The crates of stolen Syndicate supplies were still being unpacked when the first signs of retaliation appeared. The night had been quiet, too quiet, and Ethan's instincts prickled with unease. The glow of the newly installed plasma cores lit the scrapyard in a faint blue hue, their energy coursing through the upgraded turrets and power systems. Each hum of machinery was a reminder of progress, but also a countdown to the Syndicate's inevitable move.
Shade stepped out of the shadows near the workshop, his expression grim. "We've got movement on the outskirts. Syndicate recon drones, two klicks out."
Ethan's Interface flared to life, displaying the map of the surrounding area. Small red markers pulsed to the south, near the abandoned industrial zone that separated the scrapyard from Neo Arcadia-2 proper.
"They're scouting," Shade continued. "Trying to figure out where their shipment went."
Ethan frowned, zooming in on the map. The Syndicate wouldn't risk a full assault yet, not without more intel. But if the drones found evidence of the team's involvement, retaliation would follow swiftly.
"Rhea," Ethan said, turning toward the workshop. "Can you scramble their signals?"
Rhea didn't look up from her console, her fingers flying over the keys. "Already working on it. Give me a minute."
Garret appeared, his plasma rifle slung over one shoulder. "You want me to take those drones out? Wouldn't take long."
"No," Ethan said sharply. "If we shoot them down, we confirm we're here. Let Rhea handle it."
Garret grunted but held his position. Briggs joined them moments later, his rifle in hand and a grim look on his face. "If they're scouting this close, we don't have much time before they send a team. What's the plan?"
Ethan's mind raced. They couldn't afford to abandon the scrapyard—it was their base, their fortress. But holding it against a full Syndicate assault would require more than just upgraded turrets and reinforced barriers.
"We keep building," Ethan said finally. "Rhea, Shade, and I will handle the drones. Briggs, Garret, I want you reinforcing the northwest barricades. If they come, that'll be their first entry point."
"On it," Briggs said, already moving toward the perimeter.
Garret hesitated, his gaze lingering on Ethan. "You sure about this, boss? Feels like we're sitting ducks out here."
"We don't have a choice," Ethan said. "If we run, we lose everything we've built. If we stay, we make it clear the Syndicate doesn't own us."
Garret nodded reluctantly and followed Briggs, his heavy boots crunching against the dirt.
Rhea finished her scramble protocol just as the drones entered visual range. Their sleek frames glinted in the moonlight, their optics glowing faintly as they scanned the area. The scrapyard's defenses remained silent, the turrets tracking the drones but holding fire.
"Scramble activated," Rhea said. "They'll pick up interference, but it won't last forever."
Ethan watched as the drones wavered mid-air, their flight paths growing erratic. One of them spiraled downward before correcting itself, its optics flickering as it tried to reestablish a connection.
"Shade," Ethan said, "can you redirect them?"
Shade's fingers danced over his handheld device, his own encryption protocol working to hijack the drones' systems. "Working on it. These are newer models—harder to crack, but not impossible."
The first drone suddenly veered to the west, its trajectory shifting away from the scrapyard. Moments later, the second followed suit, their glowing optics fading into the distance.
[Recon Neutralized: Syndicate Drones Redirected.]
Duration of Interference: 6 Hours.
"Buys us some time," Shade said, lowering his device.
Rhea sighed in relief, slumping against the workbench. "That won't stop them from coming back, though. They'll know something interfered with their signal."
"They'll assume it's scavengers," Ethan said. "For now, that's enough."
The team regrouped near the central console, the atmosphere tense but focused. Ethan pulled up a list of priorities on his Interface, the holographic display casting a faint glow over the group.
"We have six hours before those drones report back—or don't," Ethan said. "In that time, we need to prepare for the worst."
[Scrapyard Objectives:]
1. Reinforce perimeter defenses with remaining alloy plates.
2. Integrate second plasma core into southwest turret.
3. Finalize escape route contingency plan.
"Rhea, you and Briggs handle the turret integration," Ethan said. "Garret, I want you scouting the nearby terrain. If we need to retreat, I want options."
"What about you?" Rhea asked.
"I'll work with Shade to decrypt the rest of the Syndicate intel," Ethan said. "If we can find out what they're planning, we might be able to outmaneuver them."
Hours passed as the team worked tirelessly. Sparks flew from the turret mounts as Rhea and Briggs installed the second plasma core, their progress marked by the soft hum of energy coursing through the system. Garret returned with a detailed map of the surrounding area, marking potential escape routes and choke points.
Meanwhile, Ethan and Shade delved deeper into the Syndicate's encrypted files. Each fragment of data revealed more about their operations, but it was slow work. The encryption was layered and complex, designed to keep even the most skilled hackers at bay.
But Ethan was nothing if not persistent.
"Got something," Shade said, his voice breaking the silence. He tapped the screen of his device, projecting a new set of schematics.
Ethan leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. "What is it?"
"Facility schematics," Shade replied. "Looks like a Syndicate research lab on the outskirts of Neo Arcadia-2. It's tied to Project Dominion."
Ethan studied the schematics carefully. The facility was heavily fortified, its design optimized for both secrecy and defense. Whatever the Syndicate was working on there, it was important enough to warrant significant resources.
"Do we know what they're developing?" Ethan asked.
"Not yet," Shade said. "But there's a data vault in the facility's lower levels. If we can access it, we'll have everything we need."
Ethan's mind raced. The research lab was a potential goldmine of information and resources, but infiltrating it would be a monumental risk. The Syndicate wouldn't just guard it with drones and infantry—they'd have automated defenses, surveillance systems, and likely some of their top operatives.
"We'll table this for now," Ethan said. "First, we secure the scrapyard. Then, we plan our next move."
By dawn, the scrapyard was a fortress. The turrets hummed with enhanced power, their plasma cores integrated seamlessly into the system. The perimeter was reinforced with additional alloy plating, and the team's escape routes were mapped and memorized.
Ethan stood at the edge of the scrapyard, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The distant glow of Neo Arcadia-2 was a reminder of the Syndicate's reach, but also of the opportunities that lay within the city's depths.
Shade approached, his movements silent as always. "The Syndicate won't wait long to make their move."
"I know," Ethan said. "But neither will we."
The Syndicate's shadow loomed large, but Ethan and his team were ready to fight back. The scrapyard was more than just a base now—it was a symbol of their resistance, a foothold in a city that thrived on power and control.
For the first time in weeks, Ethan allowed himself a moment of quiet confidence. They had survived this long, and they would continue to survive. No matter what came next, they would be ready.
And they would win.