Chapter 321: The IP Address Traces Back To Jersey City

"The video files Dante sent contained metadata," Marco said, his voice rough from lack of sleep. "Encryption protocols. Transmission routing. I’ve been peeling away each layer, back-tracing the signal source."

Marco pulled up a series of complex data streams on the secondary monitor.

"The IP address traces back to Jersey City," Marco continued. "But I found something better than just location data. The metadata embedded in the video files included timestamp information and a fragment of GPS coordinates that wasn’t completely wiped."

"And?" Dimitri prompted.

"And it led me to a warehouse," Marco said, pulling up a map. "Jersey City industrial district. The building is registered under a shell corporation that traces back through several holding companies. But here’s what matters....this warehouse has been used as a safe house before. It’s one of Dante’s operational bases."

Marco typed rapidly, pulling up satellite imagery.

The warehouse was industrial, nondescript, blending perfectly into the surrounding industrial landscape. But the thermal imaging told a different story.

"Heat signatures," Marco said, pointing to the imagery. "Multiple people. Multiple locations. Concentrated around what appears to be the basement and lower levels."

"How many levels?" Dimitri asked.

"The warehouse has three levels below ground based on the building records," Marco said. "Ground level is the warehouse itself. Basement level one is storage and operational space. Basement level two is where the heat signatures are concentrated. That’s where they’re holding Eve."

Dimitri studied the thermal imagery, his mind already calculating tactical approaches.

"The security," Dimitri said. "What can you tell me?"

Marco pulled up another file, architectural plans overlaid with surveillance system information.

"Standard security for a safe house," Marco said. "Multiple camera systems. Motion sensors. Electronic locks on the basement access points. Guards rotating on shifts. Based on the communication intercepts, I count approximately eight to twelve security personnel at any given time."

"Luca?" Dimitri asked.

"Definitely present," Marco confirmed. "I identified his communication signature on the encrypted frequency. Dante is there. And Eve is on basement level two, isolated in what appears to be a secure room."

Dimitri absorbed the information without reaction, his mind already running through extraction scenarios.

"Show me the entry points," Dimitri commanded.

Marco pulled up a detailed schematic of the warehouse.

"Primary entry is the main warehouse doors on the north side," Marco said, highlighting them. "Secondary entry is a loading dock on the eastern side. Basement access is through a reinforced door in the ground-level storage room. There’s also an emergency exit on the west side that connects to the street level."

"Which is most viable for extraction?" Dimitri asked.

"The loading dock is less monitored than the primary entrance," Marco said. "Direct access to the basement level one. From there, we can access the internal stairs to reach level two where Eve is being held."

"And the risks?"

"The moment we breach any entry point, alarms will sound," Marco said. "Dante’s security will mobilize. We’ll have maybe three to five minutes before they’re fully engaged. Our window is tight."

"What about the basement door from the storage room?" Dimitri asked.

"Also has an alarm system, but it’s the most direct route to Eve’s location. If we can get past the reinforced door, we can reach her in under two minutes."

Dimitri studied the schematic, understanding the complexity of the extraction.

"Two extraction options then," Dimitri said.

"Option one," Marco said. "We breach the loading dock, move through basement level one, navigate to Eve’s location, extract her, and exit back the way we came. Fast, but we’re fighting through security the whole way. Time estimate: eight to ten minutes for a professional team."

"Casualties?" Dimitri asked.

"Dante’s security would take losses. Our team would take some casualties depending on the firefight intensity. Eve would be at risk if things escalate."

"Option two?" Dimitri prompted.

"We breach the reinforced basement door from the storage room," Marco said. "More direct route to Eve. Fewer guards on that route based on the thermal imaging. We extract her and immediately exit through the same entry point. Time estimate: five to seven minutes. Less exposure, fewer guards to deal with."

Dimitri was quiet for a long moment, analyzing both options.

"What my father’s extraction team specialize in?" Dimitri asked.

"Close-quarters combat in confined spaces," Marco said. "Rapid extraction. They work with European intelligence agencies. They’re experienced in hostile environments and limited personnel situations."

"Option two then," Dimitri decided. "The direct basement door approach. Fast, efficient, minimal exposure. The extraction team executes that route."

"Understood," Marco said.

"Surveillance?" Dimitri asked. "Can we monitor the warehouse in real-time?"

"I’ve accessed their external camera system," Marco said. "We have live feeds from the exterior cameras. I can see anyone moving in or out. And I’m monitoring their encrypted communications. When they talk, I hear them."

"Good," Dimitri said. "What about internal cameras?"

"Their internal system is air-gapped from the external network. We can’t access it remotely. We go in partially blind on the interior. But the warehouse blueprints give us the layout. The thermal imaging shows us where people are positioned. It’s enough."

Dimitri nodded, processing the information.

"When can my father’s team be briefed?" Dimitri asked.

"They should be landing at a secure airfield in New Jersey within the next two hours," Marco said. "I can have everything ready for them."

"Do it," Dimitri commanded. "I want them in a secure location within three hours. I want full briefing within four hours. And I want to move on the extraction within six hours."

"That’s aggressive," Marco said.

"Dante sent a message with a 72-hour deadline," Dimitri replied coldly. "He’s not expecting us to move quickly. He thinks we’re still processing and waiting for us to keep negotiating. We move fast and we catch him unprepared."

Marco nodded, understanding the logic.

"I’ll coordinate with your father’s team," Marco said. "But boss, there’s one thing you need to consider."

"What?" Dimitri asked.

"If we breach that warehouse, Dante is going to respond," Marco said. "He’s going to mobilize whatever forces he has available. He’s going to try to retaliate while you’re focused on extraction."