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Er lachte über ihren Rang sie konterte mit einer Antwort die niemand so von ihr erwartet hatte — Transcript

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0:00Master Sergeant Nolan Graves 'voice
0:02cracked across the Fort Ashford
0:04training yard as if someone had tossed
0:06an explosive charge between the
0:07buildings. The next moment, laughter
0:10erupted behind him. More than 150
0:12soldiers stood in their ranks, watching
0:15as Graves looked the petite woman in
0:17front of him up and down. She wore no
0:20uniform, no insignia, no visible ID
0:23card—only dark workout clothes, light
0:25boots, and a slim backpack over one
0:28shoulder. Her copper-brown hair was
0:31hastily tied back. She seemed neither
0:33impressed nor intimidated. She didn't
0:35even blink. Instead, a barely
0:38perceptible smile appeared on her face.
0:41At that moment, Graves couldn't have
0:43known that he would remember that exact
0:45smile later. Less than an hour later,
0:48he would be lying face-down in the
0:50dusty ground while, above the base,
0:52military helicopter rotors tore through
0:55the air and men arrived whose signature
0:58was enough to end a 20-year career in
1:00minutes. The morning had just begun
1:04when Lena Akiyama passed through the
1:06main gate of Fort Ashford. The sun was
1:09still low behind the dark pines, and
1:11damp mist hung over the distant firing
1:13ranges. The guard at the gate had heard
1:17her name, checked briefly over the
1:19radio, and then let her pass without
1:21further questions. Clearly, someone
1:24with considerable influence had
1:25prepared her access. But that
1:28information had not reached the man who
1:30believed he was in charge of everything
1:32on the training grounds. Nolan Graves
1:35noticed her immediately. Two decades in
1:38the military had taught him to notice
1:40any deviation from the established
1:42order. And Lena did not fit his image
1:44of this place. She was short, at most
1:48about 5'4 ", slim, perhaps in her early
1:5030s, and moved across the yard with a
1:53calmness that felt almost provocative.
1:56Graves left the formation and blocked
1:59her path long before she reached the
2:02soldiers. This is where it ends. Lena
2:04stopped. Her gaze swept over him just
2:06once. To an outsider, it would have
2:09seemed like a fleeting glance. In
2:11reality, in just a few seconds, she
2:13registered his posture, the
2:15distribution of his weight, the slight
2:17favoring of his right knee, the
2:18position of his hands, and the
2:20direction from which he had approached
2:22her. Is there a problem, Master
2:25Sergeant? Graves narrowed his eyes. She
2:28had identified his rank immediately. So
2:30, she had military experience.
2:33Nevertheless, she was wearing civilian
2:34clothes and moving unescorted through a
2:36restricted training area. The problem
2:39is that you are in an area where you
2:42don't belong. I know where I am. Then
2:46you also know where the exit is. Graves
2:48stepped closer. His height and broad
2:51stature were tools he had been using
2:53deliberately for years. Most recruits
2:56would lower their gaze if he even
2:58stopped in front of them. Lena did not.
3:01" This is not a museum, "he said." If
3:04you are looking for a souvenir, you
3:06will surely find a nice shirt at the
3:08visitor center. "Again, some soldiers
3:10laughed, quieter this time. Lena looked
3:13past Graves at the formation and then
3:15back at him." I am exactly where I am
3:18supposed to be. "The laughter died down
3:20. Her voice was not loud. That was
3:23precisely why it was effective. There
3:25was no insecurity in it, no attempt to
3:28impress, just a quiet certainty. Graves
3:31tightened his jaw. He had come under
3:34fire abroad, survived several attacks,
3:36and led countless young soldiers
3:38through training that had pushed some
3:40of them to their limits. He was not
3:44used to anyone questioning his
3:46authority, especially not a stranger
3:48without a uniform." Listen here, girl,
3:51"he said, letting each word fall
3:53deliberately slowly." On this base, I
3:55decide who stays and who goes. "
3:58Something changed in Lena's eyes. Not
4:01fear, more like alertness." Girl, "she
4:04repeated." An interesting choice of
4:06words, a fitting choice of words. ""
4:08Turn around and disappear before I have
4:11the military police come and get you. "
4:14A few meters away, Sergeant First Class
4:16Rafael Ortega watched the scene with
4:18growing unease. It was not Lena's face
4:22that bothered him. It was her posture.
4:25Her feet were never completely parallel
4:27. Her weight remained shifting. No one
4:30could get behind her unnoticed. Even
4:32while she looked at Graves, she seemed
4:34to know where every other person in her
4:36vicinity was standing. Ortega knew this
4:39way of standing. He had seen it before.
4:42Years ago, far away from this base, on
4:45a night he was officially never allowed
4:48to speak about. Lena lowered her voice.
4:51" Master Sergeant Graves, I am giving
4:53you an opportunity to end this
4:55conversation differently. "Graves
4:57laughed out loud. Several heads in the
5:00formation turned fully toward them now.
5:03" You are giving me an opportunity. "He
5:05stepped so close to her that his shadow
5:08fell over her face." Then I will give
5:11you one as well. "" Go back to the gate
5:12now. "" If you are still standing here
5:15in half a minute, you will spend the
5:17rest of the day explaining to security
5:19officers why you thought you could
5:21trespass into a restricted military
5:23area. "" Trespass? "Lena raised an
5:26eyebrow slightly." You really believe I
5:29trespassed here? "" Either you are
5:31stupid or you are dangerous. "" Which
5:34option would you prefer? "Graves was
5:36silent for a moment. The question was
5:39not extraordinary. It was the way she
5:41asked it. Lena sounded as if his answer
5:44would actually influence a decision.
5:47I’d prefer they were smart enough to
5:50leave in time. Lena tilted her head
5:52slightly. It is already too late for
5:55that. In the administration building,
5:58Colonel Elias Warren stood at his
5:59office window, watching the training
6:01yard. His coffee had long since gone
6:04cold. An officer from his staff had
6:06informed him about an unknown person in
6:08the secured area. Warren had expected
6:11the guard team to resolve the matter
6:13within a few minutes. Instead, he saw
6:16Graves. And when Graves was involved,
6:18there was always the danger that a
6:20simple question would become a power
6:22struggle. Sir, Captain Daniel Ree
6:24stepped up behind him. We tried to vet
6:28the woman. Warren turned around, and
6:31the system is denying access. Then use
6:34a different database. We tried. The
6:37same result. Every request is being
6:39redirected to a shielded area. Warren
6:42set his cup down. What clearance level?
6:45Ree shook his head. That is exactly
6:47what’s strange. It doesn’t even
6:50show us what level would be required.
6:52Just that my authorization is not
6:54sufficient. For a captain, that was
6:56unusual. For an ordinary visitor, it
6:59was nearly impossible. Keep trying,
7:02Warren said, and connect me to the
7:05operations center. Outside, Graves had
7:08lost his patience. He couldn’t simply
7:10ignore Lena. Too many of his men were
7:12watching. In his mind, every step back
7:15meant a loss of authority. Last warning
7:19. And if I don’t leave, I’ll escort
7:21you out personally. Lena looked at him
7:24for a few seconds. You can try. Graves
7:27’ face hardened. I would advise
7:30against it. Why? Because it won’t
7:33work. It wasn’t bragging. Lena said
7:35it just the way someone would say it
7:38was raining. Staff Sergeant Mason Rork
7:41stepped out of formation. He was Graves
7:44’ closest confidant on the training
7:46grounds and had built a reputation over
7:48the years. Where Graves got loud, Rork
7:51got quiet. And when someone caused
7:54problems, Rork was often the one who
7:56made them disappear. What’s going on?
7:59he asked. Unauthorized civilian, Graves
8:03replied. No identification, no
8:05cooperation. Rork walked slowly to the
8:09left, trying to flank Lena. She
8:12didn’t look at him. Staff Sergeant,
8:14she said. If you want to try to get
8:17behind me, you should learn to walk
8:19less obviously first. Rork stopped.
8:23Some soldiers grinned. Besides, Lena
8:26added, don’t look at your left boot.
8:29Rork looked down instinctively. Nothing
8:31was there. When he looked up again,
8:33Lena was no longer smiling. She had
8:35merely been testing his reaction time."
8:38Very funny, "he muttered. I wasn't
8:40trying to be funny. Graves crossed his
8:42arms. Why are you here? To determine if
8:45the security of this base is truly as
8:48poor as the reports claim. Graves’
8:51face changed. Security was his area of
8:54responsibility. Which reports? For
8:58instance, those about the unstable
9:00radio tech in your western comms sector
9:02, or the outer fence sensors, which are
9:04months overdue for calibration, or the
9:06security clearances of several soldiers
9:09that should have been processed long
9:11ago. No one was laughing anymore.
9:14Graves stared at her. This information
9:17wasn't public. Parts of it were only
9:20known within the leadership. How do you
9:22know about that? His voice was much
9:24quieter now. The more important
9:26question is why these vulnerabilities
9:29still exist. Who are you? Someone who
9:32knows that information never stays just
9:34with the people who are supposed to
9:36have it. Ortega stepped out of
9:39formation. Master Sergeant, permission
9:42to speak. Not now, sir. I believe this
9:45is important. Graves looked at him,
9:47irritated. Then speak. Ortega looked
9:50toward Lena. His face had lost all its
9:53color. I think I’ve seen her before.
9:57Lena turned to him. For the first time,
9:59her expression showed a barely
10:01noticeable reaction. Where? Graves
10:04asked. Ortega took a slow breath. Karim
10:07Valley, 2023. Lena’s expression
10:10returned to complete neutrality. You
10:12are mistaking me for someone else. No.
10:14Ortega shook his head. Our unit was
10:17stuck in an abandoned industrial
10:19complex back then. Several wounded. No
10:22working connection. The evacuation was
10:25hours away. A few soldiers in the line
10:28looked at one another. Many only knew
10:30the operation as a rumor. Ortega had
10:33never talked about it. Then someone
10:35arrived, he continued, a woman, small,
10:39dark clothing, no visible unit. She
10:42moved through the grounds as if she had
10:44seen every corner before. Graves rolled
10:47his eyes. Ortega, she opened a path for
10:50us. She knew about a communication
10:53frequency that none of us knew. Shortly
10:56after, our evacuation was confirmed.
10:58His voice became raspier. Three men
11:01would have died there. Maybe more. He
11:03looked directly at Lena. I only saw her
11:06face for seconds back then, but I still
11:08remember how she stood, exactly like
11:10she is now. Lena said nothing. That was
11:14you, Ortega said. I would bet my life
11:17on it. For the first time, Graves’
11:19certainty began to crumble. Ortega was
11:21no storyteller. He was one of the most
11:24reliable men in his unit. Yet pride
11:26survives even where reason has already
11:29begun to doubt." It doesn't matter who
11:32she supposedly was once, "Graves said."
11:35Today, she is standing in a restricted
11:36area without any clear authorization. "
11:38Rorke nodded." Should I take her with
11:41me? "" Not yet. "Graves looked at Lena.
11:44" You have a few seconds to leave on
11:46your own. "Lena exhaled audibly, not
11:49out of fear, but rather disappointment.
11:51" You are on the verge of making a
11:54mistake you cannot take back. "" My
11:56mistake was listening to you for this
11:58long in the first place. "" No, your
12:00mistake was believing, within the first
12:03few seconds, "" that you knew who I am.
12:05"Graves reached for her arm. What
12:08happened next, many of the soldiers
12:10only understood once it was already
12:12over. Lena did not hit him; she did not
12:15jump back. She simply moved her body
12:17out of his line, caught his wrist for a
12:19fleeting moment, and used the force of
12:21his own momentum. Graves stumbled two
12:25steps past her. He managed to stay on
12:27his feet only with effort. A murmur
12:29went through the formation. His face
12:32turned dark red." What was that for? ""
12:34A warning. "Lena stood just as calmly
12:37as before." Do not touch me. "Rorke
12:40stepped forward. His shoulders had
12:42changed position. Observation turned
12:44into readiness." You just assaulted a
12:46superior non-commissioned officer. ""
12:49No, I prevented him from holding me
12:51against my will. "" He is unhurt. "Her
12:54gaze wandered to Graves." His only
12:56problem is his pride. "" You think you
12:59humiliated me? "" No, you did that all
13:02by yourself. "Graves took a step toward
13:05her. Lena stood her ground." If you
13:08take another step now, "she said," this
13:10morning could be the end of your career
13:12. "" My career is not your concern. ""
13:15In a few minutes, it could be part of
13:16my report. "Graves hesitated." What
13:19report? "" The report of an officially
13:22mandated security audit. "Those words
13:24changed the atmosphere. Rorke glanced
13:27briefly at Graves." You claim to be an
13:29auditor. "" I claim nothing. "" Then
13:32show your documents. "" An unannounced
13:35inspection loses its purpose if
13:37everyone involved knows who is
13:38conducting it beforehand. "At that
13:40moment, Colonel Warren walked across
13:42the courtyard. Immediately, several
13:44soldiers straightened up. Graves stood
13:46at attention." Sir, "Warren looked at
13:49him, then at Lena, then Rorke, and
13:51finally Ortega." Explain to me what is
13:54happening here. "Graves answered
13:55immediately." Unknown civilian in a
13:58restricted area. "" Refuses to verify
14:00her identity or leave the premises. "
14:03Lena looked at Warren." I am not here
14:06unauthorized. "" I was not informed of
14:08any visitors. "" That was intentional.
14:11"Warren knit his brows." By whom was
14:13your access authorized? "" By a level
14:15above your chain of command. "A few
14:18soldiers exchanged glances. Graves
14:20snorted. That’s absurd. Lena ignored
14:24him. The point of my visit is to
14:27observe reactions before anyone has
14:29time to prepare them. What reactions?
14:33Warren asked. Handling unknown persons,
14:36verifying credentials, leadership
14:39behavior, adherence to security
14:41protocols. She let her gaze drift
14:43briefly across the courtyard. The
14:45results so far are problematic. Warren
14:48felt his stomach tighten. He had heard
14:51of such inspections. Rare, unannounced,
14:54and usually with consequences. Do you
14:56have any identification? Yes, then show
14:59it to me in private. Graves stepped
15:02half a pace forward. Sir, anyone could
15:05claim that. She could be gathering
15:07information. She knows details of our
15:09infrastructure. Perhaps she is an agent
15:12. For the first time, Lena showed a
15:14hint of humor. A few minutes ago, I was
15:17just a tourist. Now I am already an
15:19enemy agent. That’s an impressive
15:22rise. This is no joke." No, "said Lena.
15:26" It really isn't. "She turned to
15:29Warren. Your Master Sergeant
15:32categorized me based on my age, gender,
15:34height, and appearance before he even
15:37tried to verify my presence through the
15:40gate. Precisely that kind of assumption
15:43is a security vulnerability. Warren
15:45looked at Graves. He knew the criticism
15:47was not entirely unfounded. Complaints
15:50about his methods had been on his desk
15:52for months. Master Sergeant, sir, I
15:55approached an unknown person in a
15:58restricted area. You insulted me,
16:00threatened me, and tried to physically
16:03remove me, Lena added. That is not part
16:06of a professional identity check.
16:08Warren winced almost imperceptibly. We
16:11will continue this conversation in my
16:12office. Gladly. Lena took a step, but
16:16stopped suddenly. There’s something
16:18else first. She didn’t turn toward
16:20Rock. Staff Sergeant Rock. Would you
16:23like to explain to Colonel Warren why
16:25you have been signaling three soldiers
16:27for several minutes? Rock froze. Graves
16:30looked at him. What? Lena continued to
16:33speak calmly. Private Jordan, Corporal
16:36Amit Shaw, and Sergeant Colin Mercer
16:38have been standing differently for
16:40about a minute. Weight forward, hands
16:44free, increased spacing. All three are
16:46waiting for a signal. Three men in the
16:49formation visibly stiffened. Ortega
16:52felt the hair on the back of his neck
16:54stand up. Rock had indeed tried to
16:57prepare a group." That is a serious
17:00accusation, "said Warren." Then ask the
17:04three men. "None of them said a word. I
17:06am willing to leave it at that, added
17:09Lena, if from this moment on, no one
17:12tries to surround me or touch me.
17:14Rock’s jaw worked. No one had read
17:17him this thoroughly in years. Colonel,
17:20he finally said, I strongly recommend
17:22detaining this person until identity
17:25verification. She possesses classified
17:27information. That alone presents a
17:29significant risk. Or, Lena countered.
17:33It confirms exactly the mission I
17:35mentioned to you earlier. The radio on
17:38Warren’s belt crackled. A voice from
17:40the operations center became audible.
17:43Colonel Warren, this is central command
17:45. Feedback on the requested background
17:47check. Our inquiry was met with a
17:50nationwide security block. The file can
17:53only be opened with authorization from
17:55a general officer. The courtyard fell
17:57completely silent. Everyone had heard
17:59the report. Graves’s face suddenly
18:02lost all color. RER stopped moving
18:04entirely. Warren grabbed the radio.
18:07Understood. No further queries without
18:09my instruction. He let it drop and now
18:12looked at Lena with a focus that had
18:14been missing before. A block at this
18:17level meant her identity wasn't just
18:19protected; it had been shielded so that
18:22ordinary chains of command wouldn't
18:24even know who she was. We’re going to
18:27my office. Warren said. Immediately.
18:30Lena nodded. Then she looked at Graves
18:32one more time. Before we go, there is
18:34one thing you should understand. He
18:37remained silent. When you mocked my
18:39rank, you didn't know that I earned my
18:42commission where mission reports
18:45contain no place names. I have led
18:48teams whose missions officially never
18:50existed. I have made decisions where
18:54seconds determined who returned home.
18:57Graves opened his mouth, but this time,
19:00no answer came. But my rank is not your
19:03biggest problem today. Lena looked over
19:06the rows of soldiers. I was sent here
19:08because someone believed Ford Ashford
19:11had a security issue. What I have seen
19:14in less than an hour points to
19:16something much worse. Her gaze shifted
19:19briefly to Worke, just for a moment,
19:22but Ortega saw it, and so did Work.
19:24Before this day is over, Lena said.
19:27some people will understand why it is
19:29dangerous to underestimate the quietest
19:32person in the room. Then she walked
19:34alongside Colonel Warren toward the
19:35administration building. Behind them,
19:37more than 150 soldiers stood silently
19:39in the square. Graves did not move.
19:42Ortega watched Lena, as if a ghost from
19:45his past had just come to life. Only
19:48Rued was already thinking several steps
19:51ahead, for if Lena was truly the woman
19:53Ortega thought she was, her appearance
19:55was no coincidence. And if she knew
19:58what he suspected, he might have very
20:00little time left. Colonel Warren closed
20:03the door to his office. As soon as the
20:05lock clicked, the controlled calm
20:08vanished from his face." Captain
20:10Akiyama, "he said slowly, after
20:12checking her verified identification. I
20:15need a clear explanation now. Lena
20:17stood in front of his desk. You have a
20:20problem at this base. You mentioned
20:23that several times outside. I'm not
20:24talking about Graves. Warren sat down.
20:27Then what are you talking about? Lena
20:28placed a slim black card on the table.
20:32Not a standard service ID, just a name,
20:34rank, an encrypted identification code,
20:37and a seal Warren only knew from highly
20:39classified documents. For at least
20:42eighteen months, internal information
20:44has been leaking from this base. Warren
20:47stared at her. What kind of information
20:49? Mission preparations, communication
20:53plans, personnel movements, transport
20:56windows, parts of mission profiles.
20:59Warren leaned back slowly. You're
21:02claiming we have a spy. I'm saying a
21:05confirmed information leak exists.
21:09Confirmed by whom? By a joint
21:11investigative task force from military
21:13intelligence and a federal security
21:16agency. Warren fell silent. Lena gave
21:18him a few seconds." Data has been
21:21tracked for months, "she said. We don't
21:24know the exact person, but we know the
21:26source has access to multiple areas of
21:28this base; that’s why I’m walking
21:30around in training gear, because an
21:31announced investigation wouldn't have
21:33achieved anything. You could have
21:36searched offices, communication logs,
21:39accounts. That is already happening.
21:41Warren looked up. Then why are you here
21:44? Lena sat down for the first time.
21:47People change their behavior when
21:49something unexpected enters their
21:51environment. Especially people who have
21:54something to hide. I wanted to see who
21:57gets curious, who reacts aggressively,
22:00who tries to monitor me, who wants to
22:03dig up info on me, and above all, who
22:06tries to remove me from an area before
22:08they even know why I'm here. Warren
22:12thought of Graves. You suspect him. No.
22:15The answer came instantly. Graves is
22:18arrogant. He reacts impulsively. He
22:21believes his experience is a substitute
22:23for careful vetting. But his reactions
22:25were genuine. Genuine? He was truly
22:29convinced that I didn't belong here. He
22:32wanted to defend his authority. That
22:35makes him a poor first contact for a
22:37sensitive security area, but not our
22:39source. Warren placed his hands on the
22:42table. Who then? Lena was silent for a
22:45moment. I have a candidate. Behind the
22:48closed door, Mason Rock moved silently
22:50away from the hallway. He hadn't heard
22:53every word, but enough. Information
22:56leak. Investigative task force,
22:58eighteen months. Candidate. His heart
23:01suddenly beat faster, even though his
23:03face remained completely calm. So they
23:06knew about it. Maybe not everything.
23:08Maybe they didn't have a name yet. But
23:10they had sent a person who wasn't
23:12operating like an ordinary investigator
23:14. That was exactly what made Lena
23:16dangerous. You could keep an eye on a
23:18standard investigation. You could make
23:21files disappear, alter access logs, and
23:23prep stories. Lena observed people, and
23:27people were harder to manipulate than
23:29computers. Rurke walked on without
23:32turning around. Possibilities took
23:34shape in his mind. He could leave Fort
23:37Ashford. Immediately. But running away
23:40would be a confession. Besides, the
23:42people he worked for wouldn't see a man
23:45who suddenly vanished as a former
23:47partner. They would view him as a
23:50liability. He could try to destroy all
23:53traces. But for that, he needed access
23:56to systems that might already be
23:58monitored. Or he could solve the
24:00problem at the source. Lena Akiyama had
24:03to disappear before she turned
24:04suspicion into proof. Rurke reached the
24:07stairwell, stood in the shadows for a
24:09moment, and pulled out his phone. Not
24:12an ordinary work device. A small second
24:15phone, whose existence no one on the
24:17base knew about. He didn't type a
24:20message, not yet. Instead, he stared at
24:23the dark display and thought of the
24:25woman who had anticipated every move
24:27outside in just a few minutes. She was
24:30hard to intimidate, likely impossible
24:32to surprise. And if Ortega’s story
24:35was true, she was far more dangerous
24:37than her appearance suggested. Rook put
24:40the phone away again. He didn't need an
24:43impulsive plan. He needed a perfect one
24:45. Because since Lena Akiyama had walked
24:48through the gate of Fort Ashford, the
24:50situation had changed. For the first
24:53time in a year and a half, he wasn't
24:55the one watching from the shadows
24:57anymore. Now someone was watching him.
24:59Mason Rock stopped in the stairwell
25:01until the footsteps behind the office
25:03door had faded. In his mind, the
25:05situation had already changed. Just an
25:09hour ago, Lena Akiyama had been nothing
25:11but a stranger who happened to turn up
25:13at his base. Now he knew she was part
25:17of an investigation. Even worse was the
25:19fact that she was probably already
25:21closer to him than he would have liked.
25:24He pulled the small phone from his
25:25jacket's inner pocket. This device
25:28didn't exist on any inventory list. No
25:31official registration, no link to his
25:34name, no contacts saved. He knew the
25:37only number he needed by heart. His
25:40fingers moved quickly over the display.
25:43Federal agency on-site, investigation
25:45underway. Risk of discovery, need
25:48instructions. He sent the encrypted
25:50message and waited. The reply came
25:52almost immediately. Contain or
25:55eliminate. The decision is yours. No
25:57traces. Ru read the words twice. Then a
26:01thin smile appeared on his face. He had
26:03never liked complicated solutions. In
26:06Colonel Warren's office, a small device
26:08in Lena's pocket vibrated at the same
26:09time. She took it out, scanned the
26:12message, and slowly looked up. Warren
26:15noticed the change in her expression.
26:18What happened? Lena stood up. We have
26:21confirmation. Of what? A few seconds
26:25ago, an unauthorized encrypted
26:27connection was established nearby to a
26:29known foreign intelligence contact.
26:33Warren turned pale. You can detect
26:35connections like that here? That is
26:37exactly why I am here. Lena walked to
26:39the window and looked out at the
26:41training yard. We don't monitor every
26:43soldier. We monitor specific
26:45communication patterns, frequencies,
26:47and known recipients. Where did the
26:49message come from? Inside this building
26:52or right next to it? Warren
26:54instinctively reached for his radio.
26:56Lena raised her hand. Don't. If the
26:59transmitter is still here, locking down
27:02the building tells them we've found
27:04them. What do you suggest? We let them
27:07think they still have time. Warren
27:09clearly didn't like the idea. You want
27:11to let the traitor roam free. I want to
27:14see what they do when they think the
27:16net is slowly closing in. Lena turned
27:19back to him. Keep the daily schedule
27:22running as if nothing happened. Exactly
27:25. And you? I keep playing the external
27:28auditor, checking off forms and showing
27:30interest in training. And if he tries
27:33to stop you, Lena's gaze turned cold.
27:36Then he makes our job easier. A short
27:39while later, the unit was back on the
27:40training grounds. Nolan Graves had
27:42regained his composure, at least on the
27:45surface. His voice was controlled, his
27:47posture rigid again. But every time
27:51Lena moved, his eyes followed her."
27:54Today is the physical performance test,
27:56"he shouted across the field.
27:58Long-distance running, pull-ups, and
28:00then combat swimming with gear. Some
28:03soldiers looked over at Lena. Graves
28:05noticed it. Since our visitor seems to
28:08have great interest in our training,
28:10she is welcome to join. The challenge
28:13was not subtle. Graves wanted to test
28:15her in front of the unit. Perhaps he
28:18still hoped she was just a woman from
28:20an office hiding behind security
28:23clearances." I'll join, "said Lena. A
28:26murmur ran through the formation.
28:29Rafael Ortega stepped closer to her.
28:31Ma'am, you don't have to prove anything
28:33to these people. Lena glanced at him
28:35briefly. I'm not. Then why? Because I
28:40want to know if I'm still as good as I
28:42need to be. Ortega understood that any
28:45further discussion was futile. The run
28:48began a few minutes later. Graves set
28:51the pace himself, making it clear from
28:53the start that this wasn't a standard
28:55training session. He ran faster than
28:58was necessary for a standard test. The
29:01first soldiers were already falling
29:03behind after just a few kilometers.
29:05Lena stayed in the leading group. Her
29:07running style seemed unspectacular. No
29:10exaggerated force, no frantic movements
29:13, no visible struggle against the speed
29:16. Every step seemed to be exactly as
29:18long as it needed to be. Her breathing
29:21remained calm. She wasted no energy.
29:25Years of deployments had accustomed her
29:27body to maintaining performance not for
29:30minutes, but for hours. She remembered
29:33paths through mountains where every
29:35breath was painful, nights in desert
29:37regions where she had to keep going
29:39with heavy gear even though her legs
29:41had long been numb. Missions where
29:45stopping would not have meant recovery,
29:47but death. When Graves looked back
29:50after about a third of the way, he
29:53expected to see her further behind.
29:55Instead, Lena was running just a few
29:57steps behind him." Not bad for someone
29:59from an office, "he shouted." Not bad
30:03for a man who likes to talk, "she
30:05replied. Several soldiers laughed.
30:08Graves did not speed up. She simply
30:12maintained her pace. Little by little,
30:14one runner after another disappeared
30:15from the leading group. Eventually,
30:17only a handful of men were left. Their
30:20shoulders were tense, their breathing
30:22loud, each step becoming heavier. Lena
30:25also looked strained, but not exhausted
30:28. Then she began to slowly pick up
30:30speed. Not suddenly, not dramatically.
30:33She simply moved forward. First past
30:36one soldier, then the next. Finally,
30:39she reached Graves. For a few seconds,
30:41they ran side by side. He looked at her
30:43, she looked straight ahead. Then she
30:46pulled ahead. Graves tried to react,
30:48but his body had already spent too much
30:51energy. Lena reached the finish line
30:54well ahead of the rest of the group.
30:56She stopped, walked a few more steps,
30:58controlled her breathing, and turned
31:01back. No victory pose, no smile. Graves
31:04crossed the finish line shortly after.
31:06His face was flushed." Pull-up bar, "he
31:09said between breaths. Lena walked to
31:12the bar without a word. Her hands
31:14closed around the metal. She began. One
31:17repetition. Then the next. Every
31:20movement was clean. Arms fully extended
31:23at the bottom, chin clearly over the
31:25bar at the top. No swinging, no dodging
31:29. After ten repetitions, several
31:30soldiers were already standing around
31:32the station. After fifteen, the
31:34conversation on the field had died down
31:36. After twenty, Graves didn't look
31:39angry anymore, just thoughtful. Lena
31:41did a few more repetitions and then
31:43dropped to the ground in a controlled
31:46manner. Ortega raised an eyebrow. He
31:49knew she could have kept going. Lena
31:52looked at Graves." Swimming? "Graves
31:54nodded slowly." The pool is behind the
31:57training hall. "Combat swimming was the
32:00most dreaded part of the test for many.
32:03Heavy clothing, extra gear, and cold
32:05water turned even a few hundred meters
32:08into a burden that could send
32:09inexperienced candidates into a panic.
32:13Lena put on the provided gear and
32:15stepped to the edge of the pool. When
32:17the signal came, she slid into the
32:19water. Her movement changed instantly.
32:22Everything went quiet. Her swimming
32:25style resembled techniques used in
32:27specialized maritime units. Long
32:30strokes, hardly any unnecessary motion.
32:33Her body stayed flat. The gear bothered
32:35her noticeably less than expected. She
32:38didn't fight the water. She worked with
32:40it. As Lena finished the required
32:43distance and climbed out of the pool,
32:45the place was silent. Water ran over
32:47her clothes and dripped onto the
32:48concrete. More than 150 soldiers were
32:51watching her. Graves walked slowly
32:53toward her. This time, he stopped at a
32:56respectful distance. Captain Akiyama.
32:59It was the first time he said her rank
33:01without a sneer. Where did you serve?
33:04Lena brushed her wet hair out of her
33:06face. In places that were mostly just
33:09coordinates in reports. Abroad, often.
33:12Special forces. Lena looked at him."
33:15Not in the way you mean. "Graves waited
33:18." There are missions, "she said
33:20finally," where a uniform reveals more
33:23than it protects. Missions where
33:25support poses a risk. If something goes
33:28wrong, no big rescue operation comes.
33:31You finish the job, or you disappear. "
33:34Ortega stepped out of the group." I
33:36tried to tell you. "Graves looked at
33:39him. Ortega nodded toward Lena." I
33:42didn't know her name back then, but I
33:45know that way of moving. Our team
33:48wouldn't have made it back without
33:50someone like you. "Graves was silent
33:52for a long time, then he lowered his
33:53gaze. Captain, I owe you an apology.
33:57Lena shook her head. Not to me. Graves
33:59looked up again. Then to whom? To
34:02yourself. What is that supposed to mean
34:04? Ask yourself why you decided that a
34:07person doesn't deserve respect before
34:09you even knew who they were? Graves
34:12breathed out slowly. I've been in this
34:14business for a very long time. People
34:16constantly show up at bases who don't
34:18belong there. And most of the time,
34:21your instincts might be right. Lena
34:23took a step closer. The problem arises
34:27on the one day you're wrong. Graves did
34:30not answer. For the first time since
34:32her arrival, he seemed to actually be
34:34listening. At the edge of the grounds,
34:37Mason Rock watched the scene. His
34:39second phone felt heavy in his pocket.
34:41Contain or eliminate. The decision had
34:44been made long ago. Damaging her
34:46reputation wouldn't be enough. Lena was
34:49physically too competent, too well
34:51protected, and clearly linked to an
34:53agency that already knew parts of his
34:55network. He had to choose a place where
34:58he controlled the environment. The
35:00supply depot next to the old weapon
35:02workshop was ideal. Thick walls, few
35:05personnel, cameras whose circuits he
35:08recognized. A local jammer would block
35:11radio traffic, and if anything went
35:13wrong, it could be passed off as a
35:15training accident. R was looking for
35:18three men who had helped him in the
35:20past without asking many questions.
35:22Jordan Wale, Emid Shaw, Colin Mercer—
35:25men who owed him favors and viewed him
35:27as someone who had saved them from
35:29disciplinary consequences multiple
35:31times. He gave a barely visible hand
35:35signal. Lena noticed it. She was still
35:38standing by the pool, but her gaze had
35:40been following R ever since the
35:41suspicious radio signal. Every movement
35:44he made became part of a pattern. Who
35:46was he talking to? Who was he looking
35:48at? What routes did he take? Which
35:51doors did he use? She was almost
35:53certain by now, but almost certain
35:55wasn't enough. Not for an espionage
35:57charge, not for a trial that had to
36:00hold up for years. She needed proof. R
36:03would approach the three soldiers in
36:06half an hour at the supply depot. Wale
36:08frowned. What’s this about? A
36:11security matter? What kind? Rook looked
36:14at him firmly. The kind you don’t
36:17talk about in an open area. Shaw
36:19exchanged a look with Mercer. Is this
36:21official? If it were official, I
36:24wouldn't be doing it this way. Staff
36:26Sergeant, that doesn't sound very
36:28reassuring. Rook's voice lowered. This
36:31woman is not what she claims to be. She
36:34knows information she shouldn't know.
36:37If we just let her continue, she could
36:39endanger the entire unit. Wale was
36:42silent. You’ve trusted me before,
36:44said Rook. Trust me now. After a short
36:48hesitation, the three nodded. Fine,
36:50said Wale. Then no more questions out
36:52here. Lena watched as they parted ways.
36:56A little later, she approached Colonel
36:58Warren. I need your trust for the next
37:01hour. Warren looked at her, alarmed. In
37:03what regard? Rook is planning something
37:06. Are you sure? Not enough for a court
37:10yet. He’s been in this unit for years
37:12. A clean record just proves that
37:15nobody has found the right dirt. Warren
37:18looked at Rook, who was disappearing at
37:20the other end of the compound. What are
37:21you going to do? I’m going to give
37:24him the opportunity to make a mistake.
37:25I don’t like that. Neither do I. Then
37:28take people with you. If I’m visibly
37:30accompanied, nothing will happen.
37:32He’ll pull back, delete data, and
37:34warn his contacts. And you want to go
37:37in alone? Yes. Warren immediately shook
37:39his head. No. Lena remained calm.
37:42Colonel, if he is the man we’re
37:44looking for, he believes his existence
37:47is being dismantled right now. People
37:49in this position don't make small
37:51mistakes. They act. That is exactly why
37:53I won’t let them go alone. You will
37:55have a rapid response team ready.
37:58Invisible. If I haven’t checked in
38:00after an hour and a half at the latest,
38:02send them to the supply depot. An hour
38:05and a half is too long, make it less.
38:08Warren looked at her for a long time.
38:10Every instinct from his military
38:12training told him the plan was
38:14irresponsible. But that same instinct
38:17also told him that Lena wasn’t
38:19improvising. You get a limited time
38:22window. Lena nodded. That’s all I
38:25need. She crossed the base alone. The
38:28closer she got to the supply depot, the
38:30quieter the surroundings became. The
38:32noises from the training yard were now
38:34behind her. Her perception sharpened. A
38:37truck engine in the distance, a loose
38:40sheet of metal vibrating in the wind,
38:42footsteps somewhere behind a concrete
38:44wall. None of it was unimportant.
38:47Inside the building, Rourke pulled the
38:49plug on the main cameras. Then he
38:51activated a portable jammer. Indicator
38:54lights flickered on. Radio and standard
38:58mobile communication would barely
38:59function in this part of the building
39:01anymore. Wale looked at the device
39:03skeptically. Why do we need this? So
39:06she can’t warn anyone outside. I
39:08thought we were just supposed to detain
39:10her. Rourke turned to him. We don't
39:13know the extent of the threat yet.
39:15Mercer swallowed. She didn’t seem
39:17like a threat out there. That is
39:19exactly the point of good cover. Rett
39:22stepped closer. Listen to me. This
39:24woman gained access to a military base,
39:27possesses knowledge of secret systems,
39:29and claims no one is allowed to verify
39:32her identity. If we are wrong, it will
39:35be cleared up. If we are right and do
39:37nothing, people could die. Shaw didn't
39:40look convinced. Did Colonel Warren
39:43order this? For a moment, Rourke said
39:45nothing, then footsteps were heard
39:47outside the door. He raised his head.
39:50She’s here. Lena opened the heavy
39:52door of the supply depot and stepped
39:54inside. The door clicked shut behind
39:56her. The room was nearly dark. Only
39:59thin slivers of light filtered through
40:01high windows. Her eyes needed almost no
40:04time to adjust. Four silhouettes.
40:07Rourke stood a few meters away. Veale
40:10on the left, Shaw on the right. Mercer
40:12behind her near the door. Rourke was
40:14holding a pistol. The barrel was still
40:17pointed toward the floor. Welcome,
40:19Captain Akiyama. His voice echoed
40:21between the concrete walls. I was
40:24hoping we would still have an
40:25opportunity for a private conversation.
40:27Lena stood still. So was I. Rourke
40:30raised his eyebrows slightly. You knew
40:32I was here? Since your message outside
40:35Warren's office, I knew you would make
40:37a mistake eventually. His expression
40:39changed. What message? The encrypted
40:43connection to your contact. Veale
40:45looked at Rook. Lena continued. Your
40:48encryption was better than your radio
40:49discipline. You're bluffing. Then I
40:52suppose I shouldn't know that payments
40:54were made to an account outside the
40:56country. Rook's gaze turned cold. You
40:58don't know anything. I know that over a
41:01period of more than a year, a sum of
41:03several hundred thousand dollars was
41:05moved to accounts held by shell
41:07companies. I know that internal
41:10documents were photographed and passed
41:13on via a dead drop system. And I know
41:16that this system has been monitored for
41:18months. The three soldiers were no
41:21longer looking at Lena; they were
41:23looking at Rook." She's lying, "he said
41:25immediately. That's exactly what she's
41:27trained to do. Lena didn't take her
41:29eyes off him. Corporal Veale, ask
41:32yourself a simple question. Why are you
41:35in a sealed-off building with the
41:37cameras disabled and the radio
41:39frequencies jammed, if this were a
41:41legitimate security measure? Veale
41:44looked at the jammer. Staff Sergeant,
41:47don't listen to her. Why are the
41:50cameras off? Shan asked," So that no
41:52one from the outside can interfere with
41:54an ongoing security operation. "What
41:56security operation? The one preventing
42:00a hostile agent from disappearing with
42:03our data. Lena spoke calmly:" My
42:05mission authorization comes from the
42:07Department of Defense. "My objective is
42:10to identify the source of a data leak
42:13that has compromised several operations
42:15. Mercer frowned. What operations?
42:21Operations where people died after
42:24secret information left this base. Rook
42:28raised his voice. She's making this up.
42:30Lena glanced briefly at Mercer. A
42:32contact in the Middle East was
42:34discovered after his meeting point
42:36appeared in intercepted planning data.
42:40An undercover operative in East Asia
42:42disappeared after information about her
42:45alias was leaked. Another informant was
42:48found dead in an apartment in Eastern
42:50Europe after the location of his safe
42:53house was compromised. Silence filled
42:56the room." More people died later under
42:59similar circumstances, "Lena said.
43:01Every lead pointed back to information
43:04someone here had access to. Shan
43:06lowered his weapon a few inches. Staff
43:09Sergeant, is any of this true? No. But
43:12Rook's voice had lost its earlier
43:14conviction. She is a professional
43:17manipulator." Then why did you bring us
43:20here? "Veale asked." Because she is a
43:22threat. "" Why without Colonel Warren?
43:25"" Because Warren has already been
43:27influenced by her. "Mercer slowly shook
43:29his head. That doesn't make any sense.
43:31Rook's gaze darted back and forth
43:33between the three men. He was losing
43:35control. Lena saw it too." What really
43:39matters to them, "she said," isn't this
43:42unit. "" It's their money, their
43:44freedom, and whether their employers
43:47will protect them when it all falls
43:49apart. "Rourke's hand tightened around
43:52the pistol. They talk too much and
43:54they’ve believed for too long that no
43:56one was listening. Slowly, Rourke
43:58raised the weapon. Now the barrel was
44:00pointed at Lena's chest. Wale stepped
44:02forward immediately. Staff. Sergeant,
44:05don't do it. Stand back. We can't shoot
44:08a federal agent. She isn't a federal
44:10agent. Then let us verify that.
44:13There’s no time for that. Why not?
44:15Wale asked. If she’s lying, we can
44:18detain her and get Warren. Rourke
44:20turned his head toward him. You don't
44:22understand what’s at stake here. Then
44:24explain it. I don’t have to explain
44:27anything to you. Wale now stood half
44:29between Rourke and Lena. Yes, you do,
44:32if you want us to go along with this.
44:35For a moment, something cracked on
44:37Rourke's face. His controlled facade
44:40vanished. Anger took its place. He
44:43swung the pistol from Lena to Wale.
44:45That was exactly what Lena had been
44:46waiting for. Her movement was so fast
44:48that none of the three soldiers
44:50immediately understood what had
44:52happened. She closed the distance
44:54before Rourke could stabilize his aim.
44:57Her left hand pushed his weapon arm out
44:59of the line of fire. At the same time,
45:01her right hand struck a pressure point
45:04on his forearm. Rourke's fingers opened
45:06reflexively. Lena wrenched the weapon
45:08from him, spun behind his shoulder, and
45:10brought him to the ground using his own
45:12momentum. A few seconds later, Rourke
45:14was lying face down on the concrete.
45:17His arm was pinned behind his back. The
45:20pistol was in Lena's hand. She removed
45:22the magazine, engaged the safety, and
45:25slid it out of reach. Shan stared at
45:27her. What the hell was that? Lena
45:30increased the pressure on Rourke's arm.
45:33That was your Staff Sergeant, who just
45:36tried to threaten one of his own men
45:38with a loaded weapon. She looked at the
45:41three soldiers. What happens next
45:44depends on the decision you make right
45:46now. Wale immediately raised both hands
45:49away from his weapon. Ma'am, we didn't
45:51know what he was planning. I know. He
45:54said you were a hostile agent. I know
45:58that, too. Shan looked down at Rourke.
46:01Is it actually true? Have you been
46:03selling information? Rourke gritted his
46:06teeth. She’s manipulated you all.
46:08Then explain the account, said Lena.
46:11Explain the encrypted transmissions.
46:14Explain exactly why the documents you
46:16had later appeared in intercepted
46:19communication channels. Rurke laughed
46:22bitterly. You can't prove any of that.
46:26I can. With her free hand, Lena pulled
46:28a small device from an inside pocket.
46:31Since I entered this building, every
46:33word has been secured, recorded, and
46:35transmitted to a protected server.
46:37Rurke's face turned pale. That’s
46:40inadmissible. Not with a
46:43court-authorized surveillance warrant
46:45for espionage. He suddenly went quiet.
46:48You’ve had a warrant for months. Why
46:51didn't you arrest me sooner, then?
46:54Because we didn't just want you. Lena
46:56leaned a little closer to him. We want
46:59every contact, every middleman, and
47:02every person you recruited. Rurke’s
47:05resistance faded. He now understood
47:07that the trap had been set long before
47:10Lena’s arrival. Her presence at the
47:12base had merely increased the pressure
47:14until he himself made the mistake the
47:16investigators needed." Wail, "said Lena
47:20," secure him. "The corporal reacted
47:22immediately. He pulled plastic
47:25restraints from his gear and knelt
47:27beside Rurke. Shan and Mercer kept
47:30their distance." What will happen to us
47:32? "asked Mercer. Lena looked at him.
47:36You came here because a superior told
47:38you there was a threat to national
47:41security. But we should have asked
47:43questions sooner. Yes, her answer was
47:45clear. You should have. Wail looked at
47:48her, surprised. Lena continued. What
47:52matters, however, is what you did when
47:54his story no longer added up. You
47:57hesitated, you asked questions, and
47:59when he drew a weapon on one of your
48:02own, you didn't side with him. Mercer
48:05reached for his radio. Just static.
48:08Communication is dead. Lena pointed to
48:10the jamming device. Rurke. She walked
48:14over, opened the casing, and examined
48:16the wiring. Within moments, she found
48:18the main power supply and disconnected
48:21a vital lead. The indicator lights went
48:23dark. Try it now. Mercer keyed his
48:26radio. Colonel Warren, this is Private
48:28Mercer. Urgent situation at the supply
48:31depot. For seconds there was silence,
48:33then Warren’s voice came through.
48:35Speak, Mercer swallowed. Staff Sergeant
48:38Rurke has been disarmed and secured.
48:40Captain Akiyama is in control. We
48:42require military police and command
48:45staff. There was a moment of silence on
48:47the other end. Repeat, Rurke is secured
48:51. Captain Akiyama unharmed. Situation
48:54under control. Warren’s voice became
48:56sharp. All available forces to the
48:59supply depot. Military police take the
49:02lead. No one leaves the building. Lena
49:04stepped back toward Rurke. He lay still
49:06on the floor. His face was turned to
49:09the side." You have no idea what you've
49:12unleashed, "he said." The people I
49:15worked for don't leave any loose ends.
49:18Then your people are having a bad day
49:20today. "Rook laughed quietly. They’ll
49:23disappear before you reach them. Not
49:25this time. That’s what you think. We
49:27have communication channels, financial
49:29movements, and multiple identities.
49:32Your message today confirmed to us that
49:34the connection is still active. He
49:36remained silent. And if you’re smart,
49:39Lena said, you’ll help us. Rook
49:41turned his head a little further. Why
49:43should I? Because the people you worked
49:47for now know that you’ve failed. His
49:50expression changed. Lena had hit the
49:53right nerve. You said yourself that
49:56they don't like loose ends. As soon as
49:58you become worthless to them, you’re
50:00a risk. You want to offer me protection
50:03? I’m offering you a trade-off. If
50:06you stay silent, you’ll face
50:07espionage charges and likely the rest
50:10of your life in prison. At the same
50:13time, you have to assume your former
50:15employers consider you a threat. Lena
50:18paused. If you cooperate, you won’t
50:22go free. But you will be valuable. Rook
50:25said nothing for a long time. For years
50:26, he had made decisions based on cost
50:28and risk. Now, that same logic was
50:31turned against him." What do you want
50:33to know? "he finally asked." Everything
50:36. That’s not an answer. "It is. You
50:39start with the person who recruited you
50:41. After that, you name every contact,
50:44every account, every drop site, every
50:46file, and every message. That will take
50:49days, so they’re going to be long
50:51days. At that moment, the door flew
50:53open. Military police stormed in,
50:56weapons ready, followed by Colonel
50:58Warren. The soldiers secured the room.
51:01Only when it was clear that no one
51:03posed an immediate threat did Warren
51:05walk over to Lena. Status: Rook tried
51:08to forcibly take control of the
51:11situation. He is disarmed and detained.
51:14Warren looked at Wale, Shaw, and Mercer
51:17. And these three, he brought them here
51:20under false pretenses. They still
51:23followed his orders until they realized
51:26his orders were unlawful. Warren looked
51:29at the three of them one by one. Wale
51:31stepped forward. Sir, Captain Akiyama
51:34is protecting us more than we deserve
51:36right now. We should have asked
51:37questions sooner. Warren was silent.
51:40Rook said," It was a matter of national
51:42security, "Wale continued." We trusted
51:45him. When his story fell apart, we
51:48refused to continue. "That will be
51:50investigated. Understood, Sir?" Warren
51:53turned back to Lena. "What happens to
51:55Rook? He’s going into federal custody
51:58. By what means? A secure military
52:01intelligence unit is taking him.
52:04That’s where the full interrogation
52:06will begin." Warren let out a heavy
52:08breath. All of this happened under my
52:11command. Lena noticed the guilt in his
52:13voice. The information leak began
52:16before you took this post. Even so, he
52:19was here among my people every day. And
52:22when they found out there was a problem
52:24, they didn't hinder the investigation.
52:27I nearly let my own NCOs throw them off
52:30the grounds. You were acting on
52:33incomplete information. Warren shook
52:36his head. That sounds like a polite
52:38version of failure. No, Graves acted on
52:42prejudice, Rurke on guilt. They
52:46hesitated, verified, and finally made
52:48decisions, knowing they might hurt
52:50their careers. Warren looked at her. Is
52:53that supposed to comfort me? No. Lena's
52:56voice remained calm. It’s meant to
52:58remind you that responsibility and
53:00guilt are not the same. Behind them,
53:03Rurke was pulled to his feet by two
53:05military police officers. His hands
53:07were cuffed. The man who, just that
53:10morning, thought he could control every
53:12corner of this unit suddenly looked
53:14smaller. As he was led past Lena, he
53:18stopped briefly. You think this is over
53:21? For you, it's just beginning. There
53:24are others. I certainly hope so. He
53:26frowned. Why? Because they will lead us
53:30to them. Rurke was led out. On the
53:33training yard, the news had already
53:35spread. No one knew the details, but
53:37everyone knew military police were in
53:39the supply depot and Staff Sergeant
53:41Rurke had been taken into custody.
53:44Graves stood next to Ortega as Lena
53:47returned with Warren. The formation was
53:50called back together. Warren stepped in
53:52front of the soldiers. What happened
53:55today will be investigated in the
53:57coming days. Many details will remain
53:59confidential for now. His gaze swept
54:01over the ranks. But I can tell you one
54:03thing now. The greatest danger to a
54:05unit doesn't always come from the
54:07outside. The soldiers stood perfectly
54:09still. Sir.

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