Chapter 33 - The Offensive Strategy
The sheer arrogance in Victor’s voice radiating from the radio scanner made Emily’s blood boil. He was treating her life, her family, and her sanctuary like a mere business transaction.
"They are going to blow the front gates in less than five minutes," Arthur stated, checking the magazines in his tactical rig. "The steel shutters will hold against small arms fire, but if they bring heavy explosives, the structural integrity of the main house will be compromised."
"If we stay here and play defense, it’s only a matter of time before they overwhelm the perimeter," Sarah added, looking anxiously at the security monitors showing the heavily armed men stacking up outside the walls.
Emily stared at the radio, her mind racing through the tactical realities. She remembered the endless days she had spent hiding from Marcus, waiting in terror for the next blow to fall. She had sworn to herself she would never be the prey again.
"We aren't going to wait for the monster to break down the door," Emily declared, her voice ringing with absolute, fierce authority.
Arthur looked up, raising an eyebrow. "What are you proposing, Emily?"
"Victor is sitting in a mobile command center down the street, assuming he is perfectly safe while his foot soldiers do his dirty work," Emily said, a dangerous, brilliant plan forming in her mind. "He thinks we are cowering inside, praying for a miracle. We are going to give him a nightmare instead."
Emily turned to Sarah. "Can you hack the frequency they are using and broadcast a localized feedback loop to deafen their comms?"
"I can," Sarah nodded, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. "But it will only buy us a few minutes of total chaos before they switch to secondary channels."
"A few minutes is all we need," Emily said, racking the slide of her pistol. "Arthur, you are going to hold the courtyard. Give them hell when they breach the gate. Make them think our entire defensive force is focused on the front."
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"And where exactly will you be?" Arthur asked, recognizing the fearless glint in her eyes.
"I am going to slip out through the old subterranean wine cellar tunnels," Emily said, grabbing a spare radio. "I am going to flank them. I am going to find Victor Sterling’s command vehicle, and I am going to end this war myself."
