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They’re protecting what’s left of it.

“And the girl?” the second voice asks.

“She’s the ignition point.”

“And the SEALs?”

“Complicating variables.”

A flicker of irritation.

Not fear.

Not yet.

“Then we remove the variables,” the second voice says.

The man considers.

Then—

decides.

“Initiate containment.”

A pause.

“What level?”

Now—

for the first time—

there’s no hesitation.

“Hard containment.”

The screens shift.

Targets isolate.

Routes calculate.

Assets activate.

And somewhere—

in five different cities—

people who don’t ask questions…

start moving.

62

Aaron

Location: Government Coordination Center — Lisbon