The Commando

Weight of Silence

The military convoy reached the headquarters shortly before dawn. Whole team was tired but still charged and ready go for another mission if require.

The sky above Fort Aegis building, the heavily fortified headquarters of the Special Rescue and Elite Force (SREF), was still painted in shades of deep silver. A thin blanket of mist hovered over the green camoufledged solar panneled roof while powerful floodlights illuminated the massive concrete structures hidden among the surrounding mountains.

Unlike ordinary military bases, SREF Headquarters had no signboards, no flags fluttering proudly above the entrance. And no indication of the activities conducted within its walls. To the outside world, it officially did not exist.

Yet every soldier in Targovia knew the legend. If diplomacy failed... If the army could not solve it...

If the intelligence agencies reached a dead end... The mission came here. To SREF. And today...

The heroes had returned victorious carried the bitter taste of failure. No one spoke inside the armored vehicle.

Major Abis Soymon stared through the bulletproof window. The mountains rushed past one after another. But he wasn't seeing them. His mind replayed the final moments again...

Dr. Zaap's trembling hand. The Type-K storage device.

"I give you my word" Those words echoed repeatedly inside his head. He slowly tightened his grip. The tiny metallic storage device rested securely inside a sealed evidence pouch in his vest.

It felt... Heavy. Far heavier than something so small should. Three hours later... Conference Room Alpha. SREF Headquarters.

The room itself reflected the personality of the man who owned it. Simple. Cold. Purposeful.

The walls were finished with dark walnut panels broken only by enormous digital tactical displays covering almost an entire side of the room. One screen displayed a live satellite image of the northern border.

Another continuously updated national threat indicators. Several framed medals decorated the opposite wall. This room is made completely soundproof. In fact this whole building and its each room is made soundproof.

But something felt unusual. There were no photographs. Not of family. Not of military ceremonies. Not even graduation portraits. It was as if the owner had deliberately erased the ceremonial and personal life from existence.

A long conference table occupied the center. At its head... Sat Brigadier Karlose MacArther. Every soldier under his command simply called him Brigadier Karl.

The nickname carried both respect and fear. He was approaching his late fifties. Nearly six feet tall Brigadier Karl looks like a human tower even while seated.

Broad shoulders. Straight back. Years of military discipline had carved every movement into absolute precision. His silver streaked black hair was cut unusually short. His square jaw carried faint scars that disappeared beneath his neatly trimmed beard.

But it was his eyes that unsettled people. Steel gray. Cold. Calculating. Eyes that seemed capable of measuring a man's courage before he even spoke.

There were countless rumors surrounding Brigadier Karl. Some believed he had commanded operations beyond Targovia's borders. Others whispered he had once vanished for nearly two years without explanation. Official records simply referred to that period as "Classified"

No one ever asked. Because no one wanted to know. The conference room remained silent. Major Abis stood before the large digital screen. Captain Farguson. Lieutenant Kael Ronan. Sergeant Darius Kane. The remaining senior officers occupied seats around the table. Everyone waited.

Brigadier Karl folded his hands, "Begin."

His voice carried neither anger nor calm. Only authority. Abis activated the digital display. Images from the previous night's operation appeared one after another. Satellite photographs. Reconnaissance drone footage. The abandoned research facility. Enemy positions. Operational timeline. Every detail unfolded with military precision.

"The objective was confirmed at 2120 hours." He continued, "Outer security was neutralized without compromise. The hostage location matched reconnaissance estimates. We encountered heavier resistance inside than anticipated."

Abis paused briefly. A photograph of Dr. Zaap appeared on the screen. The room became noticeably quieter. Abis lowered his voice, "We reached the hostage. But, he was mortally wounded moments before extraction."

Nobody interrupted. Captain Farguson stared at the table. Lieutenant Kael slowly removed his glasses. Even Sergeant Kane.

Usually impossible to read. Closed his eyes for a brief moment. Brigadier Karl remained motionless. Completely motionless. Only the tightening of his jaw betrayed the emotion building beneath the surface.

Finally he spoke, "One of the greatest scientific minds our nation has ever produced"

Silence

"...died under our protection"

Nobody answered. Karl slowly stood. His chair slid backward with a low metallic sound. He walked toward the enormous window overlooking the mountain range surrounding the headquarters.

Hands behind his back. Head lowered, "When I was a young lieutenant..."

His voice softened, "...my instructor once told me something."

He stared into the distance, "A soldier measures victory differently from a politician.'"

Another pause, "A politician celebrates objectives completed. A soldier counts those who never came home"

His reflection appeared faintly in the glass, "This..."

He whispered, "...does not feel like victory."

The room remained silent. Outside rain had begun to fall. Tiny droplets struck the reinforced glass one after another. Almost rhythmically.

Abis slowly reached inside his combat vest. Every officer instinctively looked toward him. He placed a small black evidence pouch on the conference table.

The room became noticeably quieter, "I did not include this in the written report."

Karl turned. His eyes narrowed, "What is it?"

Abis carefully opened the pouch. A smooth metallic object rolled gently across the polished wooden table before stopping beneath the overhead light.

The Type-K storage device. No markings. No manufacturer. No visible interface. It looked almost unknown to all.

Abis spoke quietly, "Seconds before his death Dr. Zaap entrusted this to me. He specifically instructed me to study its contents and destroy it afterward."

Every officer leaned forward slightly. Captain Farguson frowned, "I've never seen anything like it"

Neither had Karl. He slowly approached the table. His eyes remained fixed upon the object. Several long seconds passed. No one spoke.

Then Abis picked it up, "Sir"

He extended his hand, "I believe this belongs with Headquarters for national security."

Karl looked at the storage device. Then at Abis. Then back again. The silence stretched uncomfortably.

The Brigadier slowly shook his head, "No."

The single word surprised everyone. Abis blinked, "Sir?"

Karl folded his arms, "Dr. Zaap had every opportunity to hand that device to the government. He could have delivered it to Military Intelligence. To the President. To me. He chose none of them."

Karl's eyes locked onto Abis, "He chose you."

The words settled heavily across the room. Abis remained silent. Karl continued, "Great men rarely make decisions without reason. If Dr. Zaap entrusted you with something moments before his death then he expected you, not me to understand it."

The Brigadier slowly pushed the storage device back across the table, "Keep it."

Abis hesitated, "Sir..."

"That is an order. Study it. Understand why he trusted you. When you've learned everything bring your conclusions directly to me."

Abis nodded, "Yes, Sir."

Brigadier Karl looked around the room. His expression changed, "Back to business, Gentlemen. Operation Iron Veil is officially concluded. The investigation begins immediately. I want intelligence reports. I want border surveillance. I want every available resource searching for Viktor Drazen" His voice hardened.

"He escaped once. He will not escape twice"

Every officer answered together, "Yes, Sir."

Karl nodded once, "Dismissed."

Chairs slid backward. One after another, the officers saluted before leaving the conference room.

Captain Farguson paused briefly beside Abis, "You coming?"

Abis glanced toward Brigadier Karl. The Brigadier hadn't moved. His eyes remained fixed upon the rain outside. Something. Felt different. Abis shook his head, "I'll be along."

Farguson nodded before quietly closing the heavy conference room door behind him. Click. Silence returned.

Only two men remained inside the enormous room. Major Abis Soymon. Brigadier Karlose MacArther.

For several long moments neither spoke. Rain continued tapping softly against the reinforced glass.

Karl finally reached into the pocket of his uniform jacket. He withdrew an old silver pocket watch. Unlike everything else in the room. It looked worn. Used. Personal. He opened it.

Stared silently at something inside. Then closed it again. Without turning around. He spoke, "Major..."

Abis straightened instinctively, "Yes, Sir?"

Karl remained facing the window, "There is something"

A long pause, "I have never told anyone in this headquarters"

Abis felt the atmosphere inside the room change instantly. The hardened commander who had faced countless battles suddenly sounded. Older. Wearier. Karl slowly turned. For the first time since Abis had known him.

There was something in the Brigadier's eyes that resembled regret.

"I believe..." he said quietly, "it's time you knew why Viktor Drazen's name unsettled me more than anyone else in this room."

Abis said nothing. Outside, thunder rolled across the mountains. The past was about to return.