The pre-dawn chill of District 7 was a familiar blanket, but tonight it felt charged with a different kind of cold – the icy anticipation of The Crimson Coil's first major operation. They were positioned in the skeletal ruin of a multi-story parking structure, a vantage point Roric had selected for its clear view of the approaches to Sub-Station Epsilon and the Sector G-7 power junction. Kai, clad in his crimson and shadow jacket, felt the weight of the impending action. His Anima Core Stability was at 68%. The "Tactical Analysis Module" he'd consumed earlier sharpened his focus, but a nervous energy still thrummed beneath the surface. He had his 8 undistributed attribute points and the recently acquired "Minor Clarity Serum" in reserve.
Roric, a silhouette of calm efficiency, made final adjustments to the compact EMP generator. Shift stood beside him, her Phase Spider Anima already subtly engaged, cybernetic filaments around her temples emitting a barely perceptible shimmer as she monitored local data streams. Breaker was an impassive statue of readiness, while Zip twitched with suppressed energy, his Dragonfly Anima eager for release.
"Final comms check," Roric's voice cut crisply through their encrypted earpieces. One by one, they confirmed. "Shift, ambient conditions?" Roric queried, his tone that of a director cueing his actors. "All quiet around Epsilon, Roric. Comms chatter is minimal, background noise only. No indication of alert," Shift reported, her gaze distant.
The city's chronometer on Roric's data-slate ticked to 01:59. "EMP armed and targeted," Roric announced. "Deployment in T-minus sixty seconds. Shift, confirm immediate blackout effect on their comms. Kai, you and your breach team move on my signal the instant Shift confirms."
Kai nodded, his hand instinctively checking the fit of his gloves. Roric was giving the final go-ahead, setting the precise timing. It felt less like Kai was leading a charge and more like he was a specialized instrument in Roric's orchestra.
At precisely 0200 hours, Roric stated, "Deploying EMP. Now." A low thrum, then silence. They waited, the seconds stretching. Shift's voice suddenly came alive. "Confirmed! Power fluctuations across the Greywash, Epsilon's local comms just went into chaos – shouts, static, then complete blackout. They're blind and deaf." The System pinged Kai: [External Event: Localized Power Grid Disruption (EMP). Rust Phantom Command & Control: Severed (Temporary). Window of Opportunity: Optimal. Execute Breach Protocol (Roric Designate).]
"That's our signal," Roric declared. "Kai, your team is green. Go."
"Breaker, Zip, with me," Kai commanded, his voice tight but firm, stepping into his designated role. "Roric, Shift, maintain overwatch. Alert us to any unforeseen developments."
The three of them melted into the derelict streets, Kai in the lead. They reached the collapsed maintenance tunnel. "Breaker, clear the passage, quietly," Kai instructed. The massive man, his Gorgon Anima flaring patches of stone-like skin, efficiently and almost silently created an opening.
"Tunnel clear, Kai," Breaker rumbled, glancing back not at Kai, but in the general direction of Roric's overwatch position, as if expecting further instruction from the architect of the plan. "I'm behind you," Kai said, pushing down a flicker of irritation. "Zip, thirty seconds, then follow. Be our eyes."
Inside the pitch-black generator room, the air was cold and still. Distant, panicked shouts from the Rust Phantoms echoed from above. "Zip, report," Kai whispered into his comm. "Coming through, Leader Kai!" Zip replied, then a moment later, "Place is darker than a black hole's belly. Heat signatures scattered. They're definitely confused. Some are trying to light torches. Looks like Roric's EMP did a number on their main lights."
"Guide us to the central control room access Roric highlighted on the schematics," Kai ordered. Zip, his Dragonfly eyes glowing faintly, led the way. They encountered two Phantoms near a stairwell. Before Kai could react, Zip, with a disorienting buzz of his Anima, darted past them, causing them to swing wildly at nothing.
"Stairwell clear… for now," Zip reported, already at the top. On the main level, chaos reigned. Phantoms with makeshift torches ran in disarray. "Control room access is across the floor, that fortified door," Zip indicated. "At least five Phantoms trying to pry it open. Looks like the blackout locked it down."
"We can't fight them all," Kai said. "Shift, Roric, any change?" "Comms still dead. Blackout holding strong," Roric's voice came back, calm and authoritative. "You have approximately six more minutes of darkness. Proceed as planned."
"Breaker," Kai said, "that door. If it's just jammed, can you force it?" Breaker nodded. "Likely." "Zip, diversion. Far side of the floor. Draw them off." Zip grinned. "Noisy firefly, coming right up!" He vanished.
Crashes and shouts erupted from the far side of the chamber. Torches converged there. "Now!" Kai moved with Breaker towards the door. Two Phantoms remained. Kai dispatched them with swift, non-lethal strikes. "Breaker, the door!" Breaker, his Gorgon Anima flaring, slammed into the heavy plasteel. Metal shrieked. With a second heave, the door ripped from its frame, revealing the small, dark control room.
"Roric, Shift, we're in the control room," Kai reported, almost by rote. "Excellent work, Kai," Roric's voice replied. "Consolidate your position. Zip, fall back and secure your entry point with Breaker. The Phantoms will be disorganized, but they'll react to the breach. Prepare for contact."
As Breaker and Zip moved to fortify their precarious hold, Kai felt it again – he was executing Roric's plan, moving the pieces Roric had already placed on the board. He was the "Leader," the one facing the immediate danger, but the grand strategy, the control, felt firmly in Roric's hands. The first true engagement for The Crimson Coil was unfolding exactly as the architect had designed.