The Fears Of A Billionaire

Chapter 166: Chapter 167: The First Strike

The operations center buzzed with frantic energy. Agents moved back and forth between workstations, phones ringing off the hook as information poured in from every corner of the globe. Maps of hot zones flashed across the screens, each one marked with glowing red dots where tensions were rising. Alyssa and Marcus stood in the middle of the chaos, staring at the ever-growing list of locations where Volkov's plan had begun to unravel.

"He was right," Marcus muttered, his voice tight. "We're playing catch-up."

Alyssa clenched her jaw. "Not for long. We need to figure out where the first strike is coming from. There has to be a pattern something we can use."

Eleanor approached, her phone still in hand. She looked as exhausted as everyone else, but her eyes were sharp. "I just got off the line with NATO. Several military outposts across Eastern Europe have gone dark. They're scrambling, trying to figure out if it's just a communications breakdown or if something bigger is going on." n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"That's too much of a coincidence," Alyssa said. "Volkov knew this was going to happen. He knew that the buyers would go after each other, but what if he also set them up to hit military targets?"

Marcus frowned. "Why military targets? I thought the buyers were after black market weapons. What would they want with military installations?"

Eleanor shrugged. "Control? Power? Or maybe just more weapons. If they can infiltrate military outposts, they could be planning to steal arms and equipment to build their forces."

Alyssa considered the map again. "Volkov wanted chaos, and the best way to spread it is to destabilize governments. If his buyers start attacking military targets, it'll force countries into defensive positions. They'll be too busy protecting their own interests to cooperate with one another."

Marcus exhaled sharply. "A global arms race. It's brilliant, in a sick way."

"Then we need to stop the first strike," Alyssa said, turning to Eleanor. "Which of these outposts is the most vulnerable? Where would they hit first?"

Eleanor tapped a few keys, pulling up the latest reports. "There's an outpost in Ukraine, near the border with Belarus. Small, underfunded, and isolated. If I were them, that's where I'd start."

Alyssa nodded. "We need to get there before they do. If we can stop this attack, we can prove to the world that Volkov's plan is in motion. Maybe then we can rally the international community before it's too late."

Marcus grabbed his jacket. "I'll prep the team. We need to move fast."

As they headed for the exit, Alyssa's phone buzzed. She glanced down at the screen and saw an encrypted message: "You can't stop what's coming. The storm is already here."

Her blood ran cold. It had to be from one of Volkov's people a reminder that they were always one step ahead. But it only steeled her resolve. She wasn't going to let them win.

"We're going to stop it," she whispered under her breath, clenching the phone in her hand. "No matter what it takes."

While outside Lviv, Ukraine, the sky was overcast, the thick clouds hanging low over the landscape as Alyssa and her team moved swiftly through the forest surrounding the Ukrainian outpost. The air was tense, and the silence felt oppressive. They knew the attackers could be anywhere.

Marcus had his rifle ready, scanning the area through his scope as they advanced. Behind them, a small contingent of Ukrainian soldiers provided support, but they were outgunned and undertrained for this kind of operation.

"We've got movement up ahead," Marcus whispered through the earpiece. "Looks like they're setting up for an assault. At least twenty, heavily armed."

Alyssa nodded, keeping her voice low. "We need to neutralize them before they hit the outpost. If we can capture one of their leaders, maybe we can get some intel on Volkov's next move."

As they crept closer, the outline of the enemy forces became clearer. They were well-organized, setting up heavy artillery and positioning snipers. This wasn't a ragtag group of black-market buyers it was an army.

"We don't have much time," Marcus said, his voice tight. "They're going to strike any minute."

Alyssa signaled to the team. "We go in fast and hit them hard. Marcus, take out the snipers. We'll handle the rest."

In an instant, chaos erupted.

Gunfire echoed through the forest as Alyssa's team moved in, taking the attackers by surprise. Marcus's shots rang out with precision, dropping the enemy snipers before they could react. Alyssa and Eleanor led the charge, taking down enemy combatants as they closed in on the artillery positions.

But the attackers fought back with brutal efficiency. Bullets flew past, embedding themselves in trees and the dirt around them. The Ukrainian soldiers provided cover, but they were overwhelmed by the sheer firepower of the enemy.

"Fall back! Fall back!" Marcus shouted, his voice strained as he pulled Alyssa behind cover. "We're getting pinned down!"

Alyssa gritted her teeth. They were so close, but if they didn't regroup, they'd be overrun.

"We need to hit them with something big," she muttered, glancing around desperately.

Eleanor, crouched beside her, pointed to the artillery the enemy was setting up. "If we can turn that on them, we might have a chance."

Alyssa nodded. "Alright, cover me. I'm going for it."

Without waiting for an answer, she darted out of cover, zigzagging through the trees as bullets whizzed past. Her heart pounded in her chest, but her focus was razor-sharp. She reached the artillery, ducking behind it just as another volley of gunfire rained down.

With shaking hands, she adjusted the controls, aiming the massive cannon at the enemy forces. She took a deep breath and fired.

The explosion was deafening, sending a shockwave through the forest as the artillery shell slammed into the enemy's position. The attackers scattered, their formation broken.

Alyssa grinned, adrenaline surging through her veins. "That'll slow them down."

But before she could savor the moment, her earpiece crackled to life.

"Alyssa, we've got a problem," Marcus's voice came through, urgent and strained. "Reinforcements are coming. A lot of them."

Alyssa's blood ran cold as she scanned the horizon. In the distance, more figures were emerging from the trees dozens of them.

She swallowed hard, gripping her weapon tighter.

"Here we go again."