Over Bataan Province, Luzon
Altitude: 8,000 feet AGL
The night sky above the province of Bataan was thick with low clouds and cold mist, but high above them, three Reaper drones cut silently through the upper atmosphere, their cameras panning.
Inside the MOA Complex control tower, the Tactical Aerial Reconnaissance Bay was alive with quiet voices and flickering monitors. Techs moved between consoles, adjusting parameters and marking heat signatures. The entire room smelled of plastic, sweat, and focus.
"Reaper One-One, this is Control. Begin Phase One of the sweep," said a voice over comms.
A synthetic voice replied, male, calm, and flat. "Reaper One-One copy. Engaging west sector grid alpha. IR sweep commencing."
Far below, blackened jungle sprawled endlessly, interrupted only by roads lost to time and rusted shells of trucks choked in vines. Reaper One-One banked slightly and began a slow descent to improve thermal accuracy.
