{Location unknown / Time 0600 / Year XX BBY}
"Prepare the demolition charges. The objective is in and out."
Seeing the rest of his team nod, the leader gave the go-ahead to the person in charge of detonating the door — and with that came a massive BOOOM!!! followed by a click and then BA-KRAAAAM!!, blinding everyone in the room.
"On the ground, on the ground! Don't move, stay still!"
After entering, the team restrained all targets on the ground floor, then moved upstairs to clear the rest of the complex.
"This is Alpha-08. Ground floor cleared, moving up."
The group then split in two — one heading down, the other up. In the hallway leading to the stairs, eight operatives took tactical positions before advancing up slowly but methodically. The first floor was empty, and they reached the second.
"Noise on the other side of the hallway," whispered Alpha-16.
The formation split again: four men on each side of the corridor, weapons aimed forward — when suddenly: TACK-TACK-TACK-TACK! Bullets rained from the other end of the hallway.
"Cover! Find cover!"
The group crouched and scrambled for whatever protection they could find.
"Door ahead, 5 meters!"
"Suppressing fire!"
"Flash out!" BA-KRAAAAM!
Following the flashbang, the team quickly advanced toward the door under the covering fire.
"Kick it down!" With a powerful blow, the door gave way with a loud CRAAASH, splinters flying across the hallway. Everyone rushed in, clearing the room — but not all plans go smoothly.
The first man through the door was met with a CHAK-BOOM!, blown back like a leaf in the wind. The rest of the team neutralized the shooter in seconds with several precise shots to the torso and head.
"Requesting immediate medical support — Alpha-13 has suffered a point-blank shotgun wound. Repeat: immediate medical assistance!"
"Don't bother. He's already dead," came the voice of Alpha-08, the team leader.
He was right. Lying on the ground was Alpha-13's lifeless body, blood spreading rapidly across the floor.
"Alpha-11, stay with Alpha-13's body until medics arrive. The rest, with me."
Alpha-11 did as ordered, dragging Alpha-13's body to a corner of the room where he could cover all entrances. Meanwhile, the rest of the team continued through the complex, neutralizing all remaining hostiles. The operation ended 20 minutes later, when the complex returned to its earlier silence.
Outside, a perimeter of police vehicles and several armored vans waited for the operatives to exit and finish securing the building. Police units armed with their standard-issue Heckler & Koch USP 9mm Parabellum — a recent addition to their arsenal, already proving its effectiveness — stood alongside two special forces teams, ready to enter. Their equipment resembled old-world SWAT units: shields, breaching tools like battering rams, and standard-issue AKS-74Us, KS-23 shotguns, and Makarov PM pistols.
This police force had a dual role: to prevent civilians from entering a dangerous area and to stop reinforcements from reaching the enemy — or anyone escaping.
As the gunfire finally fell silent, the security forces entered the building to assist the operatives inside. One of the groups emerged from a basement hatch along with two hooded, handcuffed men. Leading them was Alpha-1, commander of the operation, who approached the police chief.
"Send both SWAT teams inside. There's heavy resistance on the upper floors and my men can't break through without heavy equipment. Also, prepare a van for these two. We'll handle transport."
"Understood."
Many of the police leaders were former military personnel, used to following orders. In under five minutes, three police cars, an armored van, and a black SUV arrived at the front. The police cars would provide escort, the van would carry the two detainees and two Alpha operatives, and the SUV would carry the rest of the team.
{Max's Office / Time 1200 / Year 26 BBY}
Maximus sat at his desk reviewing reports from operations across the various planets under his control. The scale of his command was such that thousands of police operatives and specially trained special forces had been mobilized, all trained to Maximus's exacting standards. These elite forces were outfitted with the most advanced gear and weaponry available.
The desk's holoprojector was active, projecting the holograms of key governors from across his territories.
"As your Excellency ordered, all operations were carried out in a coordinated manner. Casualties total around 200-300, of which 30-40 are our operatives — both police and special forces. The individuals responsible for Operation Black Mamba have been captured and are currently en route to the Arx Lumina prison."
The figures on-screen nodded in agreement, as though this marked a major success across their jurisdictions. That was the civilian side of the council. For those belonging to the Hawk faction, however, the loss of special forces operatives was unacceptable. Police losses — understandable: a poorly executed arrest, inferior equipment — were acceptable. But special forces casualties? Unthinkable.
Currently, the special forces numbered only around 1,500–2,000 operatives, and their designation was not handed out lightly. They were the only active military unit capable of conducting shuttle-based assaults, high-risk zone landings, rapid extractions, anti-terror operations, and orbital drop deployments — the latter having only been implemented a year and a half ago. Their reputation was such that joining the Orbital Deployment Forces (ODF) was seen as a major honor among military circles.
Seeing the room's mixed reactions, Maximus chose a middle ground between mission success and military concern.
"While it's true that the operation was a general success, the loss of special operatives must be avoided at all costs. I want to know why those losses occurred — under what circumstances, at whose hands, and with what weapons. Non-military members may leave."
After that, the meeting was reduced to just eight people: the highest-ranking military officials in the organization.
"As you know, the contract for the new ships and the construction of three docking ring stations — one already completed — will give us the capacity to form a self-sufficient fleet. Engineers from Kuat Drive Yards have signed with us as well. Additionally, thanks to rising sales of our products and services, new equipment will be shipped out to all active forces within weeks, regardless of location. Outdated weapons will be repurposed for training or stored for sale, in line with our policies.
The training and combat readiness of our forces must be maximized. They must be prepared to deploy at a moment's notice. Understood?"
Everyone nodded before leaving the room. While the order may have seemed unusual, none of the officers hesitated to carry it out — and three weeks later, that preparation paid off. Across several planets under Maximus's control, alarm signals and calls for support flooded the Arx Lumina command center all at once.