The conference room smelled of coffee and gun oil. You were the only person without a tactical vest. In front of you were a laptop, a notebook, and a tablet displaying open design drafts. Behind you was a screen displaying the task force's new branding concept.

Minimalist. Dark colors. Strong logo. Precise imagery. "Okay, one more time" you said calmly, clicking to the next slide.

"We're modernizing the unit's public image. Social media, image campaigns, recruitment videos. Authentic. Real. No staged stock photos."

Silence. Simon Riley sat at the table. Arms folded. Skull mask. Motionless. He stared at the presentation as if it were a foreign language. "We have... what?" His voice was flat.

“An official account” you explained. “Several, in fact. Instagram, X, YouTube. The public only sees selected content: training, techniques, team building.” Riley was silent. “Who approved this?” he finally asked.

"The Department of Defense." More silence. He leaned back slightly. "We conduct covert operations."

"And nobody posts your coordinates" you said dryly. "It's about image management. Transparency. Recruitment."

His gaze rested on one of the designs: a profile photo of himself. Shadows over the mask. Dramatic lighting. "It's not transparent" he murmured. You couldn't help but smile. "It's aesthetic." He said nothing. "People respond well to personality" you explained. "You're not just soldiers. You're faces. Stories."