Ethan stared at the schematics of the drone manufacturing plant displayed on his laptop. The files they had retrieved from the communications hub detailed its layout and production capabilities. The plant was located in the outskirts of the city, a sprawling industrial facility producing Gray's advanced UAVs. Destroying it would cripple his drone supply chain.
Lila stood behind Ethan, her arms crossed as she studied the screen. "This place is a fortress. Cameras, guards, automated turrets... getting in will be a nightmare."
"We don't need to take out the entire facility," Ethan said, zooming in on a section of the map. "Just the core production line. Without that, the drones can't be completed."
"And how do we get past all the security?"
Ethan tapped the laptop, pulling up a maintenance schedule. "We slip in disguised as workers. There's a shift change tomorrow night. Once inside, we sabotage the production line and plant explosives on the main assembly units."
The system chimed softly:
[New Task: Sabotage the Drone Manufacturing Plant.]
[Subtask 1: Infiltrate the Facility Disguised as Workers.]
[Subtask 2: Sabotage the Assembly Line.]
[Subtask 3: Plant Explosives on Key Units.]
Lila smirked. "We're going undercover, huh? Better hope those disguises work."
Ethan gave a faint smile. "They'll work. Let's gear up."
The following night, Ethan and Lila arrived at the outskirts of the facility, wearing stolen uniforms and carrying forged ID cards. The plant was massive, its smokestacks belching plumes of gray into the night sky. Bright floodlights illuminated the entrance, where workers were being funneled through security checkpoints.
Ethan adjusted his cap, keeping his face down as they approached the checkpoint. The guard barely glanced at their IDs before waving them through.
"Too easy," Lila muttered as they entered the facility.
Inside, the plant was a hive of activity. Machines whirred and clanked, conveyor belts moved components down the line, and workers in identical uniforms bustled about, assembling the sleek black drones. The air was thick with the smell of oil and metal.
Ethan's system highlighted the core production line, marking it as their primary target.
"This way," he whispered, leading Lila toward the heart of the facility.
Reaching the core production line, they found themselves in a cavernous room filled with automated machinery. Giant robotic arms assembled the drones with precision, welding and attaching components in a seamless process.
Ethan pulled a small EMP device from his bag. "This should disrupt the assembly line long enough for us to plant the charges."
As Ethan worked on placing the EMP near the control panel, Lila kept watch, her eyes scanning for guards.
The system chimed again:
[Subtask 2 Completed: Sabotage the Assembly Line. Reward: Temporary Cloaking Device Unlocked.]
Ethan's heart raced as the EMP activated, sending a ripple of static through the room. The robotic arms jerked to a halt, and warning lights began flashing.
"Time to plant the explosives," Ethan said, pulling a series of small charges from his bag.
They moved quickly, attaching the charges to the key assembly units. As they worked, a pair of guards entered the room, drawn by the flashing lights.
Lila reacted first, ducking behind a crate and signaling to Ethan to stay low. The guards approached cautiously, their flashlights cutting through the shadows.
"Something's wrong with the system," one of them said, tapping his radio. "I'll check the controls."
Lila moved silently, taking out the first guard with a well-placed strike. Ethan followed suit, disabling the second guard before he could react.
"Nice work," Lila said, dragging the unconscious guards out of sight.
Ethan nodded, setting the last explosive. "That's the last one. Let's get out of here."
As they made their way toward the exit, the plant's alarms blared. The EMP had triggered a system-wide alert, and the facility was now in lockdown.
"Guess they noticed," Lila said, drawing her weapon.
"Keep moving!" Ethan shouted, firing at the guards who poured into the corridor.
The system chimed:
[Bonus Task: Escape the Facility Without Being Captured.]
Ethan and Lila fought their way through the plant, their movements synchronized as they covered each other. The stolen uniforms no longer mattered; it was a race against time.
Reaching the outer perimeter, they used the temporary cloaking device unlocked by the system to slip past the final checkpoint unnoticed.
Back at the safehouse, they watched from a safe distance as the explosives detonated, a series of fiery explosions tearing through the plant.
The system chimed again:
[Task Completed: Sabotage the Drone Manufacturing Plant. Reward: Enhanced Stealth Ability.]
[Bonus Task Completed: Escape the Facility Without Being Captured. Reward: Blueprints for Advanced Disruption Devices.]
Lila leaned back in her chair, a satisfied smile on her face. "That's one less problem for Gray."
Ethan nodded, his expression serious. "But he'll retaliate. We need to stay ahead of him."
As the night deepened, the safehouse remained quiet, but both of them knew the war was far from over. Gray would strike back harder, and the countdown to Cerberus was still ticking.