06.01 Hours, June 10th, 2187
Grid location: Proxima System, Planet Tethlis, Super Earth Space.
As dawn broke, the smoky haze from the night's artillery fire still clung to the air, making the sun appear blood-red as it edged above the horizon. The ridge, once a strategic high point, now resembled a cratered wasteland. Carlos, caked in dust and grime, surveyed the aftermath with a hard-set jaw, the lines around his eyes deepened by fatigue and resolve.
"Status report!" His voice cut through the crackling of small fires still burning in the debris.
"Sir, third platoon took heavy losses. We're holding, but barely," Sergeant Li reported, her digital pad flickering with casualty numbers and ammo counts.
Carlos nodded grimly, then switched his comm to connect with Jack. "The line's held, but it's a razor's edge. We can't withstand another wave without reinforcements."
Jack's voice came back, tense yet controlled. "Understood. Hold for just another hour. Reinforcements are on route. Make every shot count."
Back at the base, Maria and Elena were a whirlwind of activity. Maria's screens flashed with intercepted enemy communications, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she filtered critical data. Elena orchestrated the logistics, ensuring that the flow of supplies matched the urgency of the needs on the ground.
"We've got another problem," Maria called out across the room. "I've picked up chatter about enemy drones scouting for weak points. Looks like they're not done yet."
Elena didn't miss a beat, her response swift. "I'll redirect some of the anti-air units. We need those drones down before they give the enemy a tactical advantage."
In the med bay, Dr. Susan Lee was the eye of the storm, calm in a sea of chaos. Her team moved with precision, tending to the wounded, their faces a silent testament to the night's horrors. When a critical case was rolled in, she glanced up, met Jack's eyes briefly as he stood in the doorway, and then turned her focus back to her patient. "We're doing our best, Jack, but I need those medical supplies yesterday!"
Jack nodded, his face set. "They're coming, Susan. Hold tight." He stepped back into the corridor, his comm chirping incessantly. He clicked it on to hear the voice of his reinforcements' commander. "We're approaching from the southeast, encountering resistance but pushing through. ETA twenty minutes."
Back on the ridge, Carlos clutched his rifle, eyes scanning for movement. Beside him, his troops readied their remaining weapons, their faces set with a grim determination. The crackle of gunfire had died down to sporadic shots—both sides momentarily exhausted, the calm like the deep breath before a plunge.
Then, the silence broke—a low humming, growing louder. Drones, a swarm of them, crested the hill, cameras and sensors searching.
"Anti-air!" Carlos shouted, pointing upwards. The sky erupted again as missiles sought their targets, streaking through the smoke-filled air with thunderous roars. One by one, the drones spiraled down in flames.
As the reinforcements finally broke through, the weary soldiers on the ridge found a new surge of energy. Led by a fresh battalion, they reformed their lines, their shouts merging into a powerful chorus.
Jack watched the reinforcements merge with the battered units, his heart swelling with a mix of pride and sorrow. He turned to Elena, who had just arrived with the last convoy. "We held the ridge," he said simply.
Elena nodded, her gaze sweeping across the landscape. "Now, we build on it. They'll think twice before coming at us again."
With the immediate threat repelled and reinforcements fortifying the position, Jack's focus shifted. "Let's press this advantage. It's time to go from holding ground to taking it."