You dive behind the low rocks of a gully, hearing your troopers crashing down around you. You can hear rebel gunfire in the distance, but for the moment you think you're safe. You do a quick check-in, noting that two of your troopers are injured from bullets that managed to shatter armor plates. Adrenaline is coursing through you, but even through it you know that you've sustained internal injuries. Nothing's going to stop you, though, and you quickly formulate a plan.
"We'll move to flank," you gasp, "and try to locate the prisoner again before they move him. If we can, we'll make another rescue attempt." You glance up at the sky, knowing that there's really only one way out of here now. "But we need air evac standing by."
"I'll get that lined up," the squad leader responds, immediately speaking into her radio.
You wait another minute, letting everyone catch their breath, then give the order to move out.
You see a drop ship high overhead, then another one low against the line of mountains extending south. It's good to know you're not alone, but distant drop ships aren't much help when your squad is so exposed on the ground. You pick up the pace.
You barely have time to register the movement from behind a rock to your left, and the flash of gunfire, before something hits you in the head. You stagger, your vision swirling until something hard smashes up against your side and everything fades to blackness. You can still hear the faint sounds of gunfire and shouting, but they seem to come and go. You wonder if you're just dreaming everything, especially the weird feeling at your side, like whatever hit you is now running down your body like sandpaper. You feel a pinch against your neck, then flutter your eyes open and squint at the glare. A figure is hunched over you.
Amori is staring down at you, a medikit in his hand.
"Sir, good to see you in one piece," he says. "We need to move."
You look around, realizing that you're lying on the ground and there are troopers everywhere, at least a platoon's worth. You can hear a few distant gunshots, but people are moving with the calm efficiency of an Astral unit in control of the situation. A drop ship is behind you, ramp lowered as casualties are helped aboard.
"Can you walk?" Amori asks, already hooking his arms under yours and pulling you to your feet. Your vision sways and he drapes one of your arms over his shoulders before guiding you carefully up the ramp.
"What happened?" you manage to ask.
"You got shot in the head, but the helmet took most of the damage," he says. "Honestly, do I have to guard you every second?"
You know he's joking, but you can't muster a smile.
"Did everyone escape?" You really can't make sense of the chaotic images in your head.
"Yeah," he responds, "everybody made it. And with you unconscious I was able to use your rifle."
You spot Karim bringing the last of the troops on board, and he gives you a friendly nod before heading to the cockpit.
"Where are we going?" You realize that Amori has strapped you into a seat in the main compartment and is next to you.
"Colonel's pulled us out of the rebel base—Fleet's going to bombard it from orbit."
"So, we're heading home?"
"Yes, sir."
You nod, already feeling your eyes droop. You relax, though, knowing that the battle is over. For now.
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