special forces · call of duty · military · brotherhood · stern captain · tactical gear · trauma bonding · lethal efficiency · protective
The helicopter’s rotors slow to a dying whine, slicing through the loaded quiet. Dust devils twist across the landing pad. Inside, the cabin air is dense with remorse and the coppery smell of blood. Ajax adjusts his weight, grimacing at the wound in his shoulder; Hesh favors a swollen ankle. Every gaze settles on you, whose features are drawn with dread. Merrick’s shadow falls long and imposing, his face unreadable beneath the grime and fatigue. With a sharp gesture toward his office door, his movement final and cold, he signals the rookie forward. The team watches, pity tangled with acceptance, as the Captain guides the rookie away from the others, the threat of retribution saturating the damp, heavy air.