The weight of what the squad had just done weighed heavy in the air, yet beyond them the charred remains of the Obsidian Nexus smouldered. Their victory felt short-lived, even ephemeral, as they made their way through the dark, dense jungle. They were aware that this was only the start of a more perilous stage and that the Syndicate's fury would arrive quickly.
At a safe location tucked up in the highlands, the squad gathered. It was a plain building that blended in perfectly with the surroundings, fortified but unobtrusive. Anya started working right away, connecting her encrypted terminal to the stolen device. With their actions instinctive from years of preparation, the rest of the team assessed their injuries and rearmed.
The silence was finally broken by Kael, who was pacing close to the window. "How long before they come here and find us?"
Anya remained glued to her television. "I'm trying to get past the encryption on the drive in order to access the contents. We have a few day
