You regroup your platoon at the edge of the square, ensuring that one squad stays in close defense of the drop ships. There's a lot of chatter on the nets, with most of the platoons now scattered into squads as they secure the Hoplite area of responsibility and start rounding up locals for the vaccine delivery. You don't hear of any more open violence, but the voices of your fellow officers are clearly tense. This is not going to be an easy day.
You wait restlessly for another forty-five minutes as the other platoons conduct the mission, moving with Amori from position to position as your troopers try to cover the perimeter of the square. There are occasional reports of suspicious movements in the streets, but nothing overtly hostile. With the other platoons as spread out as they are, no-one can afford the troops to double back and check every report. And with rebel soldiers blending so easily with civilians, it's possible they're even trying to simply distract your forces as a passive way to disrupt the mission.
Finally, you can't stand it anymore. Another report comes in of a possible squad of soldiers—designated suspect one-zero on the tactical display—shadowing Sanvicente's platoon, and you realize that the location is just a few blocks from your current position in the square. Sergeant Shah is jogging up to you as he continues his rounds between the positions.
"Sergeant," you say, beckoning him closer. "We can hit this rebel group and secure Sanvicente's flank."
He examines his own tactical display, then peers out down the streets.
"I don't know, sir," he says, "it's too easy for them to lay an ambush."