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(POV shift: You are Soren Serret, Chief Explorer of Valhalla.)
You check the power readings of your rifle mounted torch. The battery’s starting to run low as you had spent nearly two weeks just wandering the tunnels. After your initial findings, you had not located anything of interest, though you cannot really be blamed for it, there’s just simply too much ground to cover. The tunnel network that criss-crosses the continent-wide plains is mind boggling in size. You had exhausted the most obvious tunnels, those that appeared to be man-made at the very least, but the system as a whole is overwhelmingly naturally formed, though that does come with the downsides of the tunnels being jagged and uneven, sometimes larger than whole factories and on occasion you had to crawl as some were smaller than you had originally expected.
Having gotten stuck more than once, you’d rather not have to chisel your way out using your combat knife again since you couldn’t reach back for your shovel.
Looking around the natural cave you observe the stalactites and stalagmites and the constant dripping of water, indicating that above you, the ceiling must have cracks to allow for water to slowly seep in, give it a few decades or centuries and the ceiling might weaken enough to collapse. For now however, you kick a particularly large stalagmite, your artificial muscles allowing you to put in quite a bit of force and bash away half of it. Brushing away the remaining debris, you made yourself a comfortable-ish seat to sit down to rest.
Quickly, you work on your torches and switch out their batteries and take out your canteen, allowing it to attach to your helmet, allowing for fresh and cool water to flow directly in your mouth.
Suddenly, you pause. The drip drop of water that had allowed for the cavern to take on the shape that it did is the overwhelming and constant noise. However, you think you hear something else. Removing the canteen, you switch to thermal. The cavern is wet and cold, so anything with a body temperature would stand out like a star in the black void.
Slowly reaching for your rifle, you heft it up as you think you can see, something. You’re not quite sure what, but something. Approaching slowly, you try to move around the long stalagmites and the stalactites that are blocking your vision.
You are experienced enough to know that the terrain here is the worst-case scenario for you. Being able to spot and shoot before the enemy sees you is the most favourable engagement for you, so you are taking quite a bit of care on your approach.
The heat source is not moving. Your rifle raised, you switch back to normal vision and see…
“A coat ?” You mutter out loud looking at the torn stained grey from use once white lab coat.
