Chapter 11: Intel gathering.

Commander Taylor interrupted. "Time to move out. Axel is already hacking into Scorch's systems.

Commander Taylor handed Franklin a small device.

"This is a comms link. Axel will guide you through Scorch's system remotely.

Charlotte. Final check, are gears and weapons ready?"

She nodded, patting the pistols, combat knife sheath and grappling hooks with a comms device linked to Axel's feed.

Commander Taylor's eyes locked onto both of them. "Come back alive. Eclipse protocol hangs in balance."

His voice faded into the night as Charlotte and Franklin slipped into the darkness towards Scorch's citadel.

…

Axel's low voice crackled through their comms devices. "Citadel perimeter fence breached digitally.

Entry point: Squad 4 maintenance gate.

The Reavers patrol nearby, 8 minutes before next sweep."

Charlotte and Franklin sprinted swiftly towards the gate. They reached the gate in 2 minutes.

Franklin worked quickly, manually opening the gate while Charlotte watched their backs.

"Gate controls disabled.

You are inside Scorch's citadel. Proceed to server room corridor, 300 meters straight ahead."

Charlotte and Franklin moved swiftly through the dark citadel corridors. Their footsteps silent on the cold concrete floors.

Axel's voice guided them, "Turn left ahead, then right at the lab equipment storage. The server room corridor will be straight ahead.

The reavers are 2 minutes behind your position, hurry!"

They picked up their pace, hearts racing with urgency.

Suddenly, Charlotte grabbed Franklin's arm, halting him.

She pointed ahead, there is a security camera's red light flickered to life.

Axel's voice came through their comms. "I'm on it… camera feed hijacked… NOW. You've got 30 seconds before my hack is detected, MOVE!"

Charlotte and Franklin sprinted towards the server room corridor. They reached the door, it was locked electronically.

Franklin worked rapidly, bypassing the lock while Charlotte watched his back.

Axel updated. "Doors open, Server Room Corridor access granted.

Eclipse Protocol Repository server is right in front of you, labelled 'EPR-MAIN'. Download the schematics NOW. The Reavers are 1 minutes away!"

Franklin quickly plugged his cyber deck into the EPR-MAIN server.

Axel guided him remotely. "Navigate to Folder Z-12…

Select file

'Eclipse_Protocol_Schematics_v9.8'…

Downloading NOW, estimated time will be in 2 minutes 14 seconds."

Franklin watched the progress bar creep upwards, showing 10% complete.

Suddenly, Charlotte tapped his shoulder urgently.

Franklin looked up, his pupils shrinking in alarm.

He removed his earpiece, hearing distant footsteps and voices.

It appears to be the Reavers approaching closer than Axel estimated time!

Charlotte readied her weapons: dual pistols cocked and ready, combat knife at her utility belt and grenade in her left hand.

She whispered to Franklin, "Buy me 30 seconds and I'll buy you 2 minutes back."

Franklin nodded, eyes fixed on the download progress, 40% complete.

Charlotte moved swiftly towards the Reaver's patrol group, 4 heavily armed guards in sight, raised their weapons upon seeing her.

She rolled the grenade into their midst, then opened fire, pistols blazing.

Chaos erupted as guards scrambled, returning fire wildly.

Charlotte ducked behind a pillar, reloading pistols with 10 seconds passed.

Franklin's urgent voice came through the Charlotte's earpiece. "Charlotte, update… download is 80% complete!

You've bought me 1 minutes 45 seconds so far, keep holding them off!

Estimated time remaining for full download is 24 seconds."

Charlotte peeked around the pillar, gunfire still exchanged.

2 Reavers down, dead or wounded another 2 still firing at her position.

She spotted a ventilation shaft above the reavers, partially open.

Charlotte reloaded the pistol, then whispered to Franklin.

"Almost done, I'll force them into your line of fire. Be ready to shoot."

Charlotte drew the Reavers fire again, then sprinted towards them. She dodged bullets, slipped behind a nearby crate and threw a flash-band grenade.

Blinding light and deafening noise erupted, thereby making the Reavers stunned.

Charlotte rushed them, pistols striking their heads and the 2 Reavers collapsing.

She turned to towards Franklin's position, her voice firm. "Clear. Is the download complete?"

Franklin emerged, cyber deck in his hand, nodding. "Yes. Eclipse Protocol Schematics downloaded. Axel is already analysing them remotely."

Unexpectedly, Axel's alarmed voice came through their earpieces. "WARNING! Scorch himself is coming to the server room corridor, you have 30 seconds out!"

Charlotte grabbed Franklin's arm, pulling him towards the door. "We need to run. Ambushing Scorch means certain death."

Franklin nodded, stuffing his cyber deck into his backpack. They sprinted down the corridor, Axel guiding them. "Turn Right ahead, then LEFT at the lab maintenance exit 100 meters straight."

Behind them, Scorch's angry voice echoed. "INTRUDERS IN SERVER ROOM CORRIDOR. SEAL ALL EXITS!"

Doors slammed shut ahead of them but their exit remained open… for 5 seconds.

Axel warned. "SEALING MAINTENANCE EXIT IN 3… 2…"

They dove through the closing doors just in time. Franklin's backpack scraped the edge while Charlotte's foot barely cleared the crushing gap.

They landed hard on the gravel outside Scorch's citadel. Axel's relieved voice came through their earpieces.

"You're out. Mission accomplished, Eclipse Protocol Schematics downloaded.

Meet me and Commander Taylor back at North Sector HQ."

As they caught their breath, Charlotte turned to Franklin. "Your sister, Maya, will be relieved we made it back."

And Franklin smiled slightly, nodding. "And your father… one or two steps closer to saving the remaining mankind from Eclipse."

Charlotte leaned in closer to Franklin. "Show me the schematics, what did we just risk our lives for?"

Franklin pulled out his cyber deck, opening the downloaded file.

*ECLIPSE PROTOCOL SCHEMATICS v9.8* they scanned the documents together.

*Zombie Virus Amplifier*: enhances zombie aggression and strength.

*Population Control Centre*: remote monitoring of survivors…

*Neurological Suppressor*: neutralizes survivors will to fight back

*Geofencing Grid*: traps survivors in designated zones, our sectors included.

Charlotte's eyes widened in horror. "So, this is the Eclipse protocol that our sectors have been talking about since, but this isn't just oppression… it's enslavement and mass murder."

Franklin's jaw clenched. "We have to destroy Scorch protocol, share these schematics with all sectors NOW."

Axel's voice interrupted via comms. "Already distributing encrypted copies to trusted sector leaders…

Commander Taylor wants you both back at HQ. Dr. Abigail needs to see these schematics too."

They arrived at North Sector's HQ, the former city hall and entered Commander Taylor's office. Where maps and strategies covered the walls.

Dr. Abigail, Charlotte's mum sat beside Commander Taylor, with relief washing over her for the safety of Charlotte and Franklin. She just found out about her daughter's mission and was worried all over.

Commander Taylor rose, relief evident "Thank God you both returned safely. Abigail, they brought the Eclipse Protocol Schematics."

Dr. Abigail's eyes widened as Franklin handed her his cyber deck. She scanned the files intently, then looked up, hope in her eyes.

"This changes everything. With this data, I can finalize the vaccine *Rebirth antidote* counteract the Zombie virus entirely."

*TO BE CONTINUED*