Volkov closed the laptop. The wind carried the smell of smoke and sea.

He crawled through the marsh, dragging a dead comrade’s backpack—inside, a ruggedized military laptop. On its cracked screen, a blinking icon:

“One shot from you,” Volkov said, standing slowly, “and the nukes fly east and west. End of both sides.”

“Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis—Multiplayer Mode Active.”

The lead soldier lowered his rifle. “What do you want?”