The base was unusually quiet that morning. Computers hummed softly in the background, and the faint metallic clatter of Craig tinkering with his gadget echoed from the corner. For once, there was no shouting, no alarms, no mission chatter, just the subtle rhythm of people busy with their own routines.
Then came breakfast.
"Jeez! What is this?" Louisa's voice broke the silence as she stabbed suspiciously at the grayish lump on her plate.
Benjamin leaned forward, squinting at his own serving. "Is it… supposed to be eggs? Or oatmeal?"
"It's food," Deborah said defensively, crossing her arms. "Don't blame me, okay? I've never cooked before."
Winter, sitting at the end of the table, only sighed and set her fork down, too tired to argue.
"Then why," Benjamin cried dramatically, "did you volunteer to cook?"
"I needed practice," Deborah muttered, clearly annoyed.
The room erupted into groans and protests. Lyla pushed her plate away like it was toxic waste. Craig silently slid his across the table to the farthest edge. Raymond pretended to gag.
Finally, Lyla rose from her seat with the quiet authority of someone who had had enough. "Move aside," she said, gathering pans. "I'll fix breakfast before we all die."
Deborah rolled her eyes. "Fine. Next time, you all can starve for all I care."
"Next time?" Louisa muttered under her breath, "there won't be a next time."
Raymond, ignoring the food crisis, leaned back in his chair with a dramatic sigh. "Can you believe the military recruitment program starts in a week? And guess what? My stupid cousin signed up for it."
Craig didn't look up from cleaning his weapon. "I wonder who's more stupid, your cousin, or you."
Raymond's head snapped around, glaring angrily at Craig.
Winter, who had been quiet, tapped her fingers on the table, her mind spinning faster than the rest. "Military recruitment program…" she repeated softly.
Her eyes drifted toward Benjamin, who was already fiddling with his laptop while spooning Deborah's mystery food into the trash bin. "Benjamin," she said, her voice low but steady, "do you think you can access the military database if I grant you passage from inside?"
Benjamin looked up instantly, his interest piqued. "If you're in on the ground? Of course. It would be child's play with inside access."
The room stilled for a moment as everyone realized where this was going. Louisa's eyes narrowed. "Wait. Don't tell me…" she said slowly. "You're thinking of joining? Like… actually going in?"
Winter's gaze hardened. "I'm going in. As someone else."
The group turned to her, tension buzzing like static in the air.
Benjamin's fingers hovered over his keyboard. "So. New identity. Male or female?"
"Female," Winter said firmly.
Before Benjamin could type, Louisa snorted. "What were you expecting? It would be hard job hiding that chest of hers with a male identity" She gestured broadly at Winter's chest.
The room burst into half-suppressed chuckles and headshakes. Even Raymond cracked a grin.
Winter ignored them, her expression steely. "Benjamin. Prepare a profile. Something believable. Something that won't get flagged."
Benjamin grinned, cracking his knuckles over the keyboard. "Alright, ma'am. New life coming right up."
The laughter and teasing faded, leaving a sharper edge in the room. Everyone could see it: Winter's plan wasn't just reckless, it was dangerous. And yet, her determination made it clear. There was no turning her away from this path.