Chapter 117: Chapter 117: The First Strike
The sun barely broke the horizon when the first signs of the city's assault arrived. Cole stood on the roof of one of the taller buildings near the edge of the slums, binoculars in hand, watching the horizon as armored vehicles began to roll in. They came in waves—heavy, reinforced trucks loaded with troops, and smaller, more agile cars that moved with lethal precision.
"They're here," Cole muttered, handing the binoculars to Ty, who stood beside him. "Just like we expected."
Ty squinted through the binoculars, his jaw tightening. "They brought a lot more this time. Looks like they're not taking any chances."
Cole nodded grimly. He had known this was coming. The city had regrouped, and now they were coming with everything they had. This wasn't just a raid—this was an invasion.
"We've got the traps set," Zack's voice crackled through Cole's radio. He and his team were stationed near the eastern barricades, ready to intercept the first wave of attackers. "Just give the word, and we'll light 'em up."
"Not yet," Cole replied, his voice steady despite the tension in his chest. "Let them get a little closer. We need to hit them where it counts."
Lina joined them on the roof, her face set in the same grim determination that mirrored Cole's own. "Everything's in place. Everyone's ready."
"Good," Cole said, scanning the streets below. Fighters were positioned at key choke points, barricades were reinforced, and traps had been laid throughout the slums. They had done everything they could to prepare. Now, all that was left was to wait for the city's forces to make their move.
---
The first strike came just after sunrise. The city's armored vehicles rumbled toward the barricades, their engines loud and ominous. Cole watched from his vantage point as the slum fighters braced themselves, waiting for the signal.
"Hold your ground," he whispered into the radio, his voice barely audible. "Wait for my signal."
The tension in the air was suffocating. Every second seemed to stretch on for an eternity as the armored trucks rolled closer, their headlights cutting through the early morning mist. Cole's heart pounded in his chest, but his mind was clear. He had to be. The lives of everyone in the slums depended on it.
As the lead vehicle neared the first barricade, Cole gave the signal. "Now."
A loud explosion ripped through the air as the first trap was triggered. One of the trucks was thrown into the air, landing on its side with a deafening crash. Smoke and fire filled the street, and chaos erupted as the city's forces scrambled to respond.
From his rooftop position, Cole could see everything. The slum fighters sprang into action, attacking the disoriented troops with a ferocity born of desperation. Ty's team hit them from the left, taking out the soldiers trying to regroup, while Zack's team laid down suppressing fire from the eastern barricade.
"They're scattered," Ty's voice crackled over the radio. "We've got them on the run."
"Keep the pressure on," Cole replied, his eyes locked on the battle below. "Don't let them regroup."
But even as the slum fighters gained the upper hand, Cole knew this was just the beginning. The city's forces were better equipped and better trained. This initial assault was only meant to test their defenses.
"Stay sharp," he warned through the radio. "They're going to come back harder."
---
The battle raged on for hours, and despite their best efforts, the slum fighters began to feel the strain. The city's forces were relentless, throwing everything they had at the barricades. Wave after wave of armored trucks and soldiers poured into the slums, and slowly but surely, the lines began to break.
Cole moved from one position to another, directing fighters, reinforcing weak spots, and doing whatever he could to keep the city's forces at bay. But it was clear they were outnumbered.
"They're pushing through the western barricade," Maria's voice crackled through the radio. "We're losing ground."
"Pull back to the second line," Cole ordered, his voice tight. "We can't hold them there."
Zack's voice cut in, frantic. "We've got troops moving in from the east—too many of them. We're getting pinned down!"
Cole clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside him. They had fought hard, but it wasn't enough. The city's forces were overwhelming them, breaking through their defenses one by one.
"Fall back," he said into the radio, his voice grim. "Regroup at the central barricade. We'll make our stand there."
---
As the slum fighters pulled back, the streets were filled with the sounds of gunfire, explosions, and the screams of the wounded. Cole's heart ached with every step he took, knowing that people—his people—were dying. But he couldn't afford to stop, couldn't afford to let the weight of it all slow him down.
Lina appeared at his side, her face streaked with dirt and sweat. "We're losing too many," she said, her voice tight with emotion. "We can't keep this up."
Cole's jaw clenched as he scanned the battlefield. She was right—they were being overrun. But there was no way out. They had to hold the line, no matter the cost.
"We're not done yet," he said, his voice hard. "We hold this ground."
They reached the central barricade just as the city's forces began to close in. The slum fighters were battered and exhausted, but they stood their ground, ready for the final push.
"Get ready!" Cole shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "This is it!"
---
The city's forces hit the central barricade with everything they had. Armored vehicles rammed into the barricades, soldiers poured into the streets, and the sound of gunfire was deafening. But the slum fighters fought back with everything they had, refusing to give up.
Cole was in the thick of it, his body moving on instinct as he took down soldiers one by one. His heart pounded in his chest, his muscles ached, but he kept going. He had to. This was their last stand.
Lina was at his side, fighting with a ferocity that matched his own. She moved like a shadow, taking down enemies with precise, deadly strikes. Even in the chaos of battle, Cole felt a strange sense of calm knowing she was there with him.
"We're not going to make it," Ty's voice crackled through the radio, desperation creeping into his usually steady tone. "We're getting overrun."
Cole gritted his teeth, adrenaline surging through him. "We're not done yet. Keep fighting."
But as the minutes passed, it became clear that they were losing. The slum fighters were being pushed back, their numbers dwindling with each passing moment. The city's forces were too strong, too organized. They had planned for this.
"We have to fall back!" Maria shouted over the radio. "We're out of time!"
Cole's heart sank as he looked around at the chaos, the bodies, the destruction. They had fought so hard, but it wasn't enough.
"Fall back," he ordered, his voice heavy with defeat. "Everyone, fall back."
---
The slum fighters retreated, pulling back to the safe house as the city's forces took control of the streets. It was a crushing blow—everything they had fought for, everything they had built, was slipping away.
As Cole and his crew regrouped in the safe house, the air was thick with tension and exhaustion. People were wounded, their faces etched with pain and fear. The hope that had carried them through the first battle was gone, replaced by the cold, harsh reality of defeat.
"We lost," Ty said quietly, his voice barely audible.
"No," Cole replied, though his own voice wavered. "It's not over. We're still here."
But even as he said the words, Cole knew the truth. The city had taken the slums. They had been pushed back, and now, the people who had once looked to him for hope were left with nothing but the remnants of a broken rebellion.
Lina sat beside him, her hand resting on his arm. "We'll find a way," she whispered.
Cole didn't respond. He wasn't sure if there was a way out this time. The slums had fallen, and now, all that was left was the question of what came next.
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