Chapter 44 - The Breach
Wood splinters exploded inward as concentrated tactical rifle fire chewed through the cabin's reinforced log walls. Daniel returned fire through the shattered window, his shots dropping a shadow-operatives scout attempting to flank the front porch.
"Dad, the upload is at ninety-eight percent!" Ethan yelled over the deafening din of gunfire, his fingers frantically hammering the keyboard while crouching behind the heavy oak table. "If they cut power now, the database corrupts!"
Elena didn't hesitate. Seizing a heavy iron fireplace poker, she smashed the remaining glass out of the side window and shoved a tactical smoke grenade—dropped by Marcus earlier—out into the snow, creating a thick, blinding screen of gray haze that momentarily obscured the attackers' targeting lasers.
"Move, you fools!" Elena screamed over the roar of gunfire, grabbing Ethan by his jacket collar and dragging him toward the rear cellar exit. "They aren't here to capture us—they're here to recover the titanium drive!"
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Daniel kicked open the heavy oak cellar door, covering their retreat as Marcus burst through the front doorway, bleeding from a grazing shrapnel wound on his shoulder.
"They dropped a squad by chopper on the western ridge!" Marcus panted, leveling his rifle toward the cellar stairs. "We’ve got thirty seconds before they surround the entire cabin!"
