The sound of footsteps echoed through the operations room as I stood at the head of the table, my eyes fixed on the file in front of me.

The case was urgent—intelligence had pinpointed the location of a notorious girl trafficking ring operating out of an underground club.

The information was fresh, and the operation had to be executed today.

The chief entered, his face set in stone. "Araina," he said, his voice commanding attention. "The intel is in. We have an active trafficking ring. The location is secure, but we need to move fast. You and your team are the lead. Your mission is to neutralize the operation and rescue the girls. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," I replied, keeping my tone calm but assertive.

"The operation must happen today," the chief continued. "We don't have much time before they move the girls. I expect thorough planning, precision, and speed. Nikhil and his team will have your back for the perimeter, but you’re going in first. Do not fail."

The weight of the chief’s words hung in the air as the room fell into a tense silence. There was no room for error. The trafficking ring was known for its ruthlessness. These weren’t just criminals; they were predators. And my team would be the ones to stop them.

The chief turned and left without another word, his heavy boots fading into the background. I could feel the pulse of adrenaline starting to thrum in my veins, but I knew better than to let it show. My team would follow my lead. We had to be sharp, focused.

"Alright, everyone, gather around," I commanded, my voice steady as I turned to the team. Nikhil, Aakar, Sasha, and the others gathered around the table, waiting for the plan. "This is a high-risk operation. We’ve got intel that confirms the traffickers are heavily armed. There are three known entrances to the club: front, back, and side. We're going in fast and hard. We don't have time to waste, so here's the plan."

I pointed to the map of the area displayed on the wall behind me. The location was isolated, tucked away between abandoned warehouses on the outskirts of the city. The club, a nondescript building with a history of shady dealings, was a prime target for this kind of operation.

"We'll split into two teams. Team A will take the back entrance, led by Sasha. Nikhil, Manwindar, you’ll be with her. Team B, I’ll lead you through the front. Aakar, Rudra, you’re with me. We'll clear the rooms and secure the girls. No one gets left behind."

The room was filled with a tense quiet as the team processed the plan. Everyone had a role. We were all trained for this, but that didn’t make it any less dangerous.

"Once we’re in, we’re on the clock," I continued, my eyes scanning each member of the team. "If things go sideways, we need to be ready for extraction. There are two backup teams waiting to cover us if we need them, but we move as quickly as possible. The priority is the girls. No hesitation. Clear the building. Secure the hostages."

Aakar spoke up, his voice calm but with a hint of concern. "How much time do we have before they move the girls?"

I glanced at the intel again, my thoughts moving swiftly. "We don’t know for sure, but we’ve got about two hours before they make any moves. If we don’t hit them fast, we risk losing the girls."

Sasha’s eyes narrowed as she processed the information. "How do we deal with the traffickers inside? Are we going to engage or just clear them out?"

"We engage if necessary," I answered, keeping my voice level. "If they're armed and pose a threat, we neutralize them. We don’t let anyone stand in our way."

The room fell silent as everyone absorbed the gravity of the situation. There was no room for mistakes. We all knew the stakes.

"Araina," Sasha spoke up again, her voice quieter now. "You’re sure we’re ready for this? If things go wrong…"

"They won’t," I said firmly, meeting her gaze. "We’re ready. We’ve trained for this. Every minute counts. We get in, get the girls, and we get out. That’s the mission. No distractions."

Sasha gave a small nod, though I could see the tension in her shoulders. We all felt it, but it didn’t matter. Fear had no place in this mission.

"Everyone, gather your gear. We leave in twenty," I said. "No room for mistakes. Stay sharp."

As the team dispersed to prepare, I took a moment to gather my own thoughts. The weight of the mission pressed heavily on me, but I couldn’t let that show. I wasn’t just leading a team. I was leading a team that would be responsible for saving innocent lives. There was no room for hesitation.

Just as I turned to head toward the vehicles, Nikhil’s voice cut through the air, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Araina," he called, his tone serious.

I turned to face him, surprised by the intensity in his eyes. "What is it?"

He stepped a little closer, his presence commanding despite the gravity of the situation. "I know this mission is personal. These girls... they don’t stand a chance if we don’t move fast. I’m with you on this."

I gave him a quick nod. "I know you are. Let’s make sure we don’t let them down."

He didn’t say anything else, but the look in his eyes said everything. He was in this with me. We all were.

As we moved toward the vehicles, the last vestiges of daylight faded into the horizon. There was no time to waste. The operation was in motion, and there was no turning back.