Chapter 8: The Silence Strategy.

Several tense hours passed with no further incidents. The camp, still on high alert, seemed suspended in anticipation. Ava walked the perimeter with Miko, who was overseeing the rotations of the Arbor Defense Force (ADF). Their eyes scanned the horizon, vigilant for any movement or sign of another assault.

"We need to rotate our guys, Miko. Half can rest while the others stay on watch. They’re holding up, but if we burn them out now, we’ll regret it when it counts," Ava suggested, her voice calm but carrying the weight of experience.

Miko nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Got it. I’ll make sure they’re taking shifts. Last thing we need is an exhausted defense line."

As Miko turned to relay the orders, Ava’s gaze swept over the camp. Soldiers milled about, their movements efficient but heavy with the fatigue of anticipation. The distant rumble of artillery fire from the earlier barrage still echoed in her mind. This was the quiet before the storm—she could feel it.

Satisfied that Miko had the rotations in hand, Ava headed toward the command tent. The interior buzzed with activity: maps were spread across tables, radios crackled intermittently, and officers barked quick, sharp commands. Ava stepped into the dim light, leaning against a table as the commanders discussed strategies and analyzed their next moves.

Her eyes flicked to Commander Sterling, who was deep in conversation with several tacticians. A half-smile crossed Ava’s face as she overheard the confusion regarding the radio silence earlier.

Sterling, noticing her amused expression, raised an eyebrow. "Something on your mind, Ronin?" he asked, his tone more curious than irritated.

Ava straightened up, her arms crossed. "They killed our radios," she said, her voice carrying across the tent. The noise of strategists arguing and officers coordinating came to an abrupt stop. Everyone’s attention turned toward her.

"And how exactly would they manage that?" a voice asked, skepticism clear in their tone. The officers exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what to make of Ava’s calm statement.

Ava shrugged nonchalantly. "Not sure exactly how, but it’s clear they did. Jamming, interference, whatever it was, they pulled it off. But here’s the thing—it doesn’t matter. They rely on technology. We don’t. And that’s why they’ll lose."

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Murmurs rippled through the tent as Ava’s words sank in. Some of the younger soldiers looked confused, while the veterans narrowed their eyes, considering her point.

Without saying a word, Ava caught the eye of a nearby Sentinel and made a subtle hand signal. Without hesitation, the Sentinel responded with a sharp nod and tossed her a rifle, which Ava caught with practiced ease. "See that?" she said, holding the rifle up for all to see. "We don’t need radios. We don’t need tech to communicate. We’ve trained for this. Hand signals, runners—we’re adaptable. When our radios go down, we don’t stop. When theirs go down, they’re blind."

Commander Sterling folded his arms, intrigued but still skeptical. "When did the radios come back on?"

One of the officers stepped forward, "Just after the artillery strike, sir. Right after the barrage hit the treeline."

Ava gave a curt nod. "Exactly. Whatever they were using to jam us must’ve been taken out by that strike. My guess is, if you send a scout out to where the shells hit, you’ll find the wreckage of their equipment."

Sterling stared at her for a moment, processing her words. "So, you’re saying they’ve got all this tech, but if we knock out a single piece of equipment, they lose their edge?"

Ava leaned over the table, pointing at the map of the Reclaimers' position. "In every battle throughout history, the most tech-reliant armies were always the most vulnerable. These Reclaimers don’t understand what they’re using—only that it works. But unlike them, our units can operate independently, without the need for high-tech comms. That’s what will give us the upper hand."

Just as Sterling was about to respond, a sharp cry pierced the air outside. "CONTACT AT THE REAR!" A Sentinel rushed into the tent, his face pale with urgency.

At the same moment, the familiar hum of a vehicle approaching from the distance sent a ripple of unease through the camp. As the vehicle neared, the radios once again fell silent. Every head turned toward the equipment, the eerie hush speaking volumes.

"Second wave incoming," Ava announced, her voice steady but carrying the weight of the situation. The tent erupted into chaos, officers grabbing gear and shouting orders, the once orderly command center now a flurry of activity.

Commander Sterling’s face hardened as he barked out orders. "Prepare defenses! Get our artillery back online!" His eyes met Ava’s, and for the first time, a flicker of respect crossed his face. "You’d better be right about them, Ronin."

Ava nodded sharply, gripping her rifle. "I’m always right about them."

With that, she turned on her heel and stepped into the fray. The vehicle halted just outside the perimeter, its motives still unclear, but Ava’s gut told her this was only the beginning. Whatever came next, they’d have to face it head-on, and without the advantage of technology, the Reclaimers would soon learn they’d underestimated their enemy.

As the camp braced for the incoming assault, Ava knew the real battle had only just begun.