Chapter 90: Betrayal of the Night

The interrogation room was dimly lit, casting long shadows across the cold metal walls. Jack Steele stood across from the lead mercenary, whose defiant glare seemed to pierce through the silence. Harper and Elena flanked him, their presence a reminder of the stakes.

Jack broke the silence first. "Start talking. Who sent you?"

The mercenary smirked, blood staining his teeth. "You think I'm scared of you, soldier boy? I've faced worse."

Jack leaned in, his voice a low growl. "You haven't seen worse until you've dealt with the Helldivers. Now, who sent you?"

"Why should I tell you?" the mercenary spat, his bravado unshaken.

Elena stepped forward, her eyes cold. "Because if you don't, we have ways to make you talk. And they won't be pleasant."

The mercenary's smirk faltered for a moment, a flicker of fear crossing his eyes. "Alright, alright. We were hired by someone called 'The Broker.' Paid a fortune to disrupt your operations and make sure you never find out what's really going on."

Jack exchanged a glance with Elena. "The Broker? Never heard of him."

"That's the point," the mercenary said. "No one has. He's a ghost, moving pieces on a board none of us can see."

Jack straightened, turning to Harper. "Get this information to Zara. We need to find out everything we can about The Broker."

Harper nodded and left the room, leaving Jack and Elena with the mercenary. Jack turned back to their prisoner. "And what about the Terminids? What's your connection to them?"

The mercenary laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Connection? We're just the distraction. The real threat is already here."

Jack's blood ran cold. "What do you mean?"

"Your planet," the mercenary said, his eyes gleaming with malicious glee. "It's crawling with them. They've been here for months, burrowing in deep, waiting for the right moment."

Elena's hand tightened on her weapon. "Why tell us this now?"

"Because," the mercenary said, leaning back with a satisfied grin, "it's too late for you to stop it."

Jack's mind raced. The Terminids were already here, hiding in plain sight. The implications were staggering. He needed to inform the base and prepare for the worst.

"Take him to the holding cells," Jack ordered. "And double the guard."

As they led the mercenary away, Jack and Elena hurried to the command center. The base was a hive of activity, soldiers moving with purpose as they prepared for the unknown threat lurking in the shadows.

Zara was at her station, her fingers flying over the keyboard. "I've got something," she said as they approached. "The Broker has been linked to several high-profile mercenary attacks across the galaxy. No one knows who he is, but his reach is extensive."

"Can you find him?" Jack asked, his eyes fixed on the screen.

"Maybe," Zara said, her eyes narrowing in concentration. "But it won't be easy. He covers his tracks well."

"Do what you can," Jack said, turning to Elena. "We need to prepare for an immediate attack. The Terminids are already here, and they could strike at any moment."

Elena nodded, her face set in grim determination. "I'll get the teams ready. We need to be ready for anything."

Jack watched as she moved to rally the troops, his mind a whirlwind of plans and contingencies. The enemy was already here, and time was running out. He needed to stay one step ahead, to anticipate their moves before they struck.

Hours passed in a blur of activity. Soldiers fortified defenses, set up patrols, and prepared for the worst. The tension was palpable, a heavy weight that pressed down on everyone in the base.

As night fell, the base settled into a tense silence. Jack stood on the command center's balcony, looking out over the darkened landscape. The stars twinkled above, a stark contrast to the shadowy threat below.

Harper joined him, his face etched with worry. "You think they'll hit tonight?"

"Wouldn't be surprised," Jack said, his eyes scanning the horizon. "We need to be ready."

"Always are, Captain," Harper said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Whatever comes, we'll face it together."

Jack nodded, a sense of resolve settling over him. The Helldivers had faced countless threats, but this felt different. More personal, more insidious. They were fighting not just for survival, but for their home.

The radio crackled to life, Zara's urgent voice cutting through the silence. "Captain, we've got movement. Lots of it. They're coming."

Jack's heart pounded. "Everyone to your stations! Prepare for engagement!"

The base erupted into action, soldiers rushing to their positions. Jack and Harper descended into the fray, their weapons at the ready. The air was thick with anticipation, every sense heightened.

And then they came.

The Terminids emerged from the shadows, a relentless tide of chitin and claws. They moved with terrifying speed and precision, their eyes glowing with malevolent intelligence.

"Hold the line!" Jack shouted, his voice a rallying cry. "We can't let them through!"

The battle was fierce and chaotic, a blur of gunfire and screams. The Helldivers fought with everything they had, their training and determination pushing them to their limits. Jack moved through the chaos, his mind sharp and focused, directing his team with ruthless efficiency.

Amid the carnage, he saw glimpses of something else—figures moving with the Terminids, directing their attacks. Mercenaries, working with the enemy. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. The Broker's forces were here, embedded with the Terminids, orchestrating the assault.

Jack fought his way towards them, determination burning in his veins. He had to get to the heart of the enemy, to find out what they were planning.

He reached the central command area, where a figure in dark armor stood, directing the Terminid forces. The Broker. Jack's heart pounded as he raised his weapon, but the Broker turned, a smirk on his face.

"Too late, Captain," the Broker said, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction. "You're already too late."

Jack fired, but the Broker disappeared in a flash, leaving only chaos in his wake. The battle raged on, but Jack felt a cold dread settle over him. The Broker's words echoed in his mind, a grim reminder of the enemy's insidious presence.

As dawn broke, the Terminids retreated, leaving the battlefield littered with the wounded and the dead. Jack stood amidst the devastation, his heart heavy. They had survived the night, but the real battle was just beginning.

The Helldivers regrouped, their faces grim but resolute. They had faced the enemy and held their ground, but the war was far from over. The Broker and his forces were out there, plotting their next move.

Jack looked at his team, their eyes filled with determination. "This isn't over," he said, his voice steady. "We fight on. For our home, for each other. We'll find The Broker and end this."

The Helldivers nodded, their resolve unbroken. The fight would continue, and they would stand together, no matter what came next.