Chapter 61: Counterstrike

Chapter 61: Counterstrike

Silvia's POV

The night after the battle was restless. Fires flickered around the encampment, casting long shadows over the exhausted resistance fighters. Some slept where they sat, weapons still in their grip, while others kept watch with haunted expressions. Titan might have retreated, but they weren't defeated. Not yet.

Silvia stood near the command tent, staring at the map laid out before her. Titan's forces were regrouping, and she needed to strike before they built up their numbers again. They had to keep moving, had to keep the pressure on.

A cup of something warm was pressed into her hands. She blinked and turned to see Dragon, leaning casually against a crate. "You need to sleep, Silvia."

She smirked, taking a sip. "And miss all the fun?"

Dragon sighed. "You know, for someone who yells at her soldiers to rest, you're terrible at following your own advice."

Silvia arched a brow. "Are you saying I'm a hypocrite?"

"I'm saying you're human. Even if you pretend not to be."

She sighed, rubbing her temple. "We don't have time for rest. If we don't strike first, Titan will."

Dragon tilted his head. "Then let's make sure they never see us coming."

The Plan

By morning, Silvia had laid out the counterstrike. Their target: a Titan weapons cache on the eastern front, one of the last supply lines fueling their war machines. If they could destroy it, Titan's next offensive would be crippled.

Garrik studied the map, nodding. "Small window of opportunity. If we hit fast and pull out before reinforcements arrive, we can gut their supply chain."

Tarren adjusted her rifle. "We'll need an infiltration team to disable the security before the main assault."

Dragon grinned. "I call dibs."

Silvia rolled her eyes but smirked. "Fine. But if you get caught, I'm not bailing you out."

"Come on, Silvia. I never get caught."

She gave him a pointed look. "You've been caught five times."

"Minor setbacks. Doesn't count."

Garrik groaned. "Can we focus?"

Silvia chuckled, then turned serious. "We move at sundown. Hit them hard, fast, and disappear before they know what happened."

The Infiltration

The team approached Titan's outpost under the cover of darkness. Dragon, Tarren, and a handful of elite fighters took the lead, slipping through the enemy perimeter like ghosts. Silvia remained with the main force, waiting for the signal.

Minutes passed. Then the comm crackled to life.

"Security's down. You're clear to move."

Silvia didn't hesitate. "Go!"

The resistance surged forward, catching Titan off guard. Explosions erupted as they tore through the facility, fire and smoke rising into the night sky. The battle was brutal, fast, and decisive.

Silvia moved through the chaos, dodging a plasma bolt before retaliating with a precise blast of fire. The heat seared through a Titan officer's armor, sending him sprawling. She barely had time to react before another enemy lunged at her. Dragon intercepted, his claws raking through the soldier's exo-suit.

"You're getting slow," he teased.

She smirked, twisting to take out another attacker. "Or maybe I'm just letting you do all the work."

Dragon wiped the blood off his claws, his smirk deepening. "I knew it. You just like watching me work."

"You wish," Silvia shot back, before sprinting ahead to cover Garrik's flank.

By the time Titan's reinforcements arrived, Silvia's forces were already gone, leaving nothing behind but wreckage.

Victory and Consequences

Back at camp, the celebration was subdued but present. A rare moment of triumph. Silvia sat by the fire, exhaustion creeping in, when Dragon dropped into the seat beside her.

"Told you I don't get caught."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "One of these days, you will."

Dragon leaned in slightly, a teasing smirk on his lips. "Would you come rescue me?"

Silvia held his gaze, heartbeat steady despite the warmth in his eyes. "Maybe. If you ask nicely."

Dragon's smirk turned into something softer. "And if I do?"

She shrugged. "Then I'd have to think about it."

Garrik, passing by, groaned. "Oh, for the love of—can you two just kiss and get it over with?"

Silvia turned, startled, as Dragon barked out a laugh. "Garrik, you just ruined the moment."

Garrik raised his hands. "Good. Maybe now I can eat my rations in peace instead of watching your slow-burn nonsense."

Tarren, sitting nearby, snorted. "It's actually impressive how long this is taking."

Silvia sighed, exasperated. "Do you all have nothing better to do?"

Dragon leaned closer, his voice a low murmur. "I mean, they do have a point."

She huffed. "Go patrol or something."

Dragon grinned but didn't move. "You like having me around too much for that."

She didn't dignify that with an answer, though her lips twitched in amusement.

A moment later, Tarren cleared her throat. "If we're done with the romance novel subplot, we have another problem. Scouts picked up movement to the north. Titan might not be done licking their wounds."

Silvia stiffened, setting down her cup. "How many?"

"Enough that we should be ready to move by first light."

Dragon exhaled, stretching. "Looks like the fun never ends."

Silvia nodded. "Then let's make sure we're ready."

The war still raged, but for now, they had won.