The battle quickly turned to a firefight, whistling rounds from both sides, missing or hitting their targets. As time continued, more and more shots came out, more bullets attempting to hit us while on the ground. The Shaksha tore through foliage, ripping through it, unsure whether i hit anyone or nothing.
A small ball flew towards us from the leaves, detonating in a bright light. In an instant, i felt nails slam onto parts of my body, not feeling as much pain, i continued firing. Squeezing the trigger as tightly as possible, quickly reloading to stay in the fight. The others continued firing, a myriad of gunshots with some sounding more quiet to some very loud, i couldn't hear much now than the gunfire.
A hand raised up from the front of our position, signaling to stop.
Silence returned, the enemy either gone or dead.
I get up from the ground, feeling more weight on my legs, feeling difficulty in standing up.
"Everyone ok?" Stephen asked.
Some fell down immediately after standing, struggling as well.
"Fuck...My fucking legs, feels like thousands of glass shards just pierce em." Lennox ranted.
Pain slowly set in, just like Lennox, feels like thousands of tiny needles just became embedded in my arms. Looking at it, there was nothing but blood, blood covering the fabric accompanied by numerous holes from small to the size of a finger. But none on my chest, head, among other parts near to my torso
"Least the armor saved our other parts." Thalia Affirmed.
"We gotta radio command back. Where's Sebastian?" Stephen questioned. We looked around, shortly, Alina started running forward, kneeling to look down.
"Found him." Rushing towards him, we made a circle around Sebastian. He wasn't moving, just facing upwards to the sky with weapon in hand.
Alina started checking his body, removing his helmet and checking it.
"Ok.....Ok...." Alina sighed in deep relief.
"He's just unconscious." She continued.
"Well, Stephen's the new leader now." Marcel added.
"Alright," Stephen, checking his arms and legs started talking, "I'll take recon, you guys stay a few meters behind me. I'll try to get a channel to talk to command. Wait, Alina is the comms in Sebastian's helmet still working?"
"No, looking inside it's off at the moment. Guess it shuts off when it's user is gone or knocked out."
"Ok then, I'll see if i can patch a connection with command, hope some of those drones are still alive."
Alina puts back the helmet onto Sebastian, resting one of his arms on her shoulder, she tries to lift him up, to carry him.
"Alright, i got a channel with command, they're bringing in a medical transport here. It'll take time though, and were here to complete the mission fast, the drones will still help us so we gotta keep moving. Marcel, carry Sebastian by the shoulders, Alina lift him up by the knees. Then take position in the middle of the line." Stephen ordered.
The two lifted Sebastian up by the legs and shoulders. Carrying him above the ground.
"Ok, everyone got wounds on their arms and legs as well?" We all respond in acknowledgement to Stephen.
"Alright, were all wounded, but Sebastian is knocked out, we need to complete the mission even in our state. Can you all hold up?" Again, we respond in yeses.
"Good, once this mission is done, we can head back, come on."
We formed up into a line once again, with Marcel and Alina carrying Sebastian in the middle.
Even with the pain, we gotta move forward, i held onto my rifle, gripping it with the still constant pain on my arms and hands.