With Katherine in front and Ahmed close behind, the group slipped out of the container. They moved quickly between the shadows of towering crates, keeping their steps light and movements cautious.
They reached the hatch to the workroom undetected. Through the small porthole, Katherine saw rows of men hunched over benches, hands flying over fuses and powder. Two guards leaned against the far wall, yawning, half-alert. Katherine clenched her makeshift weapon. “We hit hard and fast. No hesitation,” she whispered.
The door swung open. The group poured in. One of the officers took down the first guard with a swift strike to the shoulder. Katherine lunged toward the second, her pipe connecting with a sharp crack. The workers froze in confusion—until Ahmed raised his voice: “Gather your arms guys, we are gonna get off this wretched ship today.”
She gathered the men quickly and outlined the plan. Their tools—wrenches, wooden poles, broken equipment—became their weapons. The wave of resistance quickly spread across the workers and as they took up arms and listened intently to Katherine.