Just before dawn, when the sky barely began to lighten, Buttercup's sharp cry jolted Cyrus awake.He snapped his eyes open and rose from the couch at once. For the past few days, he had slept fully dressed and ready for anything.He checked the monitors. Movement flickered across the low ridge."So you want to strike while I'm asleep," he muttered. "Clever."In the early hours, people slept most deeply. Florian intended to exploit that window. Whether it worked or not, the attempt made sense.Cyrus headed upstairs at once.Bundling 1,000 pounds of explosives was not quick work. One mistake could turn a dozen men to ash in an instant.The demolition team moved with extreme caution.Each man carried 100 pounds at a time. They unloaded the packs, assembled the bundle, inserted detonators, and set the timer."We better nail the throw," Florian said lightly to Damian. "If you miss, I'll be running back for more explosives again."Damian laughed. "Relax, Commander. Back in the mili
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