Chapter 26 - Threats to Liberty

21.45 Hours, May 28th, 2187

Grid location: Proxima System, Planet Tethlis, Contested space.

The Helldiver team raced through the darkened streets, their breath ragged, their hearts pounding in their chests. Behind them, the distant sounds of battle echoed, a constant reminder of the danger that pursued them. Alex led the way, his senses sharp, his mind racing with the weight of their stolen data and the implications it held.

"Keep moving!" he barked, his voice cutting through the night air like a whip. "We need to reach the extraction point before they pin us down!"

Elena and Marcus flanked him, their weapons at the ready, their eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of pursuit. Their breaths came in ragged gasps, the adrenaline pumping through their veins.

"We've got company!" Marcus shouted, his voice tense with urgency. He pointed ahead, where a group of Automatons had emerged from the darkness, their metallic forms gleaming in the moonlight.

Without hesitation, Elena raised her rifle, her finger tightening on the trigger. "Let's give them a warm welcome, shall we?"

The crack of gunfire filled the air as they engaged the enemy, their shots ringing out in staccato bursts. The Automatons advanced with mechanical precision, their movements calculated and relentless.

As the battle raged on, Ava's voice crackled through their comm units, her tone urgent. "I've secured the data, but we need to get out of here before reinforcements arrive. Head to the extraction point, I'll meet you there."

With grim determination, Alex led his team through the winding streets, their path illuminated by the flickering glow of streetlights. They moved with a silent urgency, each step bringing them closer to safety—or to their doom.

As they neared the extraction point, Jack's voice echoed through the comm, his tone laced with concern. "Cap, we've got a problem. The diversion worked, but now we're pinned down. We need immediate extraction."

Alex cursed under his breath, his mind racing with possibilities. "Hold tight, Jack. We're on our way. Just hang in there."

With renewed determination, the team quickened their pace, their senses on high alert for any sign of danger. They reached the extraction point just as Jack's squad emerged from the shadows, their weapons smoking, their faces grim.

"About time you showed up," Jack quipped, his grin strained with fatigue. "We were starting to think you'd left us for dead."

Alex clapped him on the shoulder, his expression serious. "Not on my watch, soldier. Now let's get out of here before the Automatons regroup."

As they boarded the waiting transport, the weight of their mission hung heavy in the air. The stolen data held the key to unraveling the mystery of the Automatons' puppet master, but it also marked them as targets in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

As the transport lifted off into the night sky, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that they were just getting started—that the real battle was yet to come.