But in their minds, a storm was roaring.
They knew:
“Zargan’s army will not leave without finding this base. And if they find it… this could be the end of the Resistance.”
[Hologram Screen Flickers] — Captain RJ appears.
Captain RJ (firm, calm):
“Sir, the entire base is ready.
Officers, medics, cadets… everyone is prepared to give their lives…
and to take the enemy’s lives as well.”
His words were simple — but the commanders knew…
This was not readiness, this was a last breath.
Commander Helza (suddenly, intense but thoughtful):
“If they’re already searching for our base… why don’t we reveal ourselves to them?”
The room went silent.
Everyone’s faces froze. Eyes widened.
Marshal Ronan (snaps, sharp):
“Miss Helza…
Are you Zargan’s strategist or part of our Allied Resistance?”
“They haven’t officially confirmed anything yet.
Until their assault begins —
we can still prepare. And when they arrive…
at least we’ll make them bleed.”
Volkran (half-smiling, bitter):
“I used to hear stories…
that Helza is the lioness who roars even in front of beasts bigger than herself.
Today… it feels like that was just a tale.”
Commander Helza (laughs softly, but with anger):
“Judging someone without understanding them —
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that’s foolishness, not wisdom.”
“If we think that by waiting, shouting, and dying we will win something…
that’s nothing more than a suicidal illusion.”
“Zargan’s forward team is only 5–10% of his entire army.
And even against this small fraction, we’re already in a losing state.”
“Yes, we will damage them — but at what cost?
Will we spend all our resources here?
And what will be left for the other bases?”
Volkran (coldly):
“So your solution is…
to send them the exact location of our base?”
Suddenly — silence.
Grivon’s eyes sparkled.
He smiled faintly… as if he understood Helza’s plan.
Helza (turns to Volkran, steady gaze):
“I’m saying —
Let them see what we want them to see.”
Grivon (interrupts softly, now smiling fully):
“Ah… a false reveal.
A shadow base… an illusionary setup…
A trap.”
Commander Helza (focused, calm):
“We will build a mini secret base.
Using old modules — a structure that appears to have limited weapons, Craxillon energy, and encrypted comms.”
“Then we’ll amplify the cloaking of our real base —
so that all attention shifts to the decoy base.”
“They must believe… that it’s the very base they detected earlier.”
Everyone listened — with a dark sense of hope.
Helza (pauses):
“…And when they destroy that base…
they’ll believe the mission is complete…
and won’t come after our main base next time.”
?? Silence.
Grivon (firm, grave):
“But there’s one problem —
the soldiers we send there… it won’t just be difficult for them to return… it will be impossible.
Sending them there is suicide.”
Volkran (snaps):
“Then why send soldiers at all?
Just show resources and the structure —
as if the Resistance abandoned it.”
“They’ll think they’ve captured it…
and destroyed the backbone of the Resistance.”
Helza (shakes her head, serious):
“No. If they find the base empty…
they will immediately realize…
that it was a trap. And their suspicion will grow —
that there is a bigger, main base nearby,
and that this shadow base was built to protect it.”
“And the most dangerous part —
if the resources we place there fall into their hands,
they will use them against us.
And after that, they will never stop searching for our real base.”
Volkran (angrily):
“So you’re saying…
we send our own people there to die?
We know going there is equal to death…
and you still want to send them?”
Helza (slowly walking forward, calm):
“I’m not saying we send them to die…”
All eyes locked on her.
“…I’m saying there’s a way…
where we send them there,
they complete the mission,
and still return alive.
And maybe… even bring the resources back with them.”
Everyone was stunned.
Grivon (leans forward):
“You have… an evacuation plan?”
— Chapter 9 Ends —
?? Will the commanders trust Helza’s risky gamble?
?? And if they do… who will be chosen for the suicide mission that might not be suicide after all?
? Chapter 10 is coming.
The trap is set… but who’s really walking into it?