Marcus refused to slow down until the circular chamber had disappeared completely behind them.
Only then did he raise a clenched fist.
The team halted immediately.
Every operator instinctively turned toward a different direction, establishing overlapping fields of observation inside the narrow drainage tunnel. The confined passage offered little room to maneuver, but years of training had conditioned Atlas to secure every angle regardless of the environment.
Marcus listened.
Nothing.
The frantic clicking of the Collectors had faded into the distance.
For now.
He lowered his rifle slightly before looking toward Cole.
"Status."
Cole checked each member of the team in sequence.
"No injuries."
"Equipment?"
"Everything accounted for."
Marcus nodded once.
The reconnaissance data remained intact.
That mattered more than anything else.
