The aftermath of their narrow escape found Mira and her team regrouped, in a very secure location well away from the chaos of the summit. The tension was thick, uncertainty and fear palpable. They had managed to expose some of what the Obsidian Collective had planned, but a warning from that communicator still echoed in Mira's mind--more was to come and they didn't have much time to prepare.

Lila, can you dig more about the backup plan?" Mira asked, tugging urgency in every word. "We need to know what we're up against."

Lila nodded, her fingers already racing over her keyboard. "I'll tap into the Collective's communication networks once more. They must be panicking after that stunt of ours.

With Lila off to work, Victor turned to Mira, the concern etched in his face. "You think Kintz will come after us? He's not one to take defeat lying down."

"I'm more concerned about the depth of their resources," Mira said, pacing around the room. "They have tentacles everywhere, and if they're going to do something catastrophic, then we should be prepared for it.

Amir entered the room, holding a series of ancient texts he had been studying. "The rituals of old may provide us with some insight. There are accounts of natural catastrophes being seized by uniting communities and restoring balance with the earth. Perhaps we can use this knowledge to counter whatever they have planned.

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Now rejuvenated, a plan was devised. Immediately, the team contacted its allies in the coalition and urged them to arrange community meetings to spread word on the pending danger. Now was the time to rally not only the activists but also scientists and citizens onto the grassroots movement against the Collective.

With more people rallying behind her, Lila was able to unscramble even more of the communications from the Collective. In an instant, a string of messages burst onto her screen that detailed their next move: a series of cross-country attacks on major cities, designed to unleash earthquakes and tsunamis that would cripple the global economy.

"We don't have much time," Lila said, her eyes big and fearful. "They're going to launch the first wave in less than 24 hours!

The team immediately got to work, burning the midnight oil as they came up with a counter-strategy. They contacted the media in a public relations outreach against the Collective, while preparing for the worst. Mira recorded an impassioned message urging people to rally together and stand against the oncoming devastation.

At nightfall, they gathered in the main room, determination and dread hanging in the air. "We have to try to work with one city at a time," Mira explained. "We need to warn the authorities when necessary and prepare for the evacuation of citizens.

The screen flickered again, and Lila received a truly ominous message from Kintz himself: "You think you can stop us? The countdown is set. Soon your cities will crumble, and you will be helpless to do anything about it. Prepare for the rebirth of a new world."

With a cut in the message, trembling started on the ground. Terrified eye contact was given among the team as a rumbling noise filled the air. "This is not just a warning. They have begun," Victor gasped.