The corridors of the guild's Valeris branch were quieter than usual, tension rippling through the coalition like an unspoken current. Ethan sat in his quarters aboard his docked ship, studying the gathered intel from recent missions. The pieces were beginning to form a pattern, each clue adding weight to a grim realization.
"Ardan Kole," he muttered, leaning back in his chair as Iris highlighted the name on his screen.
"Based on cross-referenced patrol logs, supply discrepancies, and Syndicate movements," Iris said, "Lieutenant Ardan Kole's activities deviate significantly from expected Federation protocols. The likelihood of involvement in Syndicate operations exceeds ninety percent."
Ethan exhaled, his mind racing. Kole was a senior officer, someone trusted by Captain Thorne, someone who'd been part of the Federation guards' efforts to stabilize Kynara. The betrayal cut deep.
"This isn't just desperation," Ethan said to himself. "There's more to this."
The first step was confirmation. Ethan sent an encrypted message to Eliara and Voss, requesting a private meeting in the guild's secure briefing room. When they arrived, he wasted no time.
"It's Kole," Ethan said, sliding the compiled evidence onto the holographic table.
Eliara's sharp eyes scanned the data. "Patrol logs rerouted to avoid Syndicate convoys, shipments disappearing along their watch, and encrypted messages originating from their terminal. It's damning."
Voss leaned forward, his expression dark. "You're certain?"
"Absolutely," Ethan said. "Kole isn't just working with the Syndicate, they've been instrumental in smuggling alloy weapons and mind-controlled victims into Valeris and numerous other settlements. They're the mole."
Voss nodded grimly. "We'll need to confront Thorne about this. He won't take it well."
"He doesn't have to," Eliara interjected. "The evidence speaks for itself."
With the plan set, the three moved to confront Kole. The Federation guards' headquarters in Valeris was heavily fortified, its steel-and-glass structure a symbol of order amid chaos. Ethan's team entered under the guise of a routine meeting, escorted to a private conference room where Captain Thorne and Lieutenant Kole were waiting.
"Kole," Thorne said, gesturing for the lieutenant to sit. "This meeting wasn't on my schedule. What's this about?"
Ethan stepped forward, his gaze locked on Kole. "We know you've been working with the Syndicate."
The room fell silent. Kole's face paled, their fingers twitching slightly.
"What is this?" Thorne demanded, his confusion quickly turning to anger.
Eliara activated the holographic display, projecting the evidence they'd compiled. Patrol logs, encrypted communications, and supply discrepancies filled the air around them. Thorne's eyes narrowed as he scanned the data, his jaw tightening.
"Kole," he said slowly, his voice low. "Explain this."
For a moment, Kole said nothing, their shoulders slumping as the weight of the evidence pressed down on them. Finally, they spoke, their voice trembling. "I didn't have a choice."
Ethan's fists clenched. "You always have a choice. You chose to betray your people, to endanger civilians, to help the Syndicate spread their terror."
Kole looked up, desperation in their eyes. "They had my family. They threatened to kill them if I didn't cooperate. And the Federation... the Federation's governor up there doesn't care about what happens in Kynara or the Ashen Sector as long as their core interests aren't harmed. You know that. I had to protect them."
Thorne slammed his fist on the table. "You should have come to me! We could have helped you!"
"Helped me?" Kole laughed bitterly. "The Federation forces here don't even have enough resources to keep Valeris safe. What could you have done?"
Ethan stepped closer, his voice cold. "You didn't just protect your family, you enabled the Syndicate to kill innocent people, to destroy settlements and outposts, to spread chaos. How many lives were you willing to trade for your own?"
Kole looked away, their silence damning.
Kole was taken into custody, escorted to the guild's secure holding cells. The interrogation room was stark, a single table and chair illuminated by harsh lighting. Ethan stood on one side, Eliara and Thalor flanking him.
"You're going to tell us everything," Ethan said, his voice steady. "Every shipment, every contact, every order you received from the Syndicate."
Kole hesitated, their gaze flickering to the neural dampener device on the table. "If I talk, they'll kill my family."
"They'll kill you if you don't," Eliara said bluntly. "And believe me, we're your best shot at keeping them safe."
After a long silence, Kole began to speak. They described how they'd been approached by a Syndicate operative months ago, blackmailed into cooperating. Their role involved diverting patrols, falsifying reports, and ensuring Syndicate shipments passed through Federation-controlled zones without interference.
"They paid me," Kole admitted, their voice hollow. "But it wasn't just about the money. They said... they said the Federation was already pulling out of Kynara, that it was a lost cause. I thought... I thought maybe they were right."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "And the shipments? Where were they going?"
Kole hesitated again before providing a list of locations, including a facility on Kynara's eastern plains where the Syndicate was reportedly producing mind-control devices.
"Raeth is preparing for something big," Kole added, their voice barely above a whisper. "He's planning to hit a major settlement soon. He wants to break the coalition's morale."
As the interrogation concluded, Ethan stepped out of the room, his mind racing. The betrayal stung, not just because of Kole's actions but because of what it represented. A failure of the Federation, the coalition, and himself to protect Kynara's people.
Voss joined him in the corridor, his expression grim. "This is bigger than we thought. If Raeth's planning another attack, we need to act fast."
Ethan nodded. "We'll stop him. No matter what it takes."
Meanwhile in Raeth's stronghold. The Syndicate commander watched a live feed of Valeris, his cold smile reflecting in the dim light.
"The mole served their purpose," he murmured to his lieutenant. "Now, let's show them the true power of fear."
In front of him, rows of newly completed mind-control devices are shown, their eerie glow a chilling promise of what's to come.