The shrill tone of Adrian's alarm shattered what little sleep he had managed to get.
He reached toward the bedside table without opening his eyes, silenced the alarm, and remained still for another few seconds. The room was quiet except for the distant hum of aircraft engines somewhere beyond headquarters. Dawn had barely begun to brighten the horizon, leaving his quarters bathed in the cool blue light that slipped through the curtains.
His body protested the moment he sat up.
The exhaustion from the battle for Central Luzon had never truly disappeared. Yesterday's walk through the city had eased his mind, but it had done little for sore muscles and accumulated fatigue. Even so, the command briefing had been moved to six in the morning, and intelligence rarely changed schedules unless something important had happened.
He rubbed a hand over his face before walking toward the sink.
Cold water helped.
Not much.
Just enough.
