I finally see the ceiling of this staircase. It took me a while to climb all the way up here and it was an exhausting journey. Climbing up the stairs is definitely harder than going down.

I make it up to the final wing and there seems to be another door. I open the door and am met by the same concrete walls with forest green paint on the bottom. I swear, I will go crazy if I keep seeing the same walls. How do the employees here not complain about this.

I start walking through the corridors only to realize that I am not alone in this new facility. It seems that there are some more guards here. Although none of them go berserk when they see me so it seems the word hasn’t reached this outpost yet.

[Came to check up on us? Is it really that boring in the tunnels?]

“Yeah, I swear that one can go mad from just being there long enough. And the staircase is hell in its own way. Why don’t they install an elevator here?”

[We’ve asked the command to install one for an eternity but they always told us that we weren’t an important part of the facility and that it’s useless if it’s gonna be used once in a century.]

“Wow. They really treat you like shit. What do you even do here?”

[Mostly nothing. Just looking out for the potential invasion force, I don't know.]

“Like there’s gonna be an invasion here.”

[Exactly!]

“Where is the exit? I need to get some fresh air.”

[Go straight and then turn left, there should be a door leading to the outside.]

“Thanks.”

I end the conversation there and head for the exit. I notice that there isn’t much on this level except the toilets and the guard barracks. Their armory is even smaller than a security office in the main site. There is however a bunker-like room separated by a thick door with a glass window. It seems that it’s very cold outside and nobody really spends time in that room.

Only other thing I can see is that there are no cameras nor alarms. These guys only have a radio for communicating with the main outpost and nothing more. It seems that I am safe here, at least for the time being. I finally reach the door and open it.

A cold breeze enters the facility and I can hear wind for the first time in a while. It feels like I spent years down here when it was just one whole day. It’s already morning and I can hear the noise of trees in the wind. It also takes a while for my eyes to adjust to sunlight. I feel like a mole. Well I am one but just not in that manner.

It looks like this bunker is situated on top of a hill, overlooking the road below. It’s hidden in the cliff and its armed only with stationary particle rifles. There isn’t anyone overlooking the hill now and it looks like a perfect opportunity to escape.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Too perfect, as I hear the rumbling of trucks which are moving on the road. It seems that more reinforcements are coming to hunt me. At that time, one of the guards opens the heavy door and goes into the observation room.

[What’s happening over there?]

“It looks like a convoy of trucks. They are probably heading for the main base.”

[You mean for the storage site?]

“Yeah, that.”

[Strange, usually there are no convoys going there. Does it transport cages or water tanks?]

“No, it seems that they are transporting military personnel.”

[This is worrying. I better contact them and see what is happening.]

Crap. This can’t be good. If they contact them they will surely suspect me of being the intruder. Thankfully the guy returned inside and I start running to the wooded part. It shouldn’t be too far from the village and I should be able to get there before they find me.

I quickly get to the woods unseen, and from here I can travel near the road safely. It looks like the convoy has left this area and I continue forward. It doesn’t take me long before I reach the first intersection. There seems to be road signs which guide me in the direction of the village.

It’s already getting dark and I am slowly approaching the village. I hope to get a hot meal and some sleep and then get the hell away from this place. I almost got killed but thankfully I evaded it this time. I got to the village and it seems that nothing has changed there. Days usually stay the same in these rural villages, and not even military intervention can change that.

As I was saying that, I spotted a few soldiers questioning some locals about something.

[Have you seen any suspicious activity lately?], one guard says.

{No, nothing out of the ordinary, why?}, a local answers.

[Nevermind, goodbye.]

{Bye.}

I duck below a car and it seems that the guards didn’t notice me. They continue on their way and go in the other direction. Damn, looks like I need to get some civilian clothes again. I can’t go out in the open dressed as a guard. I continue for the house I am staying at.

As I enter the building, I rush for the stairs and climb to the second floor. I enter my room and lock the door. The first thing I need to do is report to HQ. After that I need to dress up in civilian clothes then leave the village. After reporting to the HQ about my current situation and what was inside the site, I grab a change of clothes and start packing up my stuff.

While I was checking out, I notice two soldiers come in and ask to check the building. The receptionist had to comply, as her job was likely very reliant on her SynthCo overlords. I leave the building and head for my car. The village is swarming with SynthCo soldiers who are going from house to house, looking for me.

While I was opening the door of my car, I hear 3 helicopters fly above. They’ve actually called in the full might of the SynthCo military just to search for me. Is this site really that important?

I get in my car and head out of the village.

----------------------------------------

I am currently waiting at a train station in Carthya for another agent who will deliver the photos and info I took to our government. With that I can finally return back home.

I meet with the agent and hand over intel. Now I am headed to the airport where I will get on a plane going for Volantine, a city in Axcalaan territory, from where I will take a train for Tre Aldor.