"Falling back to tertiary position," he reported, his voice carrying the exhaustion he couldn't quite hide. "Eastern sector is compromised. Need reinforcements or we're going to be flanked completely."
"No reinforcements available," Lyra responded, her mental voice tight with frustration. "Every sector is under equivalent pressure. Hold as long as you can, then retreat to settlement core."
Hold as long as you can meant "until you're all dead or incapacitated." Kael'mor understood the unspoken command even as he hated it.
"Understood," he acknowledged, then focused on keeping his warriors alive for another few minutes.
—-------------------------
[WESTERN SECTOR]
The serpentfolk warriors fought with predatory efficiency under their new commander—Vess'thara, who had taken command after Skar's death. Her spear found gaps in human armor with surgical precision.
