You glance at the embers of sunset, then back at the rebel sentries. No-one seems to be equipped with night-vision or infra-red, so darkness will be your friend.
"Give it a few more minutes for the light to fade," you say, "then we climb down here."
Amori nods, his eyes expertly scanning the rocky slope beneath you.
The minutes pass slowly, but you've learned the virtue of patience and you're in no rush. Finally, when the last of the color has faded to black, you activate your night-vision and carefully move out over the edge. Each movement of hand and foot is deliberate as you slowly descend. The occasional scrape against rock indicates Amori keeping pace with you. It's slow, careful work, but you both make it down to the valley floor without incident.
The shadows are deep, and through your night-vision you can see three rebel soldiers standing guard at the middle cave entrance. They're alert, but you can see them exchanging words in what looks like a casual conversation. You're too far away to hear them, and there's no sound except the breeze. No-one is visible at the entrance to the nearest cave. You hand-signal Amori to advance with you toward the opening.
Your boots crunch softly over the hard ground, but the three sentries don't seem to notice you. You feel awfully exposed, though, and you're eager to get into the cave and under cover. You watch the soldiers for any sign of noticing you, darting through the opening. You look forward at the long, open tunnel before you. There appears to be red glow ahead, but what are those flickers? Suddenly, you see movement to your left, as four figures leap away from the walls.
"Intruders!" you hear.
You raise your rifle to fire, but it's knocked aside by the rebel soldier who charges you. His armored fist slams down on your forearms, numbing your hands. Then something hard hits you from behind and you stagger, sudden darkness closing in even through your night-vision. You barely register as your body hits the ground.
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