Chapter 14: Crafting a Daring Plan.

Back at the Sentinel base, tension simmered as the officers and soldiers gathered for what was shaping up to be the most dangerous mission that most had ever undertaken. The command tent was filled with murmurs of strategy, maps spread across tables, and personnel gearing up for the assault. Keith, the captured Reclaimer tech who had earned a measure of trust, stood at the center, his gaze fixed on a monitor displaying the Reclaimer FOB’s defense system.

"Night assaults are out of the question," Keith warned, tapping the screen where the Reclaimer’s defense patterns were highlighted. "Their drones and infrared sensors will spot anything moving miles away."

Commander Sterling, arms folded, grimaced as he looked over the maps. "Daylight assaults are suicide too. What chance do we have of getting anywhere near their FOB without being picked off by those drones?"

Talon, standing by the side, spoke up. "What if me and a few scouts cover up and sneak in at night? We could hit them from the inside and take out some of their equipment before they even know what’s happening."

Keith glanced over at Talon, then shook his head with a slight smirk. "You’d still be seen. Even at night." He stepped over to the Reclaimer tech console and brought up the infrared display, showing the heat signatures of a few soldiers moving under cover of darkness. The bright spots on the monitor stood out like beacons. "This is what the Reclaimers see. Doesn't matter if it's pitch black, they can track heat signatures and body movement through infrared cameras."

Talon frowned, staring at the display, clearly impressed but frustrated. "We don’t have anything that can counter this?"

Ava, standing beside him, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Not yet, but we can use what we know to throw them off balance. They rely too much on this tech."

Keith nodded, confirming her statement. "Exactly. They’re complacent because they think this tech makes them untouchable. We jam their network, take down their drones, and hit them before they can switch their systems back on."

Commander Sterling, nodding in agreement, pointed at the map. "Talon, you and Ava will lead teams to infiltrate the FOB. The second the drones go down, you create as much confusion as possible inside their lines. Cause havoc, disrupt their command structure. Ava, your team will hit their main communication hub and take it offline."

Ava examined the map. "If we can slip in unnoticed, we can hit them hard while their defenses are in chaos."

Keith, still at the console, added, "Once their drones are down and their comms are hit, it’ll be panic inside the FOB. That’s when you strike."

Sterling’s eyes swept the room. "This is going to be brutal. But if we execute it right, we’ll leave their base in shambles. Everyone knows their role. Timing is everything."

Miko, already preparing his sniper team, stepped up. "My team will take out the drones. The second Keith jams their network, we’ll light them up."

Sterling nodded. "Good. You all know what’s at stake. The Reclaimers think they can steamroll us, but we’re going to show them what happens when they underestimate The Sentinels."

Ava stepped away from the map, turning to her team. "Get ready. We move fast, we hit hard, and we don’t stop until their FOB crumbles."

Talon gave her a grin, adjusting the strap on his rifle. "You lead, I follow. Let's show these Reclaimers they picked the wrong people to mess with."

The camp buzzed with focused intensity as Sentinel and ADF forces prepped for the imminent assault on the Reclaimers’ forward operating base. The weight of the mission hung heavy in the air, but the soldiers moved with precision, checking gear, loading weapons, and mentally preparing for what lay ahead. Each movement was part of a larger, carefully orchestrated symphony of war. Ava stood at the heart of it all, calm yet vigilant, her gaze flicking across her assembled team.

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"Talon, you’ll lead the second team," Ava said, her voice cutting through the low hum of the preparations. "If things get messy or we’re pinned down, you’ll have the flexibility to move in and finish the job."

Talon, already in mission mode, gave her a sharp nod. "Understood. Better to have backup. We can't afford any loose ends."

He began selecting soldiers from both Sentinel and ADF units, picking those whose skills matched his rapid, hard-hitting style. He chose the quickest scouts, the best marksmen, and the most adaptable fighters—those who could thrive in chaos.

Ava turned to her own team, giving them a confident smile. "Alright, you know we always get the most exciting assignments." A ripple of laughter spread through her group, the tension easing for a moment. One of the Sentinels, grinning widely, called out, "Yeah, but it’s an honor to run with a legend!"

Ava's grin softened as the camaraderie settled over her team, and she could feel their energy lifting, their focus sharpening. She raised her voice just enough to be heard over the buzz of preparations. "The tech will do his part, and we’ll have a small window to breach their lines. After that, it’s our turn to make sure they don’t know what hit them."

Her eyes moved toward Miko’s sniper unit, They were adjusting their scopes and checking wind conditions with an almost meditative focus. "Miko’s team will take out the drones. They’ll be blind once those eyes are gone."

She then turned back to her team. "Once we’re in, Talon’s team will back us up if anything goes sideways. But we’re not going to need rescuing, are we?"

The team answered in unison, their voices strong and confident. "No!"

Ava’s grin turned sharp, predatory. "Exactly. Remember, we hit hard and fast. When the time comes, we’ll go loud, artillery will follow, and our .50 cals will rip through them. Stay clear of those death machines—they’ll tear up anything in their path."

The soldiers, emboldened by her confidence, roared in response, their adrenaline pumping as the plan solidified in their minds. "Let's do this!" one of them shouted, and the chant caught on, rippling through the camp.

Talon moved beside Ava, his face set with the same grim determination but carrying a flicker of humor in his eyes. He gave her a quick, knowing look—the kind only close friends who had been through hell together could share. Their bond ran deeper than blood. In this war, they were family.

"Be safe, you," Ava said softly, her voice carrying an unspoken weight of concern.

Talon’s lips curved into a small smirk. "Always am, blondie. Watch your back too."

With that, they parted, leading their respective teams into the mid-morning light.

---

Hours Later, Early Afternoon On the Edge of the Reclaimer FOB

---

The afternoon heat bore down on the assembled forces. Ava crouched low behind a line of trees, her eyes locked on the Reclaimer FOB in the distance. The structure gleamed under the blazing sun, imposing and well-guarded, but not impenetrable. The Sentinel forces and ADF were poised to strike, like a coiled spring ready to snap.

Miko’s sharpshooters were already in place, their rifles aimed and ready to drop the drones the moment Keith jammed the enemy’s network. The mounted .50 cals were positioned further back, ready to roar into action and unleash their brutal firepower.

Ava's heart beat steady, the calm before the storm. Her eyes shifted to Talon’s position across the way. He and his team were in position, ready to spring into action. She could see him through the shadows, already signaling readiness with a quick gesture.

As Ava’s team lay low, waiting for the signal, the tension was almost suffocating. She looked up at the sky, where the faint sound of drones buzzed overhead, patrolling the area. Soon, they would be nothing more than scrap metal.

"Ready on your mark, Keith," Ava said over the comms, her eyes locked on the enemy compound.

With a few keystrokes, Keith initiated the cyber-attack that would scramble the Reclaimer’s communications network. "You've got two minutes," he warned through the crackling radio.

Finally, Keith’s voice crackled over the earpiece. "Jammer activated. You’ve got two minutes, maybe less."

Ava clenched her fist and gave the signal to Miko’s sharpshooters.

The air exploded with suppressed gunfire as Miko’s team executed their shots with deadly precision. Each drone was hit, dropping from the sky in a silent cascade of destruction.

"Go!" Ava barked her voice low but urgent.

Her team sprinted toward the FOB, staying low and fast. In the distance, she saw Talon’s team doing the same. They moved like shadows, closing in on the enemy lines. The Reclaimers, momentarily blinded by the loss of their tech, were thrown into confusion as their comms went down.

Ava raised her rifle, fired at the first Reclaimer she saw, and hit the ground running. The time for stealth was over—now, it was time to hit hard and fast.