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 into

known location. However, before they could get close, a helicopter buzzed overhead, raining down bullets like a hailstorm. Leopold and Thomas fought back while retreating to HQ. But unfamiliar with the terrain, the front squad often stumbled into collapsing

Thomas, Leopold boosted their firepower and rescued the

the mic, "Wolf, unidentified forces are attacking from above.

the mine, Percival tossed aside his useless headset, shouting to Soren,

above, Soren knew

escape and return with reinforcements

Soren vowed, "Captain, wait for my

not without injuries-broken limbs and, for Soren, a

to life with Micah's voice urging Wolf to

Wolf's comms are down. Send me the coordinates

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

cursed and

three squads swiftly ended the fight, downing two helicopters, while the third

casualties among them, they

Percival's location to Leopold, insisting

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

Soren turned to follow, dizziness from blood loss nearly overcame

"Go back to report and

limping with a cane, stormed over, nearly collapsing. "Everyone, back

is still in there!" Leopold roared, defiance written across

dear friend who grew up with him. There was no way he would let Percival be

They're heavily wounded, and their lives matter, too.

Leopold aside and took Soren from Thomas. "Get him treated, then document everything about the

urgent news. "Deputy director, it's the HQ

grabbed the handset. "This

you to wait for satellite confirmation before proceeding. Do you not understand 'stand by"?" Soren overheard

the mine. When were

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