With a creased map in hand, Percival trekked alongside Soren to a nearby abandoned mine.

At the mine's entrance, they stumbled upon a covert mark of White Tiger etched into the rock face, its meaning unclear yet undeniably significant. And there, scattered nearby, lay a cache of critical documents belonging to CK.

"Base, this is Soren. We've found the mark," Soren hollered into his headset.

A different voice crackled back, not Micah's as expected, but that of the HQ commander. "Copy that. Proceed underground."

Exchanging a glance, Percival and Soren strapped on their oxygen masks and descended into the bowels of the earth.

Markers bearing White Tiger's emblem appeared sporadically along the mine's tunnels-faded, but a trail they could follow nonetheless.

As they ventured deeper, the air grew thin, and a faint, metallic scent of blood wafted from the depths.

Suddenly, a clod of earth tumbled from directly above Percival.

"Run!" Percival barked, his eyes dark with urgency.

With lightning reflexes, Soren signaled to the team behind them, and the third squad retreated in a disciplined dash toward the exit.

Then, a thunderous collapse echoed from behind Soren.

"Captain!" He yelled.

"Get out of here. That's an order!" Percival's voice crackled through the headset as Soren could only glimpse his silhouette through the narrowing gaps in the debris.

"Captain, I'll get you out!" Soren halted along with a few others.

Percival's voice was icy. "Get lost. After you're out, find Vivienne!"

Leopold and Thomas, sensing the gravity of the situation, called out, "Captain, report your status!"

"Mine... Collapse... Get out..."

voice faded

a hailstorm. Leopold and Thomas fought back while retreating to HQ. But unfamiliar with the terrain, the front squad often stumbled into collapsing tunnels,

boosted their firepower

the mic, "Wolf, unidentified forces

mine, Percival tossed aside his useless headset, shouting to Soren, "Comms are jammed. There's a signal blocker somewhere. Go support

above, Soren knew staying meant

only chance was to escape and return with reinforcements for

"Captain, wait for my

though not without injuries-broken limbs and, for

back to life with Micah's

teeth, Soren radioed, "HQ, Wolf's comms are down. Send me the coordinates of the

no time to consider the consequences. They had to down the helicopters to cut off

cursed and

swiftly ended the fight, downing two helicopters,

point, with casualties among them, they awaited further

relayed Percival's location to Leopold, insisting they

members and strapped them on, his voice a mix of anger and resolve. "First squad, anyone who can still move, on me." Thomas

Soren turned to follow, dizziness

report and heal. Or the captain will have your

a cane, stormed over, nearly collapsing. "Everyone, back to base

in there!"

friend who grew up with him. There was no way he would

knew the stakes but stood firm. "Look at your men. They're heavily wounded, and their lives matter, too. Back to

him treated, then document everything about the mine.

urgent news. "Deputy director, it's

the handset. "This

you to wait for satellite confirmation before proceeding.

enter the mine. When were we told to stand by?" Soren

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