Page 26 of Code Name: Tank (K19 Sentinel Cyber #4)

DRAGON

A fter a night of very little sleep, Tank and I arrived at the command center just as Alice’s voice rang out across the room, cutting through the early morning quiet.

“Oh, my God. I think we figured it out!” She spun around in her chair, and our eyes met.

My pulse quickened as I approached her, noting the exhaustion in her eyes that suggested she’d been up all night, working. “You cracked Flint’s message?”

“Yes,” Tex said through the speakers. “It’s pointing to someone with legitimate access being coerced—not a willing criminal, but a victim. Based on the sophistication and coordination, this looks like Zaristani intelligence work.”

Tank and I exchanged glances at the mention of the small Middle Eastern nation.

Tex paused, and I could see him leaning forward on the screen.

“I’ve seen these exact recruitment and coercion patterns before—when they compromised that finance minister in Montenegro three years ago.

Same playbook: identify someone with high-level access, find their pressure points, then apply leverage until compliance seems like the only option. ”

Alice looked up from her analysis. “What kind of leverage?”

Admiral stepped closer to our group, his expression dark as Tex continued.

“Whatever works. Family threats, career destruction, fabricated criminal evidence. They’re methodical about it—they study their targets for months before making contact.

By the time they move, they know exactly which buttons to push. ”

Alice’s fingers flew across her keyboard, pulling up a new analysis screen. “Let me trace the authorization pathways on these transactions.” Data streams cascaded across the display—transaction logs, timestamps, digital signatures.

“There,” she said, pointing to a pattern emerging on the screen. “Look at the authorization codes used for the largest transfers. They’re all routed through the same Treasury access portal.”

Tank leaned over her shoulder, studying the data. “Can you identify the specific user credentials?”

Alice’s hands trembled as she worked. “Already on it.” She pulled up another window showing the login records.

“The authorization signatures all trace back to...”—her face went pale—“Treasury Secretary access level. And look at these timestamps—they correspond exactly with the times when Hartwell had documented access to Treasury systems.”

I felt my stomach drop as the evidence mounted on the screen. Alice highlighted transaction after transaction, each one bearing digital signatures that could only have come from Hartwell’s personal access codes.

Tank moved closer to me, his presence steadying as Alice continued her analysis.

“The pattern is consistent over months,” she continued, her voice quiet.

“Small transactions at first, then escalating. But, Dragon, look at this.” She pulled up a log.

“There are gaps in his normal communication patterns right before each major transaction. Like someone was ensuring he had privacy to execute them.”

“Or ensuring he was isolated while they forced him to do it,” Tank said.

Alice’s expression grew pained as she looked at me. “Dragon, I’m so sorry, but the forensics are conclusive. Someone with Treasury-level authorization codes has been systematically authorizing these thefts. And those codes belong to James Hartwell.”

“Treasury-level access?” I asked.

“All the evidence points to Hartwell,” Tex confirmed quietly.

“No. It can’t be.”

I felt Tank move closer to me. James—the man who’d defended me when my colleagues had turned their backs. The man who’d vouched for my integrity when Internal Affairs was ready to destroy my career. “There has to be another explanation,” I whispered. “He would never?—”

Before I could finish, Alice’s monitoring system exploded with alerts. Red warnings flashed across every display as massive transfers began processing in real time, the numbers climbing so fast they were almost a blur.

“Oh my God,” Alice gasped. “These aren’t the small amounts we’ve seen previously. This is huge—millions moving right now.”

“Someone’s making their final play,” I said, watching the transfers process. “Enough money to fund Zaristani operations for months, or to disappear forever with a fortune.” I fumbled for my phone. “I need to reach James.”

I tried calling him, but it went straight to voicemail.

Before I could attempt the number again, my phone buzzed with an incoming message from an unknown number. “What is it?” Tank asked when I looked at him with wide eyes.

“A location,” I read it slowly. “‘Trust instincts. Time running out.’” What followed were coordinates that Tank plotted in mapping software.

“The location is eighty miles northeast, Owl’s Head fire tower,” said Tank.

“Remote location,” he continued as satellite imagery filled the screen. “Abandoned ranger’s cabin about a hundred yards from the tower. It’s isolated—three-mile hike through difficult terrain to reach it. Perfect for holding prisoners—or staging an ambush.”

“This has to be a message from Flint,” I said, looking between the three men.

Tank was already reaching for his phone. “I’ll contact my NRO source. If there’s been activity at that location, they’ll have overhead footage.”

While he made the call, I reread the message. Time running out. For what? A rescue? Or was this Flint staging a trap?

Tank finished his call, and within seconds, the intelligence came through and his expression darkened. “Recent helicopter activity confirmed. Multiple heat signatures detected over the past twenty-four hours.”

“How many?” Admiral asked.

“Hard to tell from this altitude, and with the tree cover, but at least two. Another image shows four,” Tank replied. “Could be prisoners being held. Could be Zaristani operatives waiting for us to walk into a trap.”

“Exactly what I was thinking,” I said when Tank’s eyes met mine.

“The message said, ‘Trust instincts,’” I repeated.

“What are they telling you?” Tank asked.

My eyes met his again. “That we should go in.”

“Then, let’s do it.”

“We’ll need support,” Admiral said, stepping away to make a call. Minutes later, he returned. “Kodiak’s mobilizing from the main compound with the rest of the Sentinel Cyber leadership team—Grit, Dante, and Lumi. Onyx is coordinating Shadow Ops from their Adirondack base.”

Within an hour, our backup had assembled.

Coleman “Kodiak” Emeric entered the command center first, the veteran Shadow Ops operative’s presence immediately commanding attention.

Behind him came core members of K19 Sentinel Cyber—Drake “Grit” Harrison, whose FBI background made him invaluable for tactical planning; Alessandro “Dante” Castellano, whose undercover experience with organized crime had taught him to read dangerous situations; and Chiara “Lumi” Bianchi Harrison, whose intelligence analysis skills rivaled Alice’s own.

“Timeline?” Kodiak asked, getting straight to the operational details.

“Unknown,” I replied. “The message emphasized urgency, but we don’t know if that’s genuine or manufactured to force us into making mistakes.”

He studied the satellite imagery Tank had pulled up.

“Terrain’s challenging under the best circumstances.

December weather makes it significantly worse—snow, limited visibility, cold that’ll sap your strength and slow your movement.

Approach routes are limited, and that fire tower gives anyone positioned there excellent overwatch of our movements. ”

“What’s our level of tactical disadvantage?” Admiral asked.

“Significant,” Kodiak confirmed. “If this is a trap, they’ll see us coming from miles away.

They could pick us off long before we reach the cabin.

But if it’s a genuine rescue situation, speed might be our only advantage.

Every minute we delay could mean the difference between saving lives and recovering bodies. ”

Admiral activated a new link, and the Shadow Ops commander, Montano “Onyx” Yánez, appeared on the screen.

“Shadow Ops has identified three possible approach routes,” Onyx reported.

The weight of what we were contemplating settled over the room. We’d be hiking through winter wilderness to reach an isolated location where unknown hostiles might be waiting, all based on a message from a man who’d already betrayed me once.

I stepped forward, making a decision despite the fear that gripped me. “I should be on the primary team. If Flint’s involved, I understand his methods. His communication patterns, his tactical thinking—if anyone can anticipate what he might do, it’s me.”

Tank nodded without hesitation. “Dragon and I have been leading this investigation from the beginning. We see it through to the end.”

Kodiak assessed us both. “You understand if this is a trap, you’re walking into the center of it?

If Pierce and Hartwell are working together, they’ll know exactly how you think, exactly how you’ll respond.

They could be counting on your emotional investment to make you take risks you normally wouldn’t. ”

“I understand,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “But that also means I know him. If he’s setting a trap, I might be able to see it coming.”

“All right,” said Tank, moving to the central table, where the satellite imagery was displayed. “We need a solid tactical plan. Let’s map this out.”

He spread the detailed topographical maps across the table. “Three miles to reach the cabin. Dense forest, elevation changes, and December weather conditions.”

Kodiak pointed to the approach routes Onyx had identified. “These are our three options. Northern approach gives us the most cover but takes longest. Southern route is fastest but most exposed. Eastern approach splits the difference.”

I studied the options. “If Flint sent those coordinates, he knows we’ll analyze every approach. He’d anticipate the northern route—it’s what I’d choose for maximum stealth.”

“Which could make it a trap,” Atticus observed, leaning over the map.

Tank traced the elevation lines with his finger. “The southern route puts us in the open for too long. Anyone in that fire tower would have clear sight lines on our approach.”

“Eastern approach it is,” Kodiak decided. “Gives us reasonable cover and multiple fallback positions if things go sideways.”

I nodded. “Team assignments?”

“Primary team: you, me, Atticus, and Kodiak,” Tank said, looking to me for confirmation.

“Copy that,” I said, nodding again.

“Grit leads the secondary team for backup and support,” Kodiak added. “They’ll position here”—he pointed to a ridge about a mile from the cabin—“for overwatch and rapid response if needed.”

“Shadow Ops provides extraction support and emergency medical,” Admiral said, making notes on a tablet. “Alice and Lumi coordinate from here, maintaining communication with all teams.”

I examined their work, satisfied with the thoroughness. “Equipment?”

Kodiak had already prepared a list. “Cold-weather gear, full tactical equipment. Medical kit, communication gear, emergency beacon.”

“Contingency planning?” I asked.

“If communications go dark for more than fifteen minutes, the secondary team moves to extraction positions,” Tank replied. “If no contact for thirty, full Shadow Ops mobilization.”

Alice appeared at my shoulder. “Dragon, are you sure about this?”

Tank approached us before I could respond. “Transport’s ready. Weather window looks good for the next six hours, but there’s a storm system moving in that could complicate extraction if we’re not out by nightfall.”

“Let’s move out,” I said.

Thirty minutes later, the helicopter’s rotors sliced through the air as it lifted off from the compound, carrying us toward the coordinates that my gut told me would either save Flint’s life or end ours.