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

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 tunnels,

Thomas, Leopold boosted their firepower and

"Wolf, unidentified forces are attacking from above.

tossed aside his useless headset, shouting to Soren, "Comms are

the battle above, Soren knew staying meant certain

escape and

streaming, Soren vowed, "Captain, wait for my

mine, though not without injuries-broken

life with Micah's voice

comms are down. Send me the coordinates

to consider the consequences. They had to down

cursed and relayed

swiftly ended the fight,

rendezvous point, with casualties among them,

relayed Percival's location to Leopold,

a mix of anger

turned to follow, dizziness from blood

report and heal. Or

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

in there!" Leopold roared, defiance

friend who grew up with him.

men. They're heavily wounded, and their

Soren from Thomas. "Get him treated, then document everything

operator approached with urgent news. "Deputy director, it's the

handset.

wait for satellite confirmation before proceeding. Do you not understand 'stand

followed orders from HQ to enter the mine. When were we told to stand

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