Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Thorne briefs Cole and Shadow on Harlan's intelligence, including the assault timeline, convoy composition, and the western detachment. Cole reacts to the smaller force and the moral weight of choosing Kalynka over the unknown western target. Thorne develops a plan to ambush the convoy in the eastern patrol gap using the quarry's terrain and the team's shifting abilities. As they finalize positions, Harlan transmits a single click—patrol movement—confirming the patrol schedule is holding. Thorne decides they move at 0430. The chapter ends with Shadow detecting an unfamiliar scent on the wind from the east, not Greys Battalion, forcing the team to reassess before committing.
Cole’s rifle snapped up as the sounds of movement reached him, a conditioned reflex honed by countless patrols. He’d had it aimed before Thorne even crested the last rise, the familiar weight a comfort in his hands. He lowered it as the silhouette resolved into his team leader, the smooth, practiced motion of a man who trusted his instincts.
“Took you long enough,” Cole said, the words a low growl that barely disturbed the pre-dawn quiet.
“Met a friend,” Thorne replied, dropping down beside him behind the sparse cover of a low stone wall. Beside Cole, Shadow materialized as if from the very shadows themselves, settling into his defensive position with a silence that always unnerved Cole, even after all this time.
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