The sun blazed down on the parched streets of Bamako, Mali, as Captain Vasili and his team of soldiers held their weapons steady, and trained on their target. Before them stood Ralf Hietela, a notorious arms dealer, and his gang of mercenaries whose weapons are lowered.
Suddenly, a crackle came over his radio, and Vasili's heart leaped into his throat. It was Ivan, his second-in-command, calling from Hanseong with urgent news.
"Captain, I just had a word from the guys in Hanseong," Ivan said, his voice crackling with static. "They are telling me that your wife and daughter are not in your house."
Vasili's heart sank. He had left his family behind when he was deployed on this mission, and the thought of them being in danger made him feel sick.
"Is that confirmed?" he asked, his fingers twitching on the trigger of his weapon.
"It's positive, Captain," Ivan confirmed, his tone grave. "We're still trying to track them down."