Chapter 130: Into the Frozen Frontier

The northern wastelands of Kynara stretched before Ethan and his team like an endless expanse of desolation. The terrain was stark and unforgiving, a harsh contrast to the southern deserts they had crossed so many times. Here, jagged cliffs rose like the teeth of a great beast, their icy surfaces gleaming under a pale sun that offered no warmth. Snow blanketed everything, muffling the crunch of boots and the hum of their equipment as they moved cautiously across the tundra.

Ethan adjusted the temperature settings on his armor, feeling the faint hum of the environmental regulator kicking in. Despite its advanced technology, the cold still managed to seep into his body, making his fingers stiff against the controls of his wrist-mounted tactical display. Behind him, the rest of his team trudged through the snow, their breaths visible in the frosty air.

Thalor, the towering Velkran mercenary, seemed almost at home in the cold. His physiology, adapted for harsh climates, allowed him to stride confidently through the snow, his dual plasma blades sheathed on his back. "Velkran winters make this look tame," he rumbled, glancing back at the Resistance fighters who were visibly struggling with the frigid conditions.

"Glad someone's enjoying themselves," Rourke muttered, his gruff humor cutting through the quiet. He adjusted his pack and grinned, trying to lift the group's spirits. "I'll take the desert heat over this any day."

Ethan turned back to address the team, his voice steady. "Stay sharp. This terrain is more dangerous than it looks. Thalor, take point. If you spot anything, call it in."

The team pressed on, navigating a landscape riddled with hazards. The ground beneath them was deceptively unstable, with hidden crevasses threatening to swallow the unwary. More than once, a Resistance fighter faltered, only to be steadied by a firm hand from Ethan or Thalor.

At one point, the team came across a frozen river, its surface fractured with jagged lines of ice. Thalor scouted ahead, his heightened senses allowing him to detect weak spots in the ice before anyone stepped on them. "Stay close to the edge," he advised, motioning for the group to follow his lead.

Ethan moved alongside the Resistance fighters, offering quiet words of encouragement. "We're close to our target. Just a little further." Despite their exhaustion, the fighters pressed on, their determination rekindled by his steady presence.

As the team crested a ridge, Ethan signaled for everyone to stop. Below, a Syndicate patrol moved through the tundra, escorting sleds pulled by cybernetically enhanced beasts. The sleds were loaded with crates of supplies, likely ammunition, weapons, and rations for the hidden depot they were seeking.

Ethan crouched low, studying the patrol through his visor's enhanced optics. "Three guards per sled. Alloy-enhanced armor. Those beasts are modified for strength and endurance. This won't be easy."

Rourke harrumphed as he crouched beside Ethan. "Nothing ever is."

Ethan quickly outlined a plan. "Rourke, set explosives along their path. Thalor, you'll handle the guards with silent takedowns. Resistance fighters, stay in cover until we draw them into range."

The team moved into position, using the snowstorm to mask their movements. As the sleds approached, Rourke activated the first charge. A controlled explosion sent snow and debris flying, halting the convoy in its tracks. Syndicate guards shouted orders, scrambling for cover, but Thalor was already moving. The Velkran's plasma blades ignited with a hiss, cutting through the storm as he eliminated two guards with swift, silent strikes.

The ambush quickly escalated into a full-blown skirmish. Syndicate reinforcements arrived, dropping from a small transport shuttle to flank the team. Ethan rallied the group, coordinating their defense.

"Focus fire on the sled beasts!" he ordered, switching to his laser pistol. His shots found their mark, disabling one of the cybernetic creatures before it could charge their position.

Rourke and the Resistance fighters held the line, using makeshift barriers of snow and rock for cover. Thalor moved like a shadow among the chaos, his plasma blades carving through the reinforced armor of the Syndicate soldiers.

The fight was chaotic and brutal, with flashes of laser fire illuminating the storm. Eventually, the last of the Syndicate reinforcements fell, leaving the team battered but victorious.

Following the sleds' tracks, the team pressed deeper into the frozen wilderness. Hours later, they found it: a hidden Syndicate supply depot carved into the side of a mountain. The entrance was a network of icy caves, partially concealed by natural formations and camouflaged netting. Automated defenses, including turrets and patrol drones, guarded the approach.

Ethan crouched behind a snowbank, surveying the depot through his visor. "Heavily fortified. Alloy-enhanced guards on patrol, and those turrets will shred us if we're spotted."

Thalor scanned the area, his glowing eyes narrowing. "The cave systems could give us cover, but we'll need to disable those drones first."

Rourke, still catching his breath, chimed in. "Let me guess, you want me to crawl through the snow and hack into their systems?"

Ethan smirked faintly. "You're the best we've got for it, especially since Malek isn't here.."

As night fell, the team took refuge in a nearby cave overlooking the depot. Ethan spread out a holographic map, highlighting weak points in the Syndicate's defenses. "We'll strike at dawn. Rourke, you'll disable their turrets and drones. Thalor, you're on guard elimination. Resistance fighters, hold the entrance and cover our escape."

The team nodded, their resolve evident despite their exhaustion. Outside, the storm continued to rage, the howling wind a constant reminder of the harsh environment they faced. Ethan leaned back against the cave wall, his mind already running through the steps of the assault.

Ethan's visor displayed the glowing outlines of the Syndicate depot's defenses as he stared through the swirling snow, the frigid wind howling around him. The temperature gauge on his HUD blinked a warning, but he ignored it, his mind locked on the task ahead.

Through the filtered audio of his helmet, he muttered to himself, his voice steady but carrying the weight of countless battles. "One step closer. All our teams take these depots out, and we'll have cleared a direct path to Drakor." The words reverberated in the quiet space of his helmet, as if spoken not to anyone but to the resolve within himself.

This mission wasn't just about dismantling a supply line; it was about crippling Drakor's ability to hold his ground when the coalition came knocking on his fortress doors.