When Ahmed finished his explanation, the container was filled with silence. Katherine and the officers couldn’t believe what they had just heard. This was far worse than they could’ve imagined. The ship was filled with families who were exploited and wrongfully trapped.
Katherine’s chest tightened as she glanced around the cramped container. This wasn’t just about illegal passage—it was a deeply orchestrated system designed to trap people in silence. It became clear this was bigger than anything she had prepared for. Her team might not be able to handle it alone.
Turning to Ahmed, she asked in a low, urgent voice, “How many of your men are outside right now?” “At least fifty,” he replied. “They’re working below deck in the firecracker assembly room. Closely watched, but not heavily guarded. If we can get to them—we might just take control of the ship.”
Katherine turned to the two officers. “We move now—quietly.” From the edges of the container, they gathered what they could: a length of rusted piping, a loose metal bar, an old wrench. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. “We go fast, stay low. No noise unless we strike,” she instructed.