Ethan studied the makeshift map Derek had shown them. The coordinates etched into a rusted metal plate pointed to a location not far from where they were hiding. Derek, the pale, gaunt survivor they had encountered in the ravine, was still visibly shaken. His voice trembled as he explained, "Raeth's base… it's underground, fortified. He's keeping the others there."
Ethan's eyes scanned the terrain through his visor's HUD, Iris highlighting several possible paths and hidden routes. He weighed the options, formulating a plan. Malek crouched beside him, his expression grim.
"This base isn't just any Syndicate outpost," Malek muttered, his eyes tracing the map. "It's Raeth's stronghold. If we're going in, it's going to be a bloodbath."
"We don't have a choice," Ethan replied coolly, adjusting his helmet. "We're not leaving those survivors behind."
Derek, clutching the side of his abdomen where a rough bandage covered a deep wound, looked up at them. "He's expecting you to come. Raeth… he'll know. He'll be ready."
Ethan's mind raced. Raeth would have everything in place, sensors, turrets, Syndicate troops.... a fortress built into the desert ravine. A direct assault would be suicide. But if they played this right, they wouldn't need to break down the front door.
"Raeth's expecting us to go for the main entrance," Ethan said, eyeing Malek. "But that's not how we're doing this. We split up. You take the tunnel," he pointed at the access route on the map, "I'll approach from the front. We'll create enough chaos to overwhelm his defenses."
Malek raised an eyebrow. "And how do we stop him from spotting us the second we step into that tunnel?"
"We make a distraction," Ethan replied, his mind already piecing together the next moves. "I'll leave a trail for Raeth's forces to follow. They'll think they've got us in their sights while you take the tunnel undetected. Once we're inside, we strike from both sides."
Malek gave a slow nod, though doubt lingered in his expression. "And what about Raeth? He's no fool. You can't expect him to just sit back and let us dismantle his operation."
Ethan smirked. "We're not going to outgun him. We're going to outsmart him."
Iris, ever the efficient AI companion, displayed a projection of the ravine's layout on Ethan's HUD, identifying weak points in the base's defenses.
"Multiple terrain anomalies detected," Iris chimed in, "suggesting hidden pathways and unstable formations."
"Good," Ethan said. "That's our advantage. We use the environment to stay out of sight, and we pick off Raeth's men one by one."
Derek watched, nervously. "I hope you know what you're doing," he muttered, his voice shaking.
"We'll be back for you," Ethan assured him. "Just stay hidden until we give the all-clear."
With a final glance at Derek, Ethan motioned for Malek to move. The two men split up, Malek taking the lower tunnels while Ethan crept toward the facility's main entrance. The towering cliffs of the ravine closed in around them as Ethan advanced, his footsteps silent over the dusty ground. His visor displayed a faint heat signature ahead, but it wasn't a guard. Just the machinery embedded into the rocks to power Raeth's operations.
"Disable all non-essential notifications," Ethan ordered. Iris complied immediately, leaving only the vital data on his display.
The facility loomed before him, built into the side of the ravine, its metallic walls a stark contrast to the natural environment. He spotted automated turrets and surveillance drones patrolling the area, but Ethan was already thinking several steps ahead.
He approached a hidden sensor nestled in the rock and crouched beside it, quickly hacking into its systems. Syndicate tech, encrypted but routine for him. The sensors blinked out, one after the other, leaving a gap wide enough for him to slip through.
"I'm in," Ethan whispered into his comms. "Status?"
"Approaching the tunnel," Malek's voice came through. "Everything's quiet on my end."
Ethan pressed forward, his pulse steady as he moved through the outer defenses. He knew they didn't have long before Raeth's men caught on. They needed to get to the survivors quickly, or this whole mission would spiral out of control.
Suddenly, Iris's voice crackled in his ear. "Turret detected above."
Ethan dodged to the side, just as a turret unfolded from the rock ceiling, its barrel glowing with energy. A burst of plasma fire streaked past him, missing by inches.
"Dammit," Ethan muttered, ducking behind a steel pillar for cover. He waited, tracking the turret's movements with his visor. It was slow to adjust, its targeting system lagging. He'd seen this model before, a standard defense, easy to outmaneuver.
In one fluid motion, he leaned out and fired three precise shots. The turret sparked and whined, its systems frying as it fell silent. Ethan continued, his footsteps light, moving deeper into the heart of Raeth's stronghold.
"Malek, you in position?" Ethan asked over the comms.
"Just about," Malek replied. "Charges are set. On your signal."
Ethan's HUD highlighted the fortified door up ahead. The survivors were behind it, he could hear their muffled voices and cries for help. But getting to them meant dealing with the last of Raeth's defenses.
He crouched beside the control panel. The door was locked tight, but a quick scan from Iris confirmed there was a manual override.
"Get ready," Ethan said, his fingers poised over the panel. "Blow the charges on my mark."
There was a tense silence as Malek prepared.
"Now."
The explosion rocked the facility, the sound echoing through the ravine as Malek's charges went off. Alarms blared to life, and Syndicate troops scrambled toward the chaos.
Ethan seized the opportunity, hacking into the door's system and overriding the security. The door slid open with a hiss, revealing the terrified survivors huddled inside.
"We're getting you out of here," Ethan said as he stepped inside, his weapon at the ready. "Move fast, stay quiet."
As the survivors moved cautiously toward the exit, Ethan kept his guard up, scanning the corridors for threats. He knew this had been too easy. Raeth wouldn't let them leave without a fight.
Suddenly, a low rumble echoed through the chamber. Ethan tensed, his instincts screaming a warning. He turned just in time to see two massive figures stepping into the corridor. Syndicate Juggernauts, towering over him, their armor thick and reinforced.
Each Juggernaut held a glowing device, and in an instant, a holographic image flickered to life between them. Raeth's face, cold and calculating, staring directly at Ethan.
"Did you really think you could outmaneuver me, Ethan?" Raeth's voice was as sharp as a blade, his holographic form looming over the scene. "You're in my world now. And you've walked right into the lion's den."
Ethan's grip tightened on his weapon, his mind already racing through possible escape routes. The Juggernauts were Raeth's elite, heavily armed and nearly indestructible.
Raeth's hologram smirked. "Let's see how clever you really are."
The Juggernauts stepped forward, blocking Ethan's path. The real battle had only just begun.