Night fell over the Middle Eastern desert, the sky blanketed with stars, yet the faint glow from rusty oil lamps barely lit the sand. The U.S. Army’s Delta squad was assembled at a temporary forward post, receiving their latest orders from the American Intelligence Center. Sergeant Jack Reynolds, 36, stared at the detailed map projected on the rugged waterproof laptop, his face tense.

“This is the most critical mission we’ve had in the past two years,” said Major David Harper, the team’s commander, his voice heavy with responsibility. “We must rescue Dr. Samuel Carter, a biological weapons expert who has been kidnapped and is held in an enemy secret base. Intelligence indicates the base is highly secured, but this window may be our only chance to extract him.”

Jack nodded, eyes sweeping across his team: Ryan Mitchell, sniper and intelligence officer; Ethan Cole, tech and lock specialist; and Lucas Grant, heavy combat soldier, known for staying calm under extreme pressure. Each of them knew this mission wouldn’t be a simple in-and-out; it would test every skill and nerve they had.

A helicopter carried them close to the base at midnight. The rotors churned the desert wind into swirling clouds of dust. As they landed, Jack felt something was off: no footsteps, no red patrol lights, only darkness and silence.

“Too quiet… way too quiet,” Ryan whispered, scanning the surroundings.

They approached a side gate cautiously. The heavy steel door creaked loudly as it opened, a metallic warning echoing through the night. Inside, the base was deserted. Flickering lights hung from the ceiling, and computer screens blinked frozen data. The air smelled of old chemicals and gunpowder—a warning of hasty abandonment.

“This isn’t right… according to intel, this place should be on high alert,” Ethan said, voice slightly trembling. He approached a desk and opened a laptop, revealing the last security log entry: “23:45 – VIP removed from holding cell.”

“God… where is Carter?” Lucas whispered, eyes wide, gripping his M4 tightly.

Jack lowered his voice: “We split up to search, but stay in comms. No one gets too far alone.”

They moved carefully, down dim corridors and abandoned labs, the scientific equipment covered in dust and cobwebs. Everything suggested the base had been abandoned in haste.

Ryan entered the control room, pressing buttons on the console. “Wait… someone wiped all surveillance footage recently,” he said, his tone icy. “This isn’t normal. Either someone on our team, or someone inside, erased the evidence.”

Jack frowned. “Internal betrayal… possible. We need to consider everyone.”

Meanwhile, Ethan discovered a USB drive lying on the floor. Plugging it into his personal laptop, a video played showing the transfer of Dr. Carter. The terrifying part: the person transporting him was in U.S. military uniform, identical to ours.

“This… this can’t be… who would betray us?” Ethan stammered.

Jack crouched, heavy-hearted. “That explains why the base is empty… we were lured into a trap. Stay calm. We must locate Carter before it’s too late.”

As they proceeded, whispers echoed from behind a steel door: “Major Reynolds… they’re watching you from inside…”

Jack immediately recognized the voice as someone familiar but couldn’t identify exactly who. He signaled the team to take cover. A figure in U.S. uniform appeared, carrying a large backpack. Lucas raised his gun, but Jack stopped him: “Wait… observe first.”

The stranger opened the bag, pulling out a small case, and played a recording: “If you want to live, leave the base immediately… or everyone dies.”

Jack knew time was short. They split into two groups: Ryan and Ethan followed digital traces to locate Carter; Jack and Lucas circled the storage area, hoping to find him.

After nearly an hour navigating the darkness, Ryan and Ethan discovered an underground room. The thick steel door wasn’t locked. Inside, the sight made them gasp: Dr. Carter was bound, but there were no guards. Surrounding him were explosive devices, clearly a trap.

“Carter! We’re here to get you out!” Ryan shouted, but Jack appeared behind, stern: “Hold… the trap could trigger any second. Ethan, disarm carefully.”

Ethan worked silently, sweat streaming down his forehead. Minutes later, the trigger system was disabled, and Dr. Carter was freed. He trembled but his eyes shone with determination. “Thank you… I thought I wouldn’t survive.”

Jack held Carter’s hand, scanning the surroundings. “We’re not done yet. Someone in the team betrayed us, and they know we’re here. We have to get out before it gets worse.”

On their way out, another figure in U.S. uniform blocked the hall. Lucas lunged, gun blazing, but Jack recognized him immediately: Lieutenant Mark Benson, someone they all trusted.

“Mark… why?” Jack shouted.

Benson smirked. “You don’t understand, Reynolds. I did it for the money. $5 million USD would be mine if Carter didn’t make it out alive.”

Jack knew there was no alternative. A brutal hand-to-hand fight erupted in the dark hallway. Lucas and Ryan joined in, Ethan firing warning shots. Eventually, Benson was subdued and tied up.

The team quickly made their way to the extraction point, the helicopter ready to lift them out. On the rooftop, Jack looked back: the base now lay in ruins, swallowed by desert darkness.

Dr. Carter panted but his voice remained firm: “You… saved my life… but the internal betrayal must be investigated. I can’t believe one of our own…”

Jack placed a hand on Carter’s shoulder, eyes hard: “We will investigate everything. But for now, surviving is priority. We get out of here, let the night pass before anyone can strike again.”

As the helicopter lifted off, the team gazed at the silent base, hearts still racing from the intense mission. They knew out there, more schemes were waiting, and traitors could strike at any moment. Yet, at least, they had saved a life and survived a mission that had almost been a death trap.

In the cold desert wind, the pale moonlight reflected on the soldiers—men burdened with duty and courage, ready to face any plot from enemies… or from within their own ranks.