Chapter 136 - The Battle on the Crib
The grate blew open with a deafening clang, crashing into the chest of a mercenary standing watch. Before the man could scream, Vincent vaulted up through the opening, firing three controlled rounds into the sentry’s chest plates.
The chamber erupted into chaos. The crib was a cavernous circular stone tower, dominated by a massive central well of deep, black water that led down into the subterranean intakes. Overhead, iron walkways circled the chamber up to the domed ceiling.
Muzzle flashes flared in the gloom. Marco emerged from the side hatch, opening up with controlled bursts that shattered the drilling rig’s hydraulic lines, spraying pressurized fluid into the air and driving two contractors back against the stone walls.
Emma scrambled out onto the narrow iron catwalk, dropping low as bullets chewed through the wooden handrails just inches above her head. Wood splinters flew across her cheek, stinging her skin, but she kept her weapon level. A contractor was sprinting toward the primary intake lever, holding a pressurized steel canister marked with hazardous waste insignias.
If he pulled that lever, the suction from Lake Michigan would drag the canister straight into the municipal feeder tubes.
Emma didn't hesitate. She steadied her breathing, centered the iron sights of her pistol, and squeezed the trigger.
The shot cracked through the stone chamber. The bullet struck the contractor’s shoulder, spinning him around. He stumbled, losing his grip on the canister. The heavy steel cylinder rolled across the slick concrete floor, wobbling dangerously close to the edge of the open water well.
"Vincent! The canister!" Emma screamed.
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A towering figure stepped out from behind the drilling rig—Julian Sterling’s field commander, an ex-special forces operative clad in heavy body armor, armed with a combat shotgun. He leveled the weapon straight at Emma.
Before the trigger could be pulled, Vincent slammed into the commander from the flank, tackling him across the stone deck. The shotgun discharged harmlessly into the ceiling dome, blasting fragments of century-old brick into the water below.
