Mallory and her team prepared for the next step in their journey. While Sasha's warning about the Shadow swarms had been sobering, the crew hadn't lost their signature charm—or chaos. Plans were being made, supplies were gathered, and tension brewed just below the surface.
Mallory stood in the heart of the operations room, maps and data spread out on a large table. Greg, Alex, Alistair, and Sasha were gathered around, each contributing to the strategy.
"Alright," Mallory began, "Sasha's intel indicates a massive Shadow stronghold forming to the north. If we can strike fast and disrupt their plans, it could buy us time to secure more resources."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Disrupt their plans? You make it sound like we're crashing a birthday party. They're not going to let us walk in, grab some cake, and leave."
