Chapter 6 - THE BLACKOUT
The Admiral kicked open the side door leading directly to the upper balcony overlooking the courtyard.
Rain had begun to fall, slicking the wooden deck as cold wind whipped through his white uniform.
Below him, the gunfire was relentless, sharp bursts of light cutting through the heavy downpour.
The sniper on the distant ridge fired again, the bullet grazing the wooden railing right beside the Admiral.
Instead of retreating, Admiral Miller raised his sidearm and aimed directly at the distant tree line.
He didn't fire at the sniper; he aimed at the heavy electrical transformer mounted on the pole nearby.
With three precise, calculated shots, he emptied his magazine into the high-voltage transformer box.
A massive blue explosion erupted against the night sky, throwing brilliant sparks thirty feet into the air.
Instantly, the entire estate and the surrounding tree line were plunged into absolute pitch-black darkness.
The sniper's night-vision goggles were blinded by the sudden flare, forcing the shooter to cease fire.
"Move now!" the Admiral roared down to his remaining tactical team in the courtyard.
"Flank them from the left treeline while they are disoriented!"
In the dark living room, Marcus pulled Rachel and Lily out from under the heavy oak table.
"Hold onto my belt and stay right behind me," Marcus instructed in an urgent whisper.
He led them quickly through the dark hallway toward the hidden heavy steel door behind the pantry.
Lily held her mother's hand tightly, her small shoes clicking softly on the dark floorboards.
Behind them, the front door downstairs was kicked open with a heavy, metallic slam.
Heavy, disciplined boots entered the lower floor of the house, moving with quiet, lethal coordination.
"They're inside the house," Rachel whispered, horror choking her throat.
"I know," Marcus replied, pulling a heavy keycard from his pocket and swiping it against the hidden shelter panel.
The heavy steel door clicked open with a low hydraulic hiss.
"Get inside and lock the door from the interior lock wheel," Marcus ordered, shoving them into the dark shelter.
"What about you?" Rachel begged, holding the edge of the steel door open.
"I have to go back for the Admiral," Marcus said, pulling a fresh magazine from his coat.
"If he falls tonight, none of us survive tomorrow."
Before Rachel could reply, a cold voice echoed from the dark hallway behind Marcus.
"You won't be going anywhere, Agent Marcus," the voice said calmly.
Marcus froze, slowly turning his tactical flashlight toward the shadow at the end of the hall.
Standing in the beam of light was a high-ranking officer wearing a crisp military trench coat.
On his shoulders sat the three gold stars of a Vice Admiral.
"Vice Admiral Vance..." Marcus gasped, his gun dropping slightly in sheer shock.
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"Put the weapon down, Marcus," Vice Admiral Vance commanded, raising a suppressed pistol directly at Marcus's chest.
"The Admiral's time is up."
