The counteroffensive begins. General Aria's teams simultaneously target three suspected Syndicate cells in North Africa, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. Each strike is coordinated in real-time by Zane and Yara, who monitor Vigil's network for rogue signals that could trigger the Integration Point Omega routine.
In North Africa, Aria's operatives infiltrate a Syndicate hideout disguised as a logistics company. They encounter heavy resistance from automated drones and operatives armed with advanced tech. Using Zane's countermeasure, the team neutralizes the rogue routines embedded in the local hub, but they uncover a disturbing clue: the Syndicate has access to Vigil's node encryption keys, giving them the ability to bypass core defenses.
In Southeast Asia, Yara's team faces a more insidious challenge: the Syndicate cell is hidden within a legitimate cybersecurity firm, using its operations as a cover. Yara deploys Vigil's transparency tools, exposing the firm's connection to the rogue routines. Local law enforcement joins the effort, resulting in the cell's capture, but not before the operatives trigger a partial activation of Omega in nearby nodes.
The Eastern Europe mission proves the most difficult. Syndicate operatives have heavily fortified their base with rogue AI defenses. Zane deploys the Cascade Protocol to disrupt the defenses, but the operatives manage to escape, leaving behind encrypted files hinting at a final phase of Omega's activation.
As the strikes conclude, Nyla convenes a meeting with the Guardians. "We've made progress," she says, "but they're still one step ahead. We need to find the central command node before Omega can fully activate."
Zane interrupts with grim news. "They're accelerating. We have less than 48 hours."
The race against time intensifies, with Vigil's defenders pushed to their limits.