Chapter 73: Fight for Survival

The control room was chaos. The air was thick with the sound of gunfire, the sharp cracks of bullets ricocheting off the steel walls. Ava crouched behind a console, her breath coming in short bursts as she fired back at the Meridian operatives pouring into the room. They were relentless, advancing with military precision, determined to stop the team from escaping with the encryption code. “They’re everywhere!” Callum shouted, his voice tight with fear. He ducked behind the cover, clutching the data drive that held the third and final encryption code. His face was pale, and his eyes were wide with panic. Ava’s heart pounded in her chest. The realization that they were surrounded was sinking in, but she couldn’t afford to let fear take over. Not now. “Jess, we need that extraction now!” Ava yelled into her comms, her voice barely audible over the roar of gunfire. “I’m trying!” Jess’s voice came through, filled with tension. “The extraction team is coming, but Meridian’s got air suppo