Chapter 7:The First Strike

James and Lina pored over the map, the safe house shrouded in silence except for the occasional rustle of paper. Sarah sat beside them, alternating between fixed gazes on each, which filled the air around them with a palpable tension of the plan that each step now burrowed deeply into her chest. Hassan kept watch at the door. Every noise outside every creak of a floorboard or distant car horn felt like a potential threat.

"We hit the hub tonight," Lina said, her voice steady, but edged with urgency. "It's a low-security facility, but that doesn't mean it'll be easy. They'll have guards and surveillance." We have to be fast and precise."

James nodded, his jaw set. "What do we know about the floor plan?"

Lina gestured at a part of the map. "The main servers of the facility are located in the basement. That's where they keep sensitive data. If we are able to reach it, we may find a connection to their main network."

"What about the guards?" Hassan asked.

"Rotating shifts," said Lina. "Small team, but they're trained well. "We have to avoid direct confrontation if we can."

Sarah had been unusually quiet, and James turned to her. "You don't have to go, Sarah. This is dangerous."

Sarah's gaze bore down on him, steady. "I'm not staying behind. Someone needs to be there to keep watch and to handle communications. I can do that."

James demurred, but her mind was made up. He nodded. "Alright. Stick close to Hassan. He'll keep you safe."

Night came, and the group operated by night. The facility was situated in an industrial area on the city's outskirts, enclosed by chain-link fences and poorly lit streets. As they neared the perimeter, tension hung thick in the air, anxious with the waiting, each step a reminder of how high the stakes were.

Lina took the lead, each movement calculated and intentional. She'd checked the area out beforehand and found a gap in the fence. Soon they were all inside, hunkered down and moving in darkness.

From their vantage point, James could see the guards walking around the facility. They walked in pairs, flashlights piercing the dark.

"We part ways here," Lina said softly. "James and I will go to the basement. Hassan, you and Sarah remain with the van to monitor the comms. If there's any trouble, be prepared to pull us out."

Hassan nodded and Sarah shot James a reassuring look. "Be careful," she said quietly.

"You also," James said and turned to follow Lina.

The air inside the facility was cold and sterile and the dark, fluorescent lights buzzed down long empty halls. Lina guided James to a stairwell that led down to the basement. They tried to move fast, but cautiously, footfalls subdued.

Once they got to the basement, Lina pulled out a small device, a signal jammer, and switched it on. "This is going to block their cameras for a few minutes," she whispered. "But we need to move fast."

The server room lay just beyond, its door locked electronically. Lina removed a compact kit with various implements and set to work, her fingers skimming over the latch with a practiced ease. The door clicked open a moment later.

James entered, looking around the room. The servers Hummed on rows, their lights blinking in a kind of rhythm. It was nothing special to look at, but James knew the footings had power in the secrets they contained.

Lina plugged in a device into one of the servers and started downloading the data. "It will take a few minutes," she added.

James stood guard at the door, his senses heightened. Nowadays, every second is a million years long.

Then Lina's voice pierced the silence. "Got it."

She then unplugged the device and stowed it in her bag. "Let's go."

But as they returned to the corridor, the sound of coming footsteps brought them to a halt.

"Guards," James whispered.

They stepped into the shadows, flattening themselves against the wall as two guards brushed by, talking in low tones.

"We've got a breach," one of them said. "The cameras just went down. Stay sharp."

James made eye contact with Lina. Their time was up.

When the guards were out of earshot, they hurried back to the stairwell as quickly and quietly as possible.

Outside, Hassan and Sarah stood waiting nervously by the van.

"What's wrong?" Sarah said, her voice taut with concern. "They should've returned by now."

Hassan scowled, his hand lingered over his weapon. "Just a few more minutes."

At that exact moment the comm buzzed. "We're coming out," said Lina's voice. "But we've got company."

Hassan cursed under his breath. "Be prepared to move," he said to Sarah.

Moments later, James and Lina appeared from the shadows and ran toward the van. Behind them, shouting and heavy boots echoed in the air.

"Go, go, go!" James shouted as they climbed into the van.

Hassan stepped on the gas, squealing away.

Back at their safe house, they crowded around Lina's laptop while she decrypted the data they had extracted.

"What did we get?" James asked, his voice tense.

Lina had her fingers flying on the keyboard. "A lot. Financial records, communication logs and this."

She opened up a document and scanned it, squinting slightly as she read.

"It's a list," she said. "Names, locations... people associated with the syndicate.

James bent over her shoulder, his gaze darting across the screen. "This is it. This is what we needed."

But Lina looked grim. "This is just the beginning. The people on this list they're dangerous. And now we have this, they're gonna come for us."

James clenched his fists. "Let them come. We're ready."

And as the group braced for what was to come, one thing was certain: the battle was far from over. The syndicate's web was vast

and perilous, but for the first time, James and his supporters held the upper hand.

The battle had begun.