The resistance’s meeting hall was a cramped room lit by a flickering overhead lamp. Maps and sketches covered the walls, outlining every known pirate activity in Cloud Pass. The tension was palpable as Mira stood at the head of the table, her fiery gaze sweeping over the gathered fighters. Eren leaned against the wall nearby, arms crossed, his rifle propped within arm’s reach.
Rez sat at the table with the rest of the group, feeling their suspicion like a weight on his shoulders. His map lay unfurled at the center, its markings now cross-referenced with the resistance’s intelligence.
“Alright,” Mira began, tapping the map with a gloved finger. “We know the pirates are planning something massive. Their Etherium stockpiles confirm it. But thanks to Rez, we also know they’re moving everything through one key location—Captain Foundry’s airship, The Iron Tempest.”
A murmur rippled through the room, a mixture of apprehension and anger.
“We can’t take on an entire airship,” one fighter said. “Not with what we’ve got.”
“We’re not taking it head-on,” Rez interjected. He leaned forward, tapping a specific point on the map—a docking station marked with heavy scribbles. “We sabotage it from the inside.”
The room fell silent, all eyes on him. Mira raised an eyebrow. “And how exactly do you propose we do that?”
Rez took a deep breath. “The Iron Tempest has a centralized weapons bay where they store their Etherium supplies. If we can infiltrate the airship and disable those weapons, we’ll cripple their plans. Without Etherium-powered firepower, they lose their greatest advantage.”
Eren straightened, skeptical. “That’s assuming we can even get on board. The docking station is heavily guarded, and once we’re inside, it’s a fortress in the sky.”
Rez smirked. “I’ve already thought of that. We disguise ourselves as one of their resupply crews. With the right forged documents and a few crates of fake goods, we’ll walk right onto the ship.”
Mira glanced at Eren, who gave a reluctant nod. “It’s risky,” he said. “But it could work.”
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“Risky is what we do,” Mira said, turning back to the group. “But this mission isn’t for everyone. Rez, you’ll need a team. Eren, you’ll stay here and coordinate in case things go south.”
Eren’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. “Who are you sending with him?”
Mira gestured toward a figure in the shadows—a man with dark, sharp features and an easy, cocky smile. He stepped forward, his twin daggers glinting at his hips.
“Kellen,” Mira said. “He’s our best infiltrator. If anyone can get past those guards, it’s him.”
Kellen gave a mock bow. “Charmed, as always.”
“And Lyra,” Mira added, motioning to a young woman with wild curls and nervous energy. She stepped forward, clutching a small satchel filled with spell components.
“Lyra’s still in training,” Eren protested. “This isn’t her fight.”
“I can do it,” Lyra said firmly, her voice wavering only slightly. “I’ve been practicing my shield charms. You’ll need magical support, and I’m ready.”
Rez looked at the assembled team—Kellen with his air of arrogance, Lyra with her reserved confidence. It wasn’t exactly what he’d expected, but he’d take what he could get.
“Alright,” Mira said, her voice cutting through the tension. “The three of you will infiltrate The Iron Tempest. Get in, sabotage the weapons bay, and get out. No heroics. Understood?”
Rez nodded, as did the others.
“Good,” Mira said. “You leave at first light. Gather your supplies and get some rest. You’ll need it.”
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The next hours were a whirlwind of preparation.
Kellen led them to a stash of forged identification papers and uniforms scavenged from previous skirmishes. “These should pass a quick inspection,” he said, tossing a set of clothes to Rez. “Just act like you belong, and no one will look twice.”
Lyra worked with a small group of resistance mages, carefully inscribing runes onto amulets that would shield them from minor Etherium radiation. “It won’t last long,” she warned, handing one to Rez. “But it’s better than nothing.”
Rez, meanwhile, focused on refining his tools. He crafted small vials of alchemical smoke and a compact Etherium disruptor—a device designed to temporarily disable the airship’s Etherium reactors. As he worked, Kellen lounged nearby, watching with interest.
“Where’d you learn to do all that?” Kellen asked, flipping a dagger in his hand.
Rez didn’t look up. “Here and there. Let’s just say I had good teachers.”
Kellen smirked. “Mysterious. I like it.”
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By dawn, the team was ready. The resistance fighters gathered to see them off, their expressions a mix of hope and worry. Mira approached Rez as they loaded their supplies onto a cart.
“Remember,” she said, her voice low. “This isn’t just about taking down the pirates. It’s about giving the people of Cloud Pass a chance to fight back. Don’t let us down.”
Rez met her gaze. “I won’t.”
With that, the team set off, the weight of the mission pressing down on them. As the docking station loomed closer, Rez couldn’t help but feel a bit of nerves for what was ahead. Failure wasn’t an option—not for him, and not for the resistance.