Chapter 8 - The Federal Extraction
The heavy steel doors swung wide, revealing not the federal marshals Thaddeus had called, but a half-dozen heavily armed private security contractors wearing black tactical gear bearing the insignia of Sterling Global’s private defense wing—a wing loyal exclusively to Senator Hayes.
At the front of the tactical unit stood Commander Vance, Julian’s cousin and the head of illicit black-ops contracts for the conglomerate. His face was a hardened mask of professional coldness as he raised a suppressed carbine, sweeping the barrel across the smoke-filled basement aisle.
“Drop the communicator, Clara,” Commander Vance ordered, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. “And hand over the ring.”
Thaddeus instinctively stepped in front of Clara, his elderly frame shielding her from the tactical rifle barrels. “You’re pointing weapons at the majority shareholder of this corporation, Commander. That is an act of high treason.”
Commander Vance didn’t blink. “The majority shareholder was legally removed by emergency board resolution thirty minutes ago due to mental instability and corporate sabotage. Stand aside, Thaddeus, or my men will treat you as a hostile combatant.”
Arthur pushed himself away from the server rack, coughing as he stumbled toward his nephew. “Kill the power to the upper floors, Commander! They have the master recovery drive on a micro-SD card inside that ring!”
Clara remained completely motionless behind Thaddeus. Her eyes met Commander Vance’s unblinking gaze. She didn't scream, she didn't plead, and she didn't exhibit a single trace of fear. Instead, she let out a slow, controlled breath, her fingers gently brushing the velvet interior of her small dark clutch.
“You think Senator Hayes can protect you from the federal wiretap warrants currently being executed on his private residence?” Clara asked, her voice cutting through the heavy tension of the room with absolute clarity.
Commander Vance’s jaw tightened imperceptibly. A micro-expression of doubt flickered across his eyes before he forced his professional composure back into place. “Senator Hayes is currently addressing the national security council. You don’t exist, Clara. By morning, this entire building will be zoned as a classified government installation, and you will be erased.”
He motioned to the tactical officers behind him. Two men stepped forward, their heavy combat boots crunching against the shattered glass and metal debris on the floor, their hands reaching out to grab Thaddeus and drag him away from Clara.
“Do it,” Commander Vance commanded.
May you like
As the tactical officers lunged forward to seize them, the overhead emergency strobes suddenly cut out, plunging the entire basement archives into pitch-black darkness, save for the faint glow of the tactical HUD displays.
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