Chapter 17: The Strike

Chapter 17: The Strike

Time Period: 2015

Age: 13 years old

The air was electric with anticipation as we prepared to strike. Every detail had been meticulously planned, every contingency accounted for. The Dominion had no idea what was coming, and that was exactly how we wanted it. This was more than just an operation—it was a statement. A declaration that Umbra was not to be trifled with.

Our team was in position, each member handpicked for their skill, loyalty, and ruthlessness. These were the best operatives Umbra had to offer, and they knew that failure was not an option.

I stood in the command center, my eyes fixed on the live feed from our operatives' body cams. The darkened streets of the city were bathed in the soft glow of streetlights, the towering buildings casting long shadows that seemed to swallow everything in their path. The Dominion's headquarters loomed in the distance, an imposing fortress of glass and steel that housed some of the most dangerous people in the world.

"All units, move into position," I ordered, my voice calm but commanding. The operatives responded immediately, their movements precise and silent as they approached the building.

Elijah was leading the infiltration team, his experience and tactical mind making him the perfect choice for the job. He moved like a shadow, blending seamlessly with the night as he led his team to the entrance. The plan was simple: get in, take what we needed, and get out before The Dominion even knew we were there.

But simplicity didn't mean it would be easy.

"Entry point secured," Elijah's voice crackled over the comms, his tone as cold as the night air. "Moving to phase two."

The team slipped into the building, bypassing security with practiced ease. They moved through the halls like phantoms, avoiding cameras, guards, and anything else that might give away their presence. Every step was calculated, every decision made with precision.

In the command center, Mia and I watched their progress on the monitors, our eyes scanning every detail for any sign of trouble. The tension in the room was palpable, a silent acknowledgment that this operation had the potential to make or break everything we had worked for.

As the team approached the heart of The Dominion's operations, the airwaves crackled with Elijah's voice again. "We're at the data center. Beginning extraction."

I nodded to myself, my fingers tapping nervously on the console in front of me. This was the most critical part of the operation. If we could get the information we needed, we would have the leverage to bring The Dominion to its knees. But if we were caught…

I pushed the thought away, focusing on the task at hand. There was no room for doubt, no space for fear. We had come too far to let anything slip through our grasp now.

Minutes felt like hours as we waited, the silence in the command center punctuated only by the soft hum of the machines around us. Every second was a reminder of the stakes, of the razor-thin margin for error that we were working with.

Then, suddenly, the comms crackled to life with Elijah's voice, more urgent this time. "We've got company. Multiple hostiles converging on our position."

My heart skipped a beat, my mind racing as I processed the information. The Dominion had figured us out. They were coming, and they were coming fast.

"Abort the extraction," I ordered, my voice cold and decisive. "Get out of there, now."

But Elijah didn't respond immediately. The feed from his body cam showed him glancing at the data console, his jaw clenched in frustration. "We're almost done. Just need a few more seconds."

"We don't have a few more seconds," I snapped, my hands gripping the console in front of me. "Get out before they cut you off!"

Mia's hand on my shoulder was the only thing keeping me grounded as I watched the scene unfold. I could see the conflict in Elijah's eyes, the tension in his posture as he weighed the risks. But he was a professional—he knew when to cut his losses.

"Copy that," Elijah finally responded, his voice grim. "We're pulling out."

The team moved quickly, abandoning the data console and slipping back into the shadows. But The Dominion wasn't about to let them go without a fight. The feed from the body cams showed flashes of movement, shadows converging on our operatives with deadly intent.

"Engage at will," I ordered, my voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through my veins.

The next few minutes were a blur of gunfire, shadows, and blood. The operatives fought with a precision born of years of training, their movements fluid and deadly. But The Dominion's forces were well-prepared, and the firefight quickly turned into a deadly dance of life and death.

In the command center, Mia and I watched in silence, our eyes glued to the screens as the battle unfolded. Every shot, every movement, every decision played out in front of us, the stakes as high as they could possibly be.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Elijah's voice crackled over the comms again. "We're clear. Extraction point secured."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, my shoulders sagging with relief. "Good work. Get back here, now."

As the feed from the body cams faded to black, the tension in the command center began to dissipate, replaced by a heavy silence. We had done it. The mission was a success—at least for now.

But as I stood there, the adrenaline slowly leaving my system, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The Dominion had taken a hit, but they weren't defeated. Not yet.

"James," Mia's voice broke through my thoughts, her hand still on my shoulder. "We need to debrief the team. Figure out what went wrong and how we can prepare for the next move."

I nodded, my mind already shifting gears. "You're right. Let's get to it."

As we left the command center, the echoes of the night's events still ringing in my ears, I knew one thing for certain: The Dominion was a threat that wouldn't be easily dismantled. But neither was Umbra. And I would make damn sure they never forgot that.