Sahaad led his squad deeper into the thick jungle, the canopy overhead blotting out most of the dim light from the red star. The humidity clung to their armor, and the sounds of alien fauna filled the air as they moved with the precision and grace their training had drilled into them. Despite their towering, armored forms, they were like ghosts—silent, undetectable, and deadly.

They had encountered several more rebel hideouts since the first camp, each one no match for the Imperators. Sahaad's team operated with ruthless efficiency, silently neutralizing enemy combatants before they even had a chance to raise an alarm. Zara, with her formidable melee prowess, dispatched rebels with terrifying speed, while Ji's enhanced reflexes allowed him to move through the camps like a blur, incapacitating their targets in seconds. Kato, with his strength, smashed through entire huts. Nate and Sia easily picked off any stragglers.

Sahaad kept his distance, picking off any sentries or guards with his long-range precision. His augmented eyesight and steady hands ensured every shot was lethal. The rebels stood no chance against the Imperators, and yet something continued to gnaw at him—something he couldn't ignore.

The Red Tails, who were supposed to be their support, had yet to engage. They remained at a distance, always watching but never participating. Their silence and lack of involvement didn't sit right with Sahaad. The Red Tails were known for their guerilla tactics, yet here they were, acting more like observers than soldiers. Every time Sahaad glanced back at them, standing in the shadows with their armor cloaked in camouflage, his suspicion grew.

After dismantling another camp with ease, the squad gathered in a secluded clearing to plan their next move. Sahaad scanned the jungle ahead, where their final objective—the largest rebel stronghold—was hidden. It wasn't far now.

"They're not putting up much of a fight," Zara said, cleaning the blood off her combat blade. "I was expecting more resistance."

"Me too," Ji added, wiping the sweat from his brow. "But this is too easy. These rebels are disorganized and barely armed. This whole mission feels off."

"They said even the Red Tails were having a hard time. What a joke, this gotta be treason", Kato added.

Sahaad nodded, his gaze drifting to the tree line where the Red Tails lingered, their presence like a shadow looming over them. "It's not just that. The Red Tails… they're not doing anything. They've been watching us this whole time, but they haven't lifted a finger to help."

"Maybe they're evaluating us?" Sia suggested, though her tone carried doubt. "Seeing if we're worthy of full Imperator status."

"Maybe," Sahaad replied, though he didn't believe it. "But something doesn't add up. Why send us to do their job? The rebels' weapons are ancient, nothing compared to what the Federation has. The Red Tails could've handled this on their own."

"Evaluating what? We spent a century going through that torture, theres nothing to evaluate we survived!", Nate quipped, annoyed by the apparent lack of trust from the Praetorians.

Ji frowned, glancing over his shoulder at the distant figures of the Red Tails. "Maybe they don't want to."

Sahaad's eyes narrowed. "Exactly. I think we're being tested, but not in the way we think. There's something else going on here."

Zara sheathed her blade and stood up, her gaze hardening. "Well, whatever it is, we've got a job to do. Let's finish this."

Sahaad nodded, but the unease remained. As they prepared to move out, he kept a closer eye on the Red Tails, who had shifted positions but still made no move to engage. They were deliberately staying back, letting the Imperators handle the dirty work.

The final leg of their trek took them through thicker jungle, where alien flora towered above them and the calls of strange creatures echoed in the distance. Sahaad kept his squad moving in tight formation, using their enhanced senses to detect any potential threats before they could be ambushed.

It didn't take long before they reached the outskirts of the final rebel stronghold. The camp was larger than the others, with makeshift barricades, sentries on lookout, and more men patrolling the perimeter. Still, it was primitive—nothing that should have posed a real challenge.

Sahaad signaled for his squad to stop, crouching behind a dense thicket. He surveyed the camp, mentally mapping out their approach. "Same plan as before. We hit hard and fast, take them out before they know we're here."

"Got it," Zara whispered, already eyeing her first target.

Ji nodded, checking his gear. "Let's get this over with."

As they prepared to move, Sahaad glanced back one last time at the Red Tails. They had stopped just before the camp, their weapons still holstered. They weren't here to fight. They were here to watch.

Sahaad clenched his jaw, his mind racing. Why? What were they waiting for?

"Stay sharp," he muttered to his squad as they began their stealthy approach. "Something's not right."

They moved in, as silent and deadly as ever. One by one, the rebels fell to their blades, their necks slit, or throats crushed before they could raise an alarm. The Imperators were blurs of movement, their speed and strength unmatched by the unsuspecting rebels.

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As they tore through the encampment, Sahaad's focus remained divided. Even as he took down rebel after rebel, his thoughts kept drifting to the Red Tails, who still remained at the edge of the battlefield, watching. Observing.

As the last rebel fell, Sahaad stood in the center of the now-silent camp, breathing heavily. His squad gathered around him, their mission complete. But his mind was elsewhere.

Why had the Red Tails let them handle everything? Why were they watching so intently?

Sahaad's instincts screamed that this mission was far from over.

Sahaad clenched his fists, the metallic grip of his gauntlets creaking as he turned and stalked toward the Red Tails. He'd had enough of their silent observation, their distant judgment. He didn't care what orders they had or what hidden motives might be in play—this was beyond suspicious, and he wasn't going to stand for it any longer.

His squad followed close behind, sensing his growing frustration. Zara tightened her grip on her combat blade, and Ji's eyes darted around, already preparing him for any sudden moves.

The Red Tails, as always, stood at the edge of the clearing, unmoving. Their armor blended into the jungle, but Sahaad's eyesight had no trouble locking onto them. They were just standing there, their weapons holstered, like they had been this entire mission. It was maddening.

"Sahad.", Sia called out, realizing what he was about to do, but it was too late.

Without warning, Sahaad broke into a sprint. He closed the distance between them in a flash, his enhanced speed catching the Red Tails off guard. One of them barely had time to react before Sahaad's fist collided with his helmet. There was a sickening crunch as his gauntleted fist shattered the Praetorian's helmet, sending him stumbling back, blood pouring from his face.

The rest of the Red Tails instantly raised their weapons, the hum of energy rifles charging filling the air. "Stand down!" one of them shouted, his voice crackling through his helmet's comms.

But Sahaad didn't flinch. His squad was already at his side, weapons drawn. Zara and Ji took up defensive stances, and the other Imperators flanked them, their towering forms casting shadows over the jungle floor. The tension was palpable, like a string pulled too tight and on the verge of snapping.

"Point those at me and you're going to regret it," Zara growled, her eyes narrowing as she rested her hand on the hilt of her blade. "I won't miss."

Ji's hands hovered near his dual pistols, his body coiled like a spring, ready to strike.

"You shoot us and its treason", Kato warned, pointing his weapon at the Praetorians. "We're the King's guards remember?"

For a moment, it seemed like both sides would fire. The Red Tails had their weapons trained on Sahaad and his squad, their fingers hovering over the triggers. The Imperators, outnumbered but undaunted, stared them down, their sheer presence a force of intimidation.

Sahaad, however, didn't move. He stood tall, eyes locked on the Red Tail whose helmet he had smashed. The soldier groaned, wiping blood from his face, but didn't make any further moves.

Finally, Sahaad spoke, his voice low but carrying the weight of authority. "Why? Why the hell have you been standing there, just watching us?"

The Red Tails hesitated, their rifles still raised but their postures shifting. They glanced at one another, uncertainty flashing in their eyes behind their visors. It was clear Sahaad's strike had shaken them.

"Answer me!" Sahaad barked, his voice louder this time. His frustration was boiling over. He was done with the silence, the cryptic behavior. They deserved answers.

One of the Red Tails, the apparent leader, took a cautious step forward, his rifle still aimed but his tone softer than before. "We… we were ordered to observe."

"Ordered?" Sahaad spat, taking a step closer, daring him to give a better answer. "Observe what, exactly? Us? The mission? Explain."

The Red Tail hesitated again, his eyes darting between Sahaad and his squad. It was clear that he wasn't fully sure what to say. "We were given orders from high command to follow you on this mission. To… monitor your performance."

Sahaad's eyes narrowed, anger flashing in them. "Performance? Is that what this is about? Some test?"

The Red Tail soldier nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Yes. We weren't told why. Just that we were to stand back and assess how well you handled the operation."

Sahaad's fists clenched tighter. "So you let us do everything, watched us take down these rebels on our own, and didn't even bother to explain yourselves? You're supposed to be soldiers, not spectators."

The Red Tail leader swallowed hard, lowering his weapon slightly. ""There's something you need to know."

Sahaad paused. "What is it now?" he demanded, his voice edged with frustration.

The Red Tails shifted uncomfortably. Tension crackled in the air like static, but the leader didn't back down. The reason we've been observing... the reason we've struggled to deal with these rebels on our own... It's not just their numbers or tactics. They've got a B-class Awakened in their ranks. We've been ordered to wait for your team to engage."

Sahaad's eyes widened slightly at the mention of an Awakened. The term wasn't thrown around lightly. Awakened individuals were people who were granted the power to manipulate the magic of the universe, they obtained power directly from the divine realm.

A B-class Awakened was no joke. They were deadly, and if a B-class was commanding these rebels, that explained why the Red Tails had struggled to defeat them.

"A B-class?" Ji asked, stepping forward with an incredulous look. "Why the hell didn't you tell us this earlier?"

The Red Tail soldier's voice was tense. "We weren't authorized to disclose it until absolutely necessary. Command didn't want to alarm you. But after seeing how well you handled the smaller camps, I figured you deserved to know before you marched into a death trap."

Sahaad clenched his jaw, feeling the weight of the situation settling in. An Awakened could change the entire battlefield. Their powers varied, but even at B-class, they were capable of devastating destruction or overwhelming force. They weren't someone you could just take down with guns and blades.

Sahaad's suspicion deepened. "So, we're bait? That's why you've been watching us this whole time?"

The Red Tail leader didn't deny it. "You're stronger than us, faster, more resilient. Command wants to see how you fare against them. If you can take down the Awakened, the rest of the rebellion will collapse. If you can't... well, they'll send in more forces."

"So we're expendable," Sahaad muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.

"No," the Red Tail leader corrected. "You're the best shot we have. Command doesn't want to lose you, but they know you're our only chance at taking this Awakened down."

As Sahaad turned to his squad, he saw the determination in their faces. They had been through worse. They had survived the trials, the augmentations, and the endless battles that had shaped them into what they were now. A B-class Awakened was a dangerous opponent, but they weren't invincible.

"Let's move," Sahaad said, his voice steady. "We find this Awakened, take them out, and finish the mission."