Underground Tunnel Network - Beneath Keldrin Pass Facility
Consciousness returned in fragments—not clean awakening but disoriented surfacing through layers of pain and confusion. Amari's first awareness was gravity pressing wrong direction, suggesting he was being carried rather than lying flat. Second awareness: voices above him, unfamiliar cadences, professional tones discussing his injuries with clinical detachment.
"—multiple fractures, dislocated shoulder, severe bruising across torso and lower back. Blood loss moderate but not critical. He'll survive transport if we stabilize the shoulder and—"
"No time for field medicine," different voice interrupted. Male, authoritative, carrying accent that placed speaker from Northern territories. "Order reinforcements are twelve minutes out. We extract now or not at all. He survives the trip or he doesn't—either way we're moving."
"Command specified alive extraction—"
