# Operation: Dulce

## Chapter 1

The thrumming of monitors cast a stark contrast to the rigid silence enveloping the group. Agent Alex Mercer, unfailingly determined on paper, seemed dwarfed by the enormity of the sterile briefing room where Paranormal Military Squad's elite convened. With dulled eyes, he scanned the projectors outlining their impending odyssey into Operation: Dulce.

“I assume, Agent Mercer, you’re not having second thoughts?” It was Taylor Cruz’s voice, laced with an edge that demanded attention.

Alex flickered a strained smile, still thumbing his folder's corner. "Of course not, Agent Cruz. Just trying to soak in all the details." The compliance in his tone was unsettling, even to himself.

Jordan Hayes, perched on the opposite side of the table, narrowed their eyes but offered a supportive nod. "Details are imperative. We’ll need your clear-headedness down there, Mercer."

A comfortable silence, the kind that threaded between veterans of shared secrets, lingered briefly before Sam Rivera, never one to submit to quiet, added, "I’ve combed through the last transmission logs. If anyone can make sense of the anomalies, it’s going to be the two of you."

Taylor snorted dismissively. “Focus, people. We have protocols for a reason. Speculation is counter-productive.” The words 'counter-productive' seemed to hang in the air, a tacit reprimand directed at Alex.

Feeling the weight of his compliance conflicting with his natural inclination to leave no stone unturned, Alex straightened in his seat. "I agree, Agent Cruz. Protocol is paramount," he said, meeting Taylor's steely gaze. It was an affirmation, but beneath it lay layers of unspoken complexities that would undoubtedly unwind with time.

Alex's submission, though seemingly complete, didn't escape Jordan, who tilted their head ever so slightly, their eyes revealing a spark of understanding. They knew well enough the struggle of aligning personal convictions with overarching missions. As everyone began to collect their binders and prepare for departure, a quiet resolve took form within Alex, galvanized by the groundwork laid by their interactions. He may have spoken in compliance, but his determination had merely taken a subtler form — one that wouldn't surrender so easily to the forthcoming shadows.

\*

Dr. Jordan Hayes shuffled a stack of papers, their eyes revealing a tinge of skepticism at Taylor Cruz's authoritarian performance. _Protocols_, Jordan thought, _are just the framework, the true challenges we're about to face lie well beyond the boundaries of any protocol._ They cleared their throat before speaking, tone cautious yet firm, "Let's remember, the unknown variables exceed the known. We should remain adaptive."

A murmur of agreement echoed from Sam Rivera, who leaned forward, lacing their fingers together as if weaving a digital framework in the air before them, "Exactly, adaptability could