Dangers Under The Village

Karim beckoned the trio over to a makeshift workshop, a space crammed with tools, materials, and disassembled parts of weapons scattered around. He looked up, cleaning his hands on a rag, his eyes piercing through the dim light.

"I've got something for each of you," he said, gesturing toward a table where three uniquely crafted firearms lay.

For Hffyl, there was a sleek, matte black semi-automatic rifle. Its design was slim and compact. "It's the KZ-87," Karim said, handing it to Hffyl. "Customized for accuracy. I've added a suppressor and an advanced scope. Good for close to mid-range engagements."

Liz was handed a submachine gun, more compact than Hffyl's weapon. "This is the RF-92," Karim explained, "Lightweight, rapid-fire, and easy to maneuver in tight spots."

Lastly, Fahim received a powerful looking handgun, its gleaming dark barrel contrasting with a wooden grip. "DH-76," Karim said, "Don't let its size fool you. Packs a punch."

Liz weighed the RF-92 in her hand, appreciating the balance. "Impressive," she admitted, her usual guardedness momentarily overshadowed by genuine admiration.

Fahim, looking down at his weapon, added in Pashto, "Shukran. This will come in handy."

Hffyl, despite his frosty exterior, gave a curt nod of approval. "Good craftsmanship," he commented, running a hand along the KZ-87. "But, what do you want in return?"

Karim, leaning against his workbench, pointed to some schematics pinned to the wall. "Any high-grade metals, tech components, optical lenses... If you come across anything on your trip, bring it back. There's always room for improvement, and every piece counts."

Liz raised an eyebrow, "Planning on starting a factory?"

Karim just smirked. "Just ensuring we have the edge, whatever it takes."

The group dispersed, each taking a moment to familiarize themselves with their new weapons.

As the group approached the entrance of the abandoned village, the visible scars of war were everywhere. Buildings bore the pockmarks of bullet holes, and there was an eerie silence, only broken by the occasional gust of wind that carried with it the whispers of days long past.

Fahim, scanning the surroundings with caution, said, "We should split up, cover more ground. But stay within shouting distance."

Liz, her eyes already scanning one of the dilapidated structures, nodded. "I'll take the east side. Might find something useful."

Hffyl merely grunted in agreement, heading toward what looked like the remnants of a village square.

Liz's footsteps echoed in the empty rooms as she ventured inside one of the larger buildings, which might have been a community hall. Spotting a map on the decaying wall, she carefully peeled it off. It detailed underground water sources and potential hiding spots. It could prove invaluable.

Outside, she also found a cache of old Soviet-era radio equipment. Though covered in dust and appearing non-functional, she remembered something from her training. With a few adjustments and makeshift repairs, she managed to power one up, realizing it still caught frequencies that modern tech might miss. "Could be our backup comms," she muttered to herself.

Hffyl, in the meantime, stumbled upon a buried stash – possibly left by rebels or villagers during the last war. There were canned goods, some still good, and more importantly, boxes of ammunition. As he unearthed them, a begrudging respect for Liz formed. She was resourceful, and her discoveries were practical.

Reconvening at the village center, Fahim pulled out a small artifact, "Look at this." It was an old Soviet army badge, possibly from a uniform. "This place, it's full of history. Also strategic."

Liz displayed the radio and the map. "Found these. The radio works."

Hffyl, merely pointed to his find, the ammunition boxes. "This will help," was all he said.

She caught his brief nod of approval. "Figured we could use a backup communication system. And this map...," she trailed off, pointing at the underground sources.

Fahim, taking a closer look, grinned, "This changes everything. With these resources, we have the advantage."

Liz, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, responded in Pashto, "Zama sara." (On my side.)

Hffyl looked at her, a hint of surprise evident, "You've been practicing?"

With a small smile, she replied, "Always useful to know the local language."

In a more secluded section of the tunnels, Fahim stumbled upon a collection of rusted metal canisters stacked in a corner. The labels had worn off over the years, but the distinct marking of a flame caught his attention.

"Watch out," he warned, moving cautiously towards them. He wiped off the dust from one of the canisters and squinted to read the faded Cyrillic text, murmuring to himself, "Bely fosfor... white phosphorus."

Liz's eyes widened with a mix of dread and recognition. "That's an incendiary. Highly flammable and... extremely dangerous when exposed to air. It can burn right down to the bone."

Hffyl approached, his stoic demeanor unchanged. He gazed at the canisters, processing the weight of their discovery. "It's a weapon," he said flatly. "One that could shift the scales in our favor."

Fahim hesitated, "It's also banned under international law in many contexts. It's inhumane."

Liz looked between the two, the weight of the discovery pressing on her. "He's right," she chimed in, pointing to Fahim. "This stuff... it doesn't just kill. It tortures. Its victims suffer immensely."

Hffyl's cold eyes met hers. "War isn't about kindness. It's about winning."

Liz took a deep breath. "It's also about the choices we make. Using this... it's a line crossed."

Hffyl turned away, silent. For a moment, the only sound was the distant drip of water in the old tunnels. Then he spoke, his voice void of emotion. "Pack it up. We'll decide its use later."

As the canisters were loaded, Liz tried to tread cautiously into the subject. "You know, technically, white phosphorus is legal in certain conditions."

Hffyl, without turning to her, responded, "And those conditions are?"

"Its use in open areas is legal," she began, trying to recall the specifics she had learned. "But dropping it over inhabited places is what's prohibited. Basically, if it's a non-inhabited area, it's allowed."

Hffyl shot her a glance, his steel gaze analyzing her words. "So, as long as we avoid towns and villages..."

Liz nodded, "Essentially, yes. The main concern is the risk to civilians."

Fahim chimed in, "But these regulations... do they even matter here? The AASOC hasn't been following any rulebook."

Liz took a breath, "Regardless of what others do, it's about what choices we make. We're not them."

Hffyl paused, seemingly deep in thought. After a long moment, he spoke, his voice icy, "We use it in open grounds, where there's strategic importance. But not on villages, not on innocents."