Hawk didn't look convinced. "Too consistent."
The CIA officer's brow lifted slightly.
"Either complacent," Hawk added evenly, "or designed to look predictable."
Steele didn't glance at him. "Assume both."
The screen shifted to an estimated interior layout compiled from ISR and pattern-of-life analysis. Rooms sketched inprobable configurations. Stairs. Hallways. Dead zones where thermal couldn't penetrate.
"Secondary exits?" Steele asked.
"None confirmed."
"Unconfirmed?" Bulldog pressed.
The officer hesitated. Just a beat. But Steele caught it. "Thermal suggests a heat void beneath the western office."
Bulldog grunted. "Tunnel."
"Possibly."
Steele didn't blink. "Assume yes."
The colonel gave a small nod.
The screen changed again. Pattern-of-life analysis. Thermal signatures moving through the compound at different times of day. One signature consistently in the main office. Nazari. Two smaller signatures in the residential wing.
"Non-combatants present," the colonel said. "Wife and minor child. Seven years old. They remain inside the main structure. Pattern suggests they don't leave the residential wing."
Risk's expression didn't change but Steele knew what he was thinking. Civilians complicated everything. Made breach planning harder. Made rules of engagement tighter. Made mistakes more likely.
"Target's pattern of movement?" Steele asked.
"Nazari works primarily from the main office. Meets buyers in the eastern building. Security detail accompanies him when he moves between structures. He sleeps in the master bedroom, second floor, west wing."
Ghost spoke without looking up from the tactical display. "Signal density?"
"Moderate cellular saturation. Nazari uses encrypted handset. We expect comm spike at breach."
Ghost nodded faintly, already mapping dead zones in his head.
"Local militia?" Hawk asked.
"Two factions within five kilometers. Neither friendly to coalition forces."
"Response time?" Steele asked.
"Ten to fifteen minutes if engagement sustained."
Bulldog leaned forward. "That's a tight window."
"Correct," the colonel said.
Joker shifted in his chair. "Air support?"
"Negative. Political constraints. Iraqi airspace authority is conditional and we're not testing it on this one."
"Drone ISR?"
