Twisted Circuits

Chapter 16

The private jet roared through the night sky, carrying Amaya, cloaked in the persona of Colonel Zara Jax, towards the heart of the Bellator war machine. Her stomach churned with a mixture of nervousness and grim determination. This undercover mission was audacious, a high-stakes gamble that could tip the scales of the war.

Disguised using tinkered projects, Amaya's appearance had been meticulously altered to match Colonel Jax's steely gaze and sharp features. The bio-scanner at the landing site hummed, a tense moment as it analyzed her replicated fingerprints and retinal pattern. Relief flooded her as the green light flickered, granting her access. She infiltrated Colonel Jax's quarters, the real Jax none the wiser. A swift, silent blow to the back of the neck sent the Colonel unconscious, her body deposited in a secure location. Amaya donned Jax's uniform, the fabric stiff and unfamiliar against her skin. With a deep breath, she activated a hidden comm channel, a direct line to Lucas.

"Online," Lucas's voice crackled through the receiver. "Are you in position, Phantom?" "Affirmative," Amaya replied, her voice disguised to mimic Jax's clipped tones. "Entering the war room in five." 

The war room was a stark contrast to the sterile hotel suite. Holographic battle plans flickered around a massive obsidian table, each a terrifying blueprint for destruction. Amaya entered, the air thick with tension. General Valtor, a man whose face was a roadmap of past battles, eyed her with a predator's gaze. "Colonel Jax," he rumbled, his voice like gravel grinding together. "About time you graced us with your presence."

Amaya bristled internally but held Jax's trademark smirk. "Apologies, General. Operational delays." Her eyes darted around the room, landing on General Serena. A flicker of recognition flashed in the older woman's gaze, a spark Amaya couldn't decipher. The meeting commenced, a symphony of military jargon and brutal efficiency. Amaya, channeling Jax's arrogance, interjected with her own strategic input. Every word was laced with a hidden agenda, every sentence a carefully crafted morsel fed to Lucas through the comm.

"The plan seems overly ambitious," she said, her voice cool. "Attacking the Ardenian flank while maintaining pressure on the southern front? It stretches resources thin."
"Perhaps," General Kray, a stoic man with a reputation for tactical brilliance, stroked his chin. "But it could also be a calculated risk. A gamble that could cripple Ardenia's defenses." The discussion shifted to troop movements and resource allocation. Amaya scanned the faces around the table, searching for any sign of unease, any hint of a hidden agenda.

General Aric, with rows of medals lining his uniform, seemed particularly attentive to her. His gaze lingered a beat too long, suspicion flickering in his eyes. Amaya countered with a steely stare, injecting a touch of Jax's trademark swagger to deflect his scrutiny. Thankfully, his suspicion seemed to wane, replaced by a grudging acceptance. 

The discussion shifted to the most sensitive topic - the super-soldier program. Amaya, feigning frustration, leaned forward. "Speaking of the program, haven't we already deployed the enhanced soldiers on the western front? Their performance reports were phenomenal." General Valtor, a cruel smile playing on his lips, chuckled. "Indeed, Colonel. And there's more where those came from. Thanks to... a very discreet partnership, shall we say."

A thrill of horror and a flicker of morbid curiosity shot through Amaya. The Puppetmaster. They had a source, a way to get more of these enhanced soldiers. "A partnership?" Amaya pressed, her voice carefully neutral. "Surely acquiring such... specialized resources isn't a simple task." Admiral Kray, a man of few words, interjected. "Fortunately, we have a well-established channel of communication. Discreet, reliable. We simply make a request, and our... benefactor provides."

Amaya's mind raced. This was a goldmine of information. "Excellent," she said, feigning enthusiasm. "Then perhaps we should request another regiment of these enhanced soldiers. With the Ardenians on the defensive, now would be the perfect time to press the advantage." A grim smile spread across General Valtor's face. "Actually, Colonel, that's precisely why we called this meeting. There's been... a development." He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a low growl. "Our intelligence suggests Ardenia is also developing a super-soldier program of their own."