The sky above the forest darkened, filled with the thundering roar of engines as several starfighters and gunships descended through the sky.
The base commander... Colonel Lyle, a grizzled veteran stood with a firm grip on his comms device, sweat beading on his brow.
His voice cut through the base from the speakers.
"Attention all units! This is Colonel Lyle! If there are any survivors not at the base, make your way back now. We are initiating our final retreat!"
Orion heard the crackle of the commander's voice, and a wave of relief washed over him.
Yes, He was still alive, still standing, but for how much longer?, While his energy did replenish his stamina a little... it was like an overdraft like food and stamina if you will.
Been full didn't necessarily mean that you never run out of stamina and that reminded him.
{Energy: 69%}
The Chrysalith were relentless, and the remnants of their forces were already prowling the edges of the clearing. Blood and smoke mixed into a sickening haze.
Lowering his sniper rifle, he glanced around at the defenders who were slowly beginning to retreat. Each one bore the marks of exhaustion and their faces were smeared with dirt and streaked with sweat.
He dropped his sniper onto the ground with a heavy thud, the weapon's customary weight suddenly feeling like a terrible burden.
Retrieving his backpack, Orion secured it tightly to his shoulders and he jumped down from the tower.
Survivors stumbled past him, exchanging hurried words. The sounds of laser fire and explosive bursts bellowed through the forest like angry thunder.
Orion found himself moving instinctively with the other guards, the grounded adrenaline propelling him forward even as he navigated through the chaos, eyes trained on the centre of the makeshift base.
A swarm of soldiers hustled, hauling critical supplies and equipment toward the waiting vessels. The gunships were safeguarding their retreat with bursts of cannon fire that splintered trees and obliterated oncoming Chrysalith sporadically foolish enough to charge.
"Fall back! Fall back!" echoed Lyle's orders.
Orion joined the last group making their way toward the gunship, where rapidly spinning propellers came to life, drowning out the cries of the desperate and wounded around him.
"Get on!" called a nearby sergeant, waving frantically as he ushered survivors up the ramp. As each soldier and survivor boarded. The gunship's interior buzzed with the energy of hurried conversations and the sour scent of blood and sweat.
As Orion entered, he could see clusters of soldiers squeezed together, their expressions tight with anxiety. He pushed deeper into the cabin, taking a corner seat by a window to get a clear view of the retreating battle zone.
"Everyone secure?" the crew chief shouted, even as the last stragglers clambered aboard.
"Yes!" came the chorus of voices, and the ramp sealed shut behind them with a metallic clang. The engines roared louder, shaking the metal hull as the crew chief motioned for take-off.
With a bone-rattling jolt, the gunship lifted off, soaring above the battle below.
Orion couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief momentarily glancing back.
It was a fiery ascent. As the ship flew up and away from the battlefield, incoming waves of alien attackers surged upward, their grotesque forms almost a blur against the gunship's hull.
Distant blasts rocked the cabin as two starfighters zipped past, delivering a rain of explosive fire onto the enemy forces pursuing them.
The gunship soared toward the Helix Corp carrier and just as the carrier came into view, the gunship began its descent.
As they swooped lower toward the landing zone, the chaotic sounds of battle began to fade, replaced instead by tension-born silence. They weren't out of danger yet, as he could see several gunships still wheeling in the air, providing cover fire.
With great precision, the gunship landed, its heavy thump reverberating through Orion's bones. Relief mingled with fear in his chest as the ramp jettisoned down, opening into the sterile, yet overwhelming bustle of the Helix Corp carrier.
"Get out! Go! Go!" came the urgent commands from the crew as soldiers piled out into the activity of the carrier. Orion fell into step with them, heart hammering in his chest, and a new tension began to creep in as he felt the oppressive weight of the Helix Corp's strict operations surround him.
Once outside, the first task was simple: identification. Amidst the flurry of personnel, the automated scanners rolled to life, glowing a fierce red as each soldier streamed through, navigating a hurried gauntlet lined with charging officers and technicians.
Orion stepped forward, heart pounding in his ears as the scanner waved over him. A series of binary bleeps echoed in the air, and then... static.
The device whirred and beeped, uncertainty enveloping him like a second skin.
[Identity confirmed. No record found]
The scanner chirped back in its mechanical voice, a cold detachment ironing out any hope.
A small smile appeared on his face for a slight second before it vanished.
The surrounding soldiers glanced at him with suspicious eyes, their expressions shifting from urgency to uncertainty.
"Stand down!" an officer barked, approaching Orion.
"You're not a part of this unit. Drop your weapons!"
Orion on nodded as he raised his right hands and he pulled out his weapon in a none threatening manner, the surrounding soldiers tensed up as they all immediately raised their weapons at him.
"Hey! Hey!! Hey!!! I am surrendering." Orion shouted in an effort to calm the group.
He dropped his assault rifle into the officers' waiting hands.
A tray was brought forward and Orion slowly put his two pistols and his daggers into them.
"Check him," the officer ordered, and an a soldier stepped forward and Orion was pat down.
"Turn around," the officer said sharply, barring his way. Orion complied and before he could think further on his predicament, a pair of guards approached from behind, their heavy boots echoing in the metal corridor.
They seized his arms in a vice grip, guiding him away from the bustling soldiers and officers. "Where are you taking me?" Orion asked.
"To processing. You'll get a chance to explain your situation once we confirm you're not a threat," one guard replied, his voice flat.
Orion felt his stomach twist as the dull metallic doors slid open, revealing the stark white walls and dim lighting of the holding area. They shoved him inside, and he stumbled forward.
The door sealed behind him with a resounding finality, leaving him alone in the sterile cell. "Just my luck," he thought, before dropping down on the bed.