The rumble of the approaching airships rattles your chest as you run. You see flashes of heavy gunfire from the sides of the rebel craft as they fly slowly over the clearing. Your platoon is returning fire, but the explosive rounds are impacting harmlessly against the armored hulls. A stream of bullets tear up the ground around you and you stagger forward, falling onto your stomach. Glancing around, you can see at least three other figures down.
A volley of grenades launch out from the edge of the trees, smashing into the nearest airship. It reels backward from the blow, but stays airborne. It moves clear of the barrage, but a second craft moves in immediately, guns blazing. You hear screams from your troopers as the heavy slugs shred through the trees.
"Foxtrot Leader," Shah signals you, obviously gasping for breath, "we have to scatter the platoon! Get everyone under cover and spread out!"
"Do it!" you shout, hauling Amori to his feet and sprinting for the tree line.
You crash through the underbrush, ignoring the snaps of branches above you as the rebels strafe the woods.
Leaning behind a large boulder, you examine your tactical display. The screen is cluttered with random dots, and the symbols of your troopers dance randomly before disappearing. You try to raise Shah on the circuit but hear only static. Above the trees, the rumble of the rebel airships is getting closer.
You glance at Amori. His expression says it all.
The platoon is in trouble.
Next Chapter