Underground Operations Base, Alps Region
The war room pulsed with dim blue light as the holographic map hovered above the central command table. Belarus glowed in translucent layers forests, roads, then deeper still: steel-lined Soviet bunkers long thought abandoned.
Skynet's projection flickered over the faces of Devon's crew. Everyone was silent, tension thick in the room.
Devon stood at the head of the table, jaw set, arms crossed as Skynet outlined the digital security blueprint of their next target.
"Target is located in Sector 9 of a decommissioned Soviet lab," Devon began. "Eteon's calling it Project Zero Core. It's not just a chip it's a fully operational, quantum-grade processor. Capable of brute-forcing any encryption known to man. In seconds."
Silas leaned forward, brow furrowed. "Military encryption too?"
"All of it," Devon replied. "This thing can hijack entire nations. Nuclear codes, stealth fleets, AI missile systems gone in sixty seconds."
A long silence followed.
Raven, still recovering from their last mission, shifted in her chair. "Why bury it in Belarus?"
"Because during the Cold War, the Soviets built fallout-proof labs beneath the snow. No satellite coverage. No GPS trace. Eteon slipped in under a false mining operation six months ago. But i tracked thermal anomalies energy spikes consistent with quantum compression."
Skynet's voice filled the room, flat and chilling.
"Warning. Eteon power cycle accelerating. Estimated extraction window: 36 hours."
Devon tapped the table. The map zoomed further, highlighting the compound's weak points.
"Mission goes in two phases."
Phase One: Recon
"Lacy, Silas you parachute in after midnight. Silent drop. Scout the compound, plant nano drones to build a live map."
The two nodded.
"Raven and Harry you'll move through the old sewer system. Plant EMP charges on the internal grid. Disrupt their backup power, and lock them out of remote drone control."
Raven cracked her knuckles. "Think they'll see us coming?"
"Only if you mess up," Devon replied with a smirk.
Harry, calm and methodical as always, checked over his suppressed rifle. "We won't."
Phase Two: Breach
Devon gestured, and the map shifted to a glider route.
"We'll launch stealth gliders across the valley, straight into the access tower on the roof. Sector 9 is five levels down. The EMPs give us twelve minutes to get in, grab the chip, and exfil. Any longer, Eteon reinforcements roll in heavy."
Silas frowned. "Mercs?"
"Enhanced mercs," Devon said. "Neural-linked helmets, exo-suits, adaptive armor. Not AI but close."
"What's the payout?" Harry asked, eyes sharp behind his scope.
Devon tapped his tablet, revealing a rotating hologram: a sleek metallic orb with encrypted overlays early blueprints of the God's Eye.
"This was Ramsey's original design. What we're stealing is the key Eteon needs to finish their version."
Raven narrowed her eyes. "And we want it why?"
"To stop them from controlling the world," Devon said. "And maybe... to finish what she started. On our terms."
He paused, then added quietly, "We also recruit Ramsey. Wherever she is."
Later That Night — Devon's Quarters
The room was quiet except for the low hum of Skynet's core system.
Devon sat at his private terminal, a holo-file spinning slowly before him.
HIGH-VALUE TARGET: RAMSEY — Systems Architect, Level 10 Threat
"Skynet, where's she now?" Devon asked.
"Last known affiliation : Dubai
Devon leaned back in his chair, brow furrowed.
"Add her to the list. Priority: Recruit or Secure."
"Affirmative."
He stared at the screen a long moment, then whispered, "Time to build our own gods."
Two Days Later — Belarusian Border, 0400 Hours
The snow was thick. Cold wind howled through the dense pine forest as Devon's team waited inside a convoy of blacked-out trucks.
Each member was geared in thermal stealth suits, oxygen rebreathers secured.
Devon stood before them, eyes scanning each face battle-tested, trusted, dangerous.
"You all know the stakes. That chip isn't just tech. It's a weapon. Whoever controls it controls the future. If we let Eteon finish it, we lose more than the war we lose the freedom to fight back."
His voice lowered.
"You want out, this is your last window."
No one flinched.
Lacy chambered a round in her custom pistol. "We're in this. All the way."
Raven nodded. "Let's go steal a piece of the future."
Harry tightened the strap on his gear. "And if I don't make it, someone's gotta feed my dog."
Silas laughed, cracking the tension. "We all know Devon's allergic to responsibility."
Devon gave a half-smile. "Let's make it back. All of us."
He turned to the rear doors and kicked them open. Snow blasted in.
The team stepped out five shadows disappearing into the dark forest.
Above them, Skynet pulsed silently, watching. Calculating.
Waiting.