Chapter 14 #2
Cross. I recognize her voice immediately. The information broker who operates in the shadows, selling intel to whoever pays—except the Committee. She's helped us before, and her hatred for Webb's organization runs deep.
"Cross," I acknowledge, keeping my voice neutral. "Didn't expect you to be monitoring Committee frequencies."
"I monitor everything, Stryker. Especially when Webb authorizes scorched earth operations." There's something in her tone that sets off warning bells. "He's given Kessler carte blanche to resolve the Lucas Donovan problem. Any means necessary."
Any means necessary. Those words carry specific weight in our world—collateral damage acceptable, scorched earth authorized, witness elimination expanded to include anyone who stands in the way.
"Why are you telling me this?" I ask, already knowing the answer won't be simple.
"Because Webb's turning this into an example.
The boy saw something he shouldn't have, yes, but this has escalated beyond simple witness elimination.
Webb wants to demonstrate what happens when someone crosses the Committee.
He wants your entire team destroyed, your facility compromised, and everyone associated with Echo Ridge eliminated. "
So that's what this is really about. Webb's using Lucas as an excuse to eliminate the Echo Ridge team that's been disrupting Committee operations. The child who witnessed a murder has become a convenient justification for a much larger purge.
"And you're warning me out of the goodness of your heart?" I don't bother hiding the skepticism.
"I'm warning you because scorched earth operations are messy and expensive. They draw attention none of us needs."
Silence fills the line after she disconnects. I stare at the comm unit for a long moment, processing the implications. Webb isn't just hunting Rachel and Lucas anymore. He's coming for all of us, using Kessler as his blunt instrument to destroy everything we've built.
We've all been fighting the Committee for years. Each of us has reasons—personal losses, ideological conviction, the belief that someone needs to stand against the shadow organization that operates with impunity. But Webb's made this personal in a way that changes everything.
We can keep running, keep hiding, keep playing defense against an enemy with unlimited resources and no conscience. Or we can take down Kessler and send Webb a message he can't ignore.
I key my comm. "Kane, need the full team assembled when Dylan and I get back. We're done playing defense."
"Copy that," Kane responds. "What are you thinking?"
"Cross just made contact. Webb's authorized Kessler to use any means necessary.
He's escalating beyond witness elimination—this is about making an example of Echo Ridge.
" Dylan and I start moving back toward the base, leaving Lewell's body concealed in the undergrowth.
"We're going to end Kessler before he gets that chance. "
Our return trip takes less time than the approach. We move fast, no longer concerned about noise discipline now that we know Kessler's team is miles away chasing false signatures. Within minutes, the equipment airlock cycles us back into Echo Base, and we head straight for command.
Kane is at the main console with Tommy and Sarah, all three studying the screens.
Rachel's pulled Lucas close, his head resting against her shoulder while Khalid maintains position nearby, Odin's ears pricked and alert.
Willa stands ready, as always. Reagan and Delaney have returned from perimeter checks.
Mercer arrives from his overwatch position moments after us.
Tommy looks up from his console, jaw tight. "Cross hacked our comms. Again. I had three additional encryption layers on that channel."
"And she walked through them like they weren't there," Sarah says, not hiding her own frustration.
"She's probably listening right now," Tommy mutters, fingers already flying across his keyboard to implement new security protocols.
"Status," Kane demands.
"Lewell's neutralized. Found tactical maps showing search grids—they've got our general area circled but not pinpointed." I move to the console. "Cross's intel confirms what we suspected. Webb is using this as another try to get Echo Ridge eliminated."
Kane's expression darkens. "What do you think?"
"I think we're done running. Done hiding. Done letting the Committee dictate terms." I meet his eyes. "Kessler's out there with authorization to burn us to the ground. Webb thinks we'll scatter, thinks he can pick us off one by one or force us into a defensive position we can't hold."
"So we go offensive," Mercer says, understanding immediately.
Kane nods slowly. "We kill Kessler. Not capture, not neutralize. Kill. Remove him from the board permanently, and make it clear to Webb that his enforcers aren't untouchable."
Sarah pulls up tactical displays. "Kessler's still out there with his team. Even with Tommy's decoys leading them away, they're professional enough to regroup once they realize they've been tricked. We'd be going against a coordinated team on ground they've already scouted."
Kane studies the displays. "Which is exactly why we do it now, while they're scattered and chasing ghosts." He looks at Tommy. "How long before they realize the heat signatures are fake?"
Tommy considers. "Not long if they're thorough. Less if someone gets suspicious and investigates closely."
"Then we move fast." Kane turns to the team. "We know their search pattern, we know their capabilities, and we have home terrain advantage. We can end this tonight if we're willing to commit."
Kane is quiet for a long moment, weighing the risks against the necessity.
Finally, he nods. "Dylan, Stryker, and I on assault.
Mercer, you're on overwatch despite those ribs.
Reagan and Delaney, you're backup and extraction if things go sideways.
Sarah and Tommy coordinate from ops, provide tactical support.
We neutralize Kessler and his team, then disappear before any reinforcements arrive. "
"What about the Donovans?" Dylan asks.
Kane glances toward where Rachel and Lucas are watching the tactical displays. "They stay in ops with Khalid until this is over. Willa remains on medical standby. Khalid, you keep them safe. Nobody gets into this facility unless it's one of us."
Khalid straightens, understanding the responsibility Kane's giving him. "I won't let anyone through."
Kane looks at Dylan and me. "We’ll handle the main assault and handle any immediate threats that break from the search pattern. Tommy and Sara will coordinate from here until we're ready to move on Kessler's position."
We spend extra time finalizing plans. Sarah identifies the most likely routes Kessler's team will use when they regroup, and Tommy plots ambush points that give us maximum advantage.
Kane, Dylan, and I check weapons while Sarah and Tommy coordinate the assault sequence.
Mercer will take up his overwatch position.
Reagan and Delaney prep extraction routes and fallback positions.
My focus should be on tactics, on the mission, on eliminating the threat. But part of my mind keeps circling back to Rachel in command, to the fear in her eyes when the alarm sounded, to the way she held Lucas and tried to be brave for him.
This is the last time she'll have to be brave like that. I'm going to make sure of it.
Equipment clicks and scrapes as the strike team gears up in silence, each of us falling into familiar patterns. Weapons checked, ammunition loaded, comms verified. We move like the professionals we are, no wasted motion, no unnecessary conversation.
Before we deploy, I cross to where Rachel stands with Lucas near the tactical displays. Khalid is nearby, Odin at his feet. Rachel's hand tightens on Lucas's shoulder when she sees my expression.
"We're going after Kessler," I tell her without preamble. "Ending this tonight."
"You're leaving." It's not a question.
"I'm finishing what I should have finished the moment I realized you and Lucas were in danger." I cup her face, feeling the warmth of her skin against my callused palms. "When I come back, you won't have to run anymore. Lucas won't have to hide. This ends tonight."
Lucas looks up at me with those too-serious eyes. "You're going to fight the bad men?"
"Yeah, buddy. I am."
"Be careful, Mr. Stryker."
I ruffle his hair, feeling the weight of that simple trust. "I will be."
Rachel's hand covers mine, her fingers trembling slightly. "Don't make promises you can't keep."
"I'm not." I kiss her hard, tasting fear and hope and desperation. "Stay here with Khalid. Keep Lucas safe. I'll come back."
I pull away before she can respond, before the fear in her eyes can make me doubt what needs to be done. Khalid nods at me as I step back—he understands his assignment. Keep them safe while we're out there. I return to where Kane and the strike team are waiting.
Kane looks at me, reading the determination in my expression. "Ready?"
"Let's finish this," I confirm.
Kane, Dylan, and I move out into the Montana night, weapons ready, purpose clear.
Mercer heads to his overwatch position. Reagan and Delaney take up positions covering our extraction routes.
Kessler thinks he's hunting us, thinks he has the advantage of numbers and authorization from Webb himself.
But the bastard's made one critical mistake.
He's given me a reason to stop holding back.
Forest darkness swallows us as we spread out into assault positions. Sarah's voice comes through the comms, feeding us position updates on Kessler's scattered team. Tommy's decoys are starting to fail, which means the hostile operators will be regrouping soon.
I settle into position behind a fallen log.
Tommy's drone footage shows Kessler's operators spreading out across the terrain, bright signatures against the cold Montana night.
Stitches in my arm pull tight, a reminder of the earlier engagement, but the pain keeps me focused.
Back at Echo Base, they're depending on me to eliminate the threat hunting them.
I'm not going to disappoint them.
Sarah's voice comes through my earpiece. "Heads up. We're intercepting Committee comms. Kessler's regrouping his team at Rally Point Bravo. They know the signatures were decoys."
His realization settles in my gut with dark satisfaction. Let him know. Let him understand that we're not cowering in some hole waiting to be found. Let him come looking for a fight and find exactly what he's asking for.
Silence settles over the forest around me, that peculiar stillness that comes before violence.
My finger rests on the trigger guard, breathing controlled, mind clear.
Somewhere in the darkness, Kessler is mobilizing his team for one final push to find us.
Blood from Lewell is still tacky on my knife.
Before this night ends, Kessler's blood will join it.