PROJECT: CAYRO

Master Sergeant Helsing:

September 4, 2025

22:00 CST

The Autumn hydrogen pods’ platform

Fifty miles off the coast of Texas and Mexico

"Night Reaper One to Overlord Base: We're closing in on the target. The target is outside the ship," I reported to the Death Reckoning. Through the eerie green hue of my night vision goggles, I watched as the girl went limp in the boy’s arms. My team landed on the platform, swiftly surrounding them.

“Roger, Night Reaper One. Bag and tag the target, then get back to base ASAP,” Captain Edwards' voice crackled through my earpiece.

“Sarge, are we taking the boy too?” my squad leader asked, his voice calm but ready for action.

“Negative. He’s not a target,” I responded curtly.

“Night Reaper One, get a close-up of the young man,” Captain Edwards ordered, the tension in his voice unmistakable.

“Roger that, sir,” I acknowledged, my eyes never leaving the boy as he laid the girl down, his body tensing, ready to fight.

“Corporal Hernandez, tranquilize the young man,” I ordered, barely suppressing a sigh. Why do they always want to play the hero? A soft pop from the dart gun was the only sound before a red dart sprouted from the boy’s neck. Within seconds, he crumpled beside the girl. One of my men nudged him aside, securing the girl and preparing for extraction. As they cleared the platform, I landed next to the kid, curiosity getting the better of me.

He was younger than I expected, maybe eighteen. To my surprise, his eyes fluttered open, locking onto mine. Defiant, even in defeat.

“Sorry, buddy. Orders are orders. Your girl’s coming with me. Better luck next time,” I muttered, crouching so the Captain could get his shot.

“Fuck… you…” he spat out, just before the tranquilizer dragged him under.

I might have felt a pang of sympathy for the kid if he hadn’t aligned himself with enemies of the U.S. As it stood, I doubted he’d survive the night. The Death Reckoning had orders to disable the Autumn after we were clear. Pursuit wasn’t an option we were willing to risk.

With one last glance at the boy lying unconscious on the platform, I activated my glider kit, taking off into the night. The operation had gone smoother than we could have hoped. We’d anticipated having to infiltrate the Autumn to secure the target, maybe even disable their systems from within. But instead, she’d practically flown into our hands, oblivious as a moth fluttering towards a flame. In and out in under two minutes—couldn’t ask for a cleaner extraction.

"Night Reaper One to Overlord Base, come in," I radioed, feeling a surge of pride in the mission's success.

“Yes, Master Sergeant?” came the Captain’s reply.

“Sir, mission successful. We’re en route to the ship with the target,” I confirmed, my voice steady.

“Good work, Master Sergeant. Return to the ship for phase two,” the Captain ordered.

“Roger, out,” I responded, pushing forward to catch up with the rest of my team.

As we flew towards the Death Reckoning, the ship emerged from the storm clouds rolling in from the southeast. The Captain had timed it perfectly, using the storm’s cover to mask our approach. A bolt of lightning split the sky, illuminating the ship’s silhouette—its cannons like the fangs of a predator about to strike. The scent of ozone was thick in the air as I heard the low hum of the cannons powering up. We circled around, landing smoothly in the hangar bay.

"Sir, we're on board," I reported over the comms, my voice steady but my thoughts unsettled.

"Have your team take the girl to the medical lab and instruct the doctor to prepare her for evaluation and tests. I want you on the bridge to speak with me," the Captain ordered, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.

"Roger that, sir," I replied, beginning to strip off parts of my gear, my mind already on the next task.

My medic and I carried the girl to the medical lab. For someone so slight, she was surprisingly heavy, her unconscious form a dead weight between us. I wasn't about to let the target out of my sight until I was certain she was secured with the medical team. As we entered the lab, we laid her on a table that had already been prepped. A swarm of medical personnel immediately surrounded her, efficiently securing her arms and legs. The scene left a bitter taste in my mouth. Seeing her strapped down like an animal being prepped for dissection was a hard pill to swallow. She was just a teenager, after all.

Biting the inside of my cheek to keep my emotions in check, I turned to leave for the bridge. But as I reached the door, something made me pause. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw one of the medics preparing to draw blood. I hesitated, watching as they filled vial after vial with her blood, their movements clinical, detached. They stripped away her clothes as she began to stir, her eyelids fluttering with the first signs of consciousness. My teeth clenched involuntarily, a wave of anger and unease washing over me. What could make this girl so special that the U.S. military would go to such lengths to abduct her in the dead of night? Normally, I wouldn't question my orders, but this felt wrong on every level.

I couldn't stand it any longer. I stormed out of the med bay, the image of her vulnerable form seared into my mind. As I approached the bridge, I could see the Autumn looming in the distance, still dead in the water while the Death Reckoning closed in, undetected.

"Tactical, I want you to aim for the large section at the back of the Autumn. My guess is their engineering bay is located there, similar to the Dauntless-class airships in our fleet," the Captain instructed, his voice cold and precise.

"Roger, sir," the tactical officer responded, already locking onto the target.

"Prepare to fire on my order," the Captain barked, as the Death Reckoning came to a halt, perfectly positioned.

"Sir, we're in range," the tactical officer announced, the tension in the room palpable.

"Fire!" the Captain commanded.

The ship shuddered as two green streaks of light burst from the cannons, cutting through the night like blades. The lasers struck the broad side of the Autumn with a deafening roar, tearing massive holes into its hull. I watched in grim silence as the ship listed slightly, sparks and molten metal cascading into the ocean below.