"There's a command and control center just down that tunnel," you say, pointing. "But the rebels will already be moving to reinforce it. We'll need to move hard and fast, ready to hit anything coming at us from that tunnel. Then we'll need to hold that position for enough time to download everything."
He does a lightning survey of the scene, then sends a series of orders to his squads.
"I'll lead the main assault, Nubes," he says, raising his rifle. "You guard our flank down that tunnel."
"Yes, sir."
You move out alone, headed for the edge of the hangar. Bullets ping past you and you dive for cover, cursing yourself for carelessness. The hangar might be safer further back, but right here at the leading edge the threat is still real. You reach the last squad of Fourth Platoon on the right flank, and motion for them to follow you forward. You catch a few doubtful glances between them, but they follow. You stay low, darting for cover amid the supplies and wreckage in the hangar, until you can see down the dim, dusty tunnel.
You issue commands via hand signal to the squad and in pairs you advance into the tunnel. You barely make it three steps, though, before you see flashes from the darkness ahead. A bullet pings off your helmet, and you stagger for cover. The trooper beside you stumbles backward, blindly firing her weapon into the darkness as she falls. You collapse down behind some metal crates, firing a few shots down the tunnel. More dust billows in the shadows and you suspect the rebels are getting choked, but the fire continues.
An explosion behind you slams you up against the crates. Through blurry vision you look back and see flames retreating back through the door of the operations room. Karim and his main force have halted several dozen paces away, shooting at unseen enemies from behind cover.
"Five Squad," you hear Karim order, "pull back behind the line."
That's you and your troopers, you realize, and you struggle to rise. A pair of troopers each grab an arm and haul you back to the Terran line. You quickly find your strength again and make it to cover under your own steam. You peek out toward the objective, but you can see nothing but smashed equipment amid the billowing smoke from the rebel operations room. Looks like they destroyed it rather than let it fall into your hands. But you see several rebel soldiers crouching on the ground, hands bound, near Karim. You crawl over to him.
"They knew we were coming," Karim practically spits. "Blew the whole thing. But at least we got some live ones to interrogate."