Meanwhile, in a wacky corner of the winter war, back in early December 2404 when Hazel was still hopelessly lost in the Altai maze before christmas,
Mei and her squad were deep behind enemy lines, infiltrating General Sima’s base in the South Altai Gulag. they are one best of wanderers and some mercenary who brazen enough to that
“Alright, team,” Mei whispered, her breath puffing out like a dragon in the frosty air. The tension in the air was palpable, a stark reminder of the chaos unfolding outside the walls of General Sima’s base. “I’ve neutralized the armory guards, so we now have access to explosives! This could turn the tide in the ongoing conflict. Next stop, the watchtowers!”
Kirk, a man with short silver hair, shot her a conspiratorial wink. “Seduction tactics again, Mei? You’re not planning to charm the guards with your dazzling smile, are you?”
“Hey, you know me too well,” she replied with a playful smirk, her mind already racing with mischievous possibilities.
As they moved stealthily through the shadows, the distant sounds of gunfire echoed, a grim reminder of the stakes at play. The Red Nation's forces were advancing, and every second counted. Mei felt the weight of responsibility on her shoulders; their success could shift the balance of power in the Altai region.
After planting explosives with the precision of a master chef icing a cake, they shared a silent high-five. But their victory was short-lived when Red Army soldiers appeared, suspicion etched on their faces
“What are you doing here?” one barked, crossing his arms like a bouncer at a club.
“Uh, we’re just here to inspect the sentry,” Kirk stammered, trying to sound convincing but failing spectacularly.
“Yeah? So why are you here when you’re not supposed to?” the soldier shot back,
Just as the situation was about to spiral into chaos, Vance a man with brown hair, their unseen ally, emerged from the shadows like a ninja in a bad action movie. With a swift motion, he shot the guard with a silenced pistol. “Thanks me later. Now let’s clean this mess up,” he said coolly, these trio are the CAD team , a wanderer operators,
Kirk and Mei exchanged relieved glances as they followed Vance to General Sima’s office. “He’s probably hiding in the mine. Only high-ranking officials and authorized guards can access it,” Vance explained,
Mei nodded, her mind churning. “We can use the explosives at the watchtower as cover for our infiltration. Set them off just after we enter.”
“Yeah, but they’ll be on high alert once we do that,” Vance cautioned, eyes narrowing
Kirk’s eyes widened in realization. “Wait, are you saying we’re sacrificing ourselves for this assassination?”
“Let’s find a better way, then,” Vance suggested, scratching his head.
Taking a deep breath, Mei began to devise another plan. “Kirk, you’re a pretty boy, right?”
Kirk blushed. “Why are you asking me?”
“Your looks might charm the guards,” she said with a smirk.
“You want me to seduce the guard?” he replied incredulously, his face turning as red as a tomato.
Vance raised an eyebrow. “How do you know they’re not straight, Mei?”
With a confident grin, Mei pulled out her lipstick and began to apply it, transforming herself into a distraction. “Watch me.”
Vance and Kirk exchanged looks, both impressed and slightly bewildered. As Mei approached the guards, they were too captivated by her charm to notice the imminent danger.
“Okay, that’s our cue,” Vance whispered. He and Kirk swiftly scaled the fence while Mei kept the guards occupied, her charm working like magic.
Once over the fence, they regrouped, the tension palpable. “That was awesome! You actually succeeded at seducing a guard,” Kirk said, admiration in his voice.
“I know,” Mei replied, her smirk returning,
As they navigated the mine’s labyrinthine corridors, Vance activated his AI sensor. “-30°C temperatures, biting winds, barbed wire fences, and armed guards patrolling every thirty minutes. We need to split up to cover more ground and find Sima’s office.”
As they exchanged determined nods, the air crackled with tension. The ancient prisoner building was their best bet for locating General Sima,. The True Horde tank division was looming, and they needed to move fast!
“What happens after we find Sima?” Kirk asked, trying to keep his voice steady,
“Capture or kill,” Vance replied casually, raising an eyebrow. “What? You got a crush on him or something?”
Kirk felt his irritation bubble. “No! I’m just a professional! Capturing him alive is easier to interrogate than a corpse!”
“True, but capturing him won’t be a walk in the park. We’re outnumbered,” Vance cautioned, “Let’s save the capture strategy for when we know his location.”
As they navigated the maze of mine tunnels, s. The flickering lights cast eerie shadows, and every creak sounded like a ghost whispering
Suddenly, they spotted scientists huddled around a bizarre machine, their lab coats stark against the drab surroundings. Curiosity tugged at Kirk and Mei, but they knew better than to poke the bear.
“Look, we’re running out of time. We need to head towards the ancient prisoner building,” Kirk urged, his voice a mix of urgency and excitement.
“Right! Let’s secure Sima first!” Vance agreed, and as they approached the building, they noticed two guards stationed at the entrance, with a camera perched above
“How do we take down the guards without being seen by that camera?” Kirk pondered, scratching his head.
“What if I distract them? The camera is too high to see me,” Vance suggested, his eyes narrowing with determination.
“Go for it!” Kirk replied, trusting Vance’s
Vance sauntered toward the guards, a casual air about him as he pretended to be lost. “Hey, fellas, I forgot something. Can you help me out?”
The guards exchanged skeptical glances but seemed willing to oblige. Kirk watched, heart racing, as Vance led the guards away from the camera’s view.
Then, with a sudden yelp, Vance clutched his leg dramatically. “Arrgh! My leg is cramping! Help me!” He collapsed to the ground, putting on an impressive act worthy of an Oscar.
Kirk couldn’t help but smile at the cleverness of the ruse. The guards rushed to Vance’s side, genuine concern etched on their faces.
“Thanks, and sorry about this... hey, look! Stalin’s ghost behind you!” Vance shouted, springing into action and tasing both guards before they could react.
As they crumpled to the ground, Kirk nodded in awe. “That’s a damn cool move, Vance. You can stop with the ghost stories now.”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s hide these bodies,” Vance chuckled, quickly dragging the guards out of sight. He then took aim at the camera, silencing it with a well-placed shot.
With the camera disabled, a sense of relief washed over them. However, the reinforced steel door loomed ahead,
“This door looks tough. We might have to do this the hard way,” Kirk said, eyeing the obstacle like it owed him money.
Vance raised an eyebrow. “How?”
“Blasting it open would be the easiest way, but we need explosives,” Kirk replied, glancing around for any tools.
“Maybe there’s a mechanism to open it? A manual override?” Vance suggested, examining the area
“Good idea. But I don’t see any keys or cards on the guards,” Kirk said, peering at the door’s fortified exterior.
Just then, Vance noticed a faint glow coming from the door handle. “Look! There’s a keycard reader on the knob.”
Kirk’s eyes widened. “Great. Let’s brute force it or find a keycard that’ll work.”
“Honestly, I’ve never encountered something like this before,” Vance admitted, scratching his head.
“Me neither. We don’t have much time before the True Horde arrives,” Kirk urged, glancing at his watch like it was a ticking time bomb.
“Let’s try this: you and Mei act as guards, and I’ll find someone to help. Play it cool,” Vance instructed.
Kirk and Mei nodded, preparing themselves for the ruse. “Just make sure to bluff if you can’t open the door,” Kirk said. “We’ll have your back.”
Vance disappeared deeper into the mine, and about ten minutes later, he returned with a portly officer, visibly tipsy. “Here, man! Can you open it? General Sima needs to take a piss!” Vance exclaimed, barely containing his laughter.
Kirk and Mei snickered at the sight of the drunken officer. “Well played, Vance. Let’s see if he’s dumb enough to open the door for us,” Kirk whispered.
The officer stumbled forward, fumbling with the keycard reader as he tried to unlock the door. “Uh, how do we open this?” he mumbled, clearly out of his depth.
“Never mind. Where’s a higher officer nearby?” Vance probed, shaking the officer gently.
The officer mumbled incoherently, his drunkenness evident. “I dunno, man…”
“Looks like he’s useless,” Kirk said, rolling his eyes.
With a swift motion, Vance punched the officer, knocking him out cold. “I’ll disguise myself as him and head deeper into the mine.”
Kirk and Mei exchanged glances, impressed by Vance’s quick thinking. “Good plan. Just don’t get caught,” Kirk warned as Vance donned the officer’s clothes.
Stolen novel; please report.
Once Vance was disguised, he ventured further into the mine, where he encountered a lab-coated technician. “How is the project down there?” Vance inquired, feigning authority.
The technician was taken aback. “Uh, the project is going well, sir. The power cell generation has increased, and the new plasma gun is about to be mass-produced.”
“Sounds cool. Why is General Sima producing it in a remote area like this?” Vance asked, maintaining his cover.
The technician shrugged, oblivious to the deception. “It’s less visible and more secure from infiltration.”
“Got it. Where’s the engineer’s quarters? We need to fix a door issue,” Vance pressed.
The technician pointed down the corridor. “Over there, sir. They handle all technical problems.”
“Thanks,” Vance said, striding toward the engineer’s building. Once inside, he found a middle-aged engineer buried in paperwork.
“Officer, what’s the issue?” the engineer asked, looking up with curiosity.
“Can’t open a door both from inside and outside,” Vance stated, trying to sound authoritative.
“Really? That’s strange,” the engineer replied, intrigued. “You might need a specific keycard.”
“Look, I’m a soldier, not an engineer. Just go check it out,” Vance insisted, trying to maintain control of the situation.
“Of course, sir. I’ll gather my team,” the engineer said, a hint of confusion in his voice.
Together, they walked back to the door. The engineer inspected it closely, noting the malfunctioning keycard reader. “It’s stuck, possibly due to a faulty reader.”
“Can you open it?” Vance asked, the urgency in his voice palpable.
The engineer nodded, pulling out various tools. As he tested different keycards, Kirk and Mei waited nervously, eyes darting between the engineer and the door.
Finally, the engineer found a working keycard, and with a satisfying click, the door swung open. “The original keycard must be faulty,” he said, handing the spare keycard to Vance.
“Thank you, and God bless you,” Vance said, tapping the engineer’s shoulder with genuine gratitude.
The engineer nodded, relieved that his superior was kind. As he began to fix the keycard reader, Vance turned to Kirk and Mei. “Alright, let’s go find Sima.”
With their path now clear, the trio stepped into the unknown, ready to confront whatever awaited them in the depths of the mine.
Vance ventured deeper into the mine, Kirk trailing closely while Mei covered their six. The further they pushed into the darkness, the more the light seemed to dwindle, transforming the walls into shadowy figures. Vance navigated cautiously through the dimly lit passageways, his instincts heightened.
“Look at this iron bar,” he remarked, running his fingers over the cool, solid metal. “A relic from the Soviet era, and still not rusty. Impressive.”
He scanned the long, identical hallways flanked by doors that could belong to any military barracks. There were no signs to indicate General Sima’s office, and Vance felt the weight of uncertainty press on him. “We’re going to get lost easily in here. Alright, let’s keep moving.”
To avoid confusion, Vance marked the wall with his dagger as they walked, leaving a trail to follow. After several minutes of navigating the maze, they reached another intersection of hallways, each one branching off into the unknown.
“It’s been ten minutes already,” Vance noted, glancing at his watch. “We should split up. It’ll be faster this way.”
Kirk nodded in agreement, and Vance decided to go alone, relying on his agility and stealth. Mei stayed with Kirk, the cautious duo ready to tackle the oppressive darkness together.
“Who in their right mind would choose this place for an office?” Vance muttered, frustration creeping into his voice as he pushed further into the gloom.
As he explored, a dim light flickered from a cell at the end of the hallway. Drawing his gun, he approached cautiously. Inside, a figure slumped in the corner, clad in the stark white of a prisoner's uniform. Their eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Vance.
“Who are you?” Vance demanded, his voice low and tense. “A prisoner?”
“Yes… I’m a prisoner. Who are you?” the figure replied, fear lacing their voice.
“I’m going to kill Sima,” Vance said bluntly.
The figure's fear intensified, and he pressed himself against the corner of the cell, trembling. “Please… don’t hurt me!”
The figure hesitated, panic evident in his demeanor. “I… I’m just a prisoner. I don’t know why you want to kill General Sima.”
“It’s my mission to end this war,” Vance replied, his tone unyielding.
“I understand,” the figure said, his voice shaky. “I can’t stop you from killing him, but I beg you to spare my life.”
“Why are you locked in here?” Vance asked, intrigued despite himself.
Taking a deep breath, the figure seemed to accept his fate. “I’m a prisoner of war. I was part of the Red Nation, captured on the battlefield. They haven’t tortured me, but I’ve been locked in this cell for some time now.”
“Bullshit. You must be some sort of high rank. What’s your name?” Vance pressed, skepticism in his voice.
“I might be high-ranking, but I’ve been stripped of my rank and equipment. My name is Sima Yijin,” the figure snapped, irritation seeping through his fear.
“Are you a deserter? Related to General Sima, perhaps? Like… twins?” Vance probed.
Sima Yijin froze at the mention of twins. “Yes… I’m the identical twin brother of General Sima. But how do you know about our relation?”
“Your damn name,” Vance replied, his tone flat.
Sima Yijin’s eyes narrowed, tension rising. “Yes, I’m Sima Yijin. But do you actually believe I’m his twin?”
“Not sure… anyway. Do you know where he is right now?” Vance shot back.
Surprised by the sudden question, Sima Yijin hesitated. “Yes… General Sima is currently in that office.” He pointed down the hallway.
Vance turned and moved toward the indicated office, his heart racing. But as he reached the door, two armored guards suddenly opened fire. He barely ducked in time, bullets ricocheting off the walls around him.
“Damn!” Vance grunted, scrambling for cover. The guards were heavily armed, and he needed a plan.
Vance pulled out a stun grenade and hurled it toward the guards. The explosive detonated with a deafening bang, dazing them momentarily. He took advantage of the chaos, but his bullets ricocheted off the guards’ armor, doing little to stop them.
“Vance,” he heard Kirk’s voice crackle over the comms. “Where are you?”
“I think I found the general’s location, but I’m pinned down by guards. Get over here now. I’m in the west area, just follow my marks on the wall!”
Kirk and Mei moved quickly, and within minutes, they arrived at Vance’s location.
“Get down!” Vance shouted as Kirk and Mei ducked, knowing they were in danger. The guards, still stunned, were an intimidating sight, their heavy armor glinting ominously in the dim light.
Kirk and Mei exchanged glances, assessing the guards’ movements. They needed to act quickly; time was not on their side.
Spotting a small gap between the guards as they shifted, Kirk signaled to Mei. They rushed in from opposite sides, catching the guards off guard and forcing them into a melee.
Vance watched, eager to join the fray, but the close quarters made it difficult to take a clean shot. Kirk and Mei were fast and agile, keeping the guards on their toes.
“Fuck! What should I do?” Vance muttered, trying to find an opening. Just then, Kirk managed to kick one guard’s weapon toward Vance.
“Grab it!” Kirk yelled as the weapon flew into Vance's reach.
Vance snatched the assault rifle and shouted, “Mei, Kirk, duck now!”
They immediately obeyed, dropping to the ground just as Vance squeezed the trigger. Bullets tore through the air, striking the guard and sending him crashing to the floor.
“Good job! Now, to the general,” Vance said, adrenaline pumping through him.
The office door loomed just ahead. “Let's breach it. I’ll throw a stun grenade, then we go in,” Vance instructed.
Kirk nodded, pulling out his stun grenade as they approached the door. “Ready.”
“Three… two… one!” Vance flung the door open and Kirk tossed in the grenade. A loud bang echoed as they charged inside, but what they found sent a chill down their spines.
General Sima lay lifeless on the floor, blood pooling beneath him. A gun rested beside his hand, and the tragic scene was all too clear.
“Did he die before we got here?” Kirk asked, his voice heavy with concern.
Vance knelt beside the body, examining the scene. “Perhaps. He must have heard the guards firing.”
The warmth of General Sima's body still lingered, a grim reminder of his final moments. There were no signs of struggle; it was evident this was a suicide.
“Well, at least our mission is complete,” Vance said, his voice low. “We made sure he didn’t escape before our army arrived.”
Kirk nodded, his expression somber. “It’s sad that General Sima chose to end his life. No one should feel that desperate.”
Mei stood silently, the weight of the moment settling over them like a heavy shroud. The mission had been successful, but the cost was far greater than they had anticipated.
“Alright, how about we check out that weird machine down in the mine?” Vance suggested, his curiosity piqued.
Kirk and Mei exchanged hesitant glances. They had already completed their primary objective, but the lure of uncovering something valuable was hard to resist.
“It might be worth a try,” Kirk replied cautiously. “That machine could be something unusual, and we don’t want to miss out on any opportunities.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard rumors it might produce some kind of weapon,” Vance added, excitement creeping into his voice. “Let’s go!”
The trio moved carefully through the dimly lit corridors, keeping their eyes peeled for any lurking guards. Mei scanned the doorways with a practiced eye, her footsteps light and silent, while Kirk brought up the rear, his senses on high alert.
As they neared the exit from the prison area to the mine complex, a violent explosion rocked the foundation, sending shockwaves through the air.
“Whoa!” Kirk shouted, losing his balance as the ground shook beneath them. The explosion had triggered a mini-earthquake, destabilizing the already precarious structure of the base.
“Damn! My ears are ringing! What kind of ammo are they using?” Vance grimaced, pressing a hand to his ear, pain radiating through him.
“Sounds like something pretty powerful,” Kirk replied, concern etching his features. “Maybe a special weapon that produces shockwaves.”
They continued on until they reached the exit, only to find their path blocked by a massive landslide caused by the explosion.
“Great. We can’t use this exit,” Kirk muttered, studying the rubble. “We need to find another way out.”
“Damn it. Let’s go deeper into the mine and hope there’s another exit,” Vance said, leading the way. Kirk and Mei followed, anxiety gnawing at them. This mine was their only chance for escape.
As they delved further, they noticed a group of guards and workers gathered in a nearby building.
“Let’s blend in,” Vance whispered. “They don’t know we’re part of the True Horde yet.”
Kirk and Mei hesitated, glancing at each other. Blending in was risky, but they realized the guards and workers were still unaware of the attack on their base. They followed Vance into the crowd, trying to look inconspicuous.
“Road is blocked, and we’ve lost contact with outside,” a worker said, worry evident in his voice.
“The base has been overrun by the enemy,” a soldier added grimly.
“We have to find a way to contact our command and get help,” the worker replied, a hint of desperation creeping into his tone.
Listening to the conversation, Kirk felt a surge of hope. If the guards were planning to contact their command for surrender, it might provide a way for them to escape without raising suspicion.
“Is there really only one way out?” Vance asked, feigning concern.
“Yeah, the main route is blocked. We’re trapped here,” the soldier admitted, frustration tightening his features.
Kirk’s heart sank. They needed to escape, and the last thing they wanted was to be trapped here with the guards. “Is there no other exit route?” he pressed.
Vance, sensing the tension rising, asked the crowd, “Do you have any tools to dig our way out?”
The guards and workers exchanged wary glances, suspicion creeping into their expressions as they slowly approached Vance.
“What? This used to be a mine, right?” Vance continued, trying to maintain his composure.
The guards didn’t respond immediately, and the atmosphere grew thick with unease as they surrounded Vance, Kirk, and Mei.
“Hey, do we have a new weapon?” Vance blurted out, hoping to deflect their suspicion.
The mention of a new weapon caused the crowd to tense further, with guards shifting uncomfortably.
“Alright, do you all want to survive or not? Brace yourselves!” Vance declared, causing the crowd to stop in their tracks, confused.
“Good. Now take a deep breath—out! We need to work calmly to survive,” he instructed, his voice steady.
Vance then pointed to a man in a lab coat. “Can our new weapon blast through the blockage?”
The lab-coated man hesitated before responding, “The new weapon definitely has that power. It can blast through pretty much any obstacle.”
“Good. Then let’s work together to blast our way out,” Vance urged.
The lab coat man turned to the others, his authority rising. “Everyone, take your positions! We’re blasting our way out of here!”
Kirk and Mei were assigned to help the blast team, feeling relieved that they wouldn’t have to resort to violence. They gathered supplies nearby to sustain the workers and guards while they prepared for the blast.
As the device was wheeled into position, the lab-coat man explained, “This device is a prototype, but it needs some configuration before it can fire.”
Kirk and Mei sensed the intensity in the air as everyone worked to set up the device. Anticipation hung heavy as they waited for the blast, hoping it would clear their escape route.
With a sudden roar, debris and stones flew as the device detonated, filling the tunnels with chaos. Dust swirled around them, and the blocked passage partially cleared, revealing a narrow opening.
But just as hope surged, the machine sputtered and came to a halt.
“Damn! It’s burned out,” the lab coat man sighed. “We need to fix it. This will take a while.”
Kirk and Mei exchanged frustrated glances. The machine had failed them just when they needed it most.
“While the workers fix the machine, let’s gather food and water nearby,” Vance suggested, trying to keep spirits up despite the setback.
Reluctantly, Kirk and Mei followed Vance’s lead, knowing they needed to prepare for whatever lay ahead. They began searching for supplies, hoping to gather enough to sustain the workers and guards during the delay.
As Vance worked, he found himself thinking of Sima’s twin, still locked away in his cell. Returning to the prison area, he approached the somber figure. “Hello again. Your brother is dead.”
Sima Yijin remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor. A muscle twitched in his jaw. He got what he deserved, a bitter voice whispered in his mind. But another, quieter voice countered, He was still my brother. It was a reaction Vance hadn’t anticipated; he expected some flicker of emotion,
“Do you want to be free?” Vance asked, trying to provoke a response.
Still, Sima Yijin said nothing, his gaze unwavering. Vance’s patience wore thin. “Yes or no?”
The silence stretched uncomfortably. Vance sensed that Sima was lost in thought, trapped in his own mind.
“Alright, goodbye, I guess…” Vance muttered, walking away as Sima remained silent.
Rejoining Kirk and Mei, Vance checked his radio, frowning as he realized it was still too deep to get a signal. “We’re too deep to use the radio,” he said, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
Hours passed, and just as hope began to wane, the machine roared back to life once more. Light flickered as it began firing again, but after only a few meters, it sputtered and stopped again.
“Damn it!” Vance exclaimed, exasperation rising. “We’re going to be stuck here forever!”
The machine’s repeated failures were testing everyone’s patience. Kirk and Mei exchanged glances,
Kirk and Mei exchanged glances, disbelief etched on their faces as they watched the machine sputter and fail once more. Each attempt to repair it seemed to only exacerbate their frustration. The device barely managed to clear a few meters before it stalled again, leaving them feeling helpless.
“Alright, everyone, good job so far. Let’s take a break,” Vance announced, glancing at the weary workers around him.
The lab-coated man and the other workers nodded, grateful for the chance to rest. The repair process had proven to be far more arduous than anyone had anticipated, and fatigue was beginning to set in for everyone, including Kirk and Mei.
“So, what’s the issue?” Vance asked, looking over at the lab coat man as they settled down. “Is the machine overheating?”
The lab coat man and his team began inspecting the machine, murmuring amongst themselves. “Yeah, it’s getting too hot, which triggers the shut-off mechanism,” he explained. “The heat is just too intense.”
“I see,” Vance said, scratching his head. “I’m no tech expert, but I know that with the Vickers machine gun, they literally put water in the barrels to prevent overheating. Maybe we could try something similar?”
The lab coat man’s eyes lit up with understanding. “That makes sense! We can attach a water hose to keep it cool. With a steady flow of water, we can avoid overheating.”
“Can you do that?” Vance asked.
“Absolutely. It’s doable!” the lab coat man replied, quickly rallying the workers to find a hose. Within moments, they had it connected, and the lab coat man confidently restarted the machine. To everyone’s relief, it roared back to life.
“Well, it feels great to help,” Vance said, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.
The machine hummed steadily now, blasting rocks and debris from the tunnel, inching their escape closer.
After some hours of hard work, they finally emerged from the mine, breathing in the fresh air for the first time in what felt like ages. Kirk and Mei stepped outside, relief flooding through them as they took in the midday sun, their faces breaking into smiles.
“Yay!” they cheered, but their jubilation quickly faded as they took in the devastation surrounding the base.
“What happened here?” Kirk murmured, his heart sinking. The base lay in ruins, signs of a catastrophic battle evident everywhere.
As they surveyed the destruction, they spotted the wreckage and bodies of both Red Army soldiers and True Horde fighters scattered across the ground. The carnage shocked them, a grim reminder of the battle that had unfolded.
“This place looks like a war zone,” Mei said, her voice tinged with disbelief. “What could have caused this?”
Vance grasped his radio, attempting to contact HQ. “Command, this is Vance. The enemy’s Strato Cannon hit the base when we took it. The entire tank division is annihilated.”
After a pause, the voice on the other end replied, “Copy that, Command. But we found General Sima dead. We request extraction.”
“Roger that. Your extraction point will be in Yagil,” came the response.
Vance frowned, glancing at Kirk and Mei. “But that’s over 40 kilometers away! Just send a helicopter!”
Silence hung heavily after his plea, leaving Vance feeling increasingly anxious. It seemed the command had bigger problems to handle, and his request for immediate extraction had been ignored.
“Alright, orders received. Out,” Vance said, turning to Kirk and Mei, who were still processing the devastation around them.
Kirk and Mei stood in shock, their faces pale as they took in the destruction. They realized how perilous their situation had become, trapped deep behind enemy lines with no clear way out.
As they stood in silence, the workers who had emerged from the mine began surveying the wreckage, their expressions a mix of horror and disbelief at the scene before them.
After a long, tense moment, Vance broke the silence. “Alright, guys. Let’s gather supplies. We’re walking to Yagil. It’s about 40 kilometers west from here.”
Kirk and Mei exchanged nervous glances. The long trek ahead felt daunting, but they knew there was no other choice. They quickly agreed to Vance’s plan, starting to gather whatever supplies they could find.
Before they left, Vance decided to check on Sima Yijin again. He retraced his steps back to the prison area, pulled out his gun, and shot the lock off the cell door.
“Thanks me later,” he quipped as he opened it.
Sima Yijin was still sitting in the corner, his expression unchanged. “What took you so long?” he asked, his tone flat.
“Follow me,” Vance said, leading him out of the cell and toward the supply storage area. Sima Yijin fell in step behind him, silent but compliant.
As they reached the storage area, Vance greeted the workers and lab-coated man, who were busy organizing supplies. After a brief farewell, Vance, Kirk, Mei, and Sima Yijin set off into the harsh winter steppe, the biting cold wind whipping around them.