Shadows in the Night Adam sat silently in the 160th SOAR Blackhawk, flying low beneath the radar, shrouded in the darkness of the night. The green glow of his night vision goggles illuminated the world outside, where shadows and shapes barely distinguished the terrain. Just ahead and slightly to the right, the second helicopter flew in tight formation, a ghostly silhouette in the night. Adam’s focus was laser-sharp, his thoughts entirely consumed by the mission. With every passing mile, the tension in the air grew thicker, a tangible force that he could feel pulsing through his veins. But as the adrenaline surged, a paradoxical calm settled over him. Despite the looming dangers and unknowns, a strange peace enveloped him, replacing fear and doubt with a cold, lethal determination. This pre-combat tranquility was something Adam had experienced before, yet it always struck him as uncanny. He was well aware of the horrors awaiting him, of the potential for loss and grief. But in this moment, just before the storm, he felt oddly detached, his emotions dulled. It wasn’t that he wasn’t afraid; the fear was there, buried deep. But instead of paralyzing him, it pushed him forward, sharpening his resolve. With his rifle gripped firmly in hand, Adam scanned the faces of the seven men around him. Positioned at the door, he was always the first to step into the fray, leading by example. The steely determination reflected in their eyes only reinforced his own sense of calm. They were ready, and so was he. The SOAR pilots made a sharp turn, the Blackhawk banking hard to the side and back. Even in the near-zero visibility of this rainy night, the pilots executed a rapid descent with precision that spoke of countless hours of training. The helicopters touched down, and in one fluid motion, Ethan’s team and the second unit disembarked, the night swallowing them up once more. Within seconds, the helicopters lifted off and vanished into the darkness. Adam knelt, his team and the second unit quickly forming up around him in combat formation. He looked at each of them with a steady gaze. "Alright, you know the drill. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast," he said, his voice firm and clear. "Let’s get it done." There were no rousing speeches from Adam, just clear, direct instructions. He gave the signal, and the teams split off, each following the plan with precision. The strategy was simple but effective: attack head-on and from the right flank, creating multiple entry points to maximize their maneuverability. If they encountered resistance early on, the goal was to stretch the enemy thin, forcing them to defend from multiple angles. This approach had a critical advantage. Even if one team hit heavy resistance and, in the worst case, got pinned down by enemy fire, the other team would still have a chance to push forward, reach the hostages, and complete the mission. By dividing the enemy's focus, they reduced the risk of a complete stall and increased the odds of success. This strategy, honed by countless operations, would give them the edge they needed to execute the mission within the tight time frame, ensuring that no matter the obstacles, they could adapt and overcome. After thirty minutes of navigating through low bush, the teams reached the crest of a small hill overlooking a village nestled below. Adam activated his IR pointer, and beams of infrared light cut through the night. Invisible to the naked eye but clear through their NVGs, the IR pointers were invaluable for night operations, providing precise aim while keeping them undetectable to the enemy. The lines of light also allowed the team to coordinate their targets, ensuring no overlap and conserving both time and ammunition. This precision enabled them to swiftly identify and communicate targets, optimizing their effectiveness as they prepared to engage. Green laser dots from IR pointers sliced through the pitch-black night as Adam watched his team maneuvering through the rugged terrain, their movements fluid and synchronized. Through the green-gray haze of his night vision goggles, he saw them glide like shadows, rifles poised, approaching their targets in complete silence. The distant barking of stray dogs, the soft whisper of the wind, and the gentle patter of rain masked any sound they made. Adam abruptly halted, and as if connected by an invisible thread, his team mirrored his actions. He dropped to one knee, raised his rifle to his shoulder, and switched to the scope for a closer view. “Shadow One in position. Do you copy?” Adam murmured into his radio. “Shadow One, this is Shadow Two,” a voice crackled in response. “Shadow Two, copy. Taking position, southeast corner,” the female voice added. “Copy, Shadow Two,” Adam confirmed. “Shadow One to Shadow Three. Shadow Three, SITREP.” “Shadow Three in position. I have eyes on guards. Two at the gate, two more on the roof. Four-man patrol at your 12 o’clock, 100 meters. Shadow Three out,” a voice reported. Adam continued his observation, exhaling slowly. “Shadow Four, do you have eyes on the roof tangos?” “Shadow Four, eyes on target. Ready to drop ‘em,” a voice replied with steely calm. “All Shadows, the go sign is ‘drop ‘em.’ Do you copy?” Adam asked, his tone measured. “Shadow Two, copy,” the female voice responded. “Shadow Three, copy,” came the acknowledgment. “Shadow Four, copy,” a deep, rough voice confirmed. “Shadow Three, take the gate tangos,” Adam commanded. “Shadow Three, eyes on target,” the sniper team leader responded. Adam waited, eyes fixed on the small village ahead. John, Shadow Three’s sniper, held his rifle steady, the crosshairs aligned with his target’s chest. His breathing was slow and deliberate, his finger hovering beside the trigger. Calm and composed, he was ready to execute the shot, at nearly 500-meter distance to his target and in low visibility. Both sniper teams were infiltrated two days prior the mission and have observed the compound from their covered positions. Now it was finally the moment to execute the mission, and John felt relief. He is experienced sniper with over a decade of experience. Such tasks and distances in those condition, although difficult were just routine for him. The night was dark and rainy, with no moon or stars to illuminate the scene. Sniper teams Shadow Three and Four had the freedom to choose their positions without fear of glare from their scopes. They opted for elevated ground, half a kilometer from the compound. Shadow Three covered the south side with a clear view of the gate, while Shadow Four positioned on the east, overseeing the enclosed yard, the building’s eastern flank, and a straight street that cut through the village. Adam took a deep breath. “Drop ‘em,” he ordered, rising to his feet. As Adam and his team advanced, they saw the guards at the gate crumple silently, victims of the snipers' suppressed shots. The four-man patrol, now only fifty meters ahead, noticed the downed guards but had no time to react. More green dots cut through the darkness, followed by the muted ‘tap, tap, tap’ of eight rifles firing in unison. The patrol fell to the ground, lifeless. Adam and his team moved swiftly and efficiently toward the gates. They stepped over the fallen, delivering a single, securing shot to each, ensuring no surprises from behind as they prepared to breach. From the west side, Adam spotted eight blinking IR dots moving through the darkness toward him. It was Shadow Two, their IR marker strobes only visual signs of them as they. Shadow Two moved swiftly and shortly silhouette became recognizable as they rushed toward the gates of the target compound, staying close to the wall to avoid detection. Meanwhile, Shadow One mirrored their movements from the opposite east side. As Adam reached the gates, he carefully touched the cold, solid metal and gave it a gentle push. The gates were massive and sturdy, far more imposing than they had seemed in the drone surveillance photos. His gaze traveled upward, noting the barbed wire coiled menacingly atop the gates and walls. He took a deep breath, weighing his options. The decision weighed heavily on Adam. Going silent and scaling the wall would preserve the element of surprise, but it came with enormous risks. If the enemy awoke and noticed them, his men would be isolated inside the compound, exposed and without cover, unable to provide fire support or effectively engage. This could spell disaster—not only for his team but for the hostages as well. The enemy would have time to organize, focus on the hostages, and possibly lead to their execution. Although the stealth approach was Adam’s preferred tactic, the potential consequences in this situation were too dire. He wasn’t willing to gamble with lives on the line. On the other hand, going loud and blowing the gates open with explosives would certainly rouse the enemy, but it would also throw them into disarray. A sudden explosion in the dead of night, when most of them were asleep, would buy the team precious time—half a minute to a minute—to storm the building and overwhelm the enemy before they could regroup. And in combat, one minute is a huge time span. This aggressive, high-speed assault would force the enemy to focus solely on defending themselves, leaving little time to threaten the hostages. The chaos and brutality of the attack would enable Adam’s team to seize control quickly and decisively. Both choices carried significant risks, but Adam knew that an explosive breach would tilt the odds in their favor, reducing the enemy's ability to react and protect the hostages. He had to act swiftly and with conviction, trusting in the skill and determination of his team. Adam exhaled, his decision made. Years of experience and unwavering trust in his men guided him. "Shadow One to all Shadows," he whispered into his radio. "We go loud." The leader of Shadow Two gave a silent thumbs-up, acknowledging the order. No further explanations were necessary. Shadow One’s breacher moved forward, kneeling as he set his backpack down and began assessing the gate. He meticulously searched for the weakest point, aware that a misplaced charge could result in a partially breached gate and a dozen alerted enemies ready for a fight. As the breacher worked, Shadow Two set up a quick security detail. Two soldiers climbed onto the shoulders of their teammates, peering over the wall into the compound’s yard, prepared to neutralize any immediate threats from within. Meanwhile, the remaining men from both teams took up defensive positions at the rear, covering their flanks and ensuring no surprises emerged from behind. The air was thick with tension as they awaited the signal, each man ready to spring into action the moment the gates were blown. Shadow was a unit designed precisely for operations like this—deep in enemy territory, under poor weather conditions, and in high-stakes scenarios where there was no room for error. The breacher worked quickly, moving with the confidence and precision that came from countless hours of training. Within moments, he had everything set. He placed the flex-linear charge with meticulous care at the spot he determined would yield the most effective breach, then swiftly pack his gear and took his position just behind Adam, ready to detonate the charge on command. Suddenly, a lone dog emerged from the darkness, barreling straight toward them and barking loudly. Emma, the team leader of Shadow Two, reacted immediately. There was a single, muffled ‘tap’ as a 5.56mm round struck the dog, sending it backward. The animal’s lifeless body fell to the ground with a muted thud, barely disturbing the night. Adam’s gaze shifted to the men stationed on the wall. He held his breath, every member of both teams frozen in place, their anticipation palpable. A thumbs-up from one of the men on the wall signaled that the dog’s disturbance hadn’t alerted the enemies inside the compound. Adam exhaled slowly, relief washing over him. The operation could proceed as planned. Adam took a deep breath, the weight of the moment settling on him. "Let’s hit fast and hard," he said into the radio, his voice steady. Then, with authority, he shouted, "EXECUTE, EXECUTE, EXECUTE!" and turned his face away from the gates. A deafening bang shattered the night, the explosion echoing through the compound. A pillar of smoke rose toward the sky as a brief flash lit up the darkness. The force of the blast sent one side of the massive gate swinging violently off its hinges, leaving it half-hanging, barely attached. The air was thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder and smoke as Shadow One and Two surged forward, rifles raised, moving with lethal speed and precision. In mere seconds, they covered the twenty-five meters from the gates to the house, not pausing for even a moment. The teams quickly positioned themselves at the door, the breacher stepping forward with a shotgun. He fired at the hinges with practiced ease, blasting them apart. Adam didn’t hesitate—he kicked the door with a powerful stomp, sending it crashing down with a heavy thud. Inside, the confused voices of enemies echoed, disoriented by the sudden, brutal assault. Shadow was a finely tuned killing machine, each member instinctively knowing their role, every action executed with precise timing. The moment the door hit the ground, two flashbangs were hurled inside. A deafening bang and blinding flash of light stunned the enemies, leaving them disoriented and vulnerable. The teams surged forward, seizing the moment. This was when the real brutality began. They stormed through the rooms with terrifying speed and aggression, their rifles spitting controlled bursts of fire. Every movement was calculated, every shot deliberate. Shadow cut through the compound like a scythe, neutralizing targets with ruthless efficiency, leaving no room for resistance. They moved as one, covering each other, clearing room after room, their actions seamless and lethal. The compound that had been a stronghold moments before was now a battlefield dominated by the relentless force of Shadow, they executed their mission with merciless precision. Teams split and Adam lead Shadow One to a upper floor, shortening time needed for the mission. Adam positioned himself at the first door with his team behind him. Everything moved fast. The door flew open, and they surged in, rifles at the ready. The room was dimly lit, revealing two more doors. Adam went to one, followed by one man, while the other two took the other door. They acted by trained routines, not commands. Adam pushed the door open and stepped inside. He reached the far end and heard a sound—a sharp metal clap followed by a rolling noise. Instinctively, he looked down, seeing a grenade rolling on the floor. "Grenade!" he shouted, eyes darting to the door. "Fuck!" raced through his mind. Instinct took over, and he dove toward the window. As his body shattered the glass, he realized he was on the second floor, six to seven meters above the ground. Time seemed to slow as Adam fell, the jagged shards of glass glinting in the moonlight. He braced himself, twisting his body to minimize the impact. As the grenade exploded, it was just a short, muted blast, and cloud of smoke billowing through the window. Falling down, Adam thought, 'Fucking little firecracker. I could've stayed inside, and took the blast like a man, it would be less painful,' and laughed before he hit the ground. He hit the ground hard, the air knocked out of his lungs and his laughter quickly turned into a grimace as pain shot through his body. The impact left him winded, but he could tell he hadn’t broken anything. He rolled to the side to avoid any falling debris, pushing himself up and assessing his surroundings. "Shadow One, do you copy!" a voice crackled over his radio, urgent and strained. Adam struggled to his feet, wincing. "Shadow One, copy," he gasped, "Dived through the window, outside, took a fall. Minor injuries, but I'm mobile." "Roger that," came the reply. "That seems to became dangerous habit, Chief," voice continued. Adam took a moment to steady himself, glancing around to regain his bearings. He could see his team through the shattered window, moving quickly to clear the remaining rooms. He knew he needed to get back to them, to continue leading the mission. "Proceeding to rejoin," he said, limping toward the building's entrance. ‘’Well, I am fucked up you know,’’ he added and laughed. Adam took a few steps toward building as suddenly the figure emerge from the shattered window, on the ground floor. Reacting on instinct, he raised his rifle, his training kicking in as he prepared to engage the threat. "What the actual fuck? What is with those windows today," echoed through his mind as he focused on the man now standing before him, a weapon in hand. He pressed the trigger and three short claps sounded, sending bullets in mans chest. He collapsed and Adam secured him with a one precise shot. Minutes later, the second team reported in. "Hostages secured. Area clear," the team leader said over the radio. "Roger that," Adam replied, a sense of relief washing over him. "Prepare for extraction." They moved swiftly, guiding the hostages out of the buildings and back toward their extraction point. The adrenaline still surged through Adam 's veins, but his mind was clear and focused. They had completed the mission successfully, but he knew that the journey wasn't over until they were all safely back at base. As the helicopters approached, the sound of their rotors slicing through the air was a welcome relief. "Let's move!" Adam shouted, ushering the hostages toward the waiting helicopters. The teams moved with practiced efficiency, loading everyone aboard and securing the area.