CHAPTER 53: PRE-OPERATION DAWNLIGHT

After the meeting inside Norton’s tent was over, Gideon and his team left the place. The four of them gathered again in the inn’s room to discuss the technical details of this operation, a sudden mission they had never imagined.

The Moko Kingdom was their enemy, and it was clear battles had already taken place between both sides. Every fight had ended with Gideon’s team victorious, while Moko’s troops suffered defeat.

The decisive blow that forced them to pull all their forces back happened during Operation Black Crown, when Gideon and his team managed to eliminate the entire chain of command in a single night.

The Moko army was left without direction, without command, without orders. Norton stepped in and decided to pull back all of Moko’s southern troops.

Now Norton had been given a special mission tied to the king’s trust in him. If he succeeded in rescuing Princess Alanar, then his status would remain safe, and perhaps the King of Moko would be more willing to listen to him.

Norton was determined to finish this mission, even if it meant risking the princess’s life and his own status.

That was why he had begged Gideon for help, since his position as a noble in the kingdom was hanging by a thread after the defeat of the southern Moko army.

"Princess Alanar, huh? I never thought we’d be running a mission to save the life of a royal family member," Luke said.

"I feel this mission is full of political nuance," Gideon replied.

"What do you mean?" Lena asked.

Gideon closed the door of the room once all his teammates had entered, then locked it so no one could barge in. He walked toward the window, glancing outside where Norton was speaking with two of his six elite squad captains.

"If Norton fails in these negotiations, then the King of Moko might strip him of his noble status," Gideon explained.

"Really?"

"Just my guess," Gideon answered, closing the curtains before turning back to them.

He switched on the electric lamp to light the room, making sure they could talk about the mission without being seen or overheard.

Luke crossed his arms, not quite understanding things that had political weight.

Even so, Luke knew politics in this world was real, thick, and deeply influential. Nobles and commoners—that was the social hierarchy shaped by centuries of feudal politics.

To understand politics here meant to understand how power worked in this world. Gideon was aiming at power, of course, for the sake of peace and security for himself and his whole team.

"Can you explain it in detail, Captain?"

"This is about the withdrawal of Moko’s southern army. The infantry was their largest force, which means if their commander died, there’s a chance Norton would be the one holding the chain of command," Gideon replied.

"The King of Moko is ambitious to expand his territory south by conquering with military force. But Norton did the opposite of what the King wanted."

Lena, Luke, and Lyra slowly nodded. With Norton’s explanation and connecting it to the events that had taken place, the picture became clear enough.

"There’s a chance the King handed this case to Norton not only because he is the Earl ruling the southern region, but also because the King wants to test his seriousness and loyalty," Lena said.

"Exactly. That’s why Norton is desperate for this mission to succeed."

"So what are we going to do?" Lyra asked.

"We still need Earl Ashfield’s noble status. We have no choice, we have to help him," Gideon answered.

"Of course. This is just a hostage rescue operation, right?" Luke asked.

"Do it like usual, correct?" Luke asked again.

Lena and Lyra turned their eyes to the front, clearly seeing Gideon standing firm with his arms crossed against his chest.

Right. They had run many hostage rescue missions before, especially in the Middle East.

Compared to fighting terrorists using AK-47s, it was far better to fight rebels in a fantasy world armed with swords and spears.

"Right, we do it as usual."

"This is Operation Dawnlight. We move at dark. Focus on the package," Gideon explained.

Lena, Lyra, and Luke agreed. Gideon stepped past them, picking up a large map and spreading it across the bed.

Standing at the edge, he held a red laser pointer in his hand for his team.

"According to Norton, the negotiations will be held here, far from the main road leading into the city," Gideon said, marking the spot with a red pin.

"We need to split into two teams for efficiency."

Gideon lifted his head, looking at Lyra and Luke standing side by side by the bed. They would be Falcon Two, tasked with evacuating Princess Alanar.

"We understand."

He added that Luke and Lyra’s task was to make sure Princess Alanar reached the village safely.

The evacuation wouldn’t be done in the city because it was crowded with people, and there was a chance the rebels had put their own inside the city.

If she was brought into the village guarded by Gideon’s team, at least her safety would be under Gideon’s control.

Gideon and Lena would be Falcon One. They were the main execution team, taking out the rebels holding the princess and rescuing her.

Once she was saved, Gideon and Lena were tasked with handing her over to Falcon Two.

From all the tactical planning explained, Gideon still needed camo and recon of the negotiation site.

That way, they could adjust their camo to the location and avoid raising suspicion among the rebels.

"Is everything clear?" Gideon asked.

"Clear, Captain."

"I’ll fire this flare once Princess Alanar is successfully evacuated. When the cavalry and rebels clash, we must return to base."

"Understood," the three replied, fully aware.

"Luke and I will go to the fields to check the area and mark a few points. Lena and Lyra, take care of the rifles and make sure the gear is ready for tomorrow," Gideon ordered.

"Got it," Lena replied.

Gideon ended the tactical meeting and rolled up the map again. With only his SIG M17 strapped to his waist, the two men left the village wearing camouflage and riding horses. No one would know Gideon and Luke were foreign soldiers.

Norton and several of his captains noticed Gideon and Luke’s departure. He turned and saw Lena and Lyra stepping out of the inn carrying a drone.

"Where did Captain Gideon go?" Norton asked.

Lyra stopped and shot a cold look at Norton. "Running early recon before the operation starts."

Elsewhere, Gideon and Luke had already reached the area near the negotiation site Norton had shown them.

They slowed their horses when they arrived at the city’s main road, where piles of hay and tall bushes lined the way.

Luke glanced at Gideon. He whispered after noticing strange movements among the trees—not ghosts.

"I know. I see it too."

"Act normal, like you didn’t see anything," Gideon murmured.

"Understood, Captain."

After scouting enough, Gideon pulled the reins and rode back into the forest toward Nemora village.

He already knew what type of camo would work for the night. But before leaving, he had something to take care of first.

Right. The rebel scouts. They could become a problem for Gideon’s team if not dealt with quickly.