"Dying won't bring her back."
"Enough Mongrel, what is going on above us?"
"Back to the mission, guess I got too greedy, expecting ya to talk to me. Huh the Druin evacuated from the outpost here." said Mongrel.
"So? A few civilian Druin will not stop us from taking off."
"Not just civilians, Druin soldiers as well as gunners and Elites, anyone who survived. We would be shot down. There are many bidents among and tridents up above, enough to blow our ship up"
"Gunners and Elites ran from the battlefield. They normally kill themselves rather than retreat." Said Seth.
"Not this time it appears"
"How can we leave then?"
"Either we sneak out and kill the heavy hitters or we call for backup and wait for an extraction while the Druin try to get in."
"How likely are they to see the signal?"
"Guaranteed, the Druin's bidents and tridents will pick up a signal that close to them no matter what frequency we use."
"So, we can only really do the first option. Why did you even give me an option?"
"because ya body needs proper rest before another fight. Option two lets the beta team and I fight while you rest."
"I was resting in the chamber,"
"Seth, don't lie to me, ya know how exhausted ya body is."
"I'll be okay, the first option will be faster and makes sure Maria, and the beta team are safe."
"NO. Ya can't fight in ya current condition it would only be death waiting for ya up there. Sleep first or I'll tell Maria, and she will make the choice for ya and we both know what she will pick"
"That is low man." Seth said looking at Mongrel, steadfast in his way he was not moving, and he meant what he said. Even if Maria acted mostly in a medic capacity during missions she ranked the same as Seth and was in charge of operations and when Seth was out of commission or putting she could make the final decision.
"Fine, but only one hour."
Mongrel stared into his eyes, unwaveringly holding Seth's gaze.
"That will do" he said before moving out of Seth's way.
...
'How did I get so lucky to be surrounded by people who care so much for me, you must have pulled some strings up there my dear' Seth said to himself after he slumped down behind the door in his room.
He always knew his dearly departed wife was looking out for him, how else did he always survive even when he didn't want to.
'Guess you don't want me joining you just yet' he said to himself.
He made his way from the floor over to his bed. In the nook behind the bed was a photo of his late wife illuminated by the nook's light source. He mumbled to himself, to her. He always did this every night; it got him through the tough times. It was his only time with his wife even if she could not respond and her body wasn't there it comforted him.
...
Knocking from his door woke Seth, his eyes heavy, he wanted to sleep more.
"Man, ya got to get up, I would like to let ya rest more but things have changed."
"What has happened Mongrel?"
"Better Maria explains it."
"Okay I'll talk to Maria. Just give me a minute to get dressed and ready"
"ya don't have time just get dressed"
"I need to prep my weapons"
"I have already checked and prepped ya weapons, they are all cleaned, reloaded, knives and sword sharpened. So just get ya ass dressed and over to Maria"
Seth jumped up from his bed and got dressed as fast as he could. On the way out while he was still putting on his armour, he stopped and put his hand on his shoulder "Thank you Mongrel."
"Yea, yea I know I am the best." Mongrel said smiling.
...
"Maria, what is happening?" said Seth when he reached the control room, the beta crew was running to and fro around Maria.
"Mongrel, what took you so long to get here?"
"I came as fast as I could, blame sleeping beauty here."
"Whatever. Stay for this, you will need to hear it too."
"Yes, Ma am."
"All the soldiers from the outpost have been evacuating to the oasis above us. Over the period of invasion on the outpost, more and more Druin soldiers and civilians have been congregating above our location."
"Can we still get off world?" asked Seth.
"Maybe, but we will have to act fast."
"Why? The Druin will not stay in the oasis for long, it is too close to the outpost, and it is an extermination project. The humans will chase down the Druin soon." said Seth.
"Yes, this is an extermination class mission, thus they will kill all Druin on the planet, but for the oasis looks like they are going to bomb it," said Maria
"But we are under the oasis."
"Yes, hence the problem." said Maria.
"Do they not know of our position?"
"Only the high command, General Maple and above know of our precise location."
"If General Maple knows of our location, he won't bomb here."
"No Seth, they will bomb here even if ya are under it," Said Mongrel.
"I am starting to believe the Druin evacuating above us wasn't a mistake either." added Maria.
"Fucking, human life faction, the General must be a part of it" Seth added.
"Seems that way Seth." said Maria.
"Fuck they would take down the whole ship of humans to kill me."
"Ya and me brother. They don't consider me a full human anyway." said Mongrel.
"We can still get off world. I just need to send a signal up before us and I'll make sure it reaches everyone on the general frequency." said Maria.
"What if they block communication frequencies in the area?" Said Seth.
"I'll send a message alongside the general frequency that cannot be missed." replied Maria.
"But that doesn't solve the Druin on top of us." Seth replied
"The Druin will see ya signal as well, won't they Maria."
"Yes, they will, before we break out of the ground."
"Seth, I am sorry to ask you this when you should be resting but you will need to go out there and take out any Druin above a soldier class, before I give the signal."
"How long will I have on the surface Maria?"
"Five minutes. I cannot risk any longer."
"Fine, but five minutes is too short on the surface. Mongrel is with me, get Beta Team to cover the turrets when we break ground."
"Finally, some action" said Mongrel with a smile.
"Move quickly and take out any one with a spear that is class 2 and above."
Mongrel and Seth looked at each other and shared a vicious smile before going off to arm themselves, Mongrel with his guns and Seth with his full arsenal. Seth was tired and wanted to get off this rock but would not pass up a chance to kill some more Druin, this is what he was born for, made for.
Seth and Mongrel regrouped in the light well before the stairs to above. Maria was waiting for them. "Be careful out there, and don't die on me, it would look bad on my record." Maria said with a smile.
"You cannot get rid of me that easily," said Seth.
"Hey, I am here too," said Mongrel.
"Oh, yea you are. If you die Seth, I'll send Mongrel along after you to keep you company."
"Hey, why ya gotta go and kill me."
"Get going. I'll send that message in exactly five minutes when you reach the surface."
Seth and Mongrel made their way up the stairs, walking away from the cool atmosphere into the heat of the planet. The thudding of metal on souls rang out with each step, and like drums signalling war they followed the pair.
"How ya wanna do it?"
"Any Druin with a spear with more than one point has to die."
"Isn't that the Elite's and Gunners the most heavily armoured fanatics that would kill themselves to stop the enemy?"
"Yes, they are Mongrel, and we have to kill them all".