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
could get close, a helicopter buzzed overhead, raining down bullets like a hailstorm. Leopold and Thomas fought back while retreating to HQ. But unfamiliar
Thomas, Leopold boosted their firepower and rescued the
at HQ, Micah shouted into the mic, "Wolf,
to Soren, "Comms are jammed. There's a
the battle above, Soren knew staying
was to escape and
Soren vowed, "Captain, wait for my
narrowly escaped the mine, though not without injuries-broken
life with
Wolf's comms are down.
consequences. They had to down the helicopters
and relayed
swiftly ended the fight, downing two helicopters,
at the rendezvous point, with casualties
bandaged, relayed Percival's location to Leopold, insisting
a mix of anger and resolve. "First squad, anyone who can still
dizziness from blood
him. "Go back to report and heal. Or the captain
a cane, stormed over, nearly collapsing. "Everyone, back to base
captain is still in there!" Leopold roared, defiance written
with him. There
heavily wounded,
"Get him treated, then document
urgent news. "Deputy director,
the handset. "This
satellite confirmation before
to enter the mine. When were we told to stand by?" Soren
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