Amira and Rina descended the narrow staircase, entering the underground hall.
The room was large, dimly lit by a series of old, flickering bulbs that cast long shadows against the cold, concrete walls.
Despite its age, the space was filled with an unmistakable sense of familiarity and safety.
As she scanned the room, she saw familiar and comforting faces scattered around the room, some huddled in small groups while others quietly worked, checking gear or preparing lunch.
The familiar faces brought a brief warmth to her heart, reminding her of the bonds forged over years of dangerous missions.
But the weight of their current situation quickly resurfaced in her mind.
As she approached the center of the room, heads turned in her direction.
The operatives' eyes were filled with a mixture of relief, respect, and curiosity.
Before she could speak, a figure darted toward her with surprising speed, crashing into her with a tight embrace.
Strong arms wrapped around her in a tight embrace, almost knocking the wind out of her.
"Whoa, Bella! that's enough" She laughed, patting the shorter woman's head affectionately.
"Easy there. We'll have time for hugs later, okay? We've got work to do."
Bella pulled back reluctantly, a playful pout on her face.
"Fine," she grumbled, though a hint of a smile betrayed her.
Amira straightened up, her tone shifting from playful to serious as she addressed the gathered operatives.
"Alright, everyone," she began, her voice steady but warm, "I know you have a lot of questions, and I promise we'll get to them. But right now, let's hold tight until everyone's here."
The operatives nodded, murmuring among themselves.
They all seemed eager, yet uncertain. She could sense their restlessness;
Her gaze swept across the room, assessing her unit.
She knew time was short and that quick, decisive action was necessary.
"We don't have much time," she continued, her was firm but encouraging, infused with the warmth of a leader who truly cared for her team.
"So, let's get straight to business."
She then turned to Rina, her expression shifting to a more urgent focus.
"Rina," she instructed, "Contact anyone arriving after 3 PM. Have them pick up a bag from our usual drop point, use the same pin as before, and make sure it's under my name."
Rina nodded crisply, who was already poised for action.
"Yes, Captain," she replied without hesitation, reflecting a sense of duty mixed with eagerness.
Her eyes swept the room until they settled on a man casually leaning against a pillar.
He looked ordinary, dressed in plain clothes, but his sharp gaze gave away his experience.
"Sam!" she called, cutting through the low murmur of the room.
He straightened up, surprised at the direct call.
"Captain," he responded quickly, a hint of eagerness in his voice.
"Still got your contacts with the arms dealers?" she asked, getting straight to the point.
"Yeah, a few good ones. They're reliable," Sam replied confidently.
"Great. Reach out and get me tactical knives and swords strong enough to pierce two inches of iron. They need to be durable but light enough not to slow us down," she instructed, her tone unwavering.
Sam's confidence held—at least, until she added: "And I need enough to equip the entire unit by tomorrow morning. At least four times the usual amount."
His eyes widened a bit, and he stammered slightly, "Captain, that's… that's a massive order. Almost impossible to "
She cut him off with a sharp look, "No negotiations on price. Even if it's double, make it happen."
"Split the order across different sources if needed, but ensure top quality and timely delivery."
Sam swallowed hard, then nodded, "It's risky, but I'll manage. But about the quality?"
"Non-negotiable," she replied firmly.
"Understood, Captain," he said, though disbelief still flickered in his eyes.
She then turned to Bella, her most trusted lieutenant.
"Bella," she began, "Get in touch with our covert suppliers."
"We need lightweight, durable tactical suits - 10,000 of them, for both men and women. Make sure they're element-resistant like mine."
"Get them in smaller batches and have them delivered by tomorrow morning, no matter the cost."
Bella's face tensed. "Captain, that's a huge order. Are you certain we can manage by morning?"
"It has to be done, Bella," Amira replied, her voice steady.
"I'll do my best, Captain," Bella promised, though a hint of uncertainty crept into her usually confident voice.
"Good," Amira said, her tone softening briefly, "And make sure the suits are better than mine."
Turning to the rest of the team, she addressed them as a whole.
"The rest of you, split into teams. We need firearms; everything from pistols to heavy machine guns."
"Ensure they can pierce at least three inches of iron. Gather massive amounts of ammunition, food, and essential gear. Do it quietly, without attracting attention."
A moment of silence fell over the room as the operatives processed the enormity of her orders.
They exchanged uncertain glances, the scale of preparation far greater than anything they'd faced before.
Amira knew they had questions, and she welcomed them.
She was preparing for a battle like no other; one that needed every ounce of their strength and resolve.
As the operatives began to murmur among themselves, Sam, who was still standing nearby, spoke up.
"Captain," he asked hesitantly, "what exactly are we dealing with here? We need to know what we're up against to prepare properly."
His question was met with a mix of curiosity and unease from the others, all eyes turning to her for clarity.
Bella shot him a disapproving look, ready to reprimand him for speaking out of turn, but Amira raised a hand to silence her.
"Good question, Sam," Amira acknowledged, her approval easing the tension in the room.
Her gaze drifted for a moment, recalling a distant mission.
"Do you remember the mission on Atharya a few years back?" she asked.
The mention of Atharya brought a murmur of recognition.
Elias, the computer expert, raised his hand, looking puzzled, "Which one, Captain? We've had a lot of missions there."
Her eyes sharpened as she focused on the memory.
"The one with the rogue group that was experimenting with a serum to mutate people with animal genes," she clarified.
Rina's eyes lit up, a grin spreading across her face.
"Oh, that one! That was fun," she said, earning a few amused yet puzzled looks.
Amira smirked dryly.
"Yes, Rina, it was… fun. But remember that mutated python? Its hide was nearly impenetrable. We barely made a dent with knives, and bullets were almost useless."
"We had to resort to bombing it to bring it down."
The operatives nodded, growing more serious. Sam let out a low whistle.
"Yeah, that thing was a nightmare," he muttered.
Amira leaned forward, her voice cold and deliberate.
"Now imagine facing thousands of them; faster, more aggressive, and in massive waves."
Her words landed heavily, and a sense of dread swept over the room.
"But, Captain," Elias ventured, his voice cautious, "our current weapons wouldn't be enough against that kind of threat."
Amira nodded, her expression grim, "Exactly. That's why we need new gear; blades that can cut through scales and suits that can handle heavy impacts."
"So, this is a drill for something that big?" Bella asked, sounding uncertain.
"Think of it as preparing for the worst," Amira replied cryptically, not revealing everything yet.
"Alright, let's move," she commanded. "Faster, faster!"
The operatives dispersed quickly, urgency replacing confusion.
The room, filled with frantic energy just moments before, began to empty as the team set out to follow Amira's orders.
As the last of the operatives left, Amira's eyes landed on Elias.
"Elias," she called quietly.
He paused, turning back, curiosity in his eyes.
"Where's Layla?" she asked.
Elias hesitated for a moment, "She's in her lab."
"Good," Amira said, "Get your gear and meet me there. I have a task for you."
Elias nodded, disappearing to carry out her order.
She stood alone in the now-empty hall, the hurried footsteps echoing in the silence.
She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of what was coming.
"This place was bustling with energy a moment ago," she whispered, a hint of melancholy in her voice, "Now, just echoes."
"So much to do, so little time," she murmured to herself, feeling a mix of burden and calm.
The familiar rhythm of planning with trusted allies gave her comfort.
It reminded her of who she was, even amidst the uncertainty.
With one last look around, she headed toward the lab, her mind already turning over strategies and backup plans.
She knew the real battle was only beginning.
"We'll be ready," she whispered, her voice filled with quiet determination, "No matter what comes."