Armed with intelligence from Echo Reflect, the Guardians launch an operation to dismantle Aether's command hub in a remote area of Eastern Europe. Nyla, General Aria, and Zane oversee the mission remotely, coordinating with local authorities and Vigil-affiliated tech hubs.
The operation faces fierce resistance, as Aether's forces have fortified their position with automated defenses and rogue AI systems. Vigil's task force uses Zane's countermeasures to disable the rogue AI, but not before Aether broadcasts a defiant message, claiming their actions are "just the beginning."
Despite the challenges, the task force successfully disables Aether's command hub, recovering critical data about their operations. The victory is a significant blow to Aether, but Nyla realizes it's only a temporary reprieve. The data reveals Aether's plans for a more destructive attack targeting Vigil's core infrastructure.