Airspace above Bataan
2104 hours.
Reaper One-One loitered at 22,000 feet.
Unseen, unheard.
Its dark silhouette blended with the sky, gliding silently above the chaos unfolding below. In the onboard systems suite, the MQ-9B drone's AI-driven targeting algorithm was running calculations in real time—processing thermal scans, adjusting for wind drift, humidity, movement patterns.
In Overwatch's command center back at the MOA Complex, the operator designated as Reaper One-One sat behind a curved bank of monitors, fingers moving across the HOTAS joystick and touchscreen interface.
"Eagle Actual, this is. Reaper One-One has confirmed thermal lock on twenty-five targets clustered near the northern perimeter," the operator reported. "Classification—infected. Confirming zero friendly IFF signatures in the immediate zone."
Thomas Estaris stood just behind him, arms crossed. His eyes never left the primary feed. "Weapons free. Begin thinning the swarm."
