The sun was about to set. In just a few minutes, the light would no longer be sufficient. The drone would no longer be able to deliver images. But for now, the drone circled over the old field, silently and invisibly observing the criminals from 80 meters above.
The criminals were not really criminals. They were simply employees of an unscrupulous company, following orders to make ends meet. They were not proud of what they were doing, and certainly did not want to be caught on film.
The Secret ObserverAs the drone flew over the field, Derek was amazed that the criminals, even in their desperate state, didn't notice him. The frantic buzzing of the drone could only be heard in close proximity.
At the moment, 80 meters above the criminals' heads, the drone was a silent observer. Hopefully, the remaining battery life would be enough to capture a video and photos of the crime.
Shocking EvidenceSam couldn't believe his eyes. How could this happen without anyone knowing? Someone must have seen it before him. He knew he had to do something about it, or it could end very badly.
But just as he was about to retrieve his drone, it was shot down from the sky. The sound of gunshots echoed through the deserted mountains. Sam was shocked and filled with fear.
Time to Get AwaySam quickly packed up his equipment and drove away from the facility as fast as he could. He knew he had to put as much distance as possible between himself and the guards before they discovered his car.
His heart pounded incessantly in his chest during the drive. His thoughts revolved around the footage he had just captured, and the men who had shot down his drone.
Worse Than He ExpectedWhen he finally reached a quiet spot far enough away, he stopped and watched the footage on his iPad. It was even worse than he had realized during the live feed.
But what exactly had Sam captured with his drone? What kind of company was he investigating? And what should he do with this obviously dangerous footage?
An Investigative JournalistIt should be noted that Sam is an investigative journalist, and his drone has recently become his secret weapon for investigations. He used it to capture what nobody was supposed to see.
After years of investigating a company with a dubious reputation, and hitting a dead end in his investigations, Sam knew what needed to be done.
A Shady CorporationSam was determined to expose the corporation to the entire world. But he needed solid evidence to do so. So, he decided to use his drone. The company was very difficult to locate.
The facility was hidden behind stretches of mountains and forests. To reach it by car, one needed a Jeep with all-wheel drive due to the rough terrain.
His Secret WeaponThe facility was surrounded by gates with barbed wire, high walls, fences, and dense hedges. No one was allowed to enter the premises without permission. But Sam's drone could fly over the area unnoticed.
He equipped his drone with a high-quality camera and a microphone to record everything he saw and heard. Now, he just had to wait for the perfect timing.
The Time Had ComeAs the sun set, Sam knew it was time to fly his drone over the facility. It was a risky move, but he was determined to obtain the evidence he needed.
He drove through the mountains until the road ended. Then, he turned off his lights and slowly approached the barbed wire fence in his car. He found a spot where he couldn't be seen.
The facility was under constant surveillance. Two armed guards stood at the entrance gate, and cameras were positioned at every corner of the fence. Sam had to be extremely careful not to be seen.
One wrong move and the entire building would go into lockdown, and he would never be seen or heard from again. That was the drawback of being a lone operator.
Time to StrikeSam waited for a few hours, unsure of when would be the best time to fly his drone. But he knew he would recognize the perfect opportunity when it presented itself And it did.
Suddenly, one of the guards walked away, and the other guard took out his phone. For the minimum wage the company paid its guards, they couldn't expect any extra effort. Now was the time for Sam to strike.
Taking to the SkiesHe quietly opened the door of his car and placed the drone on the ground. Then he got back in his car and powered up the drone. With a soft hum, the rotors began to spin.
The drone hovered in the air in front of his car. Sam turned on the camera and checked if everything was working. Then, he counted down in his head and sent his drone soaring into the sky.
Taking a DetourHe let the drone hover briefly above his car to make sure everything was functioning properly. Then, he flew the drone away from the facility. Yes, away, but Sam had his reasons.
He knew the guards would hear his drone if he flew it directly over them, so he took a slight detour. He searched for a spot where the guards wouldn't be able to hear it.
Image Transmission to the LaptopAs the drone hovered over the premises, Sam watched the live feed on his laptop. He had to hurry as there was barely any sunlight left. Hopefully, he would be fast enough.
He flew his drone further and further, but hadn't seen anything suspicious yet. So far, the buildings and the park looked completely harmless. But then, he saw something that made his blood boil.
Golden TicketHis heart raced. Sam knew this was his golden ticket. He raised his drone even higher in the sky and took a few photos for his video evidence.
But just as he was about to bring his drone back to the car, he heard someone shout, "Hey! Stop!" Shit, Sam thought. And he immediately pressed the recall button, but it was too late.
Shot from the SkyThe sound of gunshots echoed through the deserted mountains. Sam desperately tried to bring his drone back to himself, but there was nothing he could do. Whoever was shooting at his drone had a clear aim.
Suddenly, his screen flickered, and he watched his drone plummet to the ground. The camera broke as the drone hit the ground, but the microphone was still functioning.
All in Vain?Sam felt his stomach tighten. He had worked so hard to obtain this footage, and now it could all be in vain. But he quickly gathered his thoughts.
As long as the drone was still on, he could download the footage onto his laptop. Sam didn't waste a second and immediately started the transfer. It was a race against time.
Downloading the FootageThe progress bar loaded, and in the meantime, Sam listened to what the men were saying. The camera was broken, so he couldn't see their faces, but he could hear them talking.
The sound eventually faded away as well. But by then, Sam had already determined that the head of the security team was not pleased with a drone filming their facility.
Sam had a stroke of luck in his misfortune. Just as the download bar reached 100%, the drone shut down. Phew, right on time, Sam thought. But he didn't have time to recover.
He needed to get out of the vicinity of the facility as quickly as possible. It was only a matter of time before the guards at the gate were informed about the drone and initiated a search for the operator.
Driving AwaySam quickly packed up his equipment and drove away from the facility as fast as he could. He knew he had to get as far away as possible before the guards spotted his car.
His heart pounded relentlessly in his chest during the drive. His thoughts revolved around the footage he had just captured. And the men who had shot down his drone.
The Perfect PlanOnce he was finally far enough away, he pulled over in a quiet spot and reviewed the footage on his iPad. It was even worse than he had realized during the live recordings.
He needed the perfect plan to expose this to the world. He couldn't just upload it to the internet, otherwise chaos would ensue or it would get lost among the millions of daily videos.
Contacting a ColleagueFurthermore, he couldn't risk the company finding out who had leaked the information. Who knew what they would do to him if they discovered he was the one who had disrupted their organization?
So, Sam began to formulate a plan. He contacted a trusted colleague who had connections to a reputable news organization. They would carefully control the release of the information.
Gathering More InformationTogether, they decided to approach the story with caution and gather more evidence before going public. Over the next few months, Sam and his colleague worked tirelessly.
They needed to gather more information about the company. They conducted interviews with former employees, whistleblowers, and other sources. They also uncovered additional incriminating evidence to support their case.
Something Went WrongFinally, they felt they had enough evidence to present to the news organization. Sam and his colleague arranged a meeting with the editors and proudly presented their findings.
The editors were impressed with their work and agreed to publish the story as soon as possible. Everything looked promising, but their joy would only last a few hours.
A Violent AbductionThe morning after Sam's meeting with the editor, he was awakened by a loud knocking on his door. And before he could even get up, the door was ripped off its hinges and armed men stormed into his house.
They grabbed Sam by the arms, pulled a fabric bag over his head, and forcefully dragged him to a car that was idling outside the house. Before Sam could comprehend what was happening, the car was already driving away with him.
The EndSomeone from the news agency had leaked Sam's footage of the company illegally disposing toxic waste into a river, and the shady company had abducted Sam from his home.
Fortunately for Sam, the FBI had seen the footage, and not long after his abduction, the facility was infiltrated by the FBI. Sam was rescued, and everyone else was arrested – the end.