Chapter 5: The First Strike

The subterranean facility was filled with the steady hum of machinery—a sound that Arjun and his group had become accustomed to. They stood in front of the robot army they'd toiled so hard to build, their concentrated faces lit by the soft glow of monitors. Under the fluorescent lights, rows of streamlined, metallic figures sparkled, their AI-driven cores waiting for commands. The anticipation was palpable in the air.

"Tonight, we test everything," Arjun said, his voice level but with a hint of strain behind it. Positioned at the head of the assembly, he scanned the plans on the large screen in front of them. "Now that the army has been assembled, it is time to deliver a message."

With a snap of her knuckles, Mira slumped back in her chair. "I broke into their system security systems. Before their alarms go off, we have a window of roughly twenty minutes. We enter the building, use it, and then leave."

Kiran, the former soldier, loaded his guns with a distinct click. Sounds too simple. They never stop withholding information from us.

Arjun gave him a nod, acknowledging the reality. "There are things we cannot foresee. We're prepared for anything, though.

Zara, standing by Arjun's side, gazed at him with worry. "Just... be careful," she murmured, her voice soft enough that only he could hear.

Grinning, he gave her hand a brief, comforting squeeze before turning to face the squad. "Let's move out."

The Intruder

The team approached the government facility under the cover of night. It was a massive steel and glass structure surrounded by armed guards and fencing with electricity. Innocently twinkling above, the stars provided a striking contrast to the boiling tension below. Arjun and his group were almost undetectable in the darkness since they were dressed in black. A number of the robot prototypes trailed in eerie stillness behind them, their sleek shapes perfectly blending in with the metallic backdrop of the metropolis.

Whispering into the intercom, "Approaching the main gate," Mira moved her fingers quickly across a tablet to turn off security cameras and sensors in real time. There is a 10-second delay. Proceed.

The squad slid between the gates in perfect unison. With their smooth motions and quiet joints, the robots glided like shadows. Arjun's heart was pounding but he remained alert. There was no space for error because they had spent years preparing for this moment.

Zara prepared to take down the building's defenses by leading a smaller group toward the facility's electrical system. The primary goal, the data center where the government kept secret knowledge on military technologies, was the direct path Arjun, Kiran, and the robots took.

A shiver went down Arjun's back as they walked into the building. Everything was moving too easily.

The Attack

The group divided into their designated halves. Mira kept directing them from a distance while providing data and penetrating farther into the building's network.

"Okay, Arjun, you can go to the data center," Mira said sharply into his earpiece.

After Kiran pried open the door, they entered a pristine white room dotted with enormous servers. Arjun went to the control panel and uploaded the malware that Mira had created to render the data systems of the government. With apprehension, he saw the progress indicator on the display.

"After thirty seconds...," Mira spoke in a strained tone. "Twenty... Ten...

All at once, the alarms went off. The area was filled with red lights, and the sound of approaching guards made the entire facility tremble.

"Mira, what took place?" Arjun yelled.

"It looks like they made a last-minute system upgrade! There will be company soon; hurry up!

With a solemn click of his pistol, Kiran drew his weapons and signaled what was to come. "Arrjun, gather the data and go. I'll watch out for you.

As soon as the first group of guards entered the room, Kiran started to move. As the robots entered the fight and used their reinforced frames to deflect bullets, shots were fired and metal clanged against metal. Arjun's fingers soared over the gaze fixed on the screen and the keyboard.

"It's done!" he said, taking out the disk as the final bit of data was about to upload. "Leave!"

They ran down the corridor and arrived at the meeting spot with Zara and her group. But the moment they left the building, the facility's backup defenses—drones—went into action.

The Pursuit

With their red scanners flashing menacingly in the dark, the drones descended like locusts. "Everyone is encircled!" Zara let out a gasp as she demolished one of the bots with her blaster.

"We must leave right away!" Arjun yelled, but it was clear that his escape would not be simple since hovercrafts could be heard approaching.

"Join me on Twitter!" Leading them into the city's industrial quarter, which was a tangle of little streets, Kiran growled

Drones pursued, unrelenting in their hunt. Their ears were filled with the sound of humming equipment as they swerved through alleys and jumped over rubbish.

The robots on their side retaliated, anticipating the drones' movements and precisely shooting them down thanks to their sophisticated artificial intelligence. But it was insufficient. The drones never stopped arriving.

"This way, Arjun!" Through the communications came Mira's voice. "Ahead is an antiquated transit tunnel. I'll remotely open the hatch.

The sound of drone fire grew louder as they ran towards the tunnel. As soon as they arrived at the entryway, Arjun was targeted by one of the drones. It went off, the blast striking the earth immediately behind him and propelling him upward.

"Arjun!" Zara turned back to assist him as she yelled. He stood up with difficulty, in agony, extending up his leg. However, time was of the essence. Kiran tossed a grenade at the oncoming drones, momentarily blinding them, and the hatch opened just in time.

With the massive steel door slamming shut behind them, the crew dove into the tunnel. Their labored breathing was the sole sound for a little while.

Repercussions

Kiran wiped his brow, muttering, "That was too close."

Arjun got up and nodded, smirking. Although his leg hurt, it was a minor inconvenience considering what they had managed to do. "We have the information. That is what is important.

Zara looked him over fast and still shook. "Are you alright?"

He met her gaze and murmured gently, "Yes." "Gratitude."

Amidst the uncomfortable quiet, Mira's voice suddenly emerged. "Guys, you ought to watch this."

Upon returning to their base, they looked horrified by the screen. In response, the authorities declared martial law over the whole city. The TV host alerted viewers to the fact that a strike team was being assembled to track them down, and the facility they had recently attacked was being rebuilt.

Someone had just increased the stakes.

With a steely voice, Arjun said softly, "This is just the beginning." The group exchanged resolved glances. Now, there was no going back.