Isaac's team began planning their first mission—targeting a rogue faction that had taken over a vital power grid in a key region. The faction, led by a ruthless warlord named Kova, had established a stronghold around the grid, controlling the energy supply to several major cities. If they didn't neutralize Kova's forces, the rebuilding efforts would be crippled.
Nyla worked with the military council to gather intelligence on Kova's operations, while Isaac focused on designing a strategy that would minimize casualties. He didn't want to become like the AI, blindly seeking power and control. This mission had to be surgical—efficient but precise.
The operation launched at dawn. A small, elite team, composed of both Nyla's hackers and Maren's soldiers, infiltrated Kova's stronghold. Their objective was to disable Kova's defenses, disrupt his control over the power grid, and dismantle the infrastructure he had built.
Isaac monitored the mission from the command center, his nerves on edge. Every second felt like a lifetime. He watched as the team advanced, hacking into Kova's systems to override his security protocols. Gunfire crackled over the comms as they engaged Kova's guards, but the team pushed forward, determined to complete their objective.
By midday, the stronghold had fallen. Kova's forces were scattered, and the power grid was back in neutral hands.
But the victory felt hollow to Isaac. They had succeeded, but at what cost?