Chapitre 139: Chapter 138: A City of Steel and Shadows
The city stretched out before Cole like a vast, oppressive labyrinth of glass, steel, and concrete. From the outskirts of the slums, the towering skyscrapers of the city seemed untouchable, their gleaming facades hiding the rot beneath. It was early morning, the sun barely cresting over the horizon, casting long shadows across the streets. The distant hum of the city's machinery and the buzz of its busy streets were a stark contrast to the tense quiet of the slums.
But today, the city wouldn't be untouchable. Today, the resistance would strike back.
Cole adjusted the strap of his rifle, his jaw clenched as he surveyed the map laid out on the hood of an old car. Around him, his crew gathered in silence, each of them preparing for what was to come. Ty, Zack, Lina, and Maria were there, along with a dozen other fighters from the slums. They had been chosen for this mission because they were the best—quick, smart, and most importantly, unafraid to risk it all.
"This is it," Cole said, his voice low as he pointed to the key locations marked on the map. "We're hitting three targets: the power grid, the supply depot, and the communication tower. Each of these hits will disrupt the city's ability to coordinate its forces."
Ty cracked his knuckles, grinning like a kid about to play a game. "I've got the explosives ready for the power grid. We'll knock out the lights, and they'll be stumbling around in the dark."
Zack, always the pragmatist, frowned as he looked at the map. "The supply depot's going to be crawling with soldiers. We'll have to hit it fast and get out before they can react."
Maria, her sniper rifle slung over her shoulder, nodded. "I'll cover you from the rooftops. If anyone gets in your way, they won't get far."
"And the communication tower?" Lina asked, her arms folded, her expression as sharp as ever.
"That's our priority," Cole said, his eyes narrowing. "We hit the tower last. Once the power's out and their supply lines are disrupted, we'll take out their ability to communicate. After that, it'll be chaos."
The plan was ambitious, maybe even reckless. But it was the only way to force the city's hand. Cole could feel the tension in the air as his crew absorbed the plan, the weight of what they were about to do settling on their shoulders. They had come a long way from fighting in the alleys and streets of the slums. Now, they were taking on the heart of the city itself.
"We've got one shot at this," Cole said, his voice firm. "We hit hard, we hit fast, and we don't stop until the city knows we're not going down without a fight."
There were no protests. No hesitation. Just a silent understanding that this was the moment they had been building toward for so long. The people of the slums were ready, and Cole knew they wouldn't back down now.
"Let's move out," Cole ordered, slipping a bandana over his face to cover his features.
The crew moved like shadows through the outskirts, their footsteps silent as they approached the edge of the city. The towering buildings loomed above them, casting long, dark shadows that seemed to swallow them whole. But Cole wasn't afraid. The city had always been a monster, a beast that devoured anyone who dared to challenge its authority. But today, Cole and his crew were here to cut the beast down.
---
The power grid was the first target.
Cole, Ty, and their team approached the industrial complex that housed the city's power infrastructure. It was a massive, sprawling facility, surrounded by barbed wire fences and patrolled by armed guards. The air smelled of ozone and metal, the low hum of electricity filling the air.
Ty crouched behind a pile of rubble, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "This place is a fortress. But it's got a weakness—those transformers over there." He pointed to a series of massive metal structures, each humming with electrical power. "We take those out, the whole grid goes down."
Cole nodded. "You know what to do."
Ty grinned and pulled out a series of small, homemade explosives from his bag. "This'll be a beautiful sight."
While Ty and his team moved to set the charges, Cole kept an eye on the patrols, his heart pounding in his chest. This was the kind of mission where one mistake could cost them everything. But Ty worked quickly, placing the explosives with practiced precision.
"Charges are set," Ty whispered, his voice filled with excitement. "Ready to blow this place?"
Cole glanced at the guards, who were still oblivious to their presence. "Do it."
Ty pressed the detonator.
The explosion ripped through the power grid, a deafening boom that shook the ground beneath their feet. The transformers erupted in a shower of sparks and metal, and within moments, the entire facility went dark. The lights in the surrounding buildings flickered and died, plunging the city into sudden, eerie darkness.
"Time to go," Cole said, pulling Ty to his feet.
They moved quickly, disappearing into the shadows as the guards scrambled to respond to the explosion. The power grid was down, but there was no time to celebrate. They had two more targets to hit, and the city would be on high alert.
---
The supply depot was next.
Zack led the charge, his movements swift and calculated. The depot was heavily guarded, just as they had expected. Soldiers patrolled the perimeter, and armored vehicles were stationed at the entrance. But Cole had anticipated this.
"Maria, you in position?" Cole whispered into his radio.
"Got eyes on you," Maria's voice crackled through the earpiece. "Ready to take out anyone who gets in your way."
Zack gave a curt nod, signaling to the others to move in. They advanced silently, using the cover of darkness to their advantage. Cole could feel the tension rising as they neared the depot. This was the most dangerous part of the operation. If they got caught here, there would be no escape.
As they reached the outer fence, Zack cut through the wire with a pair of bolt cutters, creating a small opening for the crew to slip through. The soldiers patrolling the depot were oblivious, their attention focused on the sudden power outage.
"Now," Zack muttered, signaling for the others to move.
They slipped inside the depot, sticking to the shadows as they approached the rows of supply crates stacked high in the yard. These supplies were the lifeblood of the city's military operations—ammunition, fuel, and weapons. Taking them out would cripple the city's ability to maintain their stranglehold on the slums.
"Plant the explosives," Cole ordered, keeping his voice low.
The crew moved quickly, attaching small charges to the supply crates. Every second felt like an eternity as they worked, the weight of the mission pressing down on them. But they were efficient, and within minutes, the charges were set.
As they retreated back toward the fence, Cole gave the signal.
Zack pressed the detonator.
The depot erupted in a massive explosion, the blast lighting up the night sky and sending shockwaves through the city. The supply crates were incinerated, and the soldiers stationed there were thrown into chaos.
"Move out!" Cole shouted over the roar of the explosion.
They sprinted toward the fence, slipping through the opening just as the remaining soldiers began to fire. Bullets whizzed past them, but they kept moving, their hearts pounding in their chests. The depot was destroyed, and the city's supply lines were in ruins.
But they weren't done yet.
---
The communication tower was their final target.
By the time they reached the tower, the city was in full lockdown. Sirens wailed in the distance, and the streets were filled with soldiers scrambling to respond to the attacks. But Cole and his crew were undeterred. They moved with precision, weaving through the shadows as they approached the massive tower that loomed over the city like a watchful sentinel.
"This is it," Cole said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. "Once we take this out, the city will be cut off."
Lina nodded, her eyes sharp. "Let's finish this."
They moved swiftly, using the cover of darkness to approach the base of the tower. The guards stationed there were on high alert, but Cole's crew had the advantage. They struck quickly, taking out the guards with silenced weapons before they had a chance to sound the alarm.
Ty placed the final explosive at the base of the tower, his hands steady as he set the timer. "This is going to make a hell of a statement."
Cole glanced up at the tower, his heart pounding. This was the moment they had been working toward—the moment when the city would finally feel the weight of their resistance.
"Let's go," Cole said, his voice firm.
They retreated into the shadows, disappearing into the maze of streets as the timer ticked down.
Moments later, the explosion rocked the city, and the communication tower crumbled to the ground in a cloud of smoke and debris.
The city was plunged into silence.
---
As Cole and his crew regrouped on the outskirts of the city, a sense of accomplishment hung heavy in the air. They had done it. They had struck back at the heart of the city, crippling its infrastructure and sending a clear message: the people of the slums would not be silenced.
But as Cole stood in the fading light, watching the smoke rise over the city, he knew this was only the beginning.
The war had just begun.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone