The following morning, the Emperor of Triesenberg convened a more private meeting—one that took place in a far less formal chamber deep within the royal palace. Unlike the grand halls of the previous day's discussion, this room was dimly lit, its walls lined with maps, reports, and various intelligence briefings.
Only a select few had been invited: General Keller, who was tasked with overseeing the covert operation, as well as Captain Franz Dietrich, head of the Triesenberg Intelligence Directorate, and a handful of seasoned operatives.
The atmosphere was tense but focused. The stakes were high, and every man in the room knew that a single misstep could unravel not only the mission but also Triesenberg's fragile relationship with Valoria.
The Emperor entered, nodding to the gathered officials. "Gentlemen," he said as he took his seat at the head of the table, "we are here today to set into motion one of the most critical operations this empire has undertaken. You've all been briefed on the necessity of this mission. Now, it's time to execute."
General Keller stood, spreading several documents across the table. "Your Majesty, we've carefully selected the agents for this mission. These are our most experienced men—those with a proven track record in espionage, infiltration, and intelligence gathering. They've operated in hostile environments before and are well-versed in maintaining discretion."
The Emperor leaned forward. "And who are these men?"
Captain Dietrich stepped forward, pulling out a dossier and handing it to the Emperor. "Your Majesty, I present the team we've chosen. Each agent has been thoroughly vetted for this mission, and their expertise covers a wide range of necessary skills."
The Emperor opened the dossier and scanned the names, reading aloud. "Major Stefan Grau. He's one of our most accomplished operatives, isn't he?"
Captain Dietrich nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. Major Grau has successfully infiltrated several high-security facilities in the past. His specialty is industrial espionage. If anyone can get into Valorian factories and uncover their production methods, it's him."
The Emperor nodded approvingly. "Who else?"
"The second agent is Lieutenant Eva Lind, one of our top field agents. She's fluent in several languages and has a remarkable ability to blend into foreign environments. She's particularly adept at extracting information without raising suspicion."
General Keller added, "Lind's background in covert operations is impeccable. She can infiltrate various social circles and gather intelligence in a subtle, non-invasive manner. Her presence in Valoria will be invaluable."
The Emperor's eyes flicked to the next name. "Sergeant Viktor Hoffmann. I've heard of him. He's our specialist in communications, correct?"
Dietrich confirmed, "Yes, Your Majesty. Hoffmann is the best we have when it comes to intercepting and decoding transmissions. He'll be responsible for tapping into Valoria's communication networks, allowing us to intercept key information about their operations. He's also an expert in jamming signals, should the need arise."
The Emperor closed the dossier and set it on the table. "These are skilled individuals, but this mission is unlike any other we've conducted. How do you plan to get them into Valoria without arousing suspicion?" Explore new worlds at M V L
General Keller gestured toward a large map of Valoria pinned to the wall. "We've identified several entry points along Valoria's borders that are less scrutinized. Our agents will enter as civilians, posing as factory workers, traders, and common travelers. From there, since we don't have local contacts in the country as it is new, we will have to be creative.
Given that Valoria hasn't had any foreigners yet except from the diplomats that visited except for the diplomats that visited during the diplomatic process. So we can simply sneak into their country without much suspicion if we are careful," General Keller continued, tracing a line along the border on the map. "Valoria's borders aren't as heavily patrolled in these remote areas.
Our team will enter through the smaller towns, blending in as laborers or traders. From there, they will make their way to the larger cities where the key factories are located."
Major Stefan Grau, the most senior operative, adjusted in his seat. Known for his skill in espionage, he was fully aware of what was at stake. His assignment: to infiltrate Valoria's central manufacturing hubs and discreetly observe their operations. But this time, there would be no forged documents or pre-established persona.
Grau would need to work his way into Valoria's industrial heart under the guise of a simple laborer, carefully blending into factory life.
"We're not giving you much to work with in terms of background stories," Keller continued. "You will create your own identities once you're inside. You'll need to rely on your instincts, observe the locals, and adapt. Each of you will enter Valoria separately through different border towns, areas where the patrols are less frequent. You'll pose as laborers looking for work, traders passing through.
No one will be expecting you. But remember, Valoria is on high alert. Any slip could lead to exposure."
Lieutenant Eva Lind, the team's expert in social infiltration, listened closely. Her mission was to enter Valoria's urban centers and blend in with the populace, using her wits to extract critical information from unsuspecting citizens.
"Lieutenant Lind," Keller said, "you'll be targeting their upper middle class. Workers, clerks, people who know what's happening in the factories but aren't in high-profile positions. You'll need to gather information by befriending these individuals—engage in normal conversations, but dig for useful intel. It's a slow process, but we need subtlety here."
Lind nodded slightly, knowing that success would depend on her ability to remain unnoticed while gathering vital information. Without an established cover, she'd need to work her way into the right social circles without raising suspicion.
Sergeant Viktor Hoffmann, the communications expert, was assigned a different but equally critical task. His role was to intercept and decode Valoria's internal communications. Without access to advanced equipment, Hoffmann would need to rely on makeshift setups, using whatever technology Valoria had available to listen in on their military and industrial transmissions.
"Sergeant Hoffmann," Keller said, turning to the communications expert, "your goal is to gain access to Valoria's local communication hubs. It won't be easy, but you need to tap into their transmissions and find out what they're talking about. Once you're inside, establish regular updates with us. Use short, coded messages—nothing that can be traced back to Triesenberg.
You'll also be responsible for monitoring the local chatter—any signs of increased security or suspicion must be reported immediately."
Hoffmann's sharp eyes flicked to the dossier in front of him, studying the details of Valoria's communication infrastructure. He knew it would be a challenge to establish a network under the radar, but he had done this before in other hostile environments. The key would be to stay invisible.
Keller moved to the map on the wall, gesturing to the small towns along Valoria's border. "You'll enter through these locations. Once inside, you're on your own. We won't be able to provide extraction unless it's absolutely necessary, and even then, it would be risky. You need to survive on your instincts. If anything goes wrong—if you're compromised—there is no official support.
You'll need to find your own way out, or disappear."
The room grew still, the weight of Keller's words hanging over the operatives. They had all known the risks before accepting the mission, but hearing it laid out so bluntly was a stark reminder of the danger they faced.
Captain Franz Dietrich, head of the Intelligence Directorate, stepped forward. "Remember, you'll have no contacts inside Valoria. Once you're deep in Valorian territory, you're completely on your own. Use your training. Blend in, be cautious, and gather as much intel as possible without drawing attention. Each of you will be sending encrypted updates at set intervals.
If you miss a check-in, we'll assume the worst."
Major Grau glanced around the room, meeting the eyes of his fellow operatives. They had worked together before, but this mission felt different—riskier, more isolated. He knew they were capable, but there would be no safety net this time.
Keller's voice cut through the silence. "You are the best we have. This mission is critical for the future of Triesenberg. Valoria's advancements are too dangerous to ignore, and we need to understand how they're doing it. Trust your training, trust your instincts, and trust each other. Once you cross that border, there's no turning back."
With that, the briefing concluded. The operatives stood, filing out of the room one by one.