Jude Chiang stood over the holotable at the centre of the intelligence observation room, watching the progress of Task Force Beta as they prepare to ambush the convoy of trucks passing through Empang.

"Target is moving east along Raden Bustaman Street inbound towards Otto Iskandardinata Highway," said a drone operator, relaying the information to the task force through a computer interface. "Agent Falcon, situation report?"

"We're stalking the target from the back," Bajamal replied. "Fire team Lambda's on me, while Fire Team Omega's setting up an ambush ahead. Expecting target engagement in five minutes."

Next to Chiang stood Prastio. He had been in constant communication with Bajamal and the rest of the task force even before combat operations began. While Assegaf's Marine and Army units were working to capture Siregar and destroy the rebel forces in their last remaining stronghold, BKN field operatives under his command were busy combing the streets and neighbourhoods of Bogor for signs of rebel activity, making sure that the ongoing operation will not be compromised in any way.

Chiang thoughtfully placed his hand under his chin. "I wonder what the convoy is carrying."

"We'll soon find out," Prastio replied. "But they are almost certainly rebel sympathisers, and whatever they're up to, it's no good."

Inside their car, Bajamal and his fire team prepared themselves to engage the convoy. So far the convoy did not appear to have noticed them, and even if they did, they haven't done anything to throw Bajamal off their scent.

"Can we blast them now, sir?" asked Special Operator Dedi Kuncoro, who was driving.

"Not yet," Bajamal said. "Remain on standby until we hear from Omega."

Bajamal's comlink beeped soon afterwards. "Come in," he said.

"This is Omega to Falcon," the voice at the comlink replied. "Target is behind us two lanes away to the left. Permission to engage, sir?"

"Affirmative," Bajamal replied. "You have permission to engage. Falcon out."

From the front passenger seat Bajamal could see the convoy of trucks led by the black minivan. The latter's two front windows were slightly open, allowing him to see his targets more clearly. The man in the front passenger seat was among those he had seen loading the trucks back at Pekojan. Bajamal signalled his men to get out of the car after clicking off the safety on his rifle. Other vehicles began to steer clear as Bajamal and his men approached the convoy, rifles aimed towards the black minivan.

The minivan driver, of Arab descent and wearing a thawb and a peci cap, got out of his car and started protesting in Creole Arabic, to which Bajamal replied:

"This is a routine inspection. Please allow us to inspect the trucks and its contents."

"Laa, sa'idi," the man insisted. No, sir.

The rest of the fire team stepped forward. Seeing the armed operatives close in towards him, the minivan driver glanced back and forth furtively, almost as if signalling his cohorts to act in some way on his behalf.

A slight movement from the rear passenger seat caught Kuncoro's eye. A man with an assault rifle held in his hands.

Kuncoro did not wait for anyone to give him permission to act. In an instant he pulled his trigger and shot the man before he could fire. Spurts of blood began flying out of the man's torso and splattered onto the windows. A second later the minivan driver reached for his sidearm hidden within his thawb, but two shots from Bajamal's rifle – grazing his right upper arm and hitting him squarely in the left lower leg respectively – prevented him from doing so; reducing him into a figure lying curled on the ground and wincing from constant pain.

Almost immediately more gunmen emerged from the trucks, all equipped with various kinds of assault rifles. Despite their fewer numbers, Bajamal and his men managed to dispatch several enemy gunmen before they could fire. The few who survived tried shooting back at Fire Team Lambda, but they were picked off one by one by members of Fire Team Omega approaching from the side.

"Situation clear," said the commander of Fire Team Omega after a moment. "Any survivors?"

Bajamal looked at the injured minivan driver lying on the ground. "We have one. Bring him to the Aerodrome for questioning. In the meantime, inform Mobile Brigade to secure this site until BKN can carry out a thorough investigation."

"Yes, sir," the commander replied.

-----------

"Falcon to Field Command," Bajamal said over the comlink. "We've just captured a suspected rebel operative. We're bringing him over for questioning."

"Report acknowledged," Prastio replied. "Excellent job."

The Imperial shuttle descended on Landing Pad 4 upon reaching Bogor Aerodrome. Upon its descent the shuttle's airlock door slid open, and two BKN agents disembarked down the ramp onto the landing pad. Between them a prisoner hobbled along, blood soaking through his white clothes where he had been shot earlier. Colonel Prastio stood at the middle of the aisle, hands folded behind his back.

"Take him to the medical bay," he instructed. "Clean up and dress his wounds before bringing him into the interrogation cell for questioning."

"Yes sir," the agents replied.

Ten minutes passed before the Medical Bay Director informed Prastio that the captured operative had been given medical attention and was now ready for questioning. Upon receiving the news he went to his desk and dialled Chiang, at which the Director's hologram appeared.

"Sir," Prastio said. "Task Force Beta has successfully neutralised the convoy and captured a rebel operative. We'd like to put him under interrogation."

"You may begin. I will join you shortly."

The interrogation cell was only a few steps away from Prastio's office. Back in the days of the Republic the Air Force had used it as a store room to stash away surplus tech and equipment. With the growth of Bogor Aerodrome to accommodate the Empire's military expansion, the whole section of the floor was redesigned to make room for BKN officers to serve as their base of operations in Bogor. Countless people – from Communist and Islamist hardliners in the early years of the Empire, to Siregar's loyalists in the aftermath of the failed coup – had been sent here for interrogation. None were ever heard of again.

Prastio had seen it all. Decades of service to the Republic and the Empire had finally brought him to where he is at the moment. Of course, he also had help in navigating through the complexities of Imperial politics. His father had been friends with Ridwan Asher, the Emperor's senior advisor on regional affairs, while his superior and former schoolmate Alif Firdausi had been the late Emperor Byoma's Chief of Security in the aftermath of the disastrous events of an Imperial strategic conference six years earlier. Prastio himself was promoted to the rank of Colonel at the time, with the assurance that BKN Field Command would be his as soon as Firdausi was moved up the ladder as member of the Directorate.

That moment would soon come, he thought, once Siregar and his remaining loyalists are captured and brought to justice. For now, he would do his best to interrogate and glean information from the captured enemy operative.

Upon entering the interrogation cell he was met with the sight of the prisoner shackled on a metallic-looking table, surrounded by various torture implements operated by a D2-B interrogator automat. Despite his wounds and the dire circumstances he was in, the prisoner appeared to be calm, his eyes bright with defiant pride.

"What is your name?" Prastio asked.

Silence.

"I repeat," Prastio said, this time in a slower voice. "What is your name?"

Another silence.

Prastio took off his cap and put it on the nearby shelf. "We can do this all day long if you like. For the last time, what is your name?" He switched to Arabic.

The prisoner narrowed his eyes and furrowed his brow. "Abu Amr," he said, barely hiding the contempt in his voice.

"Abu Amr what?"

"Abu Amr...bin Khaled Al-Anesi," the prisoner said.

Prastio filed the information immediately. "Noted," he said. "Now, do you know why you are here?"

Again, silence.

"I'm going to be frank with you," Prastio continued. "You are here because you've refused a routine inspection with a valid search warrant. You were also seen heading to Empang, to a site where there have been reports of Islamic extremist activity. Moreover, you and your men were involved in an act of violence against Imperial law enforcement agents. Given the circumstances, I could have you charged for attempted acts of terrorism against the Empire; the penalty for which is death for you, and concentration camp for your family."

"To hell with you and your concentration camps," Abu Amr replied. "Allah will put an end to you and your infidel regime. May you begin asking for His forgiveness."

"Is that so?" Prastio asked back. "We'll see how you do once we interrogate you."

The doors behind Prastio parted afterwards, revealing Chiang and a pair of Death Troopers. The troopers spoke to each other briefly, their speech distorted by electronic scramblers hidden beneath their specialised helmets. Even now their mechanical voices continue to send chills down Prastio's spine. Fortunately, Chiang dismissed the Death Troopers as soon as he stepped inside the cell.

"Any progress?" he asked.

"We have the prisoner's name," Prastio replied. "But he doesn't appear responsive to further questions."

"We'll see about that," Chiang said. "Automat," he called out. "Set appendages to electrocution mode immediately."

"Yes sir," the automat replied.

Jolts of electricity coursed through Abu Amr's body as the automat began charging its electrodes; first through a series of small electric shocks, which later grew into a voltage strong enough to put a man out of action for a few hours. His facial expressions changed accordingly as well, from mild discomfort to an ever-increasing feeling of immense pain. Even Prastio, who was used to interrogating countless malefactors over the course of his career, stepped back in horror as Chiang instructed the automat to apply its electrodes to his wounds and sensitive body parts. For more than an hour Abu Amr's screams and the gnashing of his teeth echoed throughout the cell as he was subjected to an ever-increasing barrage of torture.

Still Abu Amr refused to divulge his secrets, despite Chiang and the automat's best efforts at prying them out.

"I think it's time we try another approach," Prastio finally said. "There is someone here in this building who can get him to open his mouth."

"And you have an idea who it is?" Chiang asked.

"Yes," Prastio replied.

Chiang understood immediately as to whom he meant. Grudgingly, the BKN Director took out his comlink and said, "Get me Marshal Assegaf."

-----------

"The armoury has been secured. Enemy forces have retreated into the barracks. We're expecting stiff resistance from this point forward."

Assegaf nodded as Reksonegoro delivered his report. Before him flashed a holomap detailing the situation live from the front. By now most – if not all – of the armoury is safely under Imperial control. To the north, Task Force Kujang had just wrested control of the mountain passes from the rebels. It is only a matter of time before the undercover BKN operatives succeed in capturing Siregar himself, following which he would destroy the enemy forces one by one inside the cauldron he'd just created.

A sudden beep signalled an incoming transmission from another channel. Assegaf took the transmission and paused his ongoing communication with his field commanders. Soon afterwards Reksonegoro's holoimage was replaced by that of Chiang's.

"Director Chiang," Assegaf said. "How can I assist you?"

"We've arrested a suspected rebel operative during our most recent sweep," Chiang said. "Abu Amr Al-Anesi, of Arab descent. He was caught attempting to smuggle firearms and other weapons to an unknown party in Empang as part of a convoy. We've tried our best to pry more information out of him, but so far he has chosen to remain silent."

"And you require my assistance?"

"Yes," Chiang said, careful not to show his desperation. "Perhaps you'll have more luck with him than we do."

"I'll be with you in a moment," Assegaf said. "General Pradipta," he turned to his chief-of-staff. "Inform Reksonegoro I'll be away for a while. As soon as he receives my message, stay in touch with him and inform me if anything important happens."

"Yes sir."

With that, Assegaf took off his šajkača and laid it on his desk before heading to the BKN offices downstairs.

-----------

Chiang and Prastio did not say a word when Assegaf arrived at the interrogation cell.

"Before I begin," Assegaf said, "I would like to know the circumstances behind your capture of the rebel operative."

Prastio filled him in on the details behind the arrest they had just made in Bogor earlier today, along with the fact that the prisoner had attempted to shoot back at the BKN Agents who made the arrest. "We've spent every available resource trying to get an answer out of him," he finished, "but he still refused to say on whose orders the truck convoy was sent."

"I see," Assegaf said. "Did you inform Siliwangi Command about this?"

"We did. We're checking with them to see if there's been any recent transfer of weapons and munitions. So far our liaison hasn't received an answer."

Chiang looked intently as Assegaf spoke with Prastio. As always, the Grand-Marshal appeared to be in control of the situation. Yet beneath his calm and collected exterior, Chiang could sense that something is not quite right. There was a mix of worry, apprehension, and something else – a feeling Chiang had grown familiar with over the years.

Fear.

"We'd best start with the interrogation," Chiang told Assegaf shortly afterwards. "We don't want to keep you from your duties too long."

Assegaf said nothing as Chiang led him to the table where the prisoner was shackled onto. The interrogator automat was on stationary mode, having had its appendages changed after the last interrogation session. "If you deem it necessary," Chiang said, "I can have the automat do much more than electrocute the prisoner to get him to speak."

"No," Assegaf raised a hand. "Allow me."

Assegaf approached the prisoner and spoke to him in Arabic. "You are Abu Amr Al-Anesi, are you not?"

Chiang noticed how the prisoner's eyelids and pupils widened upon hearing Assegaf speak. The prisoner had been in a state of stupor ever since he and Prastio had left him alone inside the cell to wait for Assegaf. Whatever had caused the change in his composure was definitely significant.

"Yes," the prisoner replied. "And you must be Sayyid Zack Assegaf." Chiang understood enough Arabic to make sense of what they just said.

"I would prefer if you simply address me by name," Assegaf replied. "That said, you are no doubt aware you are here for an attempted act of terrorism."

Abu Amr's face darkened upon hearing Assegaf's question. "If you came here to insult me, you're simply wasting your time."

"No," Assegaf replied. "On the contrary, I am impressed how you've managed to last this long without revealing anything to our best agents."

"Then you know it's a waste of time to ask me any further," Abu Amr said.

"Tell me, are you familiar with this?" Assegaf asked. Holding his datapad in front of him, he flashed an emblem of a hand holding a torch with a crescent moon and two books, surrounded by Arabic calligraphy forming the shape of a heart and a pair of wings.

Chiang noticed the sudden change in Abu Amr's countenance. For a brief moment his face glowered and his throat muscles stiffened. By the time he tried to hide his reaction it was already too late, since Assegaf had already spoken.

"The moment Empang was mentioned I knew Al-Irsyad was somehow involved. I also don't need to mention the fact that the head of Al-Irsyad's Bogor branch happens to be the younger brother of my old adversary. Incidentally, Governor Harits told me he'd always wanted to deal with you and your cohorts personally after the failed coup."

"I have no fucking idea of what you just said," Abu Amr retorted.

"Brave words, but you lie," Assegaf said. "I'll make sure Governor Harits gets informed of your actions. He'd be more than happy to deal with you and your cohorts. You may yet escape his wrath, however, if you tell me on whose orders the convoy was sent."

"Bullshit. Governor Harits never shows mercy to anyone."

"You misunderstand. I choose to spare you on my own initiative. Besides, you're only a pawn. Whoever sent you to Empang is clearly aware that you will be sacrificed to cover their own tracks."

Abu Amr began to relax his expression a little, but the tension was still present in his voice. "Fine," he said. "I'll tell you, but first tell the Chinese to get out of the room."

Assegaf turned his gaze towards Chiang. "Director, the prisoner requests that you leave the room before he is willing to talk."

Chiang was not aware of the fact until Assegaf had mentioned it. His Arabic wasn't proficient enough for him to understand the conversation up to that point. Still, this development was to be expected. He was willing to give ground to those more competent than him if it suits his objectives.

"Continue with the interrogation, Grand Marshal," Chiang said. "Report back to me once you are finished."

"Yes, Director."

With a swirl of his blood-red cape Chiang turned around and left Assegaf alone inside the interrogation cell with the prisoner.