**INT. SAFEHOUSE WAR ROOM - NIGHT**
Kabir stood before the war table once again, but this time, the energy in the room was different. The tension was palpable, and the men surrounding him wore grim expressions. They had barely survived the last mission, but now they were about to launch an all-out assault.
The golden-striped leader paced at the far end of the room, his hands clasped behind his back. He had already given the order—the enemy base would be obliterated before they could launch another attack. There was no room for hesitation now.
"We can't afford any more mistakes," the leader said, his voice low and dangerous. "The northern faction has proven to be a bigger threat than anticipated, and we have to end this before they gain more ground."
Kabir remained focused, reviewing the blueprints of the enemy base that they had scouted. He traced the paths they had discovered—the weak points, the areas of heavy fortification, and the routes for both entry and escape.
"We'll divide into three teams," Kabir said, addressing the group. "My team will hit the northern side, where their armory is located. Team two will take the southern entrance, targeting their command center. Team three will provide cover and handle extraction."
The golden-striped leader nodded approvingly. "And Simon?"
Kabir hesitated for a brief second before answering. "He'll be with me."
The leader arched an eyebrow but said nothing. Simon had barely held it together during the last mission, and Kabir knew the leader was skeptical. But Kabir needed to see if Simon could handle the pressure. There was no room for weakness in The Demons, and this was Simon's chance to prove himself.
The Engineer leaned forward, pointing to one of the key points on the map. "We'll have to time the explosives carefully. If we hit their armory too early, they'll know we're coming. We need to strike all at once."
Kabir nodded. "Agreed. We hit fast, we hit hard, and we don't leave any loose ends. Once we're in, we don't stop until the base is ashes."
**EXT. SAFEHOUSE YARD - NIGHT**
While the others prepared for the mission, Simon stood outside, staring into the darkness. The weight of what was coming pressed down on him like a physical force. He had barely made it out of the last mission alive, and now Kabir was expecting him to be ready for war.
He clenched his fists, trying to steady his breathing. Doubts plagued him—doubts about his place in The Demons, doubts about whether he could survive another ambush.
"Second thoughts?"
Kabir's voice startled him, and Simon turned to see his leader standing nearby, his expression unreadable.
Simon swallowed hard. "I'm not sure I can do this. Last time…I froze."
Kabir studied him for a moment before speaking. "Everyone freezes at some point. What matters is how you deal with it. You've survived this long for a reason, Simon. But if you're not ready, you need to tell me now."
Simon looked down at his hands, still trembling. He thought about the ambush, the bullets flying past, and how Kabir had pulled him to safety. If he couldn't pull his own weight, he would only drag them down.
"I'll be ready," Simon said, forcing the words out before he could change his mind. "I won't freeze again."
Kabir nodded. "Good. Because once we start, there's no turning back."
**EXT. ENEMY BASE - NIGHT**
The night was still and cold as Kabir's team approached the enemy base. They had left the safehouse hours ago, moving under the cover of darkness to avoid detection. Now, they crouched in the shadows just outside the fortified walls, waiting for the signal.
Kabir's green-striped badge gleamed faintly in the moonlight as he motioned for his team to stay low. Simon was beside him, his face pale but determined. The Engineer was farther back, checking the explosives they had brought.
In the distance, Kabir saw the first flash of light—the signal from Team Two. It was time.
"Move," Kabir whispered, and his team sprang into action.
They advanced quickly, scaling the walls with practiced ease. Kabir reached the top first, pulling himself up and immediately scanning the area for threats. The guards were scattered, unaware of the impending attack.
Kabir dropped down silently, his boots hitting the ground with barely a sound. Simon followed, his movements more hesitant but controlled. The Engineer was last, his backpack filled with enough explosives to level half the base.
They made their way toward the armory, sticking to the shadows, avoiding the patrolling guards. Kabir's heart pounded, but his mind remained calm and focused. They had planned this attack meticulously—everything had to go according to plan.
As they reached the armory, Kabir signaled for the Engineer to begin setting the charges. The explosives were placed quickly, each one set with precision to take out the building and its entire stockpile of weapons.
"Two minutes," the Engineer whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of his work.
Kabir nodded, motioning for Simon to cover their exit. But as Simon turned, his body tensed. A guard had spotted them.
**INT. ENEMY ARMORY - NIGHT**
The guard's shout echoed through the night, and within seconds, the entire base was on high alert. Kabir cursed under his breath as gunfire erupted. The Demons had been compromised.
"Blow the charges now!" Kabir ordered, his voice sharp.
The Engineer didn't hesitate, pressing the detonator. A deafening explosion rocked the base, the armory going up in a massive fireball that lit up the night sky. Kabir shielded his face from the blast, the heat washing over him as chaos erupted around them.
The rest of the base was thrown into disarray. Soldiers scrambled to respond, but they were too late. The Demons had struck, and the damage was done.
"Move! Now!" Kabir shouted, pushing Simon forward as they ran toward their escape route.
Simon's heart raced as he sprinted through the smoke and debris, gunfire whizzing past him. He stumbled once but quickly regained his footing, determined not to freeze again.
They reached the extraction point just as Team Two finished their assault on the command center. The base was in ruins, flames licking the sky as the enemy forces tried desperately to regain control.
Kabir's eyes scanned the scene, satisfied. The mission had been a success.
**EXT. EXTRACTION POINT - NIGHT**
As the Demons regrouped at the extraction point, Kabir took a moment to catch his breath. The attack had gone off with only minor hitches, and the enemy base was in shambles. But his mind was already moving ahead, thinking about the next steps.
The golden-striped leader approached, a satisfied smirk on his face. "You did well, Kabir. We've crippled their operations."
Kabir nodded, but his expression remained serious. "This won't be the end of it. They'll regroup and come for us again."
The leader's smirk faded slightly. "Let them try. The Demons are stronger than ever."
As they prepared to leave, a figure emerged from the smoke—one of the enemy soldiers, barely alive, staggering toward them. He was clutching something in his hand, and Kabir's eyes narrowed as he recognized it.
It was a badge. A demon badge, but with a red-striped mask.
The golden-striped leader's face darkened, his eyes filled with fury. "Impossible," he muttered under his breath.
Kabir stared at the badge, his mind racing. The red stripes marked the highest rank in The Demons—the rank of the leader. But that badge didn't belong to any of them.
The enemy wasn't just attacking from the outside. They had someone on the inside.
And that meant their greatest threat was far closer than they had ever imagined.
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