บท 156: Chapter 155
The air in the city felt heavy, as if it, too, sensed the storm brewing on the horizon. It had been nearly a week since the fall of the command center, and in that time, the revolution had spread like wildfire. District after district had joined the cause, emboldened by Cole's victory. For the first time in years, there was a real sense of hope.
But hope was fragile. And Cole knew better than anyone that the forces they were up against weren't finished yet.
The slums had transformed into a hub of activity. Makeshift headquarters were set up in abandoned warehouses, where rebel leaders from across the city gathered to plan the next steps. Cole spent most of his days in these meetings, trying to coordinate efforts between the different districts, each with its own set of challenges. Supplies were running low in some areas, and in others, pockets of military resistance still held strong.
"We've secured the eastern district," Zack said, pointing to the map that now covered the entire wall of the warehouse. "But the west is still a problem. They've fortified their positions near the industrial sector."
Cole studied the map, his brow furrowed in concentration. The west had always been a challenge. It was where the city's wealthiest lived, protected by high walls and private security forces. Unlike the slums, the people there hadn't been beaten down by years of oppression—they had prospered under the very system Cole and his crew were fighting to dismantle.
"We need to hit them hard and fast," Cole said, his voice low but decisive. "If we can break through their defenses, the rest of the city will follow."
Lina, standing beside him, nodded in agreement. "But we can't go in blind. They've been waiting for this. We need intel."
Maria, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, spoke up. "I've got contacts in the west. People who've been feeding us information. It's risky, but I can get us what we need."
Cole glanced at her, appreciating the calm confidence in her voice. Maria had always been one to think three steps ahead, and he trusted her instincts. "Do it," he said. "But be careful. We can't afford to lose anyone."
Maria gave a curt nod before disappearing into the shadows, already moving to set her plan into motion.
---
The following days were tense, filled with anticipation and preparation. The city felt like it was holding its breath, waiting for the next move. Cole spent long hours in the safe house, pacing back and forth, going over every possible scenario in his mind. His crew tried to distract themselves with small tasks—cleaning their weapons, organizing supplies—but the weight of what was coming hung heavy over them all.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and cast the slums in a soft, golden glow, Cole found himself alone on the rooftop of the safe house. He often came up here to clear his head, to get away from the constant noise and pressure. The city stretched out before him, a maze of crumbling buildings and flickering lights.
Lina joined him not long after, her footsteps light as she approached.
"You always come up here when you're thinking too much," she said, her voice soft but knowing.
Cole didn't reply right away. He leaned on the rusted railing, staring out at the city that had shaped him. "I just can't shake the feeling that something's coming. Something big."
Lina stood beside him, her eyes on the horizon. "We've known that from the start. The military isn't just going to let this happen. They're planning something, just like we are."
Cole nodded, but the weight of it all still pressed down on him. "I never wanted this, you know. Leading a revolution, being the one people look to for answers. I'm not a hero."
Lina smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "None of us are. We're just doing what we have to do."
They stood in silence for a while, the sounds of the slums—distant shouts, the rumble of vehicles—filling the air. The revolution had given the people hope, but it had also brought with it an unrelenting sense of danger.
"You've done more than anyone could have asked," Lina said quietly. "And whatever happens next, you're not alone in this."
Cole turned to her, meeting her gaze. There was something in her eyes—something that spoke of all the battles they had fought together, all the moments when it had seemed like everything would fall apart but hadn't. She had been there with him through it all, steady and unwavering.
"I know," Cole said softly. "Thank you."
Lina's expression softened, and for a moment, the weight on Cole's shoulders felt just a little lighter.
---
Later that night, Maria returned with the intel they had been waiting for. She gathered the crew in the safe house, spreading out a series of maps and documents she had procured from her contacts.
"The military's planning something big," she said, her voice clipped. "They've reinforced the industrial sector and are using it as a staging ground for a counterattack. They're waiting for us to make a move."
Cole's jaw tightened as he scanned the maps. "How many?"
"A few hundred soldiers, give or take," Maria replied. "But they've got heavy artillery. If we go in without a plan, they'll wipe us out before we get close."
"We need to cut off their supply lines," Zack suggested, his brow furrowed in thought. "Without ammo and fuel, they'll be sitting ducks."
Ty, ever the explosives expert, grinned. "Now that's a plan I can get behind. We take out their supply routes, and they'll be begging for mercy."
Cole nodded, his mind already working through the details. "We'll hit their supply lines first, disrupt their reinforcements. Then, once they're weakened, we move in on the industrial sector."
The crew exchanged glances, a mixture of determination and tension in the air. They all knew what was at stake. This wasn't just another skirmish—this was the battle that would determine the future of the revolution.
"We move at dawn," Cole said, his voice steady. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, we finish this."
---
The next morning, as the first light of dawn crept over the city, Cole's crew was ready. They had divided into teams, each one assigned to take out a key supply route leading into the industrial sector. It was a risky plan, but it was their best shot at leveling the playing field.
Cole, Zack, and Ty moved through the narrow alleyways of the slums, their footsteps silent as they approached their target: a convoy of trucks carrying fuel and ammunition to the military's staging ground.
"There they are," Ty whispered, peeking around the corner of a crumbling building. "Looks like they've got a few guards, but nothing we can't handle."
Cole nodded, his grip tightening on his rifle. "We need to hit them fast. Take out the convoy before they can call for reinforcements."
Zack checked his weapon, his expression focused. "Let's do this."
With a silent signal, the three of them moved in, their weapons raised. The guards didn't see them coming. Cole fired the first shot, dropping one of the soldiers before he could raise the alarm. Ty followed suit, taking out another with a well-placed shot to the head.
The convoy erupted into chaos as the remaining guards scrambled to respond, but it was too late. Cole and his crew moved with deadly precision, cutting down the soldiers one by one.
Ty moved to the trucks, setting charges on the fuel tanks with a gleeful grin. "This is gonna be beautiful."
As the last of the guards fell, Ty hit the detonator, and the convoy went up in a ball of fire and smoke, the explosion lighting up the early morning sky.
"That's one down," Zack said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Two more to go."
Cole's heart pounded in his chest, but he couldn't let himself feel relief just yet. They still had a long way to go, and the military wasn't going to give up without a fight.
"Let's move," Cole ordered, his voice grim. "We've got work to do."
---
The rest of the morning was a blur of gunfire, explosions, and narrow escapes. Cole's crew hit the military's supply lines with brutal efficiency, cutting off their fuel and ammunition at every turn. By the time the sun was high in the sky, the industrial sector was in chaos.
"We've done it," Maria said over the comms, her voice crackling with static. "Their supply routes are down. They're running on fumes."
Cole wiped the sweat from his brow, his heart still racing from the adrenaline of the battle. "Good. Now we hit the industrial sector."
The final battle was at hand.
---
As the day wore on, Cole's crew gathered at the edge of the industrial sector, ready for the final assault. The military was weakened, their forces spread thin, but they still had the advantage of heavy artillery and fortified positions.
Cole looked at his crew—Zack, Ty, Lina, Maria—and felt a surge of pride. They had come so far, fought so hard. And now, they were on the brink of something extraordinary.
"This is it," Cole said, his voice steady. "We've taken everything they've thrown at us, and we're still standing. We're going to finish this."
Lina stepped forward, her eyes fierce with determination. "Together."
The crew nodded, their resolve unshakable. The revolution wasn't just a dream anymore—it was a reality. And they were going to see it through to the end.
"Let's go," Cole said, his voice filled with quiet certainty. "Let's end this."
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