MARCUS REED: "Reeves said the first team found evidence of an internal network. He believed someone inside the command structure was using military resources to conceal illegal operations."
DAVID BROOKS: "Did he identify anyone?"
MARCUS REED: "No. He said he did not know how many people were involved."
DAVID BROOKS: "Did he tell you what the second archive contained?"
MARCUS REED: "The names. The orders. The original authorization records."
Brooks turned toward the technician.
DAVID BROOKS: "Recover that archive."
TECHNICIAN: "We still need the live confirmation."
DAVID BROOKS: "Then find a way to reach the people who can provide it."
The technician examined the screen.
TECHNICIAN: "There is another personnel record."
A new file appeared.
It belonged to Sergeant Daniel Foster.
His status was still listed as missing.
But the archive showed something unusual.
A transmission had been recorded under his identification six days after the mission.
The technician opened the message.
A distorted image appeared on the display.
It showed a narrow concrete corridor.
At the far end stood a man wearing a military uniform.
His face was partially hidden by shadows.
The figure slowly raised his head.
Marcus leaned closer.
MARCUS REED: "Foster."
The image flickered.
Then the man stepped toward the camera.
His face became clearer.
It was Sergeant Daniel Foster.
He looked exhausted, with a visible injury near his temple. His uniform was dirty, and his hair had grown longer.
But he was alive.
The message beneath the image changed.
SECONDARY WITNESS CONFIRMED.
Marcus stared at the screen.
MARCUS REED: "He's alive."
Brooks turned toward the technician.
DAVID BROOKS: "Where is he?"
The technician opened the location record.
The facility appeared on the map.
Its official status was inactive.
But the security system had detected movement inside the restricted zone.
A second message appeared.
PERSONNEL INSIDE RESTRICTED ZONE: 3.
Marcus looked at the screen.
Three people were inside.
One was Foster.
One could be Reeves.
But the identity of the third person was hidden.
Then another warning appeared.
DO NOT INITIATE EXTRACTION.
THE THIRD PERSON HAS ACCESS TO THE ORIGINAL COMMAND AUTHORIZATION.
Brooks stared at the message.
DAVID BROOKS: "Who is the third person?"
The technician shook his head.
TECHNICIAN: "The identity is encrypted."
MARCUS REED: "Can we contact Foster?"
TECHNICIAN: "The connection is currently inactive."
Marcus looked toward the generals.
Hayes was standing with his hands behind his back.
Cross had stopped looking at the display.
Mercer appeared pale.
MARCUS REED: "Someone in this room knows who is inside that facility."
GENERAL HAYES: "That is an irresponsible accusation."
MARCUS REED: "Then explain why the warning says not to initiate extraction."
GENERAL CROSS: "The facility may contain dangerous intelligence material."
MARCUS REED: "Or someone inside is trying to keep the truth from getting out."
Brooks turned toward the security officer.
DAVID BROOKS: "I want an independent recovery team prepared immediately. They will use a separate communication channel. No requests are to be routed through the original command network."
SECURITY OFFICER: "Understood."
DAVID BROOKS: "And I want every officer connected to the original authorization placed under review."
The security officer nodded.
But before he could leave, the terminal made another sound.
A new message had arrived.
The screen changed.
A single line appeared.
THE THIRD PERSON KNOWS YOU ARE COMING.
Marcus stared at the message.
Then the system displayed a final image.
A close-up photograph of a military identification badge.
The name on it was partially obscured.
Only the rank and first letter remained visible.
SENIOR COMMAND — R.
Brooks looked at the screen.
DAVID BROOKS: "We need to identify that person."
The technician enlarged the image.
More of the badge became visible.
Marcus leaned forward.
He recognized the insignia.
It belonged to an officer whose authority extended far above the tribunal.
An officer who had signed several of the documents connected to Operation Silent Horizon.
But before Marcus could read the name, the image disappeared.
The display returned to black.
A final warning appeared.
ARCHIVE ACCESS WILL EXPIRE IN 12 HOURS.
Marcus looked at Brooks.
MARCUS REED: "We have twelve hours."
Brooks nodded.
DAVID BROOKS: "Then we will use every minute."
The tribunal had begun with a captain accused of betraying his unit.
Now the evidence suggested that the mission itself had been manipulated, the extraction deliberately canceled, and the soldiers who survived had been targeted to keep a secret hidden.
Marcus had finally found proof that his actions were not the cause of the disaster.