Location: South China Sea – Targeted Cargo Ship
Time: 4:50 a.m.
In the middle of the South China Sea, a cargo ship silently glided across the dark waters. Feynman and Emily were analyzing satellite data and sent a radio transmission.
Emily: "Satellite confirmation complete. Current speed is 28 knots. The ship's ID is likely forged."
Feynman: "What's the probability that this is the real one?"
Emily: "Over 70%."
Vincent picked up the radio. "Good. 70% is enough."
Nick Carson grinned as he pushed the throttle. "You're betting on a 70% chance? That's a gamble."
Angie crossed her arms. "When have we ever not gambled?"
Infiltration Operation Commences
– Stealthy approach using a small boat
– Gabriel and Vincent to infiltrate and search the ship
– Volkov to prepare C4 if needed
– Nick Carson to secure escape routes
Combat Begins Inside the Ship
The resistance was stronger than expected. These weren't I.R.O.N. mercenaries but an entirely different class of fighters. Their intel and tactical response exceeded expectations.
What was found inside the ship:
Weapons were present, but no nuclear warhead.
This ship wasn't "the real one," but yet another decoy.
However, something strange was found among the ship's documents.
"There's something off. What we're chasing might really be the warhead, but…"
"Why was this ship so heavily guarded? There's no warhead here."
We began to question the operation itself.
"What exactly are we chasing?"
*****
Episode – 'Caught in a Trap'
Location: Bangkok, Thailand – Hideout of an Info Broker
Time: 7:15 p.m.
We had succeeded in the operation, but the nuclear warhead was not found. Everything was confusing.
Emily approached Vincent with her data analysis. "Everything we've been chasing… it's all been off. Someone has been manipulating this from behind the scenes."
Feynman closed his laptop with a bitter laugh. "…Shit. We've been played."
Truth revealed through Nathan & Feynman's intel network:
What we were chasing wasn't I.R.O.N.—it was multiple national intelligence agencies, all running overlapping operations.
Nations were scrambling to secure the warhead for themselves.
I.R.O.N. exploited the chaos, manipulating us into getting involved.
We had become pawns, disrupting the balance they wanted fractured.
"I.R.O.N. lured us in. They're making us start a war with our own hands."
Feynman slammed the laptop shut again. He went silent.
"I got played… Me…" He buried his face in his hands.
Vincent stood silently, eyes wavering.
Angie spoke quietly. "…This is bigger than we thought."
Feynman looked up. "They didn't care what we did. Stop it, fail, succeed… it didn't matter. All they wanted was chaos."
Vincent broke the silence. "Because of us, now nations will distrust each other."
Feynman muttered with a bitter smile. "I.R.O.N… Just how far ahead were you planning this?"
At that moment—
CNN BREAKING NEWS – "U.S. Colonel Missing"
"Colonel Christopher Lee has reportedly gone missing in Thailand last night."
Vincent stared at the screen and exhaled slowly.
"…They beat us to the punch."
He clenched his fist.
"This is it. We're done being prey."
"The real war is about to begin."
***
Episode: Colonel Christopher Lee – The Battlefield Baited
Location: Unknown – I.R.O.N.'s Secret FacilityTime: 4:20 AM
The room was shrouded in darkness.A flickering fluorescent light cast a faint glow, and a man sat bound to a chair.
Colonel Christopher Lee.Blood trickled down his face, but his expression remained unbroken.
Two I.R.O.N. agents stood before him—one in a suit, the other in a lab coat.
"You have two choices," the man in the suit said slowly, holding up a small syringe filled with a glowing blue liquid.
A neural agent developed by I.R.O.N.—capable of manipulating memory, heightening sensation, and ultimately forcing the truth.Unofficially tested by several intelligence agencies.
The doctor spoke calmly, "It doesn't hurt. In fact, you'll feel like you're dreaming while we sift through your memories."
Christopher Lee remained silent, his gaze unwavering.
The man flicked the syringe. "We need the intel you're hiding."
The Colonel didn't speak. Not a word.
The man sighed. "Very well. Let's begin."
Just as the doctor approached with the needle—
Red alert sirens blared.
"Emergency alert! Intrusion detected outside the facility!"
The suited man's expression tightened. "What?"
Location: Guangzhou, China – Outside I.R.O.N. Sub-FacilityTime: 4:35 AM
A shadow moved swiftly in the dark alley between tall buildings.
Thup. A silenced gunshot echoed briefly.One I.R.O.N. guard dropped silently.Another turned—too late. A strong arm wrapped around his neck.
Crack. A clean, silent break.
Vincent Kang.His face burned with a fury unlike anything before.
Briefing – 20 Minutes Earlier
Feynman was hammering keys on his laptop, his eyes flickering with realization.
"This is it."He pointed at the screen."One of I.R.O.N.'s sub-facilities in Guangzhou. Satellite data suggests Colonel Lee was moved here."
Emily zoomed in. "Security's tight—underground prison, lab complex."
Gabriel crossed his arms. "So we're going stealth?"
Vincent's voice was calm."No."
Volkov raised a brow. "Then how?"
Vincent's eyes went cold."We go loud."
Location: Inside the I.R.O.N. Facility – Combat BeginsTime: 4:40 AM
"Breach alert! Hostiles confirmed!"
Chaos erupted. I.R.O.N. guards rushed into formation.
BOOM!An explosion tore through the outer wall.
Volkov grinned wildly, still holding the smoking trigger."This is how you go loud!"
Gabriel and Vincent rushed in through the debris cloud.
Ratatatatata! Machine gun fire filled the air.
Gabriel ducked and returned fire.Vincent vanished behind cover, reemerged, and drove a knife into an enemy's throat.
Close-quarters combat.Vincent – knife and CQB precision shots.Gabriel – rapid movement and clean headshots.Volkov – explosives to disrupt enemy lines.
Location: Holding Cell – Rescuing Colonel LeeTime: 4:50 AM
Colonel Lee was still tied to the chair, fire in his eyes.
Crash!The door burst open.
Vincent stepped in, pistol raised, eyes blazing.
Colonel Lee gave a faint smirk. "Rescue mission, huh?"
Vincent cut his restraints with a knife."We're not here to rescue you."
Lee raised a brow. "Then what?"
Vincent helped him up."We're here to fight alongside you."
Footsteps thundered in the hallway.
Ratatata!! Gunfire erupted again.
Gabriel shouted, "We're out of time! We need to move!"
Volkov chuckled, waving his detonator."Time to blow a hole in their wall, eh?"
Vincent barked, "Keep it moderate this time."
Volkov's eyes gleamed."Moderate? I only do artfully large."
BOOM!!!The building shook from the explosion.
Through smoke and debris, the team escaped.
I.R.O.N. Command Headquarters – Surveillance Room
Drone footage of the destroyed facility streamed across a large monitor.I.R.O.N.'s leadership watched in silence.
One man tapped the desk."Vincent Kang. Colonel Christopher Lee. And their team…"
He narrowed his eyes.
"They're no longer just a nuisance."
Another voice asked quietly, "Then what are they?"
The leader smiled."They're prey now."