Location: New York – Discreet Meeting SpotTime: 11:45 PM
Angie walked into a quiet bar on the outskirts of the city, her outfit blending in like a corporate lobbyist, though her expression was anything but casual.
Feynman (via comm):"This guy's Nathan Collins. Classified intelligence under the DoD. Officially? He doesn't exist."Angie:"So, even if we reach out, no strings attached?"Feynman:"Exactly. Still, tread carefully. Too many inside the government are tied to IRON. I can't guarantee which side he's really on."
She spotted him—middle-aged, blond, in a crisp suit—fidgeting with his glass but never drinking. His fingers trembled faintly.
Angie sat across from him.
Nathan:"You're late."Angie:"Had to shake a few tails. There's always someone watching these days."Nathan:"Surveillance? Government's the least of my worries. If IRON's watching... that's another story."
Angie:"So IRON really is deep inside the government."
Nathan (nodding):"They're global. And right now, they're trying to trigger something big—in Taiwan."
She glanced at the bar's mounted TV. A news anchor calmly reported:
News Anchor:"At 3PM today, a joint US-Taiwan military satellite successfully entered orbit. The new system is said to improve GPS accuracy by 40% and play a crucial role in missile guidance and navigational support."
Feynman (comm):"You seeing this?"Vincent:"Yeah."Feynman:"Satellite launch… at this timing? Not good."
Nathan watched the screen, then muttered:
Nathan:"You already figured it out. That satellite? It's not just for positioning."
Angie:"Military application, sure. But you're saying IRON could leverage it?"
Nathan:"They're already using the tension between China and Taiwan. And they're waiting for Taiwan to make a drastic move."
Angie:"You're saying they want to provoke war?"
Nathan:"War doesn't happen when balance is intact. But the longer peace holds, the more someone wants to break it."
Angie:"IRON would be the one to break that balance."
Nathan:"They profit from chaos—arms sales, military contracts, destabilization. But peace? Peace is bad for business."
Vincent (comm):"So IRON's plan is to ignite something in Asia?"
Nathan (nodding):"They're waiting for a trigger—a globally visible incident. Once it happens, military responses will spiral, and IRON will move into its next phase."
Angie:"What is this 'trigger'?"
He slid her a classified document.
[TOP SECRET – Nuclear Deal Report]
Angie (reading):"Taiwan... is considering a nuclear acquisition?"
Nathan:"More like a rogue faction. Hardliners pushing for deterrence. With Chinese pressure mounting, nuclear leverage is gaining appeal."
Angie:"If they succeed—"
Nathan:"Balance collapses. China retaliates. The U.S. gets pulled in. War becomes inevitable."
Feynman (comm):"This is bad. If IRON's stoking the fire…"Vincent:"They'll make a fortune off the chaos."
Angie (quietly folding the file):"So what do we do?"
Nathan:"If you can stop it… you have to."
***
"Shadows of the Mission – Unofficial Operation Begins"
Location: New York – Secret AirbaseTime: 2:15 AM
Vincent stood on the cold tarmac, flanked by his trusted team:
Angie – disguise and negotiation specialist
Gabriel – combat operative, ex-special forces
Feynman – hacking and intel expert
Emily – data analyst and recon expert
Nick Carson – getaway driver
Volkov – explosives and heavy weaponry
Their objective: Investigate and prevent a "nuclear warhead transaction" in Taiwan.
Gov Agent:"This mission is off the books. If anything happens, we were never involved."
Angie:"Success is yours to claim. Failure is ours to bury. Classic."Gov Agent:"That's the world. Now board."
Inside C-130 Military Transport – In-flight Briefing
Vincent flipped his knife in one hand, listening as Feynman spoke.
Feynman:"We've got a hideout secured within a Taiwanese base. But once we land, we're ghosts. No reinforcements, no backups."
Emily:"Our pilots are unmarked. If we go down, no one's coming."
Vincent grinned, stopping the blade mid-spin.
Vincent:"So officially, we don't exist."
Location: Taiwan – Hidden AirstripTime: 4:50 AM
Their plane landed under darkness, bypassing customs entirely.At the end of the runway, Colonel Chen waited.
Chen:"You're the black team from U.S. intelligence?"Angie:"They told you that?"Chen:"They told me they don't know you. But Nathan asked. So I'm helping."
Feynman (comm):"Nathan pulled more strings than I expected."Emily:"So where are we staying?"
He led them into a facility—one with no paper trail.
Location: Taipei – Government OfficeTime: 1:00 PM
Unbeknownst to them, someone was already watching.Whether from Taiwanese insiders or U.S. operatives tied to IRON, the threat was real.
Chen:"Not even half a day in, and you've got eyes on you."Vincent:"Then IRON might already know we're here."Chen:"Exactly. Move fast. That's the only safety you'll get."
Location: Taipei – Suspected Deal SiteTime: 7:00 PM
The team launched recon.
Feynman:"Confirmed. A warehouse near the port is active. Weapons being moved. We need to confirm if nukes are involved."
Nick:"We need eyes before we strike."Gabriel:"If nukes are there, IRON will show."
Angie:"Then our first step is simple—find IRON's real face."
Vincent (quietly):"Alright. Let's scout."
**
"Night at the Port – The Hunt in the Shadows")✨
Location: Perimeter near the port – Infiltration route scoutingTime: 12:10 a.m.
Vincent, Gabriel, Volkov (explosives), and Nick Carson (exfil expert) were already scoping out the harbor from the shadows.
Feynman (comms):"Six heat-detection cams, two drones.At least 12 guards. Possibly more."
Emily (comms):"These guys are packing serious heat.AR-pattern rifles, heavy weapons support—this isn't your average arms deal."
Gabriel:"Feels like a military op.Way too overkill for a basic trade."
Vincent:"Which means the payload's worth it."
Volkov snorted at the operation plan.
Volkov:"Come on. You don't walk past a room full of explosives and not set off a little fireworks show. That's just disrespectful."
Nick:"Please don't. You'll blow up the exit route again."
Volkov:"If things go smooth? Sure.If not? I go big, boys."
Location: Cargo Vessel PerseusTime: 12:30 a.m.
Vincent and Gabriel glided across the water in silence, moving like wraiths. Their knives were matte-black, non-reflective.
Vincent:"We go in like the wind. Move like shadows."
Gabriel:"…And then?"
Vincent:"If it comes to it—become the storm."
Ropes down, climb up, and onto the ship's container deck.
Emily (comms):"Hold up. Something's off.Movement in those containers isn't right…"
Feynman:"Shit—It's a trap. They've been waiting for you!"
BANG!A sniper round whizzed past where Vincent had just stood.
Nick (comms):"Ambush!"
From behind the containers, Iron operatives surged forward—trained, elite, not typical mercs.
Gabriel:"Hell—They're faster than expected!"
Vincent:"This isn't recon anymore. This is war."
⚔ Close Quarters Combat Begins
Vincent moved first—knife slash, precision. Gabriel followed—blunt force, shock tactics.
Vincent: lethal knife strikes + short-range firearm work
Gabriel: rapid close combat + mobility disruption
Feynman (comms):"They lured us here. The nuke isn't on the ship!"
Vincent:"What?!"
Volkov:"Then this barge's value just dropped to zero."
Nick (comms):"Wait! Don't—!"
But Volkov had already rigged the place. He whispered over comms:
Volkov:"If this ship's bait, we're the mice.Time to scrap the cheese."
Vincent:"Volkov, don't—!"
BOOM!
A massive blast tore through the ship's upper deck. The explosion rocked everything. Vincent and Gabriel used the chaos to push to the rear.
Nick (comms):"Move it! She's sinking!"
Vincent:"Dammit, this wasn't in the plan!"
Volkov strolled back casually, smiling.
Volkov:"Plans are dreams.Detonations? Reality."
Nick had the boat ready below.
Nick:"Jump in. She's going under!"
They made it out. Barely.
Back at Safehouse – Debrief
Emily pulled up the recovered data.
Emily:"The deal was real.The nuke is real. But this was staged—a fake drop."
Feynman:"In other words, the nuke exists. Just not here."
Gabriel:"Then what's our next move?"
Vincent tapped the table. His eyes were sharp, calculating.
Vincent:"Find the nuke.And figure out where they plan to use it."
Silence fell.This wasn't just about one deal anymore.
The real game had begun.