Miles moved to the kitchen window, scanning the distant valley. "I don't see anything. No vehicles, no movement. Just trees and more trees."
I joined him, borrowing his perspective. The valley stretched below us, morning mist still clinging to its contours. Nothing moved except swaying branches and occasional birds. The landscape appeared untouched, pristine—which somehow made the persistent rumble more unsettling.
I called over my shoulder to Alex. "How much of the upload is complete?"
"The reduced speed means it's only at eighty percent. Now, we're still looking at another ninety minutes unless we stabilize."
Marcus leaned against the counter, arms crossed. "And we're sure this isn't just normal network fluctuation? Mountain coverage can be unpredictable."
"The pattern doesn't fit," Alex replied, not looking up from his screen. "It's too consistent. Too... deliberate."
Another power fluctuation rippled through the cabin—subtle but unmistakable. The lights dimmed momentarily.
Miles looked up at the ceiling light fixture. "That's the third one in fifteen minutes. It can't be random."
I placed a hand on Alex's shoulder. "Is someone actively interfering with our signal?"
"Possible." Alex opened a diagnostic window, studying the scrolling data. "But they'd need to know our exact location and technical specifications."
Marcus pointed out the obvious. "The bootprint. If they've found us physically, they could be setting up equipment within range."
Miles returned to his window vigil. "I still don't see anything out there."
"You wouldn't," I said. "Not if they're professionals. They'd establish positions well beyond visual range. Use terrain and foliage for cover."
Marcus lowered his voice. "Options?"
I took the lead. "We accelerate. We assume we're compromised and plan accordingly."
Miles raked his fingers through his hair. "And that means?"
"We prepare for multiple scenarios—from immediate evacuation to defending our position." I turned to Alex. "Can you boost the signal strength somehow? Counteract whatever's causing the slowdown?"
"Maybe. Miles, check the communications equipment in your bag. If you have a signal amplifier or even an old phone you're not using, we might be able to repurpose it."
Miles nodded, already moving toward his gear. "On it."
I moved toward the door, checking my sidearm from habit. The rumble continued its distant vibration—neither intensifying nor fading, like someone idling an engine just beyond the horizon. Waiting.
The question now wasn't if they were coming.
It was when.
When I turned back toward the cabin's main room, it had transformed into an operational center during my absence. Miles had dismantled an old phone, components spread across the kitchen counter like technological entrails. Alex sat hunched over his laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard with practiced efficiency. Marcus stood at the dining table, a topographic map unfolded beneath his fingers, marking potential routes with a red pencil.
Miles held up a circuit board extracted from the phone. "I think I can repurpose this to boost our signal. Not by much, but maybe enough to counter whatever's slowing us down."
"Do it." I turned to Alex. "Upload status?"
"Eighty-three percent. The rate has been steady, but with Miles's booster, we might be able to accelerate it." His expression brightened slightly. "The rate's improved in the last ten minutes. Whatever was causing the slowdown has either stopped or we've found a workaround."
Hope flickered briefly in my chest. "Timeline?"
"An hour at current speeds. We're getting there."
An hour. It's not ideal, but it's better than the previous estimate. I calculated variables, weighing threat assessment against operational necessities.
I surveyed the room, assessing our defensive position with cold precision. "We need to complete the upload before they decide to move in."