Commander Arin Cortez wiped rain from the visor of his augmented helmet as neon signs flickered over the ruined sector. The city’s grid had gone dark an hour ago; quiet screens and dead streetlights were the only evidence of the blackout. Somewhere in the mesh, a new criminal collective called the Hotwire Syndicate was rewriting access to millions of devices. The mayor wanted a show of force. Arin sent a single message: E‑SWAT mobilize.