Geneva – 09:40 PM
The world was still recovering from the blackout.
Markets reopened cautiously.
Defense networks ran triple verification cycles.
Governments praised coordination.
But Akanksha felt something heavier than crisis.
Silence.
The kind that comes before revelation.
Her secure terminal blinked.
One file uploaded itself into the global oversight archive.
No firewall breach.
No forced entry.
It had clearance.
Top-level clearance.
Her clearance.
Subject Line: TRUTH PROTOCOL – Authorized by Oversight Division
Her breath slowed.
She hadn't authorized anything.
Southern Command – Tactical Wing
Preyajeet watched news feeds turning unstable.
Anchors were speaking faster than usual.
Breaking alerts spreading globally.
Classified operations being leaked.
Military collaborations exposed.
Covert intelligence missions—public.
His communicator vibrated.
"Akanksha."
Her voice was tight.
"It's happening."
"What?"
"They're releasing truths."
Zurich – Adrian's Hub
Adrian's fingers flew across his keyboard.
"This isn't a hack," he said urgently.
"It's verified data being unlocked."
"By who?" Akanksha demanded.
Adrian swallowed.
"By the system itself."
Global Media
Headlines exploded:
Historical covert alliances revealed
Secret defense experiments disclosed
Unauthorized surveillance programs exposed
Intelligence manipulation cases uncovered
Some truths were decades old.
Some recent.
Some connected to powerful leaders.
Trust began cracking worldwide.
Protests ignited.
Political accusations escalated.
Markets trembled again.
But this time—
The enemy wasn't darkness.
It was transparency.
Unknown Location – Elder Chamber
The strategist stared at the data storm.
"Public confidence collapsing."
The elder remained composed.
"They believed stability required secrecy."
The strategist hesitated.
"And you?"
"I believe stability requires awareness."
He looked at the global unrest.
"If they survive truth, they deserve to lead."
Geneva – Crisis Council
Leaders shouted across encrypted channels.
"Who authorized this?!"
"This is destabilizing entire governments!"
"Shut it down!"
Akanksha stood still.
Because she recognized something chilling.
The files weren't manipulated.
They were real.
Some included missions she herself had overseen.
Ethically justified.
Strategically necessary.
But morally gray.
Preyajeet's name appeared in one disclosure.
A covert border operation years ago.
Successful.
But controversial.
His silence during that mission was now public.
She felt her chest tighten.
This wasn't destruction.
It was exposure.
Southern Command – Briefing Room
Soldiers watched screens in disbelief.
Preyajeet entered calmly.
Eyes turned toward him.
He knew what they were seeing.
He spoke before anyone asked.
"Yes. I led that operation."
Silence.
"It prevented escalation."
A young officer asked quietly,
"Sir… was it worth it?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Because leadership isn't about perfection.
It's about responsibility.
"It was necessary," he said finally.
But his eyes carried weight.
Encrypted Channel
"Akanksha."
"I'm here."
"My file went public."
"I know."
A pause.
"Are you angry?"
"No."
Another pause.
"Are you?"
She closed her eyes briefly.
"Not at you."
He understood.
They were being tested differently now.
Not by bullets.
Not by separation.
But by judgment.
From the world.
Zurich
Adrian located the trigger source.
It wasn't external.
It was pre-programmed within early alliance AI frameworks.
A final contingency.
Built decades ago.
Labeled:
Truth Protocol – Activate if systemic deception exceeds threshold.
The elder hadn't created it.
He had activated it.
Unknown Location
The strategist looked shaken.
"They'll hate us."
The elder shook his head slowly.
"No."
"They'll hate themselves."
He turned toward the screen showing global debates.
"If leaders fall because truth is revealed, they were unstable already."
"And if the alliance collapses?"
The elder's voice lowered.
"Then it was built on illusion."
Geneva – Midnight
Akanksha addressed the world live.
No script.
No defense.
"Yes," she said clearly.
"Some of these operations were hidden."
"Yes, difficult decisions were made."
"But secrecy was never meant for control. It was meant to prevent chaos."
She didn't deny anything.
She didn't shift blame.
She accepted responsibility.
Across continents—
Preyajeet watched her speech.
Pride.
Respect.
Love.
She wasn't protecting herself.
She was protecting stability—through honesty.
Southern Command
He recorded a brief statement too.
"I stand by my actions," he said.
"But I accept scrutiny."
No excuses.
No dramatics.
Just truth.
Global Reaction
Shock softened into debate.
Debate shifted into analysis.
Analysis began separating necessary secrecy from corruption.
The collapse slowed.
Because leaders didn't hide.
They stood.
Together.
Even apart.
Unknown Location
The strategist exhaled.
"They survived exposure."
The elder nodded.
"Yes."
"Phase Seven complete?"
The elder's eyes darkened slightly.
"No."
The strategist felt uneasy.
"What remains?"
The elder stepped forward.
"Final question."
The screen shifted.
A classified file.
Older than any operation released.
Origin: Pakistan Intelligence Division.
Subject: Agent AK-17.
The strategist stared.
"That's—"
"Yes."
The elder's voice was calm.
"The truth about Akanksha."
And this time—
It wasn't about leadership.
It was personal.