The first glimmers of sunlight define the deep shadows of the forest as you and your troopers make your way over the landscape. Every so often you check your forearm display for connectivity, but the area jamming continues to isolate you. The distant whine of strike fighters indicates that the Astral Force is still in the area, but you know how wide a region the Hoplites were deployed over, and you don't consider it likely that you'll bump into any friendlies.
Another half hour passes before you see the forest thinning ahead. You slow your squad's advance, peering through the gray light at the quiet village. There are perhaps two dozen buildings, most of them three-story residences with commercial space on the ground floor. You see one larger structure that you guess is a warehouse, and several smaller buildings. On the far side of the village you see the open space of agricultural fields. A single road passes through the center of the cluster of buildings.
You watch from the forest's edge for five minutes, seeing no movement. By civilian standards it's still night time, but you suspect that any farmers in this village will be up with the sun. If you're going to enter the village unseen, you'd better do it quickly.