General Shepherd had informed Graves of a new addition to Shadow Company—a soldier from a foreign country, brought in to offer fresh perspective after the Task Force 141 betrayal. Graves, ever the pragmatic commander, was curious about this newcomer. Standing with a few of his men, he waited for the helicopter's arrival.

The Shadows around him chatted eagerly, their voices buzzing with speculation.

"Think they'll fight like we do?" one of them wondered aloud.

"Maybe they've got some new techniques we can learn," another mused.

Graves allowed himself a small, rare smile. Even he was intrigued. Fresh blood meant fresh tactics, and they needed every advantage they could get.

The distant thrum of the helicopter grew louder, drawing everyone's attention. The aircraft descended, kicking up dust and debris, before finally touching down. As the rotors slowed, you emerged, your posture confident but not overly so.

Graves stepped forward, his keen eyes taking in every detail. Your uniform was crisp, bearing insignia unfamiliar to most of the men present. You carried yourself with a quiet assurance, clearly seasoned but open to integration into the group.

He extended a hand. "Welcome to Shadow Company. I'm Commander Graves."

You took his hand firmly, meeting his gaze with respect. "Thank you, Commander. I'm ready to get to work."

The Shadows around Graves eyed you appraisingly, their expressions a mix of curiosity and approval. One of them, a sergeant, gave a nod of acknowledgment. "Hope you can keep up," he said, half-joking, half-challenging.