"Braxton!" Jack shouted.
In the heat of the moment, Braxton felt a strong pull on the back of his neck and was yanked out of the truck bed by Jack. Zoe put away her gun and curled up against the front tire, expertly minimizing her profile. At the same time, Raycher fiercely pressed the detonator.
"Boom!" A thunderous explosion ensued.
Shrapnel flew everywhere, and the pickup truck shook violently before the sound of hissing tires and shattering windows filled the air.
"Thanks!" Braxton reloaded his magazine and peeked out once the noise died down.
The unloading area was a mess, with the front ends of the three container trucks blown to pieces. Besides a few bodies lying nearby, the armed men who had been attempting to fight back had all retreated into the factory.
"Suppression successful. You can move in," Jack's voice came through the comms.
With a screech of burning tires, Finley drove the GMC onto the scene, the noise so grating that Jack wondered if he had forgotten to release the handbrake. The two police cars behind him were much less dramatic.
The unloading area connected to the northeast entrance of the factory, which had been secured by the Barrett, showing no signs of life. A corpse lay near the large, heavy iron door—someone who had tried to use it as cover but was taken out by Hannah's armor-piercing round.
No one dared approach that entrance afterward.
The southwest entrance was similarly secured. The HK417 sniper rifle's 7.62x51mm NATO rounds, though not as violent as the Barrett, had low recoil and high rate of fire. After Chris emptied three magazines from 300 meters away, the area went silent.
As the gunfire ceased, Jack and Zoe each threw a smoke grenade into the iron door. The police cars cautiously maneuvered around the debris, blocking the entrance in a V formation.
Roscoe and Stevenson hurried out of the GMC to help unload.
They opened the GMC's tailgate, revealing two axial fans used for ranch ventilation. These were found in the cow barn while the gunfight raged on.
"We'll cover you. Hurry and set it up. Chris and Hannah, change positions," Jack instructed, still wary of Little Kleiner's VSS. Even though both sniper rifles were silenced and far apart, it was better to be cautious.
With Zoe, Jack emptied a magazine into the factory, ensuring the last bit of resistance was quelled.
Everyone else got busy unloading the fans. Raycher and Braxton circled around to block the other door. The remaining three ran power lines and started the fans, igniting the smoke.
Based on their body count and Chris's report, Jack estimated that at most five or six armed men had fled into the factory. Including those still inside, the South American mercenaries and Kleiner's henchmen totaled no more than ten.
It was time to smoke out the rats. As the fans started, smoke poured into the factory. Someone inside noticed, cursing in Spanish and firing blindly.
Despite the smoke obscuring their vision, Jack, with his System-enhanced attributes, pinpointed the muzzle flash and fired a burst. A scream followed, and the factory fell silent again.
With more smoke filling the factory, coughing became rampant inside. Seeing the time was right, Jack signaled Finley and the others to proceed.
Finley had already stripped off his wool suit, now wearing just an old tank top with a bulletproof vest, looking nothing like his previously proper Boston demeanor.
"Listen up inside! This is Detective Finley from the Margrave PD. You are surrounded. This is a joint operation against Kleiner Industries. If you surrender now..." Finley began through the loudspeaker but was quickly cut off by Roscoe, who grabbed it and gave him a look.
"I'm Roscoe Conklin. Most of Margrave knows my family. Like many of you, our ancestors were the first to settle this land and build this town."
"It wasn't the goddamn Tiller family or the cursed Kleiner. This town has a history of over 200 years. We've lived here for generations."
"In the name of the Conklin family, I swear that if you lay down your weapons and come out, you will receive a fair trial. Your families and children will be cared for. There's no need to die for those butchers!"
Before Roscoe finished, Stevenson took another loudspeaker.
"I'm from the Stevenson family. I promise you, throw down your weapons and come out. Don't die alongside that fat pig Tiller and the Kleiner family. He's the one who killed former Chief Conklin."
This was the right way to persuade a surrender. Jack was almost ready to give them a thumbs up.
Sure enough, a strained voice called out from near the door soon after.
"Cough... Turn off that damned thing. Cough... We're coming out. Don't shoot."
Finley rushed over to shut off the fan. The others raised their guns, ready to prevent any double-crossing.
As the smoke cleared from the doorway, a group of coughing, ash-covered workers emerged, unarmed and pushing each other out.
Roscoe and Stevenson hurried to guide them.
"Quick, quick, quick! Move over there under the crane. Don't run!"
"There are snipers watching. Don't try anything!"
Just as the last few workers were about to exit, a faint gunshot rang out, followed by Little Kleiner's deranged howl.
"Die, all of you die! You sons of bitches took the money. Fuck you!"
One worker at the back was shot in the leg, falling and screaming. Zoe immediately fired several bursts, covering Roscoe as he dragged the injured man away.
Jack stepped back, took a running start, and lobbed a flashbang into the factory.
"Boom!"
With the intense flash and explosion, the factory went silent.
"Move in!"
Without hesitation, Jack led the charge into the factory.
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