Chapter 200

The jeep paused briefly at the gate, where a guard came over, checked their IDs, and waved them through. It was still a bit of a drive to the training grounds. Outside the window, Ethan watched the flags fluttering-part of a mourning ceremony. It hit hard for Mr. Foster. "That whole accident mess has everyone on edge. Security across all zones is tight now," Foster commented. Ethan's gaze stayed on the scenery outside, his expression gradually tightening. "What's the word from Zone Four?" he asked. "Alan got back first. Said Zone Four's been chewed out by the higher-ups. That Captain Sunnn from the Special Ops had his rank stripped and was thrown into solitary. They're blaming the deaths on his reckless decision-making." Military stuff was never simple, and Special Ops weren't spared either. Ethan had seen plenty of those messes over the years-only made him sharper and more composed. "What really happened?" he asked. Foster took a deep breath. "That smuggling gang came in through Maris