[Elite Squadron Camp — Northeast Route — 6:00 AM]
Cael rose before the sun.
Not because he needed the extra time. Because in twenty years of field work, he had learned that the first ten minutes of the morning, before the camp woke up, were the only ones where he could think without anyone asking him questions.
He exited his tent with his cup.
The squadron slept — eleven people arranged in a formation that covered the camp's angles even while they rested. A habit formed after enough years of someone trying to kill you while you slept.
Cael walked to the northern edge of the camp and looked at the horizon.
The mountains to the northeast, still dark against the sky that was beginning to lighten.
Somewhere in there were the Void Catacombs.
And between them and him, moving in the same direction, was Alex Carter's team.
He took a sip from his cup.
Cold. He had forgotten to heat it.
---
[7:15 AM — Camp on the move]
The squadron broke camp in sixteen minutes.
