In the depths of a highly classified military stronghold, a concealed meeting hall buzzed with activity. Brilliantly lit by ingenious shard energy bulbs—which made use of the energy harnessed from monster shards—, the expansive space remained hidden from prying eyes, serving as the epicentre of the AI empire's clandestine operations.

Positioned at the heart of the chamber, a large u-shaped table commanded attention. Surrounding it were a multitude of sergeants, each representing a different division of the empire's formidable troops. Dressed in the distinguished blue and black uniforms that symbolized their allegiance, the officers took their seats, accompanied by their loyal corporals and trusted aides standing steadfastly behind them.

At the curving end of the table sat three distinguished officers, two men and a woman who was visibly younger than the other two men seated at her sides. Their attire bore a slight deviation from the others seated—a fusion of blue and white instead of black.

They held the highest rank within one of the largest alliances to exist within the AI Empire: The Imperial Army. They were: Major General Dwayne, Lieutenant General Hendrixson and Commander General Ichinose.

With their preparations complete, they were to finalize the plans for the recovery of the stolen intel from the Revolutionary Empire—a nation that defiantly resisted integration into the AI Empire under the dominion of the might Cosmos.

Amidst the intricacies discussed during the meeting, two key aspects took precedence: the methodology of the operation and the announcement of the leader to guide the operatives assigned to the mission.

The plan called for a covert operation, placing utmost importance on the retrieval of the stolen intel and the apprehension of the culprits, all without alerting the empire's military or risking exposure. Secondary tasks were deemed inconsequential if the primary objectives were not achieved.

This was an effort made by Ichinose to help achieve what the Prime Minister had asked of her but if push came to shove and factors that hindered the operatives from fulfilling the main task popped up and couldn't be resolved covertly, force would have to be applied.

Several sergeants at the table voiced their reservations about a covert operation, advocating for a more overt approach that would forcefully bring the Revolutionary Empire under the dominion of Cosmos. However, their arguments were swiftly countered by Major Dwayne's astute rebuttal and the presence of the person who would lead the operation, Lieutenant General Hendrixson.

Many of the sergeants showed their surprise at the news that Lieutenant General Hendrixson would lead the operation despite the grave tragedy he had faced.

To come out and lead an operation after such a long time out of service and to lead such a mission was a testament to the fact that his resolve to fight for his nation remained unyielding. Such thoughts pervaded the minds of the officers as they gazed in awe at the resilient man.

"If there are no further questions or details that need to be explained then that brings us to an end. You know your duties and your roles for this operation so set out to work immediately" Commander General Ichinose commanded with a strong voice.

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"YES MA'AM!"

The entire room rose in unison, rendering a customary salute that marked the conclusion of the meeting and the soldiers' departure.

With that, Commander General Ichinose gracefully exited the room, followed by the remaining officers, each filing out individually. Only Major Dwayne and Lieutenant General Hendrixson remained, having saluted but showing no immediate signs of departure.

With the departure of Commander General Ichinose and the other officers, the grand hall fell into an eerie silence. The only sound reverberating in the room was the rhythmic tapping of Major Dwayne's fingers on the luminous screen adorning his wrist like a bracelet.

He seemed entirely engrossed in the technological device, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Lieutenant General Hendrixson, who maintained his usual stoic and indifferent expression, staring straight ahead as if disregarding Dwayne's presence.

It was as if both men were intentionally tying to ignore the other's presence.

In the midst of the charged silence, Major Dwayne broke it with a cryptic remark, his voice laced with hidden knowledge. "I know about what happened to you back then, and I know how you feel about them all..."

Hendrixson's response was swift, his voice tinged with a hint of threat albeit a very subtle one. "Are you trying to insinuate that I have ulterior motives?"

Still refusing to meet Dwayne's gaze, Hendrixson rose from his seat and strode purposefully towards the exit. Dwayne, ever the joker, retorted with a sarcastic tone that masked his true intentions.

"Insinuate? Who am I to say anything, Lieutenant?" His words carried an air of eccentric charisma that softened the potential sting.

"I'm probably just being my usual paranoid self. Ah well, I'm finished with what I needed to do. Good luck on your mission, old man. Don't break any more of your bones this time."

With a pat on Hendrixson's back, Dwayne rose from his seat, nonchalantly adjusting his pushed-up sleeve to conceal the high-tech band on his wrist. He made his way toward the exit, leaving Hendrixson standing in the room, a flicker of curiosity tugging at his thoughts.

Taking a step forward, Hendrixson mirrored Dwayne's action, pulling up his sleeve to reveal a pitch-black band identical or eerily similar to the one used by Dwayne just moments ago, securely strapped to his left arm.

With a series of precise taps on the band's surface, Hendrixson initiated a sequence, causing faint specks of light to twist and turn, eventually forming the image of a circle with just the letters 'Dx' etched within it. The room fell silent, anticipation lingering in the air.

A voice, cold and husky, emanated from the device, reminiscent of a seasoned warrior whose vocal cords had weathered countless battles. The words carried a hint of familiarity and a touch of dangerous intrigue.

"…It's been a while, Lieutenant."

Hendrixson maintained his composure, his voice steady as he responded, "Indeed, it has. I have a task that requires your expertise."

A low chuckle echoed through the communication device, an unsettling mix of amusement and restrained aggression. "Is that so? He-he-he. This is sure to be fun if you're calling. I almost thought you'd forgotten about me."

"I'll send you the location. Meet me there, and we'll discuss further."

"I look forward to our reunion, Lieutenant. It's about time. It's been way too long."

Hendrixson pressed a red button on the device, causing the holographic image to dissipate, leaving him alone in the now empty room. The conversation had been brief and to the point, ensuring that no sensitive information escaped. He glanced at the band encircling his wrist, contemplating the significance of the forthcoming encounter.

Cocking his head upward, Hendrixson ran a hand through his neatly combed-back hair, a subtle smirk playing at the corner of his lips, hinting at a hidden resolve.

Indeed, it had been way too long.