Chapter 5

Isaac's POV

But I cut her off. My voice was hoarse, cold. “Route Three is an emergency extraction path used only when a mission has failed, or a unit is completely compromised.”

“That route is almost entirely exposed open ground. No cover and protection. Taking over a hundred slow-moving civilians that way is the same as marching them into an execution field,” I explained.

Then I grabbed the radio and roared with the last of my strength. “Diana! That isn’t a withdrawal route. It’s a killing route! What are you really trying to do?!”

“What am I trying to do?” She chuckled softly, as casual as if she were talking about the weather. “I’ve already issued the order and the route, haven’t I? Captain Thorn, you’re the legendary special forces ace. Getting a few people across open ground should be basic training for you. Whether you manage to bring them back alive… that’s your problem now.”

She paused, then delivered the final blow, each word cutting deep. “After all, when you abandoned me back then, you didn’t hesitate this much.”

At that time, Lauren was shaking with rage as there were only two paths left, and those were both leading to death.

Either we bled out on this position, or we stepped straight into the naked death trap that was Route Three.

“Captain… what do we do?” Lauren’s voice was stretched to its breaking point.

Yet I didn’t answer right away.

Silently, I reached into the deepest compartment of my tactical pack and took out the black terminal reserved for absolute last-resort communications.

My fingers flew across the icy keys. A string of blood-red code flashed on the screen, then confirmed transmission.

The instant Lauren saw the code, her face went deathly pale. “That… that’s the Night Owl 313 code, full unit KIA pre-report…”

“That’s right.” My voice was unnervingly calm.

I tossed the terminal to the ground, spun around, and faced the terrified, confused civilians and the battered but still-standing soldiers behind me.

I drew in a deep breath, pouring everything I had into my lungs, forcing my voice to rise above the thunder of artillery and carry clearly to every ear.

“Fellow citizens! Listen to me! The statement I was forced to make earlier was not the truth, and it was never made of my own will! My ex-wife abused her authority, maliciously vetoed every legitimate withdrawal plan, cut off all our channels for external support, and forced us onto a so-called retreat route that guarantees death!”

But making them less worried, I continued, “I have now sent the Night Owl Unit’s 313 immediate-fatality code to the highest command. This is our final report before total annihilation! I, Isaac Thorn, will lead my team and use our bodies as your last shield! We will draw all enemy fire and carve out a path for you to escape!”

“If none of us survive, remember her name. Diana Crossfield. She is the one who killed us,” I announced firmly.

Just then, the final assault signal sounded.

“All units! Prepare to charge! Clear a path for the civilians behind us!”