upted by the sound of footsteps echoing in the tunnels

er. The initial shots sounded, bouncing off the walls. In the midst

houted, his voice ri

alked right into something much bigger than he realized. Elias was confronted with a life or d

ine of fire. He grabbed the civilian, hau

are you doing?

ias said. "We do not ab

tually they got out with the civilian in to

d. "If that bothers you, 

alpable. Elias realized he had crossed a line and it w

rise. Gunfire erupted from the surrounding hills and pinned

aura yelled, pulli

but he held his teeth tigh

His determination motivated the others, but it also revealed his humanity." He wasn't

arm. Laura walked over holding an old envelope. "You've bee

from a comrade who didn't return. He had been putting

e said softl

. It was a sign of his unfinished business

nxiety as the team sat around the table. Because their last miss

ustration palpable. "It's kind of li

Elias responded evenly. "Do

ra intervened. "Enough. We're all on edge,

. What was once unshakeable trust now felt tenuous. Elias knew that they

d to bridge the gap, taking each of them aside

was taken aback when an old friend reached out to him

ames said when they spoke in a quiet ba

hared. James being there gave a measure of comfort, it was

e planted in their offices, probably for spying. They were h

Someone's been giving information to the enemy. Until we kn

tension to their already delicate position. Every

hangover of the recent mission that had come a cropper hung over everyone like the bad taste left in the mout

?" Sergeant Martinez wal

et's tak

a shaded spot by the supply tents. Martinez

at's happened, they're asking

me them. We walked into a

rtinez said with resolve.

simple. The bonds they had built were fraying, and morale was plummeti

all fire. The flames flickered over their faces, il

an. "We have lost friends, and we have made mistakes. But we're still st

s far to just walk away, you know? We were brought here

ger soldiers, broke the long si

as said. "Because that's wha

s grip. The bonds that had fra