AFTERMATH OF THE MISSION

The safe house was buried deep in the Slovakian mountains, concealed beneath layers of rock, reinforced steel, and encrypted security systems. To the outside world, it was nothing more than an abandoned military outpost. To Solomon Kane and his team, it was the only place where they could regroup, patch their wounds, and plan their next move.

Inside, the dim fluorescent lighting cast a sterile glow over the room. The atmosphere was thick with tension, exhaustion, and something else—the weight of what they had just survived.

Carlos lay on a reinforced medical bed in the center of the room, IV lines running into his arm. His condition was stable, but the trauma he had endured was still evident in his sunken eyes and trembling hands. The mission had nearly broken him, and even though he was safe, his mind was still trapped in the hell they had pulled him from.

Jamie stood beside him, her arms crossed, eyes scanning the monitors that displayed his vitals. Vikram leaned against the wall, checking his rifle for the fifth time in the past hour. No one spoke.

Then Solomon entered.

His uniform was still caked with soot and dried blood, his knuckles bruised from the fight with Ghost. His face was a mask of control, but the intensity in his eyes told a different story. He had barely spoken since they had made it back.

Jamie finally broke the silence. "You need rest, Kane."

Solomon shook his head. "No time."

Vikram sighed, setting his rifle down. "We did our job. We got Carlos out. Now we let command take it from here."

"You don’t get it," Solomon snapped, his voice edged with frustration. "This wasn’t just a rescue mission. We just walked into something bigger than any of us."

Jamie narrowed her eyes. "You mean Ghost."

Solomon nodded, jaw tightening. "He wasn’t just stalling. He was testing me. Studying me." He exhaled sharply. "He knew the mission was compromised. And yet, he stayed behind. Why?"

The room fell into silence.

Carlos stirred slightly, his voice hoarse as he spoke for the first time. "They’re planning something."

Everyone turned to him. Jamie took a step closer. "Carlos, what do you mean?"

He swallowed hard, his throat dry. "The Specters… they’re not just after intelligence or sabotage. They’re positioning themselves for something bigger. I overheard their operatives talking before they moved me."

Solomon’s gaze darkened. "What did they say?"

Carlos hesitated, his voice barely above a whisper. "They called it… The Cataclysm Protocol."

UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY

The war table in the safe house’s strategy room flickered to life as Jamie pulled up a series of encrypted files, decrypted using the intel Carlos had provided. The documents were fragmented, but the pieces were starting to form a disturbing picture.

Vikram frowned, scrolling through the data. "These aren’t just routine operations. They’re hitting high-value targets—government agencies, corporate facilities, military installations."

Jamie’s fingers danced over the controls, pulling up a red-marked file. "Here—this is the key. The Specters have been acquiring classified materials related to orbital weapons platforms and next-gen AI warfare systems."

Solomon’s eyes locked onto the file name. "Project Revenant."

Carlos tensed. "That’s what they were after. That’s what they tortured me for."

A cold silence followed.

Jamie exhaled. "Project Revenant was scrapped years ago. A prototype AI warfare system designed to take control of battlefield operations with zero human oversight. The risk was too high, so it was shut down before it was ever deployed."

Vikram shook his head. "Apparently, not shut down enough."

Solomon clenched his jaw. "If the Specters have access to any part of that system, they could launch precision strikes, take over defense networks, and cripple entire nations before anyone even knew what hit them."

Jamie ran a hand through her hair. "And now they have all the missing pieces."

Carlos shook his head weakly. "Not yet. There’s one last piece they’re missing."

Everyone turned to him again.

He took a slow breath. "There’s a secure vault. One last copy of Revenant’s core protocols. It’s locked inside a NATO black site in Geneva."

Solomon’s mind was already racing. "Then that’s where they’ll go next."

Jamie exhaled sharply. "And if they get their hands on it, we’re looking at a global nightmare."

THE HUNT BEGINS

The team had no time to waste. Within an hour, they had geared up, preparing for what would be their most dangerous mission yet.

Solomon adjusted the straps on his combat vest, his mind already focused on the battle ahead.

Vikram stood beside him, locking a fresh magazine into his rifle. "You really think we can beat them to Geneva?"

Solomon’s expression was grim. "We have to."

Jamie approached, securing her sidearm. "We should assume they’ll already have operatives on the ground. We’ll need to be ghosts." She smirked slightly. "No pun intended."

Carlos, still weak but determined, forced himself to sit up. "I’m coming with you."

Jamie frowned. "You’re still recovering."

Carlos shook his head. "This isn’t just about survival. This is about stopping them. I won’t sit this one out."

Solomon met his gaze for a long moment before nodding. "Alright. But you stay close."

As they moved toward the exit, Vikram let out a low chuckle. "You know, I was hoping for a break after that last mission can't I just let you young ones save the day?"

Jamie smirked. "Maybe after we save the world, I still believe the Colonel Vikram's old bones have a lot of fight left in them."

Vikram laughed,"Haha, my cousin was right about you, I may be getting old but believe me that in my youth I have fought like a Tiger in the Kargil War, back in 1999 and even after many decades now, I can still fight another War like that."

Amid everyone banter and teasing to ease their mounting tension from the imminent battle. Solomon led the way as they stepped into the darkness, their next battlefield already waiting for them.

The hunt was on.

EPILOGUE: IN THE SHADOWS

Somewhere far away, in a hidden facility beneath the Swiss Alps, a lone figure stood before a massive digital display. Streams of classified data flowed across the screen. A countdown timer was embedded in the top corner.

A faint smile curled beneath a fractured visor.

Ghost had survived.

And he was already ahead of them.

The Cataclysm Protocol was about to begin.