an empty seat, Serrano's absence conspicuous

Isabella looked to her left, seeing an empty seat, General Serrano having turned down her invitation to the meeting.

Her mother sat in Romero's chair, opposite Isabella, offering a smile of support.

The room was silent, everyone waiting for her to speak. "Now that Romero has been captured, we must plan our next move carefully," she said, her voice commanding. "But first, I would like to go through General Serrano's report on our war against the guerillas, which he had sent in lieu of his presence."

"General Serrano's report underscores the gravity of our current situation. The communist insurgents are no longer the scattered, poorly equipped force we once dismissed. They now possess advanced armaments, enhanced coordination, and appear to have access to resources that rival, if not surpass, our own."

She gestured toward the rifle Serrano had sent along with the report, the cold metal still coated with what Isabella could only assume to be blood. "This M16, recovered from the battlefield, is a weapon we ourselves procured from the Americans. Yet, it bears no record of ever being part of our arsenal. This raises troubling questions about the origin of their weaponry and the intent of those supplying them."

Isabella turned to the rest of the Cabinet, her expression severe. "Our intelligence agencies must prioritize uncovering the supply chain. The possibility of external interference—whether from the Americans or otherwise—cannot be ignored. Every angle must be investigated."

The rest of the Cabinet looked worried, but Isabella's mind was elsewhere. She was thinking back to the mysterious Mr. Green, who had met with Romero before her father's death at the hands of guerillas. Was this part of their plan?

She shook her head, dismissing the thought.

Lose [Communist Threat], gain [War Progress]