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

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 HQ. But unfamiliar with the terrain, the front squad

Thomas, Leopold boosted their firepower and

into the mic, "Wolf, unidentified forces

headset, shouting to Soren, "Comms are jammed. There's a signal blocker

battle above, Soren knew staying meant

only chance was to escape and return with

streaming, Soren vowed, "Captain,

though not without injuries-broken limbs and, for

back to life with Micah's voice urging

comms are down. Send me the coordinates of

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

and relayed

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

rendezvous point, with casualties among them, they

bandaged, relayed Percival's location to Leopold, insisting they had to

mix of anger and resolve. "First squad, anyone who can

to follow, dizziness from blood loss

to report and heal.

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

in there!" Leopold roared, defiance

dear friend who grew up with him.

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

from Thomas. "Get him treated, then

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

grabbed the handset.

this operation? I told you to wait for satellite confirmation before proceeding. Do you not understand 'stand by"?" Soren overheard the

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

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