Chapter 13 - Uploading the Truth
Mark slammed the encrypted flash drive into the USB port beneath the wall-mounted security display in the hallway. The monitor flickered, instantly replacing the black-and-white laundry room footage with a cascading cascade of green alphanumeric code scrolling down a black background. Arthur stood close behind him, typing furiously on the auxiliary keypad to bypass the final firewall encryption, while Elena rushed back from the front door, her face pale with sweat.
"The perimeter is secure for now, but I saw two unmarked black SUVs pulling onto the access road," Elena reported breathlessly, her dark eyes locking onto Mark with desperate remorse. "They'll be at the front porch in less than three minutes."
"Then we have two minutes," Mark said calmly, his fingers flying across the virtual keyboard as he initiated a global data dump to every major investigative journalism network and federal oversight committee simultaneously.
On the screen, a progress bar appeared: Uploading files... 45%... 70%... 90%...
From outside, the heavy crunch of gravel signaled the arrival of the Directorate vehicles, followed immediately by the harsh, blinding sweep of high-intensity spotlights cutting through the living room windows. Heavy footsteps thundered onto the wooden front porch, and a metallic thump indicated that someone was already shoulder-checking the reinforced front door.
"Mark, it's finished! Pull the drive!" Arthur shouted, grabbing Mark's shoulder as the progress bar hit 100% and flashed a bright green TRANSMISSION SUCCESSFUL across the display.
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Mark ripped the flash drive out of the port just as the front door splintered inward with a deafening crash, showering the entryway with shards of splintered wood and broken brass locks.
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