The scrapyard operated like a well-oiled machine in the days following Veran's visit. Ethan's team worked tirelessly, balancing preparation with the critical need for progress. Every member of the crew seemed to sense the magnitude of the situation; Veran's words weren't just a warning—they were a promise. The Syndicate was coming, and it wouldn't be with mere scouting drones next time.
Ethan sat in the workshop, poring over the latest intel Shade had gathered. A map of the Syndicate's research lab filled the screen of his Interface, its cold, clinical design a stark reminder of the organization's efficiency. This wasn't just a lab—it was the core of Project Dominion. If they could hit it and disrupt whatever the Syndicate was building, it might buy them enough time to solidify their growing network.
Rhea entered, her console tucked under her arm. She placed it on the table and leaned over to study the map. "That's the lab?"
Ethan nodded. "Shade's been monitoring their movements. They've ramped up security over the past week—more patrols, heavier firepower. They're protecting something big."
Rhea crossed her arms. "And you think we can get in?"
"We don't have a choice," Ethan said. "If we wait for them to come to us, we'll lose. We need to hit them where it hurts."
Planning the Strike
The team gathered around the central console that evening, their faces lit by the soft glow of the holographic map. Shade highlighted key points around the lab, his voice calm but deliberate.
"The lab is heavily fortified," he began. "Automated turrets cover the main entrance, and patrols sweep the perimeter every fifteen minutes. There's a secondary entrance on the west side, but it's just as well-guarded."
"What about the interior?" Briggs asked, his arms crossed. "Any blind spots we can exploit?"
Shade shook his head. "Not many. The lower levels are where they're housing Project Dominion's data and prototypes. That's where we need to go, but it's also where the security is tightest."
Garret leaned back in his chair, his plasma cannon resting against the table. "Sounds like a suicide mission."
"It's not," Ethan said firmly. "We're not going in blind. Shade's already mapped out their patrol routes, and Rhea's working on countermeasures for their automated defenses."
Rhea nodded. "I can disable the turrets remotely, but only for a few minutes. Once they realize what's happening, they'll reroute power and lock everything down."
"Then we'll need to move fast," Ethan said. "Garret, you and Briggs will handle the extraction. Once we have what we need, we'll blow the place."
Garret raised an eyebrow. "Blow the place? You're not worried about drawing attention?"
"That's the point," Ethan said. "If we hit them hard enough, they'll spend weeks cleaning up the mess. That gives us time to strengthen our position."
Shade's expression remained calm. "And if we don't get out in time?"
Ethan met his gaze. "Then we make sure it was worth it."
The Infiltration Begins
The night of the operation arrived quickly. The team loaded into the transport vehicle, their movements precise and efficient. Rhea sat in the back, her console glowing as she finalized the code to disable the lab's defenses. Shade checked his weapon, his eyes scanning the surrounding terrain even as they approached the Syndicate's territory.
Ethan drove, his grip on the wheel steady. The road to the lab was quiet, the landscape bathed in the pale glow of Neo Arcadia-2's distant skyline. But the silence was deceptive. Every shadow, every flicker of movement could be a Syndicate patrol.
"Shade," Ethan said quietly, his voice cutting through the tension. "Status?"
"Clear so far," Shade replied. "Patrols are focused on the eastern perimeter. If we stick to the plan, we'll hit the western entrance before they notice."
Garret grinned, his plasma cannon resting on his lap. "Let's hope their turrets don't have a sense of humor."
"They won't," Rhea said, her eyes fixed on her console. "As long as you don't screw up the timing."
Briggs chuckled softly. "No pressure."
The lab came into view, a monolithic structure of steel and glass nestled into the rocky terrain. The main entrance was lit by the cold, blue glow of automated turrets, their lenses sweeping the area with mechanical precision. Patrols moved methodically, their movements sharp and disciplined.
Ethan parked the transport a safe distance away, and the team disembarked. They moved quickly, sticking to the shadows as they approached the western entrance. Rhea's console beeped softly, signaling the activation of her override protocol.
"Turrets are offline," she whispered. "You've got three minutes."
The team slipped through the perimeter, their movements silent and coordinated. Shade took point, his weapon drawn as he scanned for threats. The entrance loomed ahead, a reinforced door flanked by two guards. Before they could react, Shade fired two precise shots, dropping them instantly.
"Move," Ethan said, his voice low but firm.
Rhea accessed the control panel by the door, her fingers flying over the keys. The lock disengaged with a soft hiss, and the team slipped inside.
Inside the Lab
The interior of the lab was a stark contrast to the scrapyard's rough edges. The floors gleamed under fluorescent lights, and the air was cool and sterile. The walls were lined with screens displaying streams of data, each one tied to Project Dominion. The hum of machinery filled the air, a constant reminder of the Syndicate's power.
Ethan opened his Interface, scanning the schematics Shade had provided. "The data vault is three levels down. We stick to the maintenance corridors to avoid detection."
The team moved quickly, their boots barely making a sound on the polished floors. Shade led the way, his eyes scanning every corner for potential threats. Rhea followed close behind, her console mapping their progress in real-time.
They reached the first checkpoint without incident, but the second was guarded by a pair of drones. Rhea crouched behind a console, her fingers flying over her keys as she worked to disable them.
"Thirty seconds," she whispered.
"We don't have thirty seconds," Garret muttered, gripping his cannon tightly.
Rhea's console beeped, and the drones powered down, their optics flickering before going dark. "Done. Let's move."
The Data Vault
The vault was a fortress within a fortress. Its reinforced doors were lined with plasma shielding, and the control panel required both biometric and encrypted access. Rhea set to work immediately, her console interfacing with the system as she bypassed the first layer of security.
"Briggs, Garret, cover the entrance," Ethan said. "Shade, keep an eye on the corridors."
The seconds stretched into minutes as Rhea worked, the tension in the room palpable. Finally, the doors hissed open, revealing rows of servers and storage units. Ethan stepped inside, his Interface scanning the room for the data they needed.
"Here," he said, pointing to a central terminal. "This is it."
Shade entered the room, his weapon drawn. "We've got movement. Patrols are converging on this location."
"Then we move fast," Ethan said.
Rhea plugged into the terminal, downloading everything she could. The data streamed onto her console, the progress bar inching forward agonizingly slowly.
"Hurry," Shade said. "They're almost here."
"Done," Rhea said, disconnecting the console. "Let's go."
Escape and Explosion
The team moved quickly, retracing their steps toward the western exit. Alarms blared throughout the lab, red lights flashing as Syndicate forces mobilized. Drones buzzed through the corridors, their weapons firing bursts of plasma that forced the team to take cover.
"Garret, now!" Ethan shouted.
Garret grinned and launched a plasma grenade down the corridor. The explosion shook the walls, disabling the drones and giving the team a window to escape.
They reached the transport just as Syndicate reinforcements arrived. Briggs manned the mounted cannon, firing controlled bursts to cover their retreat. The transport roared to life, speeding away from the lab as the explosions grew distant.
As they crossed back into the scrapyard's territory, the tension began to ease. Rhea slumped in her seat, her console clutched tightly in her hands. Shade sat silently, his expression unreadable.
Ethan glanced at the rearview mirror, his gaze steely. They had what they came for, but the cost of this mission was yet to be seen.
"Rhea," he said. "What did we get?"
She looked up, her eyes wide. "Everything. Plans for Project Dominion, prototypes, even Syndicate chain-of-command data."
Ethan's grip on the wheel tightened. "Good. Let's make sure they regret ever building it."
The Syndicate wouldn't forget this. And neither would Ethan.