บท 34: Aftermath of the Strike
The aftermath of the mission lingered like the heavy fog that clung to the peaks of Cascadia. We had struck Zaitsev where it hurt, crippling his global AI network, but victory felt fleeting. As we returned to base, the weight of the war settled over us once again. The battles were getting more dangerous, and Zaitsev's reach was still far too extensive.
Task Force Phoenix landed back at base alongside Hitman Squadron. The ground crew scrambled to service the aircraft, while the pilots dismounted, their exhaustion evident beneath the sharp professionalism. Even though we had pulled off something monumental, the reality of Zaitsev's resilience gnawed at me.
I stood by the F-22, staring out at the horizon, where the mountains faded into the mist. Rook approached, her helmet tucked under one arm, her expression a mix of satisfaction and concern.
"We hit him hard, but Zaitsev isn't going to stay down for long," she said quietly, echoing my thoughts.
"Yeah," I muttered. "We dealt a blow, but it's not over. He'll adapt. He always does."
Rook nodded, her gaze shifting toward the command center, where Levi and the Belkan Remnant leaders were already discussing the next steps. "It bought us some time, but not much. We need to plan our next move."
Monarch and Hitman Squadron were already back in the air, their business with us concluded for now. Crimson 1 had vanished as quickly as he'd appeared, leaving behind only the memory of his surgical precision and cold efficiency. But something told me our paths would cross again before this war was over.
Mission Debrief: Cascadian Strike
Reward: XP: 50,000
Status: Zaitsev's Command and Control Network Crippled.
New Intel: Zaitsev's AI network has been severely disrupted, but his backup systems are already being reactivated. His forces remain active globally.
Inside the command center, Levi was deep in conversation with the Belkan Remnant officers, poring over new intel. They didn't waste time—every victory was just a brief reprieve, and the next fight was already on the horizon.
Levi glanced up as Rook and I entered. "We've confirmed it—Zaitsev's network is down, but only temporarily. His backup AI systems are already rerouting control to other nodes. We've delayed him, but he'll recover faster than we expected."
I clenched my jaw, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "So what do we do? We can't keep playing whack-a-mole with his facilities."
The Belkan officer, Phantom Leader, crossed his arms. "We've hit him hard, but we need to find a way to sever the head of the snake. Zaitsev's operating from the shadows, using these facilities as decoys. We need to find his primary command center—the real one."
"That's easier said than done," Levi muttered, tapping at the screen where several red dots marked suspected Zaitsev installations. "He's careful. Every move we make, he's already prepared for."
Rook leaned over the table, her expression hard. "We need a game-changer. Something that puts him on the defensive for good."
Levi turned to me. "There is one possibility. Zaitsev's been using an advanced AI algorithm to control his drone fleet. We've disrupted the network, but the core of that AI, the one controlling all of it, is still out there."
I raised an eyebrow. "The core? Where?"
Levi brought up a map, zooming in on a remote area deep in northern Usea. "We think it's hidden here, in a facility under the code name Black Echo. It's heavily fortified, nearly impenetrable, but if we can take it out, we'd be cutting Zaitsev off from the heart of his operations. Without the core AI, his drones would be lost, scattered, and inefficient."
Phantom Leader's eyes narrowed. "Black Echo is a death trap. If we go there, we need to be prepared for anything."
New Mission Objective: Infiltrate Black Echo
Objective: Destroy Zaitsev's core AI facility in Usea, codenamed Black Echo.
Threat Level: Extreme
Reward: XP: 50,000, Zaitsev's Drone Fleet Disabled
Failure Penalty: Zaitsev's Control Grows Unchecked
I stared at the map, feeling the weight of the decision. Black Echo was the heart of Zaitsev's network. If we took it out, we could cripple his entire AI fleet. But the risks were astronomical. This wasn't just a facility—we would be walking into the most fortified installation Zaitsev had, and there would be no room for error.
"We'll need full support for this," I said, my mind racing through the possibilities. "Task Force Phoenix, Hitman Squadron, and the Belkan Remnant—we hit it together."
Levi nodded. "We'll need everything we've got. And even then, it might not be enough."
Phantom Leader's voice was calm, but there was a steely edge to it. "We've faced worse. But make no mistake, this will be a fight like no other."
Rook looked at me, her eyes filled with determination. "We've come this far. We can't turn back now."
I nodded, my resolve hardening. "No, we can't. We take out Black Echo, or Zaitsev wins."
New Feature Unlocked: Joint Operations
You can now coordinate large-scale operations between multiple factions, including Task Force Phoenix, Hitman Squadron, and the Belkan Remnant. Choose how to allocate your forces for maximum effectiveness.
The next few days were a blur of preparation. We ran drills, simulated the approach to Black Echo, and coordinated our forces. Every pilot knew the risks, but no one hesitated. This was the mission that could end the war—or doom us all.
On the eve of the mission, I found myself standing on the tarmac, staring up at the night sky. The weight of what lay ahead pressed down on me, but there was no turning back. We were too far in, and Zaitsev had to be stopped.
Rook appeared beside me, her voice soft. "You ready for this?"
I nodded, though the truth was, no one could ever be truly ready for what we were about to face. "We have to be. Black Echo is the key."
She gave me a rare smile, her confidence unwavering. "We've gotten this far because we never gave up. We won't start now."
The morning came quickly. The base was alive with final preparations as Task Force Phoenix, Hitman Squadron, and the Belkan Remnant prepared to launch. The jets were lined up, armed and ready, their engines rumbling in anticipation.
I climbed into the cockpit of the F-22, feeling the familiar surge of adrenaline. This was it—the mission that could change everything. Black Echo awaited, and with it, the fate of Zaitsev's empire.
Monarch's voice came through the comms as Hitman Squadron took to the air. "We hit Black Echo hard, we hit it fast, and we leave nothing standing."
"Copy that," I replied, my focus narrowing. "Let's end this."
The jets lifted off into the dawn sky, the clouds parting as we soared toward Black Echo. The time for planning was over.
Now, it was time to fight.
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