The courtyard was already active before the sun had fully cleared the ridgeline. Soren was running a functions check on his BCM Recce14 when he heard footsteps at the gate, and looked up to find Preston walking in with three men behind him — all four in gray combat fatigues and plate carriers, gear checked and ready, moving with the unhurried confidence of people who had done this before.
Scott was already up, body armor buckled over a dark shirt, his expression back to the focused composure that the previous day's exhaustion had temporarily displaced. He had made his decision the night before, and the weight of it seemed to have settled into something workable. He gave Preston a short nod as the group entered. "Intelligence ready?"
"Everything's here."
Preston moved to the courtyard ta
