Chapter Fifteen: Mission Briefing

### Chapter Fifteen: Mission Briefing

The air in the operations room was heavy with tension as the team assembled. Holographic displays hovered above the central table, casting flickering light across the faces of those gathered. At the center of it all stood Dr. Egan, his sharp gaze sweeping over us as he began the briefing.

“We’ve identified a critical target,” he said, gesturing to a large projection of a man’s face. The image was sharp, his expression smug beneath a perfectly groomed beard. “This is Alexander Drake, the man responsible for the corporation’s propaganda division. He’s the one controlling the narratives, ensuring every settlement believes they can’t survive without the corporation’s tech and drugs.”

I studied the face on the screen, feeling a mixture of curiosity and unease. The man’s eyes gleamed with a calculated sharpness, the kind that spoke of power wielded without restraint.

“What’s the plan?” Lena asked, her arms crossed. She leaned against the table, her expression skeptical.

Dr. Egan nodded toward another holographic display, this one showing a map of a sprawling urban complex. “Drake operates out of a heavily fortified headquarters in Sector 12,” he explained. “It’s essentially a fortress, equipped with the most advanced security systems we’ve ever encountered. Getting in won’t be easy.”

“But not impossible,” Lena countered.

“Not with Prototype 13,” Dr. Egan said, his eyes flicking to me. “His integration with the network gives us a significant advantage. Once inside, he can disable the security systems, access Drake’s private servers, and extract the data we need.”

I shifted uneasily under his gaze. “What kind of data?” I asked.

“Evidence,” Dr. Egan said. “Files that expose the lies Drake’s been feeding the settlements. If we can broadcast the truth, we’ll dismantle the corporation’s control over them.”

“And Drake?” Lena pressed. “What happens to him?”

Dr. Egan hesitated, his expression unreadable. “If the opportunity arises to take him into custody, we’ll seize it. But the priority is the data.”

I glanced at Lena, her jaw tight. She wasn’t satisfied with the answer, but she let it drop. Instead, she turned her attention to the map. “What kind of defenses are we looking at?”

Dr. Egan brought up another display, showing layers of intricate security measures. “Automated turrets, biometric locks, patrol drones, and a state-of-the-art surveillance system,” he said. “We’ll have to disable the external defenses first to even get close to the building.”

“And how do we do that?” Lena asked.

“There’s a relay station here,” Dr. Egan said, pointing to a location on the map just outside the headquarters. “It controls the external systems. If we can breach it, 13 can take control and shut everything down long enough for us to move in.”

The weight of their expectations settled on me. “What happens if I can’t do it?” I asked quietly.

“You can,” Lena said firmly, her eyes locking onto mine. “You’ve already proven you can handle more than anyone thought possible. You’ve got this.”

I nodded, though the knot in my stomach didn’t loosen. “What about backup?” I asked. “What if something goes wrong?”

“We’ll have a team on standby,” Dr. Egan said. “But discretion is key. The fewer people involved, the better.”

Lena stepped forward, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You won’t be alone,” she said. “I’ll be with you the whole time.”

Her reassurance helped, but only slightly. I turned back to the map, studying the route to the relay station. It was a labyrinth of narrow alleys and tight corridors, with no room for error.

“When do we leave?” I asked.

Dr. Egan glanced at the clock on the wall. “Dusk,” he said. “We’ll use the cover of darkness to approach unnoticed. Get some rest and gear up. You’ll need every bit of focus for this.”

The meeting ended, and the team began dispersing, their conversations hushed and tense. I lingered at the table, staring at the holographic image of Alexander Drake. His smug expression seemed to taunt me, a reminder of the power he held over so many lives.

Lena stayed behind, watching me silently. “You okay?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “This feels… bigger than anything I’ve done before.”

“That’s because it is,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t do it.”

Her confidence in me was steady, unshakable. It was enough to keep the fear at bay—for now. I nodded and turned away from the table, my mind already racing through the possibilities, the risks, and the weight of what lay ahead.