Separation

Lee cast a lingering glance at Liv as she stormed off. "I'm going after her," he said, "someone needs to keep an eye on her."

Hffyl nodded in agreement, a sense of understanding finally breaking through the tension. "Yeah, that might be for the best."

Captain Walker's Alpha Squad exchanged looks of confusion. "So, what? Are we getting kicked out now?" one of them asked, uncertainty clear in his voice.

Hffyl's face softened a bit, and he shook his head. "No, you're not being kicked out. We've got a common enemy, and frankly, you're not safe here either. They're hunting us all."

A hushed conversation broke out among the Alpha Squad members, a mix of relief and newfound uncertainty.

One of the Alpha Squad members scratched his head, "Fair point. So, you're not just being nice, are you?"

Hffyl raised an eyebrow, "Who, us? Nice? Nah, we're just pragmatic. Plus, Liv never said she's leaving for good. She's coming back, and we'll have more time for our 'spirited' debate."

A crew member from MV Sirena piped up, "I think kid just likes having someone to argue with."

Hffyl chuckled, "You might be onto something there."

Lee glanced at her own squad and then back at Hffyl, "Alright, we're not wasting any more time. We'll find the Juliet Squad and get them back safe."

Hffyl murmured, rubbing his tired eyes. "While that, we need to get to Maqbara of Sayyid. There's something there."

Farid nodded, his face a mask of determination. "Not too far from Helmand River, eh? We'll make it. But, we need to be careful."

Hffyl glanced at Karim, "You said you learned something about electronic jamming in Russia?"

Karim, leaning back, nodded. "Yes, might be able to mess with their drones a bit, but it's not foolproof. Especially with the kind of tech they probably have."

"Anything helps," Hffyl replied.

From the corner, Mei Ling chimed in, "We might have some equipment on the MV Sirena that could boost Karim's jamming capabilities. I'll need to check with Mikhail."

"Good. Let's use everything we've got," Hffyl said. "Meanwhile, Rizal, I want you and a few others to stay here and get ready for our next move. We'll need a solid plan to take back Zarabad."

Rizal raised an eyebrow, "You seriously thinking of taking on that city? With all their tech? AC 130s? Jets?"

Hffyl locked eyes with Rizal, "Yes. We need to send a message. We won't be pushed around."

Farid grunted, "Zarabad is a death trap. They're too well-equipped. We'd need a miracle."

Jalaluddin Khyberi, overhearing the conversation, interjected, "Or a new strategy. They might have advanced weaponry, but we have the home ground advantage. They are outsiders here."

Hffyl turned to him, "Precisely. We use that. They don't know this land like the PAF do. We hit them where they least expect, use the element of surprise."

Murni spoke up, "We'll need more med supplies. If we're going head-to-head with AASOC."

Kadir, ever the opportunist, smirked, "I can work on getting us some software distractions, maybe give their tech a little hiccup."

Hffyl nodded appreciatively, "Good. Everyone has a part to play."

Hamzah chimed in, a glint in his eyes, "I say we give them a taste of their own medicine. Guerrilla tactics, hit and run. Disorient them."

Dollah, munching on some snacks, mumbled, "Make them wish they never set foot here."

___________________

Under the cover of darkness, the four men moved with caution towards Lashkar Gah, a city bustling with activity even at night. The faint sounds of distant chatter, clinking tea cups, and the evening call to prayer added to the liveliness of the atmosphere.

Hffyl peered through his advanced scope, scanning the distant skyline, "Place looks alive tonight."

"Yeah," Asif grunted, adjusting his night vision goggles, "almost too alive, if you ask me."

Farid whispered, nudging his RF-92, "Better safe than sorry, eh?"

Arash shot Hffyl a sly look, pointing to the white phosphorus grenades strapped to his belt. "You expecting to throw a light show or something?"

Hffyl chuckled, "You never know. We might end up at a wedding procession. Just making sure we're the best lit."

Suddenly, the distant rumble of an engine broke their lighthearted banter. All of them instinctively hunkered down. Arash reached for his electronic jammer, ever ready, "That for us?"

Asif shook his head, "Doubt it. But better to stick to the side streets. No need for unwanted attention."

Farid chimed in, "Exactly. We're tourists, remember? Just here to check out the Maqbara."

Hffyl murmured, checking his handheld GPS, "A few turns and we should be close."

The group weaved through the city's alleyways, taking in the scents of street food, the distant hum of prayers, and the cacophony of barter and trade.

As they neared an older part of town, Hffyl signaled for them to slow down. They paused behind an ornate archway, its carvings a testament to the city's rich history.

Glancing at Asif, Hffyl said, "We split up here. Two of us check out the Maqbara from the front, the rest from the back. We're just curious tourists, remember?"

Asif looked around, "Alright, let's make it quick. Don't want to miss dinner."

Farid's stomach rumbled in agreement, "Couldn't have said it better myself."

They shared a quick nod.

The ancient city of Lashkar Gah stood timeless, bearing the weight of its history and its significance. The tales of trade, culture, and human experiences whispered through its alleyways.

As the group approached Maqbara of Sayyid, they couldn't help but admire the intricate carvings and mosaic patterns adorning the structure. For all its beauty, it was a quiet place, often overlooked in favor of the more grandiose sites.

As they meandered through the main hall, Arash pointed to the calligraphy on the walls, "You see that? It's repeating, but not consistently."

Hffyl squinted at the wall, "You mean that pattern? Looks regular to me."

Asif pulled out a compact lantern from his backpack. "Let's see if light makes a difference. My grandfather used to say that some truths only emerge in the right light." Shining the lantern's light at a specific angle, certain letters started to shimmer differently.

Farid whispered, eyes wide, "Look at that. The light, it's revealing something different."

The four huddled together, trying to decipher the illuminated letters. "We need to rearrange these," murmured Arash.

Asif, thinking hard, finally muttered, "It says 'Seek beneath the guardian's shadow'. What's that supposed to mean?"

Glancing around, Asif pointed towards the courtyard where an ancient statue of a lion stood tall, "There! The guardian!"

The sun began its descent, painting the sky with hues of gold and crimson. As the last rays hit the lion, its shadow began to elongate and point.

Hffyl rubbed his chin, "We need to wait for the right moment."

The minutes seemed to stretch on, but finally, the shadow pointed towards a seemingly regular spot on the Maqbara's grounds. But to a keen observer, the earth looked slightly raised and uneven.

Farid cautiously approached, "There's something here." He began to dust away the loose soil, revealing a camouflaged hatch.

"If this isn't straight out of an old tale," Arash muttered, his excitement palpable.

Asif cautioned, "Slowly. We don't know what's beneath."

With a collective nod, Hffyl and Farid carefully opened the hatch, revealing a narrow staircase leading to the dark abyss below.

Hffyl whispered, "Looks like we're going deeper into history, eh?"

Arash smirked, "Let's hope we find the answers to break that loop, and not just more puzzles."

As they began their descent, the secrets that lay beneath the city pressed upon them.