Beneath the Iron Sky

The distant hum of patrol drones filled the night air, their mechanical wings slicing through the darkness above. Below, in the shadow of a ruined city, five figures moved swiftly between the crumbling remains of old-world buildings. Each step was calculated, each breath held tight. They couldn't afford to be seen—especially not tonight.

Alexei Volkov crouched behind a collapsed wall, his sharp eyes scanning the streets. From the corner of his view, the towering spire of a regime watchtower loomed, its lights sweeping the horizon like a predator searching for prey.

“Clear for now,” he whispered, signaling to the others.

Mira Tanaka, her fingers already working furiously on a handheld device, settled next to him. Her eyes were focused, darting between the screen and the distant watchtower. "Two drones coming around the north side. We’ve got about five minutes before they scan this sector."

“Make it ten,” Dmitri Petrov muttered, glancing over his shoulder. His rifle, slung across his back, felt heavier in the quiet tension. “They’ve been running on slower circuits since last week’s strike. We disrupted half their network.”

“Still, let’s not test our luck.” Alexei motioned forward. “Everyone in position. Mira, how’s the gate looking?”

She tapped a few keys, the device emitting a faint hum as it synchronized with the watchtower's security grid. A small smile crept onto her lips. "I’ve got their signal. I can override the gate for six minutes, no more. After that, they’ll know something’s up."

“More than enough time,” Alexei replied, though his voice betrayed a flicker of doubt. He turned to the rest of the team. "Anya, you set?"

Anya Romanova, dressed in dark tactical gear, was already at the gate, her slim figure blending into the shadows. Her hands moved with precision as she planted a small device on the lock. "Give me thirty seconds after the gate opens. I’ll handle the guards," she whispered, her voice steady.

“Just don’t make it messy,” Dmitri called out, smirking slightly. “I hate cleaning up after you.”

Anya shot him a sideways glance, her eyes gleaming in the low light. “I’m not the one who leaves bodies in plain sight, Dmitri.”

Luca Moretti, crouching a few paces behind them, shifted uncomfortably. He hadn’t been with the Echoes long enough to be used to the banter—especially with death being such a constant shadow. “We don’t… have to kill anyone, right?” His voice was soft, almost hesitant.

Alexei's expression hardened, though his tone remained calm. “If we’re lucky, no. But we can’t afford mistakes tonight.”

Luca nodded, but Alexei could see the tension in the young activist’s posture. Luca was the heart of their group—always the one to remind them of the ideals they fought for. But ideals were fragile in a world that had long since forgotten peace.

"Don't worry," Alexei said, placing a hand on Luca's shoulder. "Stick close to me. We’ll get through this."

The boy nodded, though the unease in his eyes lingered. "I’m ready."

The group moved as one, their synchronized steps barely making a sound. Mira tapped her device, and with a low hiss, the gate slid open just wide enough for them to slip through.

“Anya, you’re up,” Alexei whispered.

Anya melted into the darkness, her silhouette vanishing as she darted toward the guard post. The others waited in tense silence, every second feeling like an eternity. Alexei's mind raced, calculating potential outcomes, escape routes, and the chance that tonight would be their last mission.

Then, a soft click echoed from the guard post, followed by a low thud.

“Two down,” Anya’s voice came through the comm. “They’re out cold. We’re clear.”

Alexei exhaled the breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “Move.”

They slipped inside, past the gates and into the heart of the regime’s stronghold. The courtyard was eerily quiet, illuminated by the cold, sterile light of the watchtower’s spotlights. Massive banners draped the walls, emblazoned with the symbol of the regime—a black iron eagle clutching the world in its talons. The symbol had become synonymous with fear and control, and seeing it now sent a wave of anger through Alexei’s veins.

They needed to destroy that symbol. The world had lived in its shadow for too long.

Mira fell back beside Alexei as they moved, her eyes never leaving her device. “Alexei, I’m picking up interference. They might be onto us.”

“Shit,” Dmitri muttered. “How much time do we have?”

“Enough to finish what we came for,” Alexei said, his voice hard. “No turning back now.”

They reached the side of the central building, where the entrance to the underground bunker was hidden beneath layers of concrete and steel. This was the objective—the bunker housed key intel on the regime's latest weapons development, intel that could turn the tide of the war if they got their hands on it.

Mira approached the control panel, her fingers dancing across the screen. “I’ll need three minutes to break this code. Keep watch.”

Alexei turned to Dmitri and Anya. “Hold the perimeter. Luca, stay close to Mira.”

As the others took their positions, Alexei knelt beside Mira, his hand resting on the hilt of his knife. The weight of the mission pressed heavily on his shoulders. Too many things could go wrong—too many lives were at stake.

“How are you holding up?” he asked quietly, glancing at Mira.

She didn’t look up from the screen but offered a small smile. “You know me. I thrive under pressure.”

He nodded, though the worry didn’t leave his face. “Just… be quick.”

“Trust me, Alexei,” she said, her fingers moving faster. “I’ve got this.”

Suddenly, a crackle came through the comms. Anya’s voice, sharp and urgent. “Movement. We’ve got company—three patrols headed your way from the south.”

Dmitri’s voice followed, calm but tense. “Engaging. We’ll buy you time, but we’ll need an exit plan.”

Alexei clenched his jaw, adrenaline spiking. “Hold your ground. Mira, how much longer?”

“Two minutes,” she whispered, her focus unwavering.

Gunfire erupted from the perimeter, short bursts echoing in the night. Dmitri and Anya were holding their ground, but it wouldn’t be long before reinforcements arrived. Time was slipping through their fingers.

“Stay sharp,” Alexei murmured to Luca, who had gone pale with anxiety.

Luca swallowed hard, gripping his weapon tightly. “I’m good. I’m good.”

Alexei shot him a quick glance, a flicker of reassurance in his voice. “Just remember why we’re here, Luca. Focus on that.”

Luca nodded, his resolve strengthening.

Mira’s voice cut through the tension. “Done. Gate’s down.”

The ground beneath them shuddered as the heavy doors slid open, revealing the dark stairway into the bunker below.

“Let’s move!” Alexei ordered. As they descended into the shadows, the echoes of gunfire fading behind them, the weight of the war bore down on them all.