Release #1 - Smoke In The Trees

Deep in the redwood-covered mountains of Northern California, master grower Eddie Cruz and security chief Jack Mercer oversee a hidden cannabis farm worth millions of dollars. After months of work, harvest season is finally within reach. But something is wrong. Jack returns from a scouting run with disturbing news: fresh vehicle tracks have appeared on a ridge directly above their operation. The tracks don’t belong to loggers, hunters, or anyone who should be in the area. As tension spreads through the camp, a distant helicopter reminds everyone how fragile their secrecy truly is. Soon afterward, Jack spots smoke rising from the same ridge where the tracks were found. While the crew debates whether they’re dealing with law enforcement, rival growers, or something worse, an unseen observer watches the farm from the mountains above. Armed with maps, coordinates, and a radio, the stranger confirms the camp’s location to unknown allies. Determined to learn who’s operating in their territory, Jack and Eddie follow the trail into the wilderness. What they discover is far more dangerous than they expected: a convoy of unmarked trucks moving through the forest. The vehicles carry armed men, fuel supplies, and enough equipment to establish a long-term presence in the mountains. Leading them is a calm, professional outsider named Miguel Ortega. Unlike a DEA raid, Miguel’s operation isn’t hunting evidence. It’s hunting territory. Back at camp, the crew realizes the convoy’s fuel trucks mean they’re planning to stay. Before they can decide what to do, a massive column of black smoke erupts from a nearby ridge. Through binoculars, Jack and Eddie witness the destruction of another hidden grow operation.