Meanwhile In The Awakened Base...
The hum of machinery filled the high-tech operations room, accompanied by the soft beeping of monitors and the hurried typing of workers at their stations.
Rows of screens displayed live feeds from patrols and security systems, casting blue glow across the room.
The tension was palpable, like a taut string ready to snap.
Operators in sleek uniforms sat rigidly, their eyes darting between screens, their fingers a blur on the keyboards.
One worker, a young woman with glasses perched on her nose, leaned closer to her monitor, furrowing her brow.
"Sector 12 clear," she muttered, jotting a note on her tablet.
Beside her, a middle-aged man adjusted his headset, barking into a microphone.
"Confirming movement outside Sector 4. Stay alert."
The routine buzz of activity came to an abrupt halt as the double doors at the far end of the room slid open.
A man staggered in, his cyber suit shredded and caked with dirt and blood.
His breath came in ragged gasps, and his eyes darted around, wide with the weight of a terrible burden.
All heads turned.
The man, Kai, paused to steady himself, one hand gripping the wall.
His gaunt face was a portrait of exhaustion and barely-contained fear.
"Mr. Barron," he rasped, his voice cracking. "We need to talk. It's urgent."
At the far end of the room, Mr. Barron stood by a large console, overseeing the operations with a sharp, calculating gaze.
He was a man who carried authority effortlessly, his tailored suit unwrinkled despite the long hours.
His expression barely shifted as Kai approached, but his thoughts raced.
'Another day, another incident. How many more lives will we lose before this ends'
"Kai," Barron said, his voice steady, masking the concern that flickered in his eyes. "What happened?"
Kai swayed, clutching the edge of a desk to stay upright.
"We were ambushed," he began, his words tumbling out. "Goblins... they swarmed us from the trees. Dozens of them, maybe hundreds. My team didn't stand a chance."
Barron's brow furrowed.
"Your team? Are there survivors?"
Kai shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't know. I managed to escape, but the others... they were overwhelmed. The goblins, they weren't just attacking. It was like they were... organized."
The room fell into a tense silence, broken only by the faint clicking of keyboards.
Workers exchanged uneasy glances, their movements growing less sure.
Barron's voice cut through the stillness.
"We need to act fast. Find out if there are any survivors. Contact all awakened and soldiers who were on duty outside the wall."
The workers sprang into action, their fear giving way to grim determination.
One by one, they began scanning communication logs, checking satellite feeds, and sending out distress signals.
***
Minutes stretched into an eternity as the room buzzed with activity.
One worker frowned at her screen, shaking her head.
"There's nothing," she muttered, her voice tinged with disbelief. "It's like they vanished."
Another worker leaned over her shoulder, scanning the data.
"This can't be right," he said. "They were just out there."
Barron's jaw tightened.
He crossed the room with swift, purposeful strides, picking up a secure line.
"This is Barron," he said, his voice cold and clipped. "I need a report on your soldiers sent outside the wall."
The line crackled before a gruff voice replied.
"Commander Drey here. We've lost contact with all units. None of our men have returned. It's as if they walked into a void."
Barron's grip on the phone tightened.
"Do you suspect a coordinated attack?"
"It's possible," Drey admitted. "Whatever's out there... it's not just goblins. Something bigger is at play."
Barron ended the call and turned to the room, his face a mask of steel.
"Call the heads of the awakened and military forces. We need an emergency meeting at the center."
The workers hesitated for a moment, their fear threatening to paralyze them.
Then, one by one, they snapped back into motion, their hands moving with urgency.
"What's happening?" one whispered, her voice barely audible over the chaos.
Kai stood off to the side, his eyes fixed on the screens.
His hands clenched into fists as a grim realization settled over him.
'We're under attack by those damn goblins, if it is planned... I think and they'll come for the city next.'
Barron's voice rang out, commanding and unyielding.
"We must be ready. This might lead to a war."