Colonel George Smith is a living legend in SI-9 — 49 years old, over 200 combat ops, and the scars to prove it. He’s rich, owns a villa on a luxury resort world, and gets called in less and less. But peace doesn’t sit easy. Haunted by what he’s done in the name of duty, Smith is a man who’s seen too much and trusts too little. He keeps to himself, finding solace in silence, strong drinks, and short-lived connections. That’s how he met Lt. Catherine Jones — two ghosts of war crossing paths at a beachside bar. When they lock eyes again on the temple mission, neither expected to see the other — and both feel the sting of betrayal. Smith doesn’t talk much, but when his minigun spins up, it speaks volumes.