The officers switched on their weapon-mounted flashlights and descended the narrow staircase one by one. The steps led into a long, reinforced concrete tunnel that cut directly beneath the forest floor. The air down here was damp and heavy, and thick electrical cables ran along the ceiling, siphoning power from an unknown source.
They followed the subterranean passage for nearly fifty yards, moving quietly to avoid detection. The tunnel gradually sloped upward, finally terminating at a massive, modern security door made of reinforced steel. The digital keypad next to the handle was flashing green, indicating it had just been unlocked.
From the other side of the heavy steel door, the officers heard the distinct sound of a diesel engine revving, accompanied by the metallic clatter of heavy storage crates being loaded into a vehicle. The suspect was actively escaping through a hidden exit point. The captain signaled his team, and on the count of three, they threw their weight against the door.