The roar of the drop ship lifting off fades quickly into the night sky and you stay motionless as shadows from the thrusters dance across the trees all around you. Your troops are scattered through the underbrush, waiting for the darkness and silence of the forest to descend once again. You use the time to study your tactical forearm display, noting the considerable distance between your platoon and any friendlies. The purpose of this mission is to sow chaos among the rebel forces, and by spreading the Hoplites across a wide landscape you'll hopefully look much larger than you are.
"Ready to move out, sir?" Shah asks from the shadows.
"I have a report of an enemy patrol about a thousand meters, bearing one-four-zero," you reply. "Deploy the squads line abreast and advance down that bearing."
Shah moves off to give instructions.
Amori settles down next to you.
"Ready to go, sir," he whispers. "Just remember to stay low."
"You telling me not to be a hero, Trooper?" you say with a smile.
"Just trying to make my own job easier." His easy grin robs the words of any criticism.
Shah signals to you that the squads are spreading out into your ordered line abreast. You can see the movement on your forearm display and a few faint rustles reach your ears on either side. Your troopers sound like nothing more than the wind, you realize with growing confidence. Over the radio you give the order to advance.
The forest landscape is difficult to move through and progress is slow. You weave your way around trees, trying not to step through too much underbrush, and climb over the occasional exposed rock. Moonlight casts dappled illumination through the tall branches. It's ideal cover for a defensive position, but unfortunately you're on the offense this evening.
"Something ahead," Amori suddenly whispers, placing a hand on your shoulder.
You signal the platoon to hold and look forward to where Amori is indicating. There! Just moving through an open, moonlit patch, you can see an armed patrol. Their weapons and irregular armor reveal them clearly as rebels. One of them pauses, apparently giving instructions to the others. You figure he's the patrol leader. Just as you start to consider your options, a branch snaps in front of you. You freeze. Moments later, you see a pair of armed figures advancing carefully in your general direction. Advance scouts. You send a quick update via your forearm display to the other squads.