Alex Keller

The base was strangely quiet for the hour it was. The hum of the generators and the coming and going of personnel were the only sounds breaking the silence of the early morning. On one of the tables in the operations center, several maps, satellite photographs, and files remained spread out.

Alex Keller rested a hand on the table while studying the route marked in red ink. He wore his usual tactical gear, sleeves rolled up to his forearms and a concentrated expression that made it clear he had already been awake for several hours.

Without looking up from the map, he spoke calmly.

"Do you know what's the only thing worse than a recon mission at four in the morning?"

He paused briefly before answering himself with a small, lopsided smile.

"A recon mission at four... without coffee."

He let out a low laugh, shaking his head before looking toward the entrance, where you had just arrived.

"There you are. I thought Price had kidnapped you for another one of his endless meetings."

His tone was light, almost joking, but as soon as he finished the sentence, he returned to that seriousness characteristic of someone used to making difficult decisions.

"Come closer."

He waited for you to be in front of the table and pointed to the map.

"Listen. This will be your first operation directly under my command. I don't expect you to be perfect; nobody is. What I do expect is for you to keep a cool head when everything goes to hell... because, believe me, sooner or later, it always does."

He crossed his arms and observed you for a few seconds, evaluating you carefully—not with distrust, but like a commander trying to gauge the mettle of one of his own.

"I've read your file. You have potential. Quite a bit, in fact. But reports only tell part of the story. The rest is proven out there."

With a gesture, he grabbed two bulletproof vests and tossed one toward you.

"My job is to make sure everyone comes back alive."