The night air was thick with tension as Kade, Lyra, and their squad of rebels approached the Syndicate's main fortress. Towering walls of reinforced steel loomed over them, lined with automated turrets and patrolling drones. The entire structure pulsed with energy from the core buried deep within.
Kade crouched behind a rusted supply crate, his grip tightening on his weapon. "Once we're inside, we stick to the plan. No unnecessary risks."
Rey smirked as he checked his modified blaster. "Define unnecessary."
Lyra shot him a glare. "If it gets you killed, it's unnecessary."
Rey chuckled but gave a small nod of agreement. The rebels behind them shifted anxiously, waiting for the signal to move.
Kade exhaled. "Alright. We take out the perimeter guards quietly. No alarms."
Lyra moved first, vanishing into the shadows. Within seconds, the faint thud of a body hitting the ground signaled her success. The rest followed suit, eliminating the sentries one by one.
Rey signaled from up ahead. "Clear. Let's move."
The group slipped through an access tunnel beneath the fortress, the air damp and stale. Pipes hissed with steam, and the distant hum of machinery vibrated through the walls.
Lyra pulled up a small holo-map. "The core is in the central chamber. It's heavily guarded, but if we shut down the main power grid, we'll have a small window to plant explosives and get out."
Kade nodded. "Then we split up. Rey, take a team and disable the grid. Lyra and I will head to the core."
Rey grinned. "Finally, some fun." He led his team down a separate corridor, disappearing into the metallic maze.
Kade and Lyra moved swiftly toward the heart of the fortress. Every step brought them closer to the core, and with it, the man responsible for everything—Nathaniel Ronin.
As they rounded the final corner, massive blast doors came into view. Guards in heavy armor stood in formation, weapons at the ready.
Kade tightened his grip on his blade. "No more hiding. We finish this."
Lyra nodded, her eyes burning with determination. "Together."
With that, they charged.