The night was cold. The air was thick with tension. Zero moved carefully, each step deliberate, as he followed Vera through the underbrush. The distant glow of enemy patrol lights barely pierced the dense trees. It was enough to remind him how exposed they were. Every shadow felt like a risk. Every rustle carried the chance of discovery. But hesitation wasn't an option. The mission had to be completed.
"Zero, how far?" Vera's voice came through the comms, quiet and steady.
"Just ahead," he answered. His tone was calm, but there was weight behind it. They had taken the harder route, advancing toward the objective while the rest of the team worked to secure a fallback point and relay position. If they failed, the entire op would collapse.
A noise in the brush made Zero stop. He dropped low, scanning the trees.
Eclipse, the AI in his system, responded fast. "Zero, multiple hostiles inbound. Thirty meters. They're tracking your trail."
"Copy," he muttered. This wasn't the timeline they planned for.
"Vera, we can't let them find the others."
Vera paused only a moment. "If we stop now, they'll reach the fallback line. Eclipse, update?"
"Two minutes. They are widening their search. Perimeter forming."
"Then we keep going," Vera said. "We don't have a choice."
Zero gave a brief nod. "Moving."
They advanced through the woods. Each step was calculated. Zero felt the tension building. His focus narrowed. The cold night made his movements sharper. No room for second guesses.
"Vega, status on fallback?" Vera asked.
"Secure for now," came the reply. "QRF en route, but they're fifteen minutes out. Enemy pressure increasing. Recommend speed."
Zero glanced toward Vera. She moved with purpose.
"Vera. We're out of time."
"We're close," she said. "Stay low. Stay tight."
The forest closed in around them. High canopies blocked the sky. The ground softened from recent rain. Visibility dropped to less than twenty meters in most directions. Everything around them was moving, but none of it felt alive.
Eclipse came back online. "Three hostiles approaching from the east. Direct intercept. Recommend immediate route shift."
"No time," Vera said. "Can you redirect them?"
"Rerouting now. They will pass five meters left of your current path. Hold position."
Zero adjusted his grip. He heard them now. Boots in the wet soil. Their steps were heavy, close.
Vera signaled. They went prone in the brush. Zero kept his breathing low and shallow. His rifle stayed steady. They didn't move.
The enemy patrol passed. Silent. Oblivious.
Then nothing.
Eclipse broke the silence. "Clear. Proceed."
Vera moved first. "Let's go."
They pushed forward. Less than a klick remained. Somewhere in the ruins ahead was the target. A small cache. Encrypted drives. If extracted, it could alter several op directives. If lost, it meant weeks of compromised positions.
"Vega, confirm link?" Zero asked.
"Negative," Vega said. "Jamming is still active. No sat relay."
Zero didn't respond. They were on their own.
A dull explosion sounded from the northwest. The ground trembled slightly.
"That was the fallback site," Zero said.
"Confirmed," Vega added. "Enemy contact. Hostiles pressing. Direct engagement not viable. QRF still inbound."
Vera's voice didn't waver. "Keep moving. They'll hold."
Zero kept pace. The trees opened slightly. Old stonework marked the ruin edge. They scanned for movement. Nothing so far.
"Inside," Vera ordered.
They dropped into the half-collapsed structure. Zero located the entry point under a layer of soil. He knelt and started clearing the way.
"Time check?" he asked.
"QRF is ten minutes out," Vega said. "Hold if you can. Extraction planned at LZ Charlie."
The hatch gave way. Beneath was a reinforced container. Zero opened it. Three data drives, sealed and shielded. He passed them to Vera.
"Package secured."
A red flare lit up the sky. Not theirs.
"They've marked this zone," Vera said. "They know."
No more talking. They left the ruins and moved east, away from the fallback team. Zero checked the map overlay. They were on a slope leading to a stream bed. Best chance to break visual and thermal tracks.
They moved downhill. Gunfire cracked in the distance. Then another explosion.
"Sound's closer," Zero said.
"They're boxing us in," Vera replied. "We cut through the lower ridge. Eclipse, any movement ahead?"
"Two patrols. One stationary, one mobile. Both light infantry. No armor detected."
"We'll bypass."
They veered southeast, using the slope to their advantage. The trees thickened. Light dropped. Communications weakened.
Zero scanned the area constantly. Every sound mattered.
Another comm ping came in.
"Vega here. QRF breaking into the zone. Fifteen enemy signals dispersing. Air support unavailable. Continue extraction route as planned."
"Copy," Vera replied. "Rendezvous at LZ Charlie in twelve."
They moved fast, conserving energy but not pace. Their boots made almost no sound now. Zero's lungs burned, but he didn't slow.
The streambed came into view. Water barely moved. Mud slicked the edges. They dropped in and followed the path northeast.
"Still clear," Eclipse said.
Vera looked over at Zero. "Almost there."
Zero nodded once. "Move."
They ran low, silent, and fast.
The objective was complete.
But they weren't out yet.