The quiet hum of HQ Command was interrupted by the faint beeping of the holoscreen, its glow casting sharp shadows across the briefing room.

General Luis stood at the head of the table, his arms crossed as he studied the latest reports. Team Unknown, masks resting on the table before them, listened in attentive silence.

General Luis's voice was calm but firm as he addressed the team. "Reports of Void-tainted activity have surfaced in a remote zone, well outside Clareo's south borders. Normally, this would fall under standard patrol jurisdiction, but the intel coming in suggests anomalies in Void-tainted behavior."

Ember tilted his head slightly, his sharp gaze narrowing. "Anomalies? Such as?"

General Luis tapped the holoscreen, bringing up grainy footage of what appeared to be Void-tainted constructs moving in synchronized patterns. "Surveillance drones picked this up. These constructs aren't just roaming aimlessly. They're coordinating."

Exeo's voice carried weight as he spoke. "That's new."

"It is," General Luis agreed. "And concerning. If they've developed some form of hive-mind coordination, we need to know how—and stop it before it spreads."

Val's tone was steady but curious. "Why assign this to us? Wouldn't this be better suited for a scouting team?"

General Luis's gaze shifted, his expression unreadable. "Normally, yes. But the region's isolation and the unusual nature of the threat make it too risky to send a standard squad. You're the only team capable of handling this without compromising Clareo's defenses."

Reyes, standing at the far end of the table, frowned slightly. "Do we have any idea what's causing the coordination?"

General Luis shook his head. "No. That's why this mission is reconnaissance first. Engage only if absolutely necessary."

Ember leaned back in his chair, his tone calculating. "And if it turns out to be a decoy?"

General Luis's lips pressed into a thin line. "That's a risk we have to take."

The team exchanged brief glances. The weight of the assignment was clear: this wasn't just a mission—it was the first step in a larger, unseen game.

"Val," General Luis continued, turning to Val, "you'll deploy Reyes first. Overwatch is critical for this mission. The rest of the team will follow once the area is scouted."

Val nodded. "Understood."

"Exeo," General Luis added, "you'll take point once the team is on the ground. Ember, your strategy will dictate movement. Trust your instincts."

The brothers exchanged a silent look, their mutual respect unspoken but palpable. Ember gave a faint nod. "It'll get done."

General Luis stepped back, his voice firm. "You deploy in ten. Dismissed."

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The teleportation chamber hummed as the team prepared to leave. Reyes adjusted the strap of his sniper rifle, his expression focused. Val placed a hand on his shoulder briefly, a silent gesture of reassurance.

"Coordinates locked," Val said. "Stay sharp."

In a swirl of Void energy, Reyes vanished, his form dissolving into the shadows as he was sent to the designated overwatch position.

The chamber fell silent for a moment before Exeo's voice cut through. "Let's move."

Reyes materialized atop a jagged cliff overlooking the barren, land just outside of Clareo's south borders. The desolate landscape stretched out before him, its rugged terrain shrouded in mist.

He crouched low, setting up his sniper rifle and scanning the area through his enhanced scope.

Overwatch in position, Reyes reported through the Mind Link.

No movement yet. Terrain's rough—limited visibility, but I'll keep eyes on the perimeter.

Exeo's voice came through, steady and calm. Copy that. Stand by.

Moments later, the rest of the team materialized near the base of the cliff, their forms blending seamlessly into the rocky environment. Exeo led the group, his posture rigid as he surveyed their surroundings.

Status? Exeo asked, his tone sharp.

Reyes's voice was crisp.

No hostiles within visual range. But there's something… off.

Ember's voice carried a hint of curiosity.

Off how?

Can't explain it, Reyes admitted. The terrain feels… wrong. Like it's been altered somehow.

Exeo exchanged a brief glance with Ember.

We move as planned. Frost, Aura, take the eastern flank. Terra, hold the rear and monitor for underground activity. Umbra, Lux, and I will advance toward the central zone.

The team moved with practiced precision, their footsteps silent as they navigated the uneven ground. The air grew colder as they progressed, the mist thickening around them.

Reyes's voice broke through the silence.

Contact. Three Void-tainted constructs, moving westward.

Pattern? Exeo asked.

Too coordinated for random movement, Reyes replied. It's like they're scouting.

Exeo's jaw tightened.

Frost, Aura, intercept. Keep it quiet.

Bo and Riggs split off, their movements swift and silent as they circled around the approaching constructs. Bo's icy mist crept along the ground, freezing the creatures' legs in place. Riggs followed with a precise gust of wind, slicing through their immobilized forms.

Targets neutralized, Bo reported. No alerts triggered.

Exeo nodded. Good. Regroup and continue.

As the team advanced, the anomalies grew more apparent. Strange markings etched into the rocks glowed faintly, pulsing with Void energy.

Ember crouched to examine one, his fingers tracing the patterns.

"These aren't natural," he murmured. "Looks like someone—or something—left these as markers."

Val's shadows coiled around him as he scanned the area. "If they're markers, they're leading us somewhere."

"Or leading something to us," Exeo countered. "Stay alert."

The team pressed on, the tension thickening with each step.

Reyes's updates became more frequent, his voice clipped as he relayed sightings of constructs moving in precise formations.

Five targets, heading north, Reyes reported.

They're converging on the central zone.

Exeo's tone sharpened.

Hold position. Umbra, Lux, prepare for engagement.

Val and Ember exchanged a glance, their weapons ready as they moved into position.

When they reached the edge of a massive crater, the landscape before them pulsed with an ominous energy. The faint hum of Void-tainted energy filled the air, making it feel heavier, more oppressive.

Reyes's earlier reports became stark reality as they spotted the constructs clustered near the crater's edge, their movements deliberate and almost ritualistic.

Exeo's voice came through the Mind Link, steady but laced with urgency.

This isn't a random outpost. It's a staging ground.

Ember's tone was cold, calculating. Then we finish this.

The team prepared to strike, every move calculated and purposeful, their focus unshaken by the growing realization that the mission ahead was far more complex than anticipated.

Shadows coiled around Val as Exeo raised a hand, signaling the beginning of the operation. The silence before the storm deepened, each member poised ready for the mission.