The attack began with the EMP detonating, sending a wave of energy rippling through the air. The automated turrets froze mid-motion, their targeting systems disabled. Surveillance drones dropped from the sky, crashing into the canyon floor like shattered glass.
The command room erupted into chaos as alarms blared.
"Report! What's going on?" the commander demanded, his voice sharp.
"All outer turrets are down, sir!" a technician shouted, his fingers flying across the keyboard.
"We've lost contact with all drones!" another chimed in, panic creeping into his tone.
Before the commander could respond, a deafening explosion shook the control room, rattling the walls and showering the room with dust and debris.
"What was that?" the commander barked, his fists slamming onto the console.
A soldier burst into the room, his face pale and glistening with sweat. "Sir, we're under attack! Heavy fire at the front gate!"
"Get the turrets back online! Reestablish visual feeds immediately!" the commander ordered, his voice rising above the chaos. "Send units 2, 3, and 4 to secure the front gate. Everyone else, fan out and protect the base!"
Cullen's group led the charge with brutal efficiency. Mounted long-range missile launchers fired in steady succession, the smoke trails of their payloads streaking toward the base's defenses. Each impact rocked the canyon, demolishing guard posts and shredding armored vehicles.
Cullen barked orders through the comms, his voice calm but commanding. "Keep the pressure on! Don't give them room to breathe!"
The forward walls of the base crumbled as the bunker busters did their job. Massive explosions ripped through the reinforced concrete, creating gaping holes that exposed the base's interior.
Mira moved with her team through the dust and chaos, taking down guards with precision. She signaled for her group to advance, her rifle raised as she scanned for threats.
"Stay close!" she shouted over the din of explosions. "We're pushing for the labs!"
Mira and her team breached the laboratory doors, taking out the guards stationed inside with a series of well-placed shots. Inside, chaos reigned. Scientists scrambled to flee, some diving under desks, others attempting to escape through side doors.
"Clear the room!" Mira ordered, her voice sharp. "Set the charges and make it quick!"
Her team moved swiftly, placing explosive charges along key equipment and structural supports. Mira stood guard at the entrance, her rifle trained on the hallway.
She glanced around the lab, her eyes narrowing as she took in the rows of test tubes, advanced machinery, and monitors displaying streams of data. It was a stark reminder of the Consortium's grip on technology—and its willingness to exploit it.
"Charges are set!" one of her teammates called out.
Mira nodded. "Good. Move to the data center. We're not done yet."
The journey to the data center was far from smooth. The guards had regrouped, and resistance was heavier. Bullets ricocheted off the walls as Mira's team exchanged fire with the defenders.
"Flank them!" Mira shouted, motioning for two of her teammates to circle around. She laid down suppressing fire, her shots precise and deliberate.
The flanking maneuver worked, and the guards fell under a hail of bullets. Mira's team pressed forward, breaching the data center's doors.
Inside, the room was a labyrinth of servers and terminals, their lights blinking in the dimly lit space.
"Start the download," Mira commanded, motioning for one of her tech specialists. "We need whatever's on these systems."
As the tech specialist worked, Mira planted explosives along the servers, ensuring the data would be completely destroyed.
"Download complete!" the specialist announced after a tense few minutes.
"Good. Set the final charges and fall back," Mira ordered.
The Retreat:
The team regrouped at the base's perimeter, their faces smeared with soot and sweat. Cullen's voice crackled over the comms. "Labs and data center clear?"
"Affirmative," Mira replied. "Charges are set."
"Good. Get clear. We're lighting it up."
Mira and her team sprinted back toward the convoy as the first explosion rocked the base. A series of fireballs erupted, one after another, sending plumes of smoke and debris into the sky.
They reached the convoy just in time to see the entire base consumed by flames, its structures collapsing in on themselves.
Mira leaned against the side of her vehicle, catching her breath as she watched the destruction. "That's one hell of a sight," she muttered.
Cullen walked over, his expression grim but satisfied. "We've sent a message. The Consortium will know we're not afraid to fight back."
Mira nodded, her gaze fixed on the burning wreckage. "Let's hope they get the message loud and clear."