Page 35 of Rescuing Ally: Part 2

“How?”

“Electromagnetic pulse. Targeted EMP deployment could disable the nanobots without permanently damaging our critical systems.”

“That creates its own problems,” Sam points out. “EMP deployment would announce our knowledge of the contamination. Malfor would know we’ve discovered his surveillance network.”

“He already knows,” Gabe counters, anger bleeding through his control. “The moment we started this investigation, every nanobot colony in the facility reported our activity. We’re fighting a war where the enemy knows our every move.”

“In the meantime,” Forest says, “we assume all communications are compromised. All planning sessions should be moved to Faraday cage environments. All operational details need to be compartmentalized to essential personnel only.”

“That severely limits our coordination capabilities,” CJ observes.

“Better than operating with zero security,” I reply.

Forest nods once. “Implement it. Charlie team, you have operational priority. Whatever resources you need.”

As the meeting disperses, I catch Gabe before he can leave. There’s something burning in his eyes—impatience mixed with accusation like this is somehow my fault.

“What?” I ask.

“Nothing.” But his tone says everything. Sharp. Clipped. The way he gets when he’s building toward an explosion.

“Say what you’re thinking.”

“I’m thinking we’re wasting time while she’s out there.” Gabe gestures vaguely toward the door. “More meetings. More protocols. More fucking analysis while Malfor does God knows what to them.”

“Analysis keeps us alive. Keeps them alive.” Gabe’s spiraling. It’s hard to watch, and each time I try to talk to him, his agitation only increases.

“Does it?” The question carries an edge that makes my jaw tighten. “Because from where I’m standing, we’re sitting here analyzing nanobots while she’s out there getting tortured.”

“That’s not?—”

“Isn’t it? We followed procedure. Secured the area. Ran diagnostics. Did everything by the book.” His voice rises, drawing looks from the dispersing command staff. “And while we were being methodical, Malfor was already ten steps ahead.”

Heat builds in my chest, matching his energy despite my training. “You think rushing in blind would have prevented this?”

“I think if we moved faster, acted on instinct instead of waiting for perfect intelligence?—”

“You’re thinking like a demolitions expert,” I cut Gabe off. “Blow things up first, worry about collateral damage later.”

“And you’re thinking like a fucking robot. Calculate everything to death while real people suffer the consequences.We need to extract the women now.” He snarls and slams his hand on the table. The sound echoes like a gunshot. “Before he moves them.”

“Moves them?” I shake my head with incredulity. “We don’t even know where they are, or were, or anything. What intel do you want us to act on?” My voice stays level, which only makes me angrier. “We don’t know location, defenses, or extraction routes.”

“We know he’s watching us plan. Every second we delay gives him more tactical advantage.”

“Every second we rush gives him exactly what he wants—us walking into a trap.” It’s like we’re operating on different wavelengths.

Glitching.

That’s never happened before.

The room watches as the tension between us escalates. Carter shifts in his seat, the fabric creaking beneath him. Blake’s eyes ping-pong between us like he’s tracking a live grenade. This isn’t a tactical disagreement.

It’s personal.

“Maybe if you cared more about getting her back than your precious protocols—” Gabe’s voice cracks like a whip, sharp and reckless.

My spine locks. “What the fuck did you just say to me?”