Ethan and Malek stood beside the trembling survivor, Derek, absorbing the weight of the situation. Raeth was using the prisoners as bait, expecting them to follow, a twisted game that left them at a disadvantage.
"Ethan, we can't just walk into a trap," Malek said, scanning the rocky ravine for signs of Syndicate activity. "We need to think strategically."
Ethan nodded, feeling the urgency pulse through him. "We can't allow Raeth to anticipate our moves. Here's the plan: we split up."
Malek's brows furrowed. "Split up? That's risky."
"Trust me," Ethan replied, voice steady. "We need to create false trails. If we can lead them away from the prisoners, we might buy enough time for them to escape."
Derek shifted nervously. "How do we do that?"
Ethan pointed to a cluster of boulders nearby. "We can set small traps and distractions, noise makers, loose rocks. Anything to draw them off our scent. I'll take the higher ground and work down the ravine while you two create disturbances at the base. Iris can help us identify the best spots."
"Iris, highlight terrain anomalies," Ethan instructed, focusing on his helmet display as the AI processed the surroundings.
"Detected several unstable rock formations along the path," Iris replied, her voice calm and analytical. "They could be triggered to create noise or block passage."
"Perfect," Ethan said, mentally mapping their escape route. "Malek, you and Derek focus on the base area. I'll move up the ridge. Once I create my diversions, I'll signal for you to move."
Malek hesitated, clearly weighing the risks. "If something goes wrong-"
"It won't," Ethan interrupted, locking eyes with him. "We're not going to outgun Raeth. We'll outsmart him. Let's do this."
With a shared nod of determination, they split up, moving quickly and quietly through the rocky terrain. Ethan's heart raced as he ascended the slope, eyes scanning for the right spots to implement his guerilla tactics.
As he reached a higher vantage point, he began to strategize. He positioned a series of small rocks to trigger a cascading noise when disturbed, carefully calculated to echo throughout the ravine. With each small trap set, Ethan felt the tension in his muscles ease slightly.
Once he had completed the traps, Ethan crouched low, scanning the area for any signs of Syndicate forces. He had a view of the ravine and the valley below, where Malek and Derek were likely preparing their own distractions.
After a moment, he raised a small device to signal them. A series of quick blips sent a clear message: distractions were ready.
Below, Malek and Derek began their own diversions, knocking over rocks and sending boulders rolling down the slope, creating a cacophony that echoed through the ravine. Ethan watched as the sounds drew attention, dark figures moving like shadows in the fading light.
As night fell, Ethan made his way back down to find a temporary hiding spot in an abandoned structure. A long-forgotten outpost half-buried in the sands. Its crumbling walls provided just enough cover to conceal them from prying eyes.
Inside, they gathered in a circle, the glow of Ethan's helmet casting faint light over their faces. Derek was visibly shaken, but Malek seemed more at ease now that they had managed to evade immediate danger.
"Ethan, what's the next move?" Malek asked, his brow furrowed in thought.
Ethan spread out a map he had recovered during their earlier mission. "We need to find Raeth's base. It's likely underground, but I need to assess how heavily fortified it is."
Derek shuffled forward, a spark of urgency igniting in his eyes. "I might know something. When I was with the team, we discovered some coordinates... something Raeth mentioned about a facility not far from here."
"What do you mean coordinates?" Ethan asked, leaning in.
Derek pulled a small metal plate from his pocket, the surface etched with faint markings. "I was going to use this as leverage. It indicates an entrance to Raeth's underground facility."
Ethan took the plate, examining the coordinates closely. "This is it. We're close, but it's heavily fortified. We'll need to be careful."
Malek crossed his arms, skepticism creeping back into his voice. "How do we get past their defenses?"
Ethan looked at Derek, then back at Malek. "We use the terrain to our advantage again. If we can find a way to approach without being seen, we might be able to disable their security systems before entering."
"Sounds risky," Malek muttered, though his resolve was visibly strengthening.
"Every mission has risks," Ethan replied firmly, looking each of them in the eye. "But we're not just going to play Raeth's game. We'll out think him and save the prisoners. We can't let fear dictate our choices."
With a deep breath, Ethan rolled up the map and secured the plate in his gear. They had a plan, but the night was still young, and Raeth's forces would not rest.
"Let's move," Ethan commanded, determination surging through him.
As they stepped out of the abandoned structure, ready to face the darkness ahead, Ethan felt the weight of their mission settle on his shoulders. They were entering a game of wits against a ruthless opponent, and he was determined to turn the tide.