As we turned every stone, opened every crate and searched every building, we came to realise that the town was pretty much deserted. It's like their voices still echoed through the stone walls. Maybe it was just my head being messed with. Have we scared them off? Are they all dead? Did they flee into the desert or to get backup? If that was the case, it would take them days to get back even with cars or bikes.

Yun and Rafe were picking up some supplies from the intact crates until we finally heard some ruffling from one of the buildings. Drawing our weapons out at unison, Rafe spared us a glance before kicking the door open.

“No! Please, please, I’m begging you!” we were met with a heavy south asian accent as the huge room revealed a skinny rugged up man. He didn't try to shoot us, in fact, he didn't have any weapons nearby so he just stared at us with scared eyes and hands raised in defence.

“Who are you?!” Alejandro yelled at him taking a few steps forward. The arab just stuttered some words in his native language and I could see our teammate getting more and more frustrated.

“Hands where I can see them! To your knees! Now!” Pearl intervined and Yun joined Alejandro.

“He doesn't speak English, Ranger.”

“He spoke English a minute ago!” the man replied annoyed.

“That's the only English he knows idiot! Can't you see he's pissed his pants twenty times by now?!” Yun stood her ground making Alejandro scoff loudly. After his attitude finally died down and his guard softened, he lowered his weapon without losing sight of the hostage.

“Dooo youuu understand whaaat I’m sayiiing?” Pearl tried to talk to the man but he just nodded in confusion.

“Where did your friends go?” I spoke up slowly hoping that he would understand. To my surprise he pointed to the door and tried to get up but was met with steel barrels closer to his head, making him back away.

“Slowly.” I stated from under my mask opening the door with one of my hands while maintaining a firm grip on my rifle. He got up and began walking just as I commanded, hands still in the air.

“...Caucasus...” was the only word he repeatedly said alongside other Arabic sentences. I looked at him and then eyed my squad as they lowered their weapons and frowned.

“We ain't getting anything out of him this way.” Pearl spoke facts as his concern grew.

“Should we take him to base and make him talk? Someone there will know Arabic.” Rafe suggested and thoughts invaded my vision. What if this man has some kind of locating device we don't know about? He doesn't look like his fellow terrorists that we encountered throughout the city. More like he's been held hostage this entire time.

“Negative,” I finally spoke “We set up camp on the outskirts of the city and contact Luke. Yun, tell him that we need Maya Navarro here as quick as possible.” multiple sets of eyes were set on me at this point as I pondered my decision.

“But captain, we would be out in the open without any air exfil. An operation like this would take at least two days-” she replied concerned but I interrupted.

“Less. Less than 2 days. We can send word to the base and the division in Barcelona. This way, Luke would only travel to Barcelona and pick Maya up as another pilot already dropped her off there.”

“And how do you think the commander will react to your plan, hm? Considering the fact that our only assigned translator has died?”

“In that case, we shall send back Match in order to be buried properly. What choice have we got, Yun?” I tried to maintain my composure despite her stubbornness.

“Roger” she replied after a long stare.