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..."

faded into

danger, Leopold and Thomas led their teams back toward Percival's last 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

with Thomas, Leopold boosted their firepower and rescued

the mic, "Wolf,

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

above, Soren knew staying meant

only chance was to escape and

streaming, Soren vowed, "Captain, wait

though not without injuries-broken

headset crackled back to life with Micah's voice urging

are down. Send me

consequences. They had to down the helicopters to cut off the attack and

cursed and relayed the

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

the rendezvous point, with casualties among

bandaged, relayed Percival's location

it!" Leopold took two rifles from the other members and strapped them on, his voice a mix of anger and resolve. "First squad, anyone who can still move,

turned to follow, dizziness

to report and heal. Or

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

our captain is still in there!"

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

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

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

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

handset. "This

before proceeding. Do

enter the mine. When

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