The victory over the Shadow Collective's central hub provided a much-needed boost to the team's morale, but they knew better than to let their guard down. The Collective, though weakened, was still a formidable enemy. They anticipated retaliation, and they didn't have to wait long.
A week after the successful raid, the team was still analyzing the intel they had gathered. The command center was abuzz with activity, each member focused on deciphering the encrypted files and piecing together the Collective's remaining network. Sophia was in her office, reviewing the latest reports, when Ethan burst in, his face grave.
"Sophia, we have a problem," he said, handing her a tablet. On it was a live feed from one of their safe houses in Europe. The image showed a scene of chaos—fires burning, walls riddled with bullet holes, and bodies strewn across the floor.
