The morning after the firefight at the docks, Tommy and Richie regrouped in the safety of an old, unused warehouse on the outskirts of the city. It was a temporary safe haven, a place to catch their breath and plan their next move. The night had left them rattled but alive, and for that, Tommy was grateful.
Richie paced back and forth across the dusty floor, his mind clearly troubled. "We walked right into it, Tommy. It was like he knew exactly when and where to catch us."
Tommy leaned against a cold metal table, his arms crossed, his face a mask of contemplation. "Yeah, and those guys who showed up… they weren't amateurs. That wasn't just some gang looking to take a piece of the turf. They were military, had to be."
Richie stopped pacing and turned to face Tommy. "So what does that mean for us? Who are they?"
"That's what we need to figure out," Tommy replied, his voice firm. "Someone's playing a bigger game here. This isn't just about the docks or the drugs anymore. It's something bigger."
The warehouse was quiet except for the distant sounds of the city waking up. Tommy walked over to a small, grimy window and looked out. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a pale light over the streets of Sydney. He knew that every move they made now needed to be calculated. The Wolf was dangerous, but these new players might be even more so.
"We need intel," Tommy said, turning back to Richie. "We need to know who we're dealing with and what they want. It's time to call in some favors."
Richie nodded in agreement. "I'll reach out to my contacts in the force, see if they've picked up anything unusual."
"And I'll touch base with the old network," Tommy added. "Someone's got to know something about these guys."
They spent the morning making calls and sending messages, diving deep into their network of informants and allies. It was a long, frustrating process, filled with dead ends and vague hints. But by midday, they had a lead.
One of Tommy's old contacts, a former military man turned mercenary, agreed to meet. "I might know something about your mystery soldiers," he had said cryptically over the phone.
Tommy and Richie drove to a secluded café on the city's edge for the meeting. The man, known only as Bishop, was already there, sitting in a dark corner with a view of the entire room.
Bishop was a tall, imposing figure with a scar running down his left cheek. His eyes were sharp and calculating as he watched them approach. "Tommy," he greeted, his voice deep and gruff. "It's been a while."
"Too long," Tommy replied as they sat down. "You said you might have some info for us."
Bishop nodded, his expression serious. "The group you tangled with, they're not your average hired guns. They're part of a private military company called Blackwater Security. They've been popping up in hot spots all over the globe. Word is, they've recently taken an interest in Sydney."
"Blackwater Security?" Richie repeated, frowning. "What's a PM company doing in Sydney?"
"Whoever's paying them, it's big," Bishop said, leaning back in his chair. "And from what I've heard, they're not here for a quick job. There's something more permanent in the works."
Tommy's mind raced. A private military company operating in Sydney was bad news. It meant that the stakes were higher and the danger far greater than they had anticipated.
"Why would The Wolf bring them in?" Tommy asked, trying to make sense of it all.
Bishop shrugged. "Maybe it's not The Wolf calling the shots. Maybe it's someone even bigger behind the scenes."
The implication hung heavy in the air. Tommy and Richie exchanged a look, the same thought crossing their minds. If The Wolf was just another player, not the mastermind they had assumed, then who was really in control?
"And how do we find out who's really behind this?" Richie asked, his voice tense.
"You keep digging," Bishop advised. "And be careful. These guys play for keeps."
The meeting ended with more questions than answers, but Tommy felt a grim sense of determination settle over him. They were up against formidable enemies, but he wasn't about to back down. He had fought too hard for too long to let his city fall into the hands of unseen, unknown forces.
As they drove back to their temporary base, Tommy's resolve hardened. "We're going to uncover who's behind this," he vowed to Richie. "And we're going to take them down, no matter what it takes."
Richie nodded, his expression grim but resolute. "We'll do it together," he said. "Like always."
Tommy glanced at the city skyline, the buildings bathed in the light of the rising sun. Sydney was his home, his battleground, and he would fight to the very end to keep it from falling into the wrong hands.
The game had changed, but Tommy Bannister was ready.