The silence that followed the revelation of the Utrax files lasted a while. In Dieter's apartment, the pre-battle calm was abruptly broken by a shrill beep from the frequency-scanning monitor the old ex-agent kept on the kitchen counter.
"They're on the neighborhood's internal network frequency," Dieter said, his voice hoarse with urgency as his fingers slid quickly across the analog keyboard. "The CIA patrol isn't just doing investigative scans. They intercepted our satellite connection when we downloaded the files. They know exactly which building we're in."
In the original series, this moment marked the beginning of a relentless tragedy: the siege of Dieter ended with the agency's violent raid, the death of his old friend, and the forced separation or capture of Erik and Hanna, leaving them trapped and without a way out on the streets of Berlin.
But this time, the rules of the game had changed significantly.
Arthur nodded immediately, his heightened senses picking up the muffled sound of heavy boots running down the elevator shaft and up the building's stairwell. His [Tactical Empathy/Behavior Reading] ability tuned in to the imminent danger.
"They're coming up the emergency stairs and the service elevator simultaneously. They're three floors from here," Arthur said, his voice perfectly calm, drawing his tactical pistol with mechanical fluidity.
Erik Heller slammed the data briefcase shut in the blink of an eye and slung the strap over his shoulder, grabbing his rifle.
"Dieter, grab your emergency documents and head for the back service exit. We'll hold the main line," Erik tried, assuming a combat stance.
"There's no time to escape through the back," Arthur warned, glancing at the reinforced wooden front door of the apartment, which began to creak from the first battering ram delivered by the CIA agents in the hallway. "They've surrounded the outer perimeter. The only clear path is through them."
Hanna stepped forward. Instead of the panic or hesitation that Utrax conditioning tried to instill in confined situations, her blue eyes flashed with a lethal, focused coldness. She looked at Arthur, and the mutual understanding was instantaneous: they would not be trapped prisoners. They would be the counter-attack.
COLLIDE!
The front door was stretched into thousands of pieces of wood and twisted metal as an improvised explosive charge by the CIA assault team detonated, sending a cloud of gray smoke and dust into the living room.
The first tactical agent advanced through the doorway, weapon drawn, flanked by two other operators with ballistic shields.
Before he could open fire, Arthur moved with lightning speed. Using his [Firearms Mastery] and tactical awareness, he fired two precise shots that struck the visors of the shields, destabilizing the agents in the same millisecond that Hanna leaped onto the central sofa, landing directly on top of the door frame.
With feline agility, Hanna delivered a devastating spinning kick that knocked out the first operator, while Arthur covered the left flank, neutralizing the second intruder with a sweep and a neck hold.
[Successful choke point defense against CIA assault team.] Proficiency gained: +5.
The hallway outside echoed with confused shouts from the remaining agents, who hadn't expected such brutal and coordinated resistance in such a confined space.
"The hallway is temporarily clear, but they'll regroup in seconds with reinforcements," Arthur warned, keeping his aim steady on the smoking door opening.
Erik pulled Dieter away by the arm, who stared at the scene, completely dumbfounded by the lethal efficiency of the pair.
"Excellent work, kids," Erik murmured, a deep respect gleaming in his time-worn eyes. "But the whole building will collapse in gunfire if we stay here. Let's move now!"
The she-wolf, her shadow, and the two veterans darted out of the shattered apartment, advancing into the shadows of the Berlin night to fulfill the mission's ultimate objective.