Chapter 3

The rain continued to pour as Andrew and Cipher made their way back through the city streets, the glow of distant streetlights flickering in the darkness. Their bags were heavier now, loaded with weapons and gear, but Andrew felt lighter—more prepared. Every step brought him closer to his goal: taking down Harris and his corrupt faction.

As they walked, Cipher spoke up, his voice calm but focused. "We need to plan our next move carefully. Harris will have his operatives crawling all over the place once he catches wind of this. He's not going to take a breach in his system lightly."

Andrew nodded, his eyes scanning the shadows of the streets. "First, we figure out his weak points. Hit him where he least expects it. We've got the weapons, the gear, and the intel—but we need to strike fast."

Cipher smiled. "I like how you think. I've been working on a few possible targets based on the data we pulled. Harris has a few key outposts around the city. Small operations, but important. If we can disable those, we'll start cutting off his resources. Make him bleed before we go in for the kill."

"Where's the first target?" Andrew asked, his mind already piecing together the strategy.

"There's an underground weapons depot in the southern part of the city. Harris uses it to funnel guns and ammo to his soldiers. We hit that place, we cripple his supply line. It's heavily guarded, though."

Andrew's lips tightened into a grim smile. "Perfect. We'll make sure they never see it coming."

They continued through the narrow alleys, eventually reaching Cipher's hideout—a small, rundown building tucked between two abandoned warehouses. Inside, the walls were lined with monitors, cables, and devices that blinked and hummed quietly. Cipher immediately set his laptop on the desk, pulling up the intel they had just stolen.

"Here it is," Cipher said, tapping the screen. "The depot is located underground, accessible through a shipping yard. It's disguised as a standard warehouse, but beneath the surface, it's armed to the teeth. Guards, automated defense systems, the works."

Andrew studied the map on the screen, tracing the routes in and out. "We'll need to move in fast, take out the guards quietly, and get to the control center before they have a chance to activate the defenses."

Cipher nodded. "Agreed. That's where your skills come in. I can handle the security systems remotely, but you're going to have to clear the path. Once we're inside, I'll disable the automated defenses and detonate the ammo cache. That'll put a big dent in Harris's supply chain."

Andrew checked the weapons they had picked up earlier, making sure everything was loaded and ready. He adjusted his tactical vest, feeling the reassuring weight of the gear against his body. "We'll need a distraction when we hit the depot. If Harris's soldiers get wind of this too early, we'll be overwhelmed."

Cipher grinned. "I've got just the thing." He pulled a small device from his pocket—a signal jammer. "This will knock out their communications long enough for us to get in and out without raising alarms. Once we're inside, we can disable the whole system."

Andrew nodded approvingly. "Let's get this done."

A few hours later, they stood outside the southern shipping yard, the rain still falling in steady sheets. The place was quiet, but Andrew could sense the tension in the air. Hidden beneath the unassuming warehouse was a hive of activity, with Harris's soldiers patrolling the underground depot.

Cipher stayed a few steps behind Andrew, typing commands into his tablet. "I'm jamming their security cameras now. We've got a short window before they realize something's wrong."

Andrew moved forward, his body blending into the shadows as he approached the entrance. His eyes scanned the perimeter—two guards standing by the entrance, both armed with assault rifles. He drew his suppressed handgun and took a deep breath. This was what he was trained for.

With practiced precision, he moved silently across the wet pavement. The first guard barely had time to react before Andrew knocked him unconscious with the butt of his gun. The second guard turned, but Andrew was faster, pulling him into a chokehold and dragging him behind a nearby stack of crates. Within seconds, both guards were down.

"All clear," Andrew whispered into his earpod.

Cipher's voice came through. "Nice work. I'm disabling the external locks now."

The heavy metal door of the warehouse gave a faint click, and Andrew pushed it open slowly. Inside, rows of shipping containers lined the vast space. They all looked ordinary, but Andrew knew better. Below the surface, there was a labyrinth of tunnels, leading to the heart of Harris's operation.

"We need to find the access point to the underground depot," Cipher said quietly as they moved inside. "It's disguised as a storage elevator near the back."

They weaved through the crates, staying low and avoiding the occasional patrolling guard. Andrew's heart raced, but his mind was sharp, focused on the mission. Every step brought them closer to the target.

Finally, they reached the back of the warehouse. A large freight elevator stood before them, its rusted metal doors barely visible in the dim light.

Cipher typed quickly on his tablet. "I'm overriding the elevator controls now. Give me a second."

Andrew kept watch, his senses heightened. Any moment now, one wrong move could set off the alarms. But they had to keep going.

The elevator dinged softly as the doors slid open.

"Ready?" Cipher asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Andrew gave a single nod. "Let's move."

They stepped inside the elevator, and Cipher hit the button for the lower level. The doors closed, and they began their descent into the heart of Harris's weapons depot. As the elevator rumbled down, Andrew felt the weight of what was to come. This was just the first step in dismantling Harris's empire, but it was a crucial one.

The elevator doors slid open to reveal a long, dimly lit hallway. The air was thick with tension, and Andrew could hear the distant hum of machinery.

"Stay sharp," he whispered to Cipher. "This is where it gets real."

The underground depot stretched before them, a maze of tunnels and storage rooms, each filled with crates of weapons and ammunition. Armed guards patrolled every corner, their eyes sharp, but none of them expected what was about to hit.

Andrew pulled down his night-vision goggles, the world around him turning into a sharp, green-tinted landscape. "I'll clear the guards. You head to the control center and disable the defenses."

Cipher nodded and handed Andrew a small detonator. "When you're ready, plant the C4 on the ammo caches. I'll trigger the explosion remotely once we're clear."

Andrew took the detonator, his mind already focused on the task ahead. "I'll signal when the charges are set. Be ready."

With that, they split up—Andrew moving through the shadows, a silent sentinel, while Cipher headed toward the control room to hack into the depot's systems.

Andrew's movements were fluid, calculated. He took down the guards one by one, his suppressed handgun barely making a sound as each target dropped to the ground. He felt the thrill of the mission coursing through him—the perfect mix of danger and precision. Every shot, every move was executed flawlessly.

Finally, he reached the ammo storage. Stacks of crates filled with explosives and ammunition were lined up in rows, enough firepower to equip a small army. Andrew planted the C4 charges in strategic spots, ensuring maximum destruction when the time came.

He tapped his earpod. "Charges set. What's your status?"

Cipher's voice crackled through. "I'm in the control room. Disabling the defenses now… Give me ten seconds."

Andrew waited, his finger hovering over the detonator. He could hear the distant footsteps of more guards approaching, but he was ready. Everything was in place.

"Alright, defenses down," Cipher confirmed. "We're good to go."

Andrew smirked, his adrenaline spiking. "Blow it."

The explosion rocked the underground depot, the force of the blast shaking the very ground beneath them. Alarms blared, and the entire facility erupted into chaos as fires spread through the ammo caches, engulfing the depot in flames.

Andrew and Cipher sprinted back toward the elevator, the sound of soldiers shouting and scrambling to respond echoing through the halls. They reached the elevator just as more guards poured into the depot, but it was too late. The place was coming down.

As they ascended back to the surface, Andrew glanced at Cipher, who grinned despite the madness below.

"One down," Cipher said breathlessly. "Harris won't like that."

Andrew nodded, his pulse still racing. "Good. Let's make him hate us."