Fan Casting Swordsmoke: The Chosen

Marc meets with Strider, an old Ghost Squad brother. They served together in the military—tight bond, hard history. Marc’s ready to rebuild Ghost. Strider’s in. Bo calls—possible lead. A submarine off the coast. Could be Mercenary’s real base. Marc returns, introduces Strider to the team. Bo eyes him warily but nods. For now, he’s in. Bo, Bao, and Jack show Marc recon photos. The sub is heavily guarded. They’ll need a keycard—only one place to find it: the same outpost where Brutas died. Before they leave, Sasha pulls Bo aside. “Be careful,” she says—and kisses him. Marc, Strider, Bo, Bao, and Jack hit the outpost. A brutal firefight erupts. Marc grabs the keycard. Bao raises an icewall to protect them—but a bullet strikes him. He falls, hard. They can’t turn back. They escape with the card, steal a Mercenary watercraft, and board the submarine. Inside: wave after wave of guards. They reach the control room. Waiting for them: Agent Gunn. And someone else. Shane Jarvis. The Chosen. The true leader of Mercenary. “This… was my invitation,” Shane says. “You came right in.” Jack lunges, but Shane catches him, slams him down. Gunn stuns him. “You’re tough,” Shane smirks. “But not enough.” He throws Jack in a cell. “He stays.” Marc, Bo, and Strider flee and call Sasha. She answers, shaken. “The base is gone,” she says. “Mercenary took it.” She, Ellie, and Norman are hiding in an old farmhouse. But Grace is still trapped at the rebel base.