General Natalia Solokov looked around the bunker with the unease of instinct. Something was going wrong and she didn't know what. The bunker's planning room was quiet, the only other person was the Chinese information specialist. The girl's dark hair shone in the light, making the industrial room softer just by being in it. Her eyes were focused on the screen, as they had been six hours ago.
A soft groan escaped Mei-Ling's lips as she forced herself to lift her head from the screen and blink slowly, a frown between her brows. Natalia knelt down beside her, a hand gently pressing onto her shoulder, making the smaller woman flinch. "Mei-Ling? What is it?" Natalia asked, peering at the monitor with concern. The scrolling rows of code had slowed to a crawl before coming to an abrupt halt; something that was unusual in and of itself given Mei-Ling's diligence. The younger woman looked up, her eyes unfocused as if she'd lost herself somewhere inside. "It's done," she whispered. Her hand crept back onto the keyboard, hesitating for a moment as if steeling herself before returning to work.
Natalia felt the muscles in her arms stiffen and relax as she studied Mei-Ling. "No." she said, command in her voice. "That's enough. Get some sleep, that's an order." Mei-Ling's head snapped back up, a mix of relief and panic written across her features. "No time, General," she argued, her fingers dancing over the keys once more with renewed vigor. The screen flickered back to life as lines of data began flowing past. "We have to know what they're planning before-" Nat pulled her bodily to her feet. Mei-Ling resisted, but Natalia's grip was unyielding. With a tug and twist she forced the woman onto her stool with an air of authority, then knelt down beside it until their eyes met at the same level.
"There is no way you are going to burn out now." Natalia said firmly, keeping Mei-Ling pinned there as she continued, "They want us broken before we can mount a meaningful strike. If you continue like this, they'll win. You need rest." Mei-Ling's expression shifted from stubborn to pensive and her body relaxed, though she kept eye contact with the General. It wasn't fear that made Natalia let go, but the unspoken understanding of their predicament and shared struggle.
Katina Garnier interrupted the moment, stepping in with a gust of cold air. Her athletic stride still betrayed the same exhaustion Mei-Ling showed. "It was a smooth patrol, Ma'am" Katina reported as she scanned the room before meeting Natalia's eyes, her own steady. The general returned the gaze, taking note of the faint bruises along the other woman's cheekbone and jawline.
"That's good," Natalia acknowledged gruffly. She rose to her full height. "Take Ms. Wong and get some food, and then sleep. I don't want either of you back for another ten hours. That's an order." Katina nodded but hesitated, glancing back at the monitor and Mei-Ling still seated in front of it. "We need to know what they have planned," Katina said softly. Natalia shot her a sharp look that held both censure and understanding, and turned back to Mei-Ling, reaching out with a calm authority to lift her chin until their eyes met. "I trust you to get us this information in your own way," Natalia told the younger woman, giving her shoulder a firm squeeze before letting it fall. "But do as I say now."
With an exasperated huff, Mei-Ling surrendered, allowing Katina to pull her off the stool and towards the exit. Natalia watched them go with an unspoken assessment: They would make better warriors when they were well-rested; right now, she couldn't afford that luxury. The general turned her attention back to the screen. The Chinese girl's elegant code may as well be hieroglyphs. The fate of countless women rested on their success – and every second counted.
She stood again and walked towards the makeshift infirmary at the rear of the space. She entered the dimly lit room and approached a figure lying on an army cot, swathed in bandages and surrounded by various medical devices beeping softly.
"Raisa?" Katina's voice was low and urgent as she knelt beside the wounded woman, gently grasping her hand. "Can you hear me? We're so close to getting rid of those pigs once and for all." Raisa squeezed Katina's fingers weakly before her eyes fluttered closed, a look of immense pain etched on her pale face.
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