"Lieutenant, give me a SITREP on what's happening out there."
"Copy, uh… We're fine here, OPSEC is being maintained. Anything wrong?"
"Simon reported in; he and Malkovich found another group of dead travelers. We're possibly looking some of the people we pissed of by attacking the camp not long ago"
"Any survivors? This can't be good."
"No. Get to our position ASAP. Don't want you and the precious cargo to get stuck in a firefight."
Sand, dirt, and water were bathed in the sunlight. The godlike rays were blocked by long weathered walls and vegetation, yet it was the same no matter where one could go in the frontier. From the sensations of heat and cold blanketing the vast swathes of fields, forests, and deserts in the late days of the fall and the beginning of winter, such things would always remain a constant and would last forever more within memory.
Warmth flooded from a small crack in the roof above. The light coated three people sitting on the ground, two waiting, one now waking up from the sudden disturbance. The other two watched as the final person scrunch his face, the pulling sensation in his eyes eventually forced him to tug them open as he took in his new environment. His brown eyes darted around the room the three sat in, what looked to be ruined furniture and a cluttered floor was coated in a light layer of dust, while vegetation had grown through the roof where the sunlight had once entered.
Apprehension covered his tired eyes. It was almost as If he were waiting for a moment to clear his mind and tell what occupied his mind, yet his attempt faded, his mouth closing before he even had a chance to open it, and with a look of concern being wiped from his face, he settled against the wall he had formerly slept on not two hours ago.
"I hope you don't mind me not waking you up, Mike." Patterson said in a low voice. "You almost coughed up a lung last night, so we had to call it a day before we got any further. Besides, you look like shit, you could use some sleep."
The sergeant chuckled a little at the kind expression the Lieutenant he was so familiar with wore. "Lecca here was worried shitless about you." Patterson mentioned gaining a sudden glare from the princess in question, "Don't go dying on us yet, don't want you to see Green anytime soon."
Mentioning the now-deceased Private First Class's name made Mike's heart sting lightly. His once newfound teammate's voice was already beginning to fade in his mind as the beautiful world around him tried to drown out his voice with the myriad of songs it had.
"Seems like the captain and others came across another patrol." Patterson droned on as he recounted the discussion, he had no two minutes earlier over the radio. "We've walked around thirty-two miles and we keep coming across more of these groups." Before he could finish his thoughts, a light tremor shook the ground shaking dust from the scattered items around the room. "We should keep our eyes peeled." He said standing from the ground grabbing his rifle.
Following the junior officer's lead, Lecca assisted Mike as they both rose from the ground in a hunched position.
"We need to check around before we make the link up." Patterson said in the kneeling position as he looked over his shoulder. "Grab your gear, we need to go."
Grabbing the weapon slinged over his chest, Mike held it in the low-ready as Patterson took point with Lecca in the center wielding a small dagger, she had manifested with her nullification magic.
"Team two, how far are you from the building?" Walking out into a small hallway, the three slowly walked around loose objects on the ground ranging from wooden boxes to shards of glass as Patterson spoke in a hushed voice over the radio.
Mike looked upon the weathered stone bricks pillars that were lined against the wooden walls within the building. No matter where he looked, pockets of dust and vegetation were to be seen everywhere as the distorted voice of Staff Sergeant Baker played over the radio. "We're not far out. Less than quarter klick, you guys found something?"
"Could be something that the light tremor caused, we'll check it out." Patterson said as he and the other two rounded a corner coming across a destroyed door with only the lower half being open.
"We'll run a pass by the entrances, then secure the southwest exit. Two-Six out."
With Patterson lowering his head and passing first, Lecca and Mike followed as they passed through what looked to be a large, destroyed foyer or entrance. Mike looked around curiously as he moved with the two to a set of wooden doors, their boots making clear audible noises on the dust-covered wood.
Attempting to open the door but then finding that it was jammed, Patterson withdrew his knife as he broke of the hinge making a decently loud noise. "Though here." He said opening the door aware of his surroundings as he let Lecca pass through first with the sergeant following behind at a slow pace. Disturbing a small flock of birds that had landed for the previous night, birds similar to that of Ravens flew up in a spiral pattern through a large dome window in the roof where a large piece had been broken off due to the elements and age.
"Still trying to figure out if this was some school or governmental building." Mike said in a pained voice as he struggled to move around the cluttered desks, chairs, and wooden cabinets that had formed a large pile in the center of the room.
"Yeah-yeah. C'mon it's clear." Patterson said slightly disinterested.
Further walking throughout the building, now stepping on red-velvet carpets that had chunks of rock, dust, and wood scattered about, the sergeant ignored the searing pain in his chest as they descended a small flight of stairs and through a set of double doors which led to a cafeteria styled room with large wooden table strung about.
"Suppose we don't have time for chow?" Patterson joked as they passed through swiftly.
"Don't think you would want to eat anything out here." Mike responded cheerfully. "If we ever find a true diner, I'll treat you to some meatloaf and a few beers."
Passing through several more halls and what appeared to be a small shopping mall, the three checked their surrounding thoroughly as they passed through the large foyers that spanned the large complex, they took shelter in.
"Team one, we'll meet you at RP Rose, get over here quick." Baker said over the radio making their footsteps grow louder as they sped walk to the exit.