Chapter 5: The Calm Before the Storm
The days after the battle were quieter, but no less tense. The base hummed with activity, soldiers and technicians working around the clock to repair the mechs and treat the wounded. Carter was no stranger to the post-battle exhaustion that settled over everyone, but there was something different in the air this time. It wasn't just the usual sense of dread hanging over them. It was something more personal.
Carter found himself waking up earlier than usual, his thoughts consumed by the faces of the recruits—their fear, their doubt, and their determination. He had always been a soldier, always been in the thick of the fight. But now, as an instructor, he had to carry the burden of not only protecting his own life but the lives of the young soldiers he was responsible for.
Sierra was one of those soldiers. He had seen the cracks in her resolve, the fragility she tried so hard to hide behind the walls of her tough exterior. It was easy to forget how young she was when you saw her in the cockpit, wielding her mech like a seasoned fighter. But outside of it, she was still just a girl who had lost everything, struggling to find her place in a war she hadn't chosen.
Carter stepped into the training room, where several of the recruits were already gathered, practicing with their weapons and going over tactical plans. His eyes immediately sought Sierra. She was standing off to the side, watching the others spar with a level of detachment that was unlike her usual intense focus. Her eyes were distant, her expression unreadable.
He approached her quietly, not wanting to startle her. "Sierra," he said, his voice calm but firm. She turned to him, her gaze sharp.
"Do you need something, sir?" she asked, her tone colder than usual. Carter didn't let it bother him. He knew how she coped with the pressure—by shutting people out.
"I just wanted to check in. You've been quieter than usual." He paused, watching her closely. "Are you alright?"
Sierra didn't respond immediately. She just stared at him for a moment, her jaw tightening. Then, without warning, she dropped her gaze and walked toward one of the training stations, her footsteps heavy on the metal floor.
"Are we going to sit here and talk all day, or are you going to show me how to improve my aim?" she asked, her voice edged with frustration. There was something else in her eyes, though—a weariness that betrayed her tough words.
Carter followed her, crossing his arms. "You know, Sierra," he said, his voice gentler this time, "this isn't just about the fight. You can't bottle everything up inside. You're not the only one who's lost someone."
For a moment, she didn't answer. Then she scoffed, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. "You think I don't know that? You're not the only one who's been through hell, Carter."
He didn't respond right away. Instead, he watched her carefully, noting the tension in her posture. She was pushing back again, retreating into that wall she had built between them. But he wasn't going to back down.
"I'm not trying to make you relive it," Carter said quietly. "But I know what it feels like. The guilt. The anger. The confusion. And trust me, trying to keep it all inside doesn't help. You need to talk. With someone."
Sierra's eyes flickered with something, but she quickly masked it with a curt nod. "I'll talk when I'm ready. Right now, I just need to focus on training. Let's get to work."
Carter hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, but don't think I'm giving up on you. When you're ready, I'll be here."
The next few hours were spent in intense drills. The recruits practiced their maneuvers, firing at targets with laser precision. The clang of weapons and the whir of training mechs filled the air, but even in the midst of the chaos, Carter could feel the shift. The recruits were pushing themselves harder now, fighting not just for their own survival, but for each other.
Sierra was no different. Her shots were sharp, her movements fluid. But Carter noticed something—a hesitation when she was asked to lead a formation. It was subtle, but it was there. She was afraid. Not of the behemoths, but of the responsibility that came with being a leader. And maybe, just maybe, of letting someone else down.
But Carter saw potential in her. It wasn't just her raw skill; it was the way she carried herself under pressure, the way she refused to quit. If she could learn to trust herself, to lead with confidence, she would be unstoppable.
After the drills, Carter called the recruits together for a debrief. The conversation was focused on tactics and lessons learned, but his attention kept drifting toward Sierra. He could see her, standing off to the side again, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She was lost in thought, her eyes distant.
"Alright," Carter said, his voice cutting through the chatter. "We've got a new assignment coming down the line. A small group of behemoths has been detected near a civilian settlement. We'll be moving out in twenty-four hours. I expect everyone to be ready."
The room went silent. Carter saw Sierra's jaw tighten, her eyes flashing with the same determination that had carried her through the last battle. But he also saw something else—something that worried him. She wasn't ready to face this next challenge. Not yet.
He wasn't sure what to do. Part of him wanted to pull her aside and talk, but he knew that wasn't the way to reach her. She needed to figure this out on her own.
Later that night, Carter stood alone on the balcony overlooking the base. The stars above were dimmed by the constant cloud cover, but the city below still flickered with life. He thought about the mission ahead—another behemoth strike, another battle where lives would be lost. It was hard to escape the crushing weight of that reality.
But then he heard footsteps behind him. He didn't have to turn to know it was Sierra.
"Carter," she said quietly, her voice softer than it had been all day. "I... I think I'm ready."
He turned to face her, his heart beating faster than it should have. She was standing a few feet away, her posture more open than it had been in weeks. There was still a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, but it was accompanied by something else—resolve.
"I'm ready for the mission," she continued, her voice steady. "I don't know if I'll ever be as good as you, but I'm ready to try."
Carter smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile. "You'll do fine, Sierra. Just remember—lead from the front, and keep your team together. That's how we win."
For the first time, he saw a spark of confidence in her eyes. It was small, barely noticeable, but it was there.
"I'll do my best," she said, her voice steady, her shoulders squared.
He nodded, his expression softening. "That's all I ask."
As she walked away, Carter couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. She was finally beginning to embrace what it meant to be a soldier. And as for him, well, he was finally starting to see that perhaps, just perhaps, this war wasn't about survival alone. It was about finding purpose, about building something worth fighting for.