Carver’s Point — Blizzard

  Wind screams across the mountains.

  The storm has worsened.

  Visibility is almost gone.

  Snow lashes against armor plates and frozen bodies scattered across the battlefield.

  The world feels smaller.

  Colder.

  More desperate.

  Instructor Observation Room — Broadcast

  The announcer’s voice cuts across every comm channel in the area.

  “Attention, cadets.”

  The battlefield pauses — not physically, but mentally.

  Everyone listens.

  “We interrupt the simulation momentarily to announce that there are 24 hours remaining.”

  A beat.

  “After the simulation concludes, all eliminated participants will be unfrozen, weapons deactivated, and you will have one hour to return to your shuttles.”

  A pause.

  “If you are late… you will be left behind.”

  Another pause.

  “Now… to the standings after the first 24 hours.”

  Fourth Place — Orange Team

  “Team Orange, led by Leris Gael.”

  “10 eliminations. 14 losses. 0 hours held.”

  “That places you at –4 points.”

  A mocking tone creeps in.

  “That’s really disappointing, Leris Gael.”

  System Reminder

  “For those unfamiliar with the scoring system:

  1 point per elimination.

  –1 per loss.

  3 points per hour holding the stronghold.”

  Third Place — Red Team

  “Team Red, led by Andreas Smetana.”

  “34 eliminations. 29 losses. 0 hours held.”

  “That gives you 5 points.”

  A pause.

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  “We expected more from Team Red given the talent you possess.”

  “I suppose talent does not always create victors.”

  “You still have 24 hours to prove us wrong.”

  Second Place — Blue Team

  “Team Blue, led by Jackson Icon.”

  “25 eliminations. 14 losses.”

  “Best ratio so far.”

  “And the team with the stronghold at the Moment, time — 3 hours held.”

  “That places you at 20 points.”

  A slight shift in tone.

  “Team Blue has demonstrated excellent tactical prowess.”

  “We have discussed which team has the highest chance of winning…”

  “And we believe it is you.”

  “Do not disappoint us.”

  First Place — Green Team

  “First place belongs to Team Green, led by Vergal Verin.”

  “34 eliminations. 49 losses.”

  “Highest casualties of any team.”

  “But…”

  “19 hours holding the stronghold.”

  “That gives you 42 points.”

  Excitement enters the voice.

  “Will Green maintain their lead with half their forces gone?”

  “Or will a new king be crowned?”

  Top Eliminators

  “And now… the top three cadets still active.”

  “Third place — Jackson Icon, 7 eliminations.”

  “Second place — Lardes Fossilis, 8 eliminations.”

  A short pause.

  “First place — the Green Maniac… Tobi Delgado… 10 eliminations.”

  “I wish you all a good fight.”

  “Broadcast ends.”

  Stronghold — Orange POV

  Louis lowers his rifle slightly.

  “…Wait,” he says.

  “I thought we got the guy mowing us down earlier.”

  A frozen body nearby has a ringing phone.

  One cadet checks it.

  The name flashes:

  Tobi Delgado

  The cadet looks up.

  “…We definitely did not eliminate him.”

  Louis turns the frozen body to read the tag.

  Sam Delgado

  Realization hits.

  “…They’re twins,” someone says.

  Louis exhales sharply.

  “Okay. Doesn’t matter.”

  “He’s not here right now.”

  “And we need this stronghold.”

  He looks around at his people.

  “We’re last place.”

  “We stick to the plan.”

  “Rush the control room on my command.”

  Red Team — Lardes’ Group

  Everyone turns toward Lardes.

  “Let’s go!”

  “Second place!”

  “Damn, man!”

  Lardes smiles, a little.

  Jeff’s phone rings.

  Jawson.

  Jeff answers.

  “Andreas is down,” Jawson says urgently.

  “There’s a traitor among us—”

  Jeff cuts him off.

  “I know.”

  A beat.

  “Gather your men and move to the stronghold.”

  “We need firepower.”

  Jawson nods.

  “Copy.”

  He turns to his unit.

  “Alright! Move out!”

  Call ends.

  Red Planning Moment

  Jeff stands over a terrain display.

  Lardes, Jason, Vale, and Sagoya join him.

  They start mapping an approach.

  The storm howls outside.

  Blizzard — Jackson

  A shadow moves through the snow.

  Jackson.

  Face hidden under frost and fabric.

  He grabs a frozen cadet’s phone.

  Dials.

  Maximus answers.

  “Who is this?”

  “It’s me,” Jackson says calmly.

  “I’m heading to the stronghold.”

  “I eliminated Andreas.”

  “I’ll be there soon.”

  Before Maximus can respond—

  Call ends.

  Jackson throws the phone into the snow.

  Keeps walking.

  Behind him, the phone rings endlessly.

  Stronghold — Blue vs Orange

  Maximus lowers his comm.

  Before he can react—

  The left door explodes open.

  Orange cadets rush in.

  Two Blue soldiers freeze instantly.

  “Cover!” Maximus shouts.

  “It’s Orange!”

  Fire erupts.

  Chaos inside the control room.

  Red Team — Outside

  Lardes hears the distant firefight.

  “I think two teams are fighting inside,” he says.

  Everyone looks at him.

  He continues fast.

  “They’re attacking from the left.”

  “Blue would’ve entered from the right earlier.”

  “So Blue’s inside the control room.”

  “And another team is hitting them from the left.”

  He points to the map.

  “That means Blue is surrounded.”

  “And both sides are taking casualties.”

  He looks at Jeff.

  “That’s our opening.”

  “We hit from the right.”

  “From behind.”

  Jeff nods slowly.

  Lardes continues.

  “And while we move — you call Jawson.”

  “Have him flank from the left.”

  “So when we clear the control room…”

  “The other team won’t be a threat.”

  Silence.

  Jeff looks impressed.

  “That’s a great plan,” he says.

  Lardes shrugs slightly.

  “So, Captain…”

  “Your call.”

  Everyone turns to Jeff.

  Waiting.

  Jeff looks around.

  Sees the expectation.

  Feels the weight.

  Then:

  “Alright, cadets,” Jeff says.

  “You heard the man.”

  “Move out.”

  They advance toward the right entrance.

  Jeff pulls out his phone.

  Calling Jawson.