already done, and the sudden shouting had already stirred up the hornet's nest. The calm ambience that had enveloped the harbor was now replaced with distant voices hurriedly shouting orders to figure out what was going on.

"¡Hijo de puta!" Angel cursed as he looked outside, seeing the flicker of orange candle lights through the windows of the other buildings, lighting the interiors and highlighting the silhouettes of guards moving to get into action.

It didn't take a genius to realize that their window of stealth had slipped from their grasp…

"Well, you know what they say about plans and first contact," Bristol said light-heartedly behind him.

Angel glanced back at him with an unamused expression on his face, only for the Brit to shrug his shoulders in response, as if to say "What can you do?"

Given the current situation, Angel felt he could be forgiven for not really being in the mood for such comments.

"All Shadow stations," Vale's voice crackled through the comms, his tone remaining remarkably cool and collected despite the sudden turn of events. "Building one is clear, crow's nest is dry. Negative jackpot, but we've been compromised. Enemy knows we're here."

"Copy, Bishop 1-1," replied the voice of Graves on the other end, a slight tinge of exasperation evident in his voice. It was understandable though. Angel was fairly certain that Graves didn't want to drag this wild goose chase on for any longer than he had to. "I'm getting real sick and tired of this sumbitch. One doesn't get to constantly defy the company and get away with it. Do you understand me?"

There was a noticeable pause, before Vale's voice suddenly took on a more cold and hardened tone… Well, more than it usually was anyways.

"Loud and clear, sir."

"Bishop, this is Rook. Building two is clear, crow's nest is empty. No jackpot."

Vale reemerged from around the corner, stepping back into the corridor with the rest of the team as he kept his hand on his PTT. "Copy. Standby to advance and set containment on building three. Oxide, we're seeing a lot of movement outside. Requesting immediate UAV support."

"Roger that, 1-1," Oxide spoke up, rejoining the comms. "Avatar?"

"Confirmed, Avatar spots multiple crows pushing towards Bishop and Rook."

"Well ain't that just nice. They're really rolling out the welcome mat for us. Makes me feel all warm inside," Graves joked casually, his earlier exasperation now forgotten about as he sounded not too concerned with the way things were going down. In fact, Angel would even go so far as to say that he sounded a little excited at the moment. Especially after his next words. "Speakin' of feelin' all warm inside, what say we heat things up and remind 'em who's in charge here, yeah? Avatar, you are cleared hot to engage external. Secure the area so our Shadows can move in and clear those last two buildings."

"Avatar copies. Cleared hot to engage external. All Shadows, be advised, this'll be danger close. Hold positions and keep your heads down as the fireworks go off."

Angel took one last glance outside, seeing the form of guards rushing out of the last building not too far from him. They weren't even real soldiers. Just security, expecting a small and conventional fighting force to attack with conventional tactics that they were trained to respond to.

Unfortunately for them, Shadow Company was far from conventional, and the poor bastards had no idea that they were in for a world of hurt.

He narrowed his eyes to a steady glare, before closing the door shut and stepping back.

As the plan was set in motion, the team stood by, hunkering down and positioning themselves to prepare for the assault that they would be conducting in just a moment.

"Rounds out."

A few seconds after those words left the drone operator's mouth, a series of brief whistles could be heard, before precise airstrikes rained down upon the surrounding area outside, impacting in calculated bursts focused on eliminating hostiles while minimizing collateral damage. Explosions rocked the ground as the concussive force reverberated through the air, shattering windows, and sending plumes of smoke and debris into the night.

The guards who had been converging on the teams were thrown into chaos, cries of death echoing in the night as they were consumed by the sudden onslaught of heat and shrapnel from the hellfire missiles that were dropped on top of them.

"Rounds complete." The drone operator reported emotionlessly.

"Hot damn, those Reapers pack a hell of a nasty punch! Y'all should see the fuckin' damage over here on the big screen!" Graves whooped enthusiastically over the comms. "That's for sure goin' in the highlight reel!"

"Looks even better in person over here, sir," Vale responded, peeking out of a nearby window to assess said damage. "Avatar, good effect on enemy personnel. Shadow teams are moving up to clear buildings three and four. How copy?"

"Solid copy, 1-1."

Vale didn't waste any more time as he took charge, his voice confident and commanding as he moved to push open the door leading outside. "Rook, Bishop is advancing to building four. Initiate assault posture and force up."

"Roger that. We're moving now."

As they emerged from the building, the acrid scent of smoke, burning wood, voided bowels, and flesh lingered outside, tainting the air with an unholy stench that Angel did his best to ignore.

The further they moved up, the more the smoke started to dissipate, until eventually, the gruesome aftermath of their devastating drone strike was revealed to them. Cratered ground, scorch marks, and the mangled remains of what was once human beings were scattered about the area, the catastrophic loss of life painted in an eerie orange glow from the lingering fires that still burned.

One of the guards was apparently still standing somehow, though barely, considering the major damage he had sustained to his body.

The man was missing the rest of his right arm from the elbow down, broken and bloody bone protruding out from the torn and shredded appendage, and there were obvious spots of red leaking through the myriad of shrapnel holes that marred his soot covered armor. Still disorientated and numbed to the pain, the man stumbled in place like some sort of zombie, not quite sure what was happening around him or what his current state was.

As Angel approached closer, the man turned to face him, revealing that the other side of his face was badly burned and cut through, showing what was underneath like some sort of messed up anatomy book. His features were twisted in a grotesque mask of agony, and upon seeing the Shadow, his remaining eye widened to show a mixture of shock and disbelief.

His lips moved as if he were trying to say something… but the words came out as nothing more than a raspy, garbled mess as blood poured from his lips, dripping down his chin.

"Bloody hell," Bristol muttered nearby over the groaning and coughing of the wounded few that were fortunate enough — or rather, unfortunate enough — to survive the initial strikes. The word survive was a bit of a stretch here though, considering the many life threatening injuries that would soon take them without proper medical care. "These guys are proper fucked…"

"Finish 'em," Vale ordered coldly, kicking over a legless guard weakly trying to crawl away and double tapping the man, executing him on the spot.

With the order given, Angel didn't hesitate to follow by example, pulling the trigger and ending the burnt man's suffering with a single round straight through the skull. Suppressed gunshots echoed in the air, mingling with the crackling of the flames and the eerie silence that had settled over the area outside as they continued their methodical advance towards the last building they had yet to search.

"So much for sticking to the shadows with a stealthy approach…" Viper scoffed, stepping over the upper half of what remained of a guard.

"Shock and awe seems to be working just fine," Angel retorted back, his tone dry. He was moving forward with the team, remaining properly spaced out and in formation. "Between me and you guys, I think Graves was itching for something like this to happen, you know? To gain infamy, spread the company name like wildfire, and establish our reputation to the people of this world. It's a pretty common cartel tactic. Saw it all the time back in Las Almas."

"First of all, Angel, we're not narcos, we're contractors," Ronin reminded him unnecessarily. "And secondly, I think we've already established our reputation pretty well with what we did back in League Principality, don't you?"

"I guess this just further solidifies it."

"Well then if that's the case, what exactly is the reputation we're hoping to establish here anyways?" Bristol asked, his tone curious as he walked alongside the team, assessing the wreckage around them as they continued their approach. "Are we going for the ruthless mercenary vibe? The unstoppable and mysterious shadowy force? The bringers of chaos?"

Angel thought about it for a moment as they moved through the smoky aftermath. "I think it's a mix of all those things really. We want people to fear us, to know that crossing the company is a fucking death sentence. We create a reputation that deters others from even thinking about standing against us, and even then, they know they're still not safe, as we can just whisk them away in the dead of night with no warning if we really wanted to."

"Seems like we're doing a good job so far," Vale chimed in, keeping his focus forward. "Graves certainly doesn't do half measures when it comes to bringing the hammer down."

"Half measures show weakness, man. You've gotta go all the way to be feared and respected… and I think Graves understands that."

Viper snorted at his words, but didn't refute them. "Yeah… after these past few weeks? No doubt…"

As they approached the entrance to the last building, they spotted Rook, who diverted from their temporary formation with them to move to their assigned building. As Bishop prepared to make their final entry, the muffled voices of more guards could be heard from inside on the other side of the door.

"Did you see what just happened out there?!" One of the guards shouted, sounding quite panicked and on the verge of hysteria. Rightfully so, given their current predicament. "Fire from the skies, in the dead of night… this level of destruction… it's something I'd only ever expect to see being brought down upon us by Emroy herself!"

"Quiet you!" Chastised another guard. "I need level heads with me to help fend off these intruders, and a level head would not be speaking such nonsense right now!"

"You have the gall to claim I speak nonsense when we've seen the devastation that lies just outside of our windows?! These are no mere intruders you fool! These are apostles, sent by Emroy, to punish us for our misdeeds! It's pointless to try and fight! We're already doomed to eternal damnation!"

"Someone get this babbling idiot out of my sight!"

As the guards continued to bicker inside, Angel took advantage of their distraction to try the door's handle, only for it to not budge.

"Door's locked." Angel said tersely.

"Slap charge, get it open."

Angel gave the squad leader a nod, before reaching into one of his pouches and pulling out a strip charge. He peeled the adhesive seal off the tape, before dragging an open palm down the length of the detcord, planting it firmly against the door and securing it next to the handle. The wire ran from the bottom of the charge to the detonator in his hands, ready to blow the moment he pushed the button.

"This is Bishop 1-1, Shadows at the breach. Going explosive on building four, main entry."

The Shadows moved to step back, getting themselves to a safe distance as they prepared for what was to come next.

"Three… two… one," Angel counted down, before pressing on the detonator in his hand. "Breach, breach, breach!"

The explosive charge detonated a moment later, and the door was blown open with a thunderous boom. Dust and debris billowed out from the doorway as the shockwave reverberated through the interior of the building, followed by the clatter of debris hitting the floor. Smoke curled out from around the edges of the doorframe, and the door itself was now little more than pieces of shattered wood as it was ripped from its hinges.

"Bishop, going internal."

Before the dust could fully settle, the operators surged forward and flooded the room with their weapons raised and ready, aiming at the guards caught by the blast and the door's shrapnel, who were now scrambling to react, all of them caught off guard by the mysterious force that had suddenly breached their once secure location.

Chaos consumed the room as violence of action overwhelmed the guards, and the sound of shouts, suppressed gunfire, and bullets tearing into flesh and armor were the only noises that filled the air. Their initial surprise gave way to desperation as they attempted to rush them, but their efforts were in vain. The Shadows were well-coordinated and well-experienced, and there was no competition when it came to their armaments.

Gun always beat sword.

The guards fell one by one, each well-placed shot ending their resistance in an instant, until finally, the only ones left standing in the room were the Shadows. Bodies lay strewn across the floor, the once defiant guards now motionless and lifeless as pools of blood began forming around them.

They didn't wait to admire their handiwork before moving on to the next room, as if crossing off some sort of invisible checklist.

As they crossed a door and flowed into the next room, Angel had taken to clearing the right, where two guards were crouching in wait to ambush them as they emerged.

As he gunned down the first guard that was charging at him, he pivoted swiftly to engage the second. Unfortunately, the guard had already gotten too close for comfort, swinging his short sword down in an overhead strike, desperation and rage fueling his attack. Thankfully, Angel's reflexes kicked in, and he raised his rifle up to block the swipe, before slamming the base plate of his magazine into the guard's face, dazing him.

The guard stumbled back, and before he could fully regain his bearings, Angel planted his rifle's suppressor against the man's chest, before roughly shoving him down to the floor, pinning him beneath the muzzle device.

Now right where he wanted him, Angel squeezed the trigger…

Click, click…

Only to discover that his gun was now empty…

The guard stuck beneath him, who was previously struggling, seemed to freeze for a moment, a look of disbelief in his eyes as he realized that whatever just happened prevented him from meeting his imminent demise. The guard's face lit up with relief, which was quickly wiped away as Angel rolled his eyes, huffing quietly in annoyance at the minor inconvenience while he kept the rifle firmly planted with one hand, the other reaching for his sidearm.

In one smooth motion, Angel drew his M17 from his holster and aimed the muzzle straight at the guard's face, before pulling the trigger several times and firing several shots into his skull, brutally ending the man's futile resistance within a matter of seconds.

"Lo siento, pero no estás a mi nivel," he sneered down at the corpse, reholstering his pistol. "Pinche pendejo…"

A tense silence had settled over the room, only being broken by the muffled shuffling and voices that were audible upstairs.

"What in the blazes is happening down there?!"

"You're asking me?! It's your job to figure that out! All of you, stop standing around and make yourselves useful! Get downstairs and stop them, damnit!"

"But Sir Crius, that would leave you completely alone—"

"That's an order!"

The muffled exchange of words upstairs reached the team's ears, guiding them toward the direction of their objective. As Angel finished reloading, Vale gestured for him to take point up the stairs. He obliged, keeping his rifle pointed up at the next landing and waiting for the rest of the team to gather up behind him and signal that they were ready.

The signal came in the form of a firm tap on the back, and he began to cautiously advance up the steps, moving to pinch Crius in with nowhere left to run.

"Bishop, moving to second deck."

As the team was about halfway up the stairs, the glow of a lantern light could be seen around the corner, before a guard appeared on the landing, peeking his head around to get a better look downstairs. His eyes widened in shock as he saw the approaching Shadows, but before he was able to do anything, Angel's suppressed MCX rattled again, the shot hitting the guard square in the face.

A puff of red surrounded the man's head as it snapped back, painting the wall behind him with gray matter before he slumped down.

"Shit!" A guard yelled out after witnessing one of his own get dropped right in front of him. The lantern glow that illuminated the guard quickly left, being carried away by a dead man walking. "The intruders are advancing! Hold the line, don't let them get to Crius!"

"Are you mad?! I'm not dealing with this!" One of the other guards cried out. "If it's Crius and the boy that they're after, why don't we just serve them up on a silver platter and save ourselves?!"

"You can't honestly be so naive as to think that the enemy will spare us for doing so! They'll slaughter us all the same, regardless of who they're after! May as well go out doing your job!"

"Where are the patrol ships?! We need their men here, now!"

"What the hell are they going to do?! You've seen what happened outside, and most likely, so did they! If they haven't been sunk in the harbor already, what makes you think they're going to come help?!"

While the guards were busy arguing, Angel had arrived at the first landing, double tapping his most recent kill before stepping over the body. The stairway was still narrow, but now it opened up to be just wide enough to fit two people if they stood side by side on the same steps, and Angel decided that it would be a good idea to take full advantage of that.

"I need one on my left."

"With you," Vale said, stepping beside him as he switched shoulders to get a better angle with his rifle.

Show-off... Angel mentally scoffed. Not all of us can be proficiently ambidextrous, Vale...

The team began their ascent once more, moving quickly to maintain their momentum. The argument ahead still seemed to continue without pause, a sign of just how much dissension their presence had sowed into these men.

As Angel and Vale reached the top of the stairs, they spotted that the guards had set up a makeshift barricade, using overturned tables, shelves, and other furniture in an effort to protect themselves and slow their advance.

One guard was focused enough to not be distracted by the arguing, and his attentiveness allowed him to spot the Shadows as they appeared on the steps. Bravely, but mostly foolishly, he attempted to raise a bow and arrow up at them — a clear attempt at fighting back, despite how useless it would have been.

Without hesitation, they both began popping shots off towards the barricade, the rounds striking the wood and punching through it with ease.

The guards behind the barricade didn't fare any better, crying out in pain and panic as the bullets pierced through their makeshift cover. The arrows that were released in response didn't even come close to reaching their targets, falling harmlessly to the floor before they could pose any threat.

As they emerged from the stairs, they could see the room beyond the barricade was dimly lit, with scattered crates and barrels providing minimal cover for the remaining guards. It was clear that they were woefully unprepared, judging by how disorganized they were in response to the sudden assault, which had left the majority of the fighting forces as nothing more than stains on the ground outside. The sudden intrusion into their supposedly safe haven certainly didn't help matters, with some left frozen in fear at their appearance, others, yelling conflicting orders in a last-ditch effort to regain some semblance of control of the situation.

Control that was quickly lost as the wall of fire intensified with the rest of the team joining them up the stairs.

The guard's attempts to counterattack were futile, and their resistance was quickly stomped out. One by one, they fell under the well-aimed shots of the Shadow Company operators, their bodies dropping to the floor in a messy macabre dance of death.

As the final guard collapsed, the building had become completely silent. The smell of gunpowder and blood hung in the air, and the dim light of a lantern on a nearby crate highlighted just exactly whose blood it was. The only sounds that remained were the echoing footsteps of the Shadows as they moved swiftly through the aftermath of their assault, briefly checking the other rooms on the sides and ensuring they were empty.

"Clear," Vale's voice broke the silence as he emerged from one of the rooms, before gesturing for the team to advance. At the far end of the room, a door stood closed, presumably leading to the final chamber where Crius was likely hiding.

Hopefully…

Angel approached the door, his heart pounding with anticipation. He could feel the weight of the mission's grand finale pressing on him as they closed in.

"This is it," Vale whispered, rifle aimed at the door. "Angel, prep a flash and let's bag this bastard."

"Copy."

The tension was palpable as the team positioned themselves, each operator ready to rush in as soon as the door swung open. Angel took a deep breath, his mind focused and his instincts honed as he pulled out a flashbang from one of his pouches.

Seeing the flashbang in his hand, Vale kicked the door in before stepping out of the way, allowing Angel to pull the pin and hurl the grenade deep into the room beyond.

The next few moments seemed to stretch as the team braced for the impending sound.

And then it came — a white flash of light accompanied by a popping bang. Without wasting any time, the Shadows surged forward, storming into the room and ready to engage any threats.

Only… there were none present. In fact, there was no one else in the room save for them. Instead of guards making a fierce last stand from a fortified position or cowering in the corner, they instead got nothing. Even after searching every nook and cranny of the room, there was nowhere for Crius to hide.

It was unexpected to say the least.

Unexpected and disappointing…

"All Shadow stations, Bishop is rounds complete." Vale reported, flicking his safety on and glancing around the room, as if inspecting it for any hidden details that might pop out. "Building four clear, crow's nest is empty. No jackpot."

"Rook, same here. Negative jackpot, but… we've got a warehouse full of slaves here… they're from the other Gate."

There was a brief pause in the comms, and Angel found his brows furrowing at what he had just heard. Something that Graves was likely doing to, judging by his next command.

"Rook, this is Shadow-Actual. Say again your last."

Oz complied, repeating the message to ensure Graves heard him clearly. "I say again, we found a warehouse full of slaves. A bunch of civvies, taken from the other Gate."

The gravity of his words hung heavily in the air, a stark contrast to the chaos and violence that had just unfolded moments ago. The team had been so focused on just their VIP and their HVI, that the discovery of others had caught them off guard. Sure, they were expecting a morally reprehensible slaver to have other slaves, and they knew Crius was in possession of others from across the Gate, but for the company to find a warehouse full of them in the midst of their raid?

Talk about convenient...

Though that did beg the question. Just how many exactly were lost to the Empire and the Gate? Japan never did give a definitive number on their civilian casualties.

"Well ain't that just a pleasant surprise," Graves' voice crackled through the comms, his tone failing to hide the obvious mirth he felt at the discovery. "Maintain security on those slaves and make sure they're safe. Standby for further orders."

"Copy."

"Ah, fuck!" Viper suddenly shouted, startling Angel as he kicked a nearby chair over in a fit of rage. "We had that bastard right here! All these guards wouldn't shut up about him being here, and now that we're here, we've got neither of them! We don't have Crius, we don't have the kid, we have nothing!"

Viper's frustration could be felt, his outburst echoing the thoughts and feelings of the team. They had stormed this building with determination, intent on rescuing Mikami Toshiaki and capturing Crius. But now, they stood in an empty room, with their main targets nowhere to be found. It was a bitter disappointment, a sour note in what should have been a triumphant victory.

"Take a breath, Viper," Vale's calm voice cut through the tension. "We might not have caught them, but it ain't a total loss. We've still got something just as valuable. The slaves that Rook just reported. We'll just secure them, get out of here, then move forward from there. No point in crying over spilt milk."

Viper let out a defeated sigh, his anger seeming to simmer a little as he shook his head and crossed his arms, before leaning against the wall and looking out a nearby window. Angel let out his own weary sigh, moving to pick up the chair that was kicked over and picking it back up, before planting himself in the seat beside the team's sniper, kicking his feet up against the window sill.

As Angel stared out into the dark horizon, he couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions swirling within him. The adrenaline from the intense combat they conducted tonight was slowly fading, leaving room for disappointment and a lingering sense of unfulfillment.

They had come so close, yet somehow, Crius had managed to slip through their fingers once more…

"This is such bullshit," Ronin spoke up nearby. They glanced back, seeing the Japanese man glaring down at a large map on the table, wooden boats with various banners representing different kingdom's ships and their cargo lining the surface of the paper. "We're supposed to be professionals. This is our job! We've bagged high profile insurgent leaders in well-fortified compounds in the Middle East, guarded by their Jihadist followers eagerly waiting to clack off an s-vest to see their seventy-two virgins, but we can't bag a random slaver from some backwards world that doesn't even have electricity?"

"Well, I don't know what to tell you besides 'we can't always get what we want', amigo." Angel offered, weakly shrugging his shoulders and doing his best to mask his own disappointment with indifference. "Life just sucks like that."

Around them, the room seemed to close in, its walls echoing the frustrations of the team. Angel's words had tried to quell, or at least, soften the frustration… but it was hard not to feel the weight of what they had lost in that moment.

Graves' voice broke through the silence once more, but this time, it was marked by a very rare, solemn tone. "Listen up, Shadows. I know this wasn't the outcome we were gunnin' for, but it's the one we got. Y'all did the best you could. That's all I could have asked from any of you. This failure's not on any of you… don't be too hard on yourselves—"

"All Shadows," the voice of Avatar suddenly cut in, interrupting Graves' words of comfort. There was a sense of urgency in his tone, a departure from his usual composed demeanor, which immediately grabbed everyone's attention. "Be advised, squirter moving northeast, plus one unknown in tow, fleeing the nest!"

The atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically as the urgency in Avatar's voice hit them like a jolt of electricity. The team members exchanged quick glances, their previous frustrations momentarily replaced by a renewed sense of purpose as Angel sprang back up from his chair.

"Say again, Avatar?" Graves' voice snapped back over the comms, his tone instantly switching back to a blend of concern and command.

"We've got runners, boss," Avatar reiterated swiftly. "One unidentified military-aged male and one kid, both moving northeast. They're hauling ass away from building four."

"¡Hijo de puta! That's them!"

"God damnit, fucker gave us the slip right under our noses!"

"Don't worry, he won't get very far…" Boxer chuckled through the comms. "Sentinel's moving to intercept."

"You better, Boxer," Graves intoned, a hard edge to his voice. "Remember, I want this bastard bagged alive. We wanna fish actionable intel out of his body, not bullets, you hear me?"

"Yep yep."

"Damn, well I guess not all is lost... you guys think he's gonna catch him?" Angel asked, looking out the window, as if searching for Crius himself.

"No doubt," Vale said, joining him. "He can run on for as long as he likes, but sooner or later, God's gonna cut him down, just like everybody else…"

---

[REDACTED] BOXER [REDACTED] - SHADOW CO.

TOUMAREN BLUE SEA COASTLINE, FALMART

IMPERIAL CALENDAR 687 - 01:05:00

---

Boxer wouldn't deny that it felt good to be back up and operating out in the field.

After his injury back in Japan, he understood why he couldn't do anything too strenuous, and why he was being confined to Site Hotel Gamma. He didn't hate the break per say… but it wasn't a break he decided to take on his own volition, and things had gotten quite boring.

There was only so much quiet book reading and aimless show watching one could do before restlessness inevitably set in.

But now, standing at the threshold of a dense forest, Boxer took in a deep breath of the crisp, pine-scented air as the wind whistled around him, rejuvenating him and reminding him just how much he missed being outdoors.

And the man lying face first in the dirt in front of him certainly reminded him just how much he missed this part of the job...

Crius let out a weak groan as he slowly came to, blearily opening his eyes as he let out a cough, his voice nasally and rough from a combination of the impact he had suffered at the hands of Boxer's fist and the dirt he had inadvertently ingested because of it. Blood was leaking out of his freshly broken and crooked nose, painting a stark contrast against his pale skin.

Crius' obvious display of confusion was immediately wiped as he grunted in pain, gritting his teeth as one of Boxer's men pinned him in place, kneeling on his back, before grabbing his arms and binding his wrists together with zip ties. By the time he had realized what was happening to him, it was too late, and all he could do now was squirm beneath the weight of the Shadow on top of him.

Crius did his best to turn his head, his gaze locking onto Boxer with a mix of defiance and challenge. "You think you can just capture me like this and get away with it? Do you barbarians have any idea who I am?! Who I know?! No! You fools clearly have no idea who you're dealing with!"

Boxer rolled his eyes at the man, before squatting down and tilting his head at him, keeping his voice steady. "No, it's you who clearly has no idea who they're dealing with." He glanced at the Shadow currently holding Crius down, before ordering him to, "Hoist him up."

The Shadow wordlessly complied, snaking an arm through Crius' bound arms and grabbing the back of his neck, before hauling him up to his knees. Despite the pain in his broken nose and the discomfort of his situation, Crius managed to kneel upright, albeit unsteadily. Boxer's attention never wavered as he faced the defiant captive, even despite the soft sobs of relief nearby of the recently rescued Japanese boy, Mikami Toshiaki.

"Play tough guy all you want, but it won't change the fact that you're in our custody now," Boxer said firmly, leaning forward and narrowing his eyes as they locked onto the man with a fiery intensity. After a moment, he reached for his phone in one of his pouches, before opening his camera. "If I were you, I'd savor as much of the air here as possible, because whether you cooperate willingly or not, what remains of your life from this point onwards will be worse than the hell you'll be begging for after death."

Crius' only response was to spit on his boot, an action he'd immediately regret as the Shadow holding him up decided to sock him in the face, briefly stunning him.

"Don't beat him too badly, we still need to pull his biometrics," Boxer reminded in a bored tone. Seeing that the man in front of him was swaying slightly from the punch, Boxer roughly grabbed him by the hair and held him still in front of the phone's camera as he took a picture.

"Oxide, this is Sentinel 1-1. Be advised, crow's wings have been successfully clipped. Sentinel is rounds complete. Score on VIP, possible jackpot on HVI. Sending biometric scan for authentication, over."

"Copy 1-1, we're receiving now. Standby."

Boxer maintained his grip on Crius, his gaze locked on to the man in front of him as he waited for the confirmation from Graves. The forest seemed to hold its breath in anticipation, until the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze could be heard, audible at the same time his radio buzzed to life again, and Graves gave him the answer he was waiting for.

"All Shadows, this is Shadow-Actual. Company asset confirms we have a positive ID on Crius. Jackpot. Start site exploitation, thermobaric the buildings once you're finished, then link up for exfil and head to the designated HLZ. Warhorse birds are standing by and waiting to pick y'all up to extract with our new guests."

"I take it you're satisfied, sir?" Boxer asked, the comms failing to hide the slight hint of amusement creeping in his voice.

"More than satisfied. Y'all struck oil tonight! Figuratively… for now... Anyways, I'll have to get in contact with Japan to hash out some sort of deal for the rest of the slaves, but once we send proof of the kid in a healthier state and in our custody, that's money in the bank."

"Why not just send the proof now?"

"Take a good long look at the kid that was treated as nothing more than a slave for almost half a year and tell me he's in tip-top shape."

Boxer's attention shifted to their VIP, his eyes assessing their condition. The boy sat on a nearby log, crying gratefully into the shoulder of one of the Shadows comforting him, while the others checked over his body to make sure he didn't need any immediate medical attention. The young Japanese boy clearly bore the scars of his horrible ordeal, both physical and emotional. The loose rags he was dressed in did little to hide the various bruises and marks on his frighteningly gaunt body.

That level of suffering inflicted on just a kid? They truly were in another world.

One that was perhaps just as cruel, if not, more so than theirs...

The realization sickened him.

"Yeah, I thought not…" Graves muttered, taking the silence as an answer. The sudden interruption broke through said silence, bringing his attention back to the conversation. "The sooner y'all finish up over 'there', the sooner y'all get those people back over 'here', for a full checkup, in a soft bed, with some hot food in their bellies. So chop-chop and get it done. Shadow-Actual, out."

Boxer rose to his feet, releasing Crius' hair with a dismissive shove, before looking up at the Shadow holding onto their HVI.

"Bag him up and let's go. We've got a lot to accomplish before exfil."

"Copy that," the Shadow replied with a nod, before pulling out a plain black bag and deftly throwing it over Crius' head.

With the actions they had taken the past few weeks in the region, Boxer had no idea what would come next for the company. But he did know one thing for sure...

It felt damn good to be back.

---

Author's Notes:

With Shadow Company being a PMC, I like the idea that their standard operating procedures and terminologies, while still somewhat resembling the SOP's and terminologies used in a standard military, deviates from the norm.

This aspect was heavily inspired by another PMC that does the same: Cold Harbor Special Projects Group, from Echelon Software's graphic novel series, Black Powder Red Earth. In fact, you'll find a lot of references to it throughout this story…

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. I know I enjoyed writing it, especially the first half. There's just something special about CoD missions that involve the player being underwater to me. The element of surprise, followed up by death from below in the last place the enemy would ever expect to be attacked from — the water.

Looks like we're gonna be getting some more of that in the MWIII campaign, judging by the trailers.