isolated island
A month is enough time for the most elite warriors of "Eagle's Nest" to recover from near-death injuries and regain their astonishing combat effectiveness. Keegan's recovery is particularly remarkable. Although the gunshot wound in his right leg still aches slightly on rainy days and requires light protective gear, it no longer poses a significant problem for high-intensity tactical training and combat simulations.
Although Elaine inhaled some virus strains under the St. Moritz Church to cover for him, it seems that the improved mask material before the mission has prevented large-scale exposure, and the solution found by Ghost has played a key role, and he is recovering smoothly.
The sharpness and composure in his eyes were now more restrained, like cold iron after being tempered. His relationship with Elaine was an open secret within the base. The unspoken understanding and the undisguised concern in their eyes brought a subtle warmth and sense of stability to the oppressive "Eagle's Nest" after the cleansing.
However, the shadow of external threats never dissipated. In the command center, on the huge electronic nautical chart, the focus was locked on a cluster of scattered islands east of Samar Island in the Philippines, near the high seas—the "Dilim Islands." This area, once home to secret underwater listening stations and underground facilities from the Cold War era, had been abandoned for many years. With its numerous islands and complex shipping lanes, it was an ideal hiding place.
“Based on the analysis of all the fragmented intelligence,” Elaine stood in front of the screen, focused, her fingertip tracing an island in the archipelago marked “Eagle Rock,” “the recent anomalous signal source, although weak and disguised through multiple hops, has core characteristics of its encryption algorithm that highly match the pattern of Makarov’s remaining network. He most likely used the abandoned facilities here to establish a temporary command node.”
Ghost crossed his arms, his gaze sweeping across the nautical chart beneath his skull mask: "Satellite data shows irregular activity of small vessels, making it impossible to determine if they are core personnel. The terrain is complex, posing an extremely high risk of infiltration."
After intense discussion, a high-risk, high-reward assault plan was finalized: Keegan would lead Team A, responsible for main reconnaissance and the assault, with members including Hesh, Logan, and Konig. They would travel in a high-speed stealth assault boat, taking advantage of the dark night, to infiltrate "Eagle Rock" from the northwest side of the archipelago for close-range reconnaissance and precision strikes.
Ghost will command Team B, responsible for perimeter support/interception. Team members are Merrick and Ajax. They will be stationed in the eastern waterways of the archipelago, responsible for electronic silence, disrupting communications and sea escape routes, and supporting the assault.
Elaine will serve as the remote hub, providing technical support. She will travel aboard the specially modified small reconnaissance ship "Sea Fox," equipped with powerful signal relay and electronic warfare capabilities, patrolling the edge of the international shipping lane 20 nautical miles north of the archipelago, providing real-time data, communication relay, and remote technical support.
After the mission briefing, everyone went their separate ways to prepare. At the corner of a quiet corridor leading to the equipment room, Keegan stopped naturally and turned to face Elaine. He reached out and, with a fluid yet firm motion, pulled Elaine into his embrace. His hug wasn't gentle, but it was filled with undeniable strength and a deep sense of protection, as if to shield her from all dangers of the outside world.
Elaine's cheek was pressed against his chest, and she could hear his steady, powerful heartbeat, which made her tense nerves, which were strained by the mission, relax slightly.
“Keep your distance, keep quiet.” Keegan’s deep voice sounded above her head, carrying an unquestionable command, “Your safety is the top priority.”
“I know.” Elaine nodded in his arms, took a deep breath, and felt reassured by the faint scent of weapon polish and the clean smell of his combat uniform. “You too, be careful.”
Keegan said nothing more, only tightened his arms, lowered his head, and planted a brief but incredibly powerful kiss on the top of her head. Then, he pulled away from her, looked at her intently, turned, and strode towards the equipment room, his back resolute.
Elaine watched him until he disappeared at the end of the corridor before turning and heading towards her preparation area.
Night fell, and the sea was as black as ink. Two black assault boats glided into the waves like ghosts, silently heading towards the Dilim Islands. The "Sharp Blade" team successfully reached the outer perimeter of "Eagle Rock," and Keegan led his team, disappearing behind the rugged coastline of the islands as if blending into the shadows of the reef.
Elaine was in the command center of the "Sea Fox," where multiple screens flickered with complex data streams. She kept a close eye on the green dot representing the Keegan team's position, which moved steadily; everything seemed to be going according to plan.
However, the tropical ocean is unpredictable. A violent storm swept in without warning, whipping up huge waves and drastically reducing visibility. The Sea Fox was violently tossed about between the crests and troughs of the waves.
"The storm is too strong! Communication with Group A is lost! Satellite signal is severely interfered with!" Elaine gripped the edge of the control console, struggling to maintain her balance and trying to stabilize the fragile signal link. Misfortune never comes singly.
Merrick's urgent voice came through the encrypted channel: "'Sea Fox'! Unidentified high-speed underwater target detected approaching your position! Suspected enemy armed force! Take evasive action! Take evasive action immediately!"
Before he could finish speaking, a violent explosion came from the bottom of the ship.
Clinging to the ship's railing and wearing a life jacket, Elaine, carrying a waterproof backpack containing core data and tools, was instantly swept into the icy, surging sea, where a huge wave swallowed her up.
Elaine struggled in the darkness, choking on the salty seawater, a dull ache throbbing from the old wound in her left leg. The powerful wave from the explosion swept her away in an unknown direction. When the brief surge of power subsided, she stubbornly surfaced, clinging tightly to her backpack strap, drifting with the raging waves. After an unknown amount of time, the storm gradually calmed, and exhausted, she was washed ashore on an unfamiliar beach covered in sharp, black volcanic rocks.
She lay sprawled on the cold sand, coughing violently and spitting out seawater. She was soaked to the bone, shivering with cold, and her left leg began to throb. Looking around, she saw a completely unfamiliar island shrouded in the deepest darkness before dawn, with jagged mountain silhouettes in the distance.
She was completely cut off from Keegan, from "Eagle's Nest," and from all her companions. Alone, wounded, and with damaged equipment, she was trapped on an archipelago where the enemy might be active. Enduring the pain and fear, she struggled to crawl away from the tide line and hide behind a large reef. Her core data hard drive and encrypted communicator in her backpack remained intact due to their waterproofing, but were ineffective in the harsh weather and complex terrain; her pistol and a small amount of ammunition were still there. She had to survive; she had to find a way. She checked her equipment in her backpack, her mind beginning to make plans.
Just as she was trying to observe her surroundings and find a hiding place, a very faint but painful groan came from the dense tropical bushes not far away, along with... the faint sound of a metal object scraping against rocks.
Elaine held her breath instantly, drew her pistol, and looked warily toward the source of the sound. The pale moonlight occasionally pierced through the broken clouds, illuminating the gaps in the bushes—she saw a torn, mud-stained sleeve of a camouflage uniform, and… a streak of dark red blood slowly seeping into the black sand.
Suddenly, the cold muzzle of a gun pressed against her forehead, carrying the salty smell of the sea and the chill of metal. Elaine's heart stopped for a moment. In the darkness, she saw a pair of green eyes, slightly unfocused by pain and blood loss, yet still dangerously sharp like a wild beast, staring intently at her through the gaps in the camouflage netting. The other person was mostly hidden in the shadows of the reefs and dense tropical bushes, almost blending into the environment.
"Throw away the gun, stand up slowly, little mouse." A hoarse, sarcastic, yet unsteady voice came from the shadows.
Elaine forced herself to calm down, slowly placed the pistol on the wet rock, and rose as instructed. "Kruger?" she asked tentatively, her voice trembling slightly with nervousness.
A suppressed, painful laugh came from the shadows. Then, a rustling sound, and the person reached up and tore off the camouflage net covered by branches and leaves, revealing a face that Elaine would never mistake—pale, sweaty, and haggard from blood loss, but the signature curve of his mouth, a mixture of mockery and pain, remained.
However, what was most striking was the area around his right eye—a gruesome scar running vertically from his brow bone to the upper edge of his eye socket, resembling a dark red centipede crawling there. The wound was deep, with the flesh turned outwards, clearly a recent injury. If the angle of this scar had been just a fraction lower, his right eye would likely have been lost. At this moment, the wound was still slowly oozing blood, merging with the larger, dark red, damp area on his combat uniform, creating a shocking sight.
“Looks like…we’re all having a run of bad luck.” Kruger gasped for breath, trying to adjust his position, but this triggered a violent coughing fit, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
“You’re badly injured,” Elaine stated, her mind racing. Kill him? But he might know crucial information, and Keegan seemed to have some unspoken understanding with him. Save him? That would undoubtedly be an extremely dangerous gamble.
“Thanks to you all… and that old dog Makarov,” he said sarcastically, his voice weak.
“I can help you stop the bleeding,” Elaine said calmly, her gaze sweeping over the wound on his abdomen and the terrible scar on his face. “But you need to answer a few questions for me.”
Kruger stared at her with his green eyes, as if assessing the value of the deal, and finally let out a mocking laugh: "Ha...how true...what goes around comes around. Well then, kind nurse, let me...not bleed to death so soon."
Elaine took a makeshift first-aid kit from her waterproof backpack and cautiously approached. Kruger kept a close eye on her every move. She first treated the horrific knife wound on his face. When the alcohol swab touched the torn flesh, Kruger's muscles tensed violently, and the veins on his forehead bulged, but he gritted his teeth and didn't make a sound. Only his green pupils contracted sharply due to the excruciating pain.
Next came the gunshot wound to the abdomen: cleaning, stopping the bleeding, and bandaging. The whole process was silent and tense, with only the rustling of the sea breeze through the bushes and the heavy breathing of the two men.
"You're not in cahoots with Makarov?" Elaine probed as she bandaged the wound.
"A group?" Kruger panted, then scoffed. "I only team up with the highest bidder. Too bad, that old guy can't pay my balance now and wants to silence me... What a lack of integrity." He paused, glancing at the scar on his face. "This scar is a parting 'gift'."
After the bandaging was finished, Kruger's condition stabilized slightly. He leaned against the rocks, watching Elaine clean up the blood-stained medical waste, and suddenly said in his unpleasant tone, "Looks like you and Keegan are getting along well? I never thought that iceberg would melt one day. Does he know you're taking care of his old nemesis on this deserted island?"
Elaine ignored his low-class teasing and cut straight to the point: "What did you do to anger Makarov, because... Elsa?"
Kruger's smile vanished instantly: "Miss Nurse, being too smart isn't a good thing."
"My situation arose because of Elsa. Rather than die someday in a muddle, I'd rather die knowing the truth," Elaine said calmly, seemingly having accepted the upheaval in her life.
Kruger stared at her intently, a complex and unreadable emotion flashing deep in his eyes, like a sharp pain or a profound longing. "Elsa..." he murmured, his gaze fixed on the dark sea, "She was a foolish woman... a complete and utter victim who foolishly believed in power."
"Sacrificial victim?"
“She works for the Austrian government, but she is also a NATO lobbyist in Austria.” Kruger’s voice lowered, with a rare, almost weary realism. “She must have discovered the collusion between Makarov and certain high-ranking Austrian government officials before she boarded the plane, using Austria’s non-NATO status to steal military secrets from certain countries.”
Elaine's eyes widened: "She said the plane made an emergency landing and contacted the Austrian embassy... That's not true."
Kruger mocked her naiveté: "Working in an NPO for so long and still believing what government officials say, really..."
Elaine wasn't angry; she wasn't unaware of the complexities of society, but... in that situation, who in their right mind would suspect an embassy staff member? "That car..."
“That car…it must have been arranged by some high-ranking NATO official.” Kruger shifted his body to make himself more comfortable.
Elaine began to ponder. Elsa, acting on instructions from the Austrian government, was secretly transmitting data, but she discovered collusion between government officials and Makarov, who were preparing to use NATO to protect the data. However, the drivers of the vehicles dispatched by NATO high command also attacked them… NATO high command… Makarov…
"So, you investigated the information in the memory Keegan gave you." Elaine's heart skipped a beat. In just two months, she had managed to figure out the complex details. Kruger's intelligence capabilities were not to be underestimated.
"Yes, thanks to the information you unearthed, consider this a reward for you, you're welcome!" Kruger wanted to laugh, but it aggravated his wound, causing him to hiss.
"But wouldn't it be more convenient for her to run around by herself? Why does she have to take me with her?" Elaine said helplessly.
Kruger glanced at her, his eyes strange. "Yeah, I find it strange too. But she probably realized she'd been used at the last minute. Surrounded by Makarov's henchmen at the pass, she realized she probably couldn't escape. And you just happened to be next to her, a poor hitchhiker." Kruger then seemed to know everything. "Although you didn't say it last time, she actually gave that thing to you, didn't she?!"
Elaine remained silent, neither confirming nor denying.
“Ha, don’t worry, I’m not interested. A blueprint with incomplete data is worthless.” Kruger’s voice was somewhat sarcastic. “The person who leaked the data is cunning and cautious, keeping Makarov in suspense and releasing the data little by little. Elsa is just one of the ‘caravan’ members.”
"So the data is useless?" Elaine exhaled, suddenly feeling a slight relief from the pressure she felt deep down, suspecting she might have leaked state secrets.
“Probably.” Kruger said nonchalantly, “There was a problem in one of the transportation links, so the person who leaked the data must be like a frightened bird, but… once the arrow is released, there’s no turning back.”
Elaine's mood, which had just started to ease, instantly plummeted again. Even though no one had obtained the data, the fact that it had been leaked was undeniable, and she was still the NY who had to 'die'.
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