(A Few Hours Later, Planet Satoru, Caleb's POV)
A few hours later, on Planet Satoru, the atmosphere that Caleb noticed upon landing back from the battle was something that he knew he would never forget for the rest of his life, as while a few soldiers celebrated the successful campaign against the enemy, most others moved through the landing zones in silence, searching desperately for familiar faces that had not returned.
The contrast struck him immediately, because celebration and mourning existed side by side without blending, as cheers rose from one corner of the base while, only a few steps away, men stood frozen in place staring at docking logs, hoping that a missing ship would somehow still appear.
Among the officers, especially those holding rank at the Lieutenant level, the mood leaned heavily toward quiet dissatisfaction, as almost none of them seemed truly pleased with the outcome of the battle despite the victory that had been claimed in orbit.
