“I’ll be as careful as I can. I want to bring all of my people home, so I have to set the example.”

Fela brought her weapon to bear. Closing her eyes, not quite in prayer, she took a steadying breath.

“Hellfighters!” Fela yelled. “On me! Squad up! Return fire!”

With a hand gesture, she split her command unit. The first team, led by Epyc Ro and Robin bounded forward. The other, led by Fela, provided cover fire. Anitra and Chandra dropped back and disappeared, joining the maneuver line. The HOVA unit were seasoned veterans. They fell into rhythm immediately. Unhurried. Precise. Rapid-fire focus with violent intent. Their weapons brought up the rear along with their platoon’s heavy artillery. They charged along the dirt roads, plumes of dust trailing them like smoke from oil fires.

Some people were born for combat. Attacking in each battle with the same warrior fierceness that they brought to the rest of their lives. Only the skill sets and weapons changed, not the spirit. They had no hesitation in combat even as they had no taste for it. The two forces pinning them collided into one another. Fela moved on instinct, with no real plan after they reached the summit. She only knew that she had to get her people out of the cross fire. Once the HOVA Hellfighters reached the top of the ridge, her brain understood her instinct. The enemy devoured itself, each side taking aim at the other. From her new vantage point, it was clear the HOVA Hellfighters had been caught in the middle of a greater battle. The two militaries might distract each other, provide a long enough window, for the HOVA to exit.

The enemy concentrated their fire on the HOVA mobile platforms, too big of a target for either side to ignore. Destroying the heavy weapons would leave her people defenseless. Anitra and Chandra drove up to her position in a prowler.

“We need to pull back,” Fela ordered.

“Captain?”

“We’re separating. Chandra, transmit to the rest of the squad for them to withdraw to the Hughes and wait for further orders, either from us or the R. The rest of us will see our enemy out the door.”

Fela leapt onto the side of the prowler. Anitra gunned its engines.

“Today’s a good day to have a good day!” Anitra yelled over the staccato rhythms of weapons fire.