Page 72 of King's Reckoning
"Status on other known sites?" she asked, tracking thermal signatures of teams withdrawing from the blast zone. The infrared display showed heat blooms where specialized charges had targeted specific equipment—the latest innovation in their systematic elimination of Blackwood's legacy.
"Two more scheduled for tonight," King replied, his tactical display showing target locations marked in red. "Then three tomorrow. Alliance chapters are coordinating around the clock to eliminate every trace of forgery research we can find."
He pulled up a map dotted with targeting data. Each mark represented a facility they'd identified through intercepted communications and surveillance. Through careful investigation of shell companies and hidden money trails. The scope of Blackwood's operation was staggering—dozens of sites spread across multiple states.
"We've got King's Chosen teams already in position at the Portland facility," King continued. "Iron Fists providing backup, Satan's Riders handling perimeter security. Hit it at 0300 hours while shift change provides cover."
"Blackwood's employers are getting desperate," Barbara reported, highlighting specific message interceptions scrolling across her screens. "Their attempts to salvage forged documentationkeep failing as the legal precedent spreads. Elena's evidence is invalidating their claims faster than they can document results."
She pulled up detailed analytics showing the legal challenges in action. "Look at these patterns. It's not just invalidating active claims anymore. The precedent is embedding itself in basic corporate strategy. Any attempt to rebuild using similar forgery methods triggers an immediate legal challenge."
Rowan felt Reed's solid warmth at her back as she processed the implications. In just seven days, they'd accomplished what seemed impossible—the complete dismantling of Blackwood's decades of work. Not just destroying equipment but eliminating the very possibility of rebuilding their forgery operation.
"Air support confirms no emergency response incoming," Cole reported through the secure comms channel. His Iron Fists had established a wide perimeter, ensuring their demolition work went unnoticed. "Official story's already spreading. Tragic industrial accident at an abandoned corporate facility. No suspicious circumstances."
Rowan studied his live feed showing emergency services being diverted away from their operation zone. The Iron Fists had gotten very good at managing local authorities, ensuring minimum scrutiny of their activities.
"Got something interesting here," Barbara interrupted, her voice drawing everyone’s attention. "Analysis of the document trails from the demolition site is showing unusual legal patterns. The legal domino effect seems to be intensifying with each facility we destroy."
Her screens displayed complex connections spreading outward from the destruction zone. "It's like each demolition strengthens the evidence somehow. The legal precedent is becoming more efficient, more targeted."
She highlighted specific metrics that made Rowan's breath catch. "These legal patterns...they're amplifying through the corporate world itself. Elena's documentation isn't just invalidating existing claims anymore. It's actively preventing new forgeries from being established anywhere that challenges Rowan's authenticated land claims."
"The ultimate failsafe," King said quietly. "Not just eliminating their forgeries, but making it impossible to reconstruct them. Elena thought of everything."
"Better than that," Barbara added, studying fresh data streams. "The effect appears to be evolving. Adapting to counter their attempts at salvaging data. These legal precedents are more sophisticated than anything in Elena's original documentation."
She pulled up side-by-side comparisons of legal challenges. "Look at these patterns. Theprecedent is learning from each system it invalidates. Getting better at targeting specific vulnerabilities in their forgery protocols."
"They're noticing too," Reed added, displaying intercepted communications between corporate sites. "Multiple facilities are reporting total legal failures even before we hit them. The precedent effect is spreading faster than they can respond."
Fresh demolition charges detonated below, eliminating another section of the facility. The carefully orchestrated destruction looked random to outside observers, but Rowan saw the precise planning behind each explosion. Alliance members moved with practiced efficiency, completing their assigned tasks with smooth coordination.
"Next target is that complex outside Seattle," Cole reported, pulling up detailed satellite imagery on the tactical display. "Bigger facility, better security. Going to need multiple chapters coordinating to handle it properly."
The screens showed a sprawling records center disguised as a corporate archive. Security patrols, surveillance systems, and what appeared to be military-grade countermeasures protecting whatever forgery technology remained inside.
"Already on it," King replied, highlighting specific tactical approaches. "King's Chosen are setting up surveillance, Iron Fists handling tactical planning. We hit it tomorrow night. No point giving them time to move equipment."
Rowan studied the logistics data scrolling across their displays. The alliance's capabilities had grown exponentially since forming. Chapters were now working together with unprecedented efficiency to eliminate Blackwood's dangerous legacy.
"How many facilities are left on the confirmed list?" she asked Barbara, watching another section of the building collapse below.
"Twenty-three that we've positively identified. Plus another dozen possibles that need investigation." The professor highlighted specific locations across her map. "They hid their forgery operation well—shell companies, front organizations, legitimate-looking corporate facilities. Taking time to verify each site before we move."
She pulled up detailed financial records and shipping manifests. "The Iron Fists' intelligence network has been invaluable for identifying shell companies, tracking equipment movements. But Blackwood's employers are good at covering their tracks."
"Time we may not have," Reed pointed out, studying fresh interceptions. "They're getting desperate as more facilities go dark. The longer we work, the more likely they try something drastic to preserve their forgery operation."
As if to prove his point, Barbara's screens lit up with fresh alerts. "Multiple data transfer attempts detected," she reported tensely. "They're trying tocopy forged files from several sites simultaneously. Using encrypted channels to..."
She trailed off as the transfer attempts failed spectacularly, their corporate protocols invalidated instantly upon activation. Rowan felt a surge of satisfaction as the legal precedent automatically targeted and destroyed the encrypted communications.
"Impressive," Barbara murmured, studying the data. "Your mother's documentation didn't just stop the transfers. It invalidated the underlying corporate strategy. Made it impossible for them to even establish basic data links."
"Nice try," Rowan muttered with satisfaction. The feeling of winning was becoming familiar, like exercising a legal right she'd always had but never knew how to use properly.
"They're learning," King said grimly, watching the failed transfer attempts cascade across Barbara's displays. "Testing different methods, seeing how our evidence responds. Building a profile of the cascading legal challenge's capabilities and limitations."
