Pressure of Time
Disclaimer: All Media herein written is fictional and is not associated with the United States, its government affiliates, or employees. That said this story contains crude language, violence, and descriptive gore scenes. This is my first story, and I hope it's something different but not to over the edge. Please read at your own Discretion!
The Zodiac class boat skipped across the raging water. The storm above snapped and howled lightning and wind. Marcus Taikosha held on to the mooring line tight as a death grip. His SNAP- team of Special Narcotics Assault Personnel- outfit was on the way to intercept drug trafficking in the Gulf of Mexico. Their uniforms and body armor weren't standard issue, but specially made for each member and for their job. Matte black with the subtle dark orange United States Coast Guard displayed across their backs; what would be considered light armor in other branches of the military, was the heavy for SNAP teams. Full faced helmets with standard infantry class 4 Bullet Proof Vests; they were ready for what Intel said would be an intense fight.
Marcus ducked his head as a wave smashed across the boat the hiss of water spraying up turning into a fine frothy mist. He could see the dim lights shone harshly through the whipping rain and wind on the horizon. His team was faring well, he hated water but none of it mattered when it came time to do his job. Leopard, Vixen, Wolf and a Human made up his team.
He felt singled out, now that he thought about it, but that was pushed away; he needed to do his job. Not many felines joined the service around water, he fed off that. The driver called across the com, two minutes. Indeed the large oil tanker 'Sharma Optima' was getting larger, and the reality of the situation started to sink in; but he worked to clear his thoughts. The lights of guards' flashlights danced across the upper decks and the butterflies swarmed inside his stomach.
Lieutenant Marcus Taikosha turned looking at his team, "alright guys, this is it. This isn't the first time we've been out with each other, so keep it sharp, tight, and fast. Watch your spacing and fields of fire, we got this. Keep weapons silenced until I say otherwise, keep frosty." He pounded his fist on his second in command's shoulder, Sergeant Lakota the Wolf and cycled the bolt on his weapon. He turned back facing forward, the sound of all the others charging their firearms.
He took a deep breath, just as another wave crashed across the bow; he flexed all his muscles turning shoulder up into the wave. It washed across him, his sealed helmet filling with an unsettling gurgling noise. He looked back through the twisting image of the water, each of his team still held fast and they were almost there. "This is nothing, if you can't do this Marcus, you might as well not have joined," echoed the words of father. He nodded pushing everything else away falling into his rhythm, nothing mattered; solely the mission and his men. The Leopard mindset was flushing through his body, almost to the point of fixation.
The boats engines cut off as they were less than 300 feet from the ship, and it wasn't moving; which meant they were waiting, or transacting. He was hoping for the former. The zodiacs electrical engines pushed them the rest of the way nice and quiet. The gangway was down but it didn't matter. There was an access hatch just at waterline that would let them inside the hull.
Their correspondent on the ship said the crew didn't know about it and it was a good entry. The zodiac's engines grumbled in reverse and their weight shifted forward. LT. Taikosha stepped up and pushed his boot against the hull, keeping the zodiac from hitting; waving his Tech up. CPL Harris stepped forward and placed a sound amplifier on the hatch with a circular magnetic strip. He nodded, Marcus nodding back then spun the strip. The hatch opened silently then groaned for a split second as both heaved it open.
"Move," he ordered, and the rest of his team bounded in through the hatch their HUDs flicking to Infrared and Night Vision settings. Taikosha was the last in and sealed the door behind them as his team was securing their vectors down the corridors, crouched keeping low.
"Alright gentlemen, be silent and swift. Lets crash this party," said the Leopard ducking against a support beam, next to SGT. Lakota giving two hand gestures- theoretically the helmets were to mask their voices completely-. Lakota nodded grinning and held up a fist; Marcus grinned and punched it back. The hunt was on...
The two teams split up and were moving fast throughout the inner hull catwalk, working their ways on opposite sides of the hull. Then a climb of up to nearly five stories to the scaffolding. Marcus started up the cross bracing yanking himself a few feet at at time. Soon after, he panted softly hauling himself and more than 170 lbs and change of added gear, fifty feet up the cramped space between the hull bracing and the hull itself. His helmet picked up every sound including voices; indeed they had caught them in the transaction making their mission time of completion much shorter, and more dangerous. They needed to move fast to get it recorded so they would have enough evidence for prosicution. Both teams rounded the edges of the top scaffolds simultaneously. There were a number of enemies on LT. Taikosha's side; none on Lakotas. Marcus and Harris eyes locked on the two gunmen, freezing in place weapons drawn, but the gunmen weren't paying attention; only what was going on down in the pit. Marcus patted his tech on the back once: a signal; both pulled out strangle strings from their belts. LT Taikosha took point in a low crouch and walked silently across the hallow plated catwalk.
Both smugglers were standing next to each other idly chatting about their share, which would never come. Marcus looped the wire around his paws and pulled it taught growling softly, his black uniform making his prey oblivious, what was to come. Within inches and in one fluid motion he snapped forward and jerked back tight as he could; the wire wrapping around the humans neck. Pulling high, he lifted the man off his feet; gagging silently. Harris followed a near split second behind him; both guards struggled, making silent gurgling sounds kicking and thrashing. Both Marcus and Harris twisted their torsos and shoved them into the center of their bodies suffocating their sounds tying the wires behind the backs of their necks.
Seconds ticked by and both slowly relented, not moving. Letting them loose; their lifeless bodies crumpled to the scaffolding. Marcus made two quick hand gestures and both moved to hide the bodies into inconspicuous corners. Marcus opened a secure laser-point com channel, "two down. Set up gypsy wires and have Danny set up the video uplink" said Taikosha looking right at Lakota. He turned looking back then gave his normal "aye boss," half assed salute. Marc unslung his M4A4 as he crouch-walked down the rest of the catwalk making sure to keep the transaction within his helmets FOV-field of view-. "Ironic" he thought, "Cat walk, get it? Ha-ha!" he laughed to himself and continued on down to the end, pressing up against the observation booth's door and peered through the window at the top of the door.
Harris patted his shoulder and held up the audio sampler pad, "might want to use this boss. Be less of a... Distraction," he joked. Marc grinned and nodded compliantly taking the audio sampler and slid it under the door. An ultrasensitive audio microphone stuffed into a small box the size of a stamp with optical cable running to an auxiliary port on a squad leader's wrist computer. He listened as it linked to his helmets speakers then knocked, and nothing played; all clear. He gave a thumb up and pulled the AS from the door and opened it as Harris moved into breaching position then inside, all in the cold repetitive manner they trained for.
"Clear, Boss," he crouched behind the only desk as the lights would easily have shown his silhouette. His weapon a MP5A5 was aimed at the back of the room, a door leading in, and a ladder leading down. Marc entered just behind Harris and crouched, leaning close to the ladder glancing down. It was dark and clear, a possible rout; though the high ground always won in a fire fight.
His com frequency buzzed and Lakota's voice filled his helmet, "hey Boss. I'm counting thirty three tangos, that's a shit load not counting the rest of the crew onboard."
"Alright, thanks for the heads up keep me posted," he said frowning a bit. "Between a rock and a hard spot then eh?" he thought. Knowing if he called for a second squad it'd be a trick on timing, but that was a lot of heat for a four man team. He couldn't signal for a firebird inside the ship, with the thick metal hull it'd be difficult to get a signal out.
He decided he'd go with the element of surprise. "Are the recording sensors active?"
"Aye Lieutenant. All sensors are active and recording. We have enough," came back Daniel Mandrel the Vixen with his slight Irish accent.
Lieutenant Taikosha paused a moment and walked out the door they came through waving CPL Harris towards him. This enabled a vast array of decision options; he opened his comm. to the frigate Haven of Fire, "maybe we can squeeze a signal through..."mumbling to himself. It'd be better having more onside firepower than taking the hail storm himself, "Stop Block two, this is Gamma Sierra, request heavy firestorm on station. Things are going to get hot in here. Request Chock Two on station, 'Shock-Enable' code Four is not clear. Repeat Code four not clear." He got a blast of static back as an acknowledgement.
The message was splashed across their entire squad channel sodden with static, everyone tensed up readying their positions. Lakota gave two hand gestures then each team member unclipped Halo Class Stun Grenades, moving out along the catwalk taking cover behind various objects. LT. Taikosha walked out un-slung his rifle and raised his paw then dropped it.
The lights within the pit went black, the dull red of emergency lighting lit up as CPL Harris smiled and walked out to the edge of the observation booth's windows aiming his SMG into the otherwise black void.
"This is Lieutenant Taikosha with the United States Coast Guard. Drop your weapons, put your hands behind your head and lay face down on the deck. We have you completely surrounded."
The quiet murmuring was startling; the thugs looked conformed gazing up into the pitch black rafters didn't help either. The clear sight of weapons cocking and aimed about; furthered Marcus's fixation as his ears rolling forward in his tight helmet. The sound of the weapons echoed loudly through the air- and his ears. Marcus sighed through his nose and raised his rifle tight against his shoulder, the electronic weapons sight sliding across his HUD.
"Comon people, we have had a hard enough day. It's easy drop the guns, and put your hands on your head."
"Come out where we can see you then we'll drop the weapons," ordered one of the humans in an all white suit with a blood red tie.
"You have five seconds," started LT. Taikosha. One of the smugglers on the ground opened fire in LT. Taikosha's direction. Instantly everyone else pitched in; firing erratically. Rolling back behind the watch tower, rounds panged loudly ricocheting just past LT. Taikosha's helmet thumping against his cover with deafening cracks of stress. He noticed none of his men fired, which was good they still kept their positions hidden, but this wasn't the time.
"Fire! Fire! Open fire!" he shouted over the frequency. His second team changed their cover, I beams, flat metal plates, anything even wooden crates. The situation exponentially degraded after that, the SNAP team returned fire their unmistakable 3-5 round bursts echoed with the metallic Trrang! Trrang! Tang! Trrang! The renowned report of the shredder rounds they loaded- made specifically to pierce light armor and tear apart flesh. Unlike their cousin: the Anvil rounds; made for slamming through thick armor with scary results after.
LT. Taikosha slapped CPL Harris on the back finishing off half a clip, which was kneeling watching the inside of the booth firing quick bursts with his SMG. He stood and followed in behind his leader who went for the ladder, slung his rifle and grabbed on to the edges and zipped down at a terrifying speed. Marcus clenched hard with searing pain as the jagged metal both cut through his gloves and into his flesh, instantly dripping blood.
"Not exactly what it seems to be in the movies after all..." he thought, shaking his hands wringing them on his AR. Corporal Harris was right behind him as Marcus kneeled low, covering M4 drawn, then the MP5 rose poised to strike. "Silencers off!" ordered LT. Taikosha, reaching up twisting off the accessory. Soon as he stuffed his silencer into his ruck bag, a smuggler rounded the corner with an AK47.
One hand gripping his M4, he wielded it around in desperation watching the holographic site trace across his HUD landing on the enemy's chest and squeezed the trigger. The weapon bucked three times then jammed. Prrat! Clank!
"Little help?!" he shouted squaring his shoulders dropping his M4 going for his sidearm at the same time trying to free his hand from the bag. The three rounds scored across the target but not enough to keep him from pulling his own trigger as he fell. The AK47 fired off in full auto sweeping across the floor and arching up right at LT. Taikosha's position as the smuggler twisted and rolled backwards howling in pain.
Harris shot right over Marcus's shoulder; the two rounds slamming clean into the smugglers head blowing it to pieces. LT. Taikosha yelped as one round ricocheted off the deck and slammed into his chest kicking him off his feet. He clenched a gloved paw to his chest curling up into a slight ball wheezing; clutching tightly heaving gasps of air. He shook his head trying to clear the disorientation away then ran a system check of his armor and found the round still lodged in his vest. The wind was instantly kicked from his lungs, but no fractures. Like the most powerful force walked up and slugged you right in the gut under an invisible cloak. His eyes went red then black as stars danced across them. Just as quickly as the pain had come it was gone, he was going into shock.
He tried to breath but his lungs didn't want to cooperate, just burn and complain at their lack of oxygen. He found himself on the ground and rolled onto an elbow reaching for his sidearm as training would dictate.
"Shit! What am I doing? Why was I even there in the first place? Wrong move, wrong fucking move..." he told himself. Harris was behind him and picked him up under his armpits and dragged him behind cover, multiple rounds pinging around them as the explosions of Halo Stun Grenades detonated. Shouts echoed as the SNAP team was winning the battle the return fire almost null.
Marcus groaned softly, CPL Harris sighed relieved he wasn't dead.
"Oy if you don't mind sir, please refrain from getting shot; it'd be a really big help," joked Harris picking up the Lieutenants rifle resting it beside him.
"The amount of paperwork would be daunting! Let's go, that didn't happen by the way," commented LT. Taikosha grinning.
"Didn't see a thing boss," replied the human swapping out mags slapping the bolt down on his MP5A5
The pain was slowly receding, the ceramic plates that took most of the force, were shattered. He gave thumbs up and they moved out. LT. Taikosha's two other team mates were shooting almost constantly, the sound of bodies falling to the floor was near constant with the sound of return fire.
"Lieutenant, draw their fire they have us pinned down!" shouted Lt. Lakota curling behind an I beam.
His speakers crunched with static, "LT! They're on the move, they ran through the back hatch to your right ten meters," added Mandrel the Vixen.
"Thanks amigo, we're moven out, get your fuzzy ass to the back of the ship and see if you can cut them off," said Marcus getting up picking up his M4 yanking the smoking shell caught in the "smoke stack" position and recharged it.
"We'll deal with the stragglers down here move out." He heard the double click over the radio signaling acknowledgement. Harris and Taikosha sprinted to their objective, despite the pain in his chest Marcus was still faster than his human partner even with 130+ lbs of gear on. Popping up one of the smugglers went to fire on the second team as they were changing positions, a clear shot. Firing their weapons in quick controlled bursts, the rounds from both Taikosha and Harris blew chunks of flesh and bone all over the metal crates and walls, his weapon not even firing a shot.
Rushing against time, they hurdled themselves; through already open hatches into vacant corridors down the length of the ship to the stern. Lt. Taikosha's helmet picked up talking, and held up a fist. Both froze in a meer few steps, weapons raised to a door, silently walking the rest of the distance. Marcus rested up against the far wall sliding to see through the crack, gently pushing it open, he kept one hand on his M4 aiming forward still tight against his shoulder. He paused a second fully opening the door revealing a galley, where the crew mess was, and standing in a veranda were two crewmen. The two were idly chatting over at a table oblivious to Marcus and Harris.
Both SNAP officers stacked up as Marcus gave two hand gestures, and then bolted around the corner. "Get on the ground now!" ordered Marcus.
"Get on the fucking ground hands behind your head. Now! Move it!" shouted Harris following Marcus's lead.
"Please don't shoot us! They went that way!" blurted one of them cowering; fear overflowing in his eyes.
"It's pretty intimidating to see any form of government official. However, the helmets obscuring the sight of another's eyes, is what always brings a killer down," said Marcus the others unable to hear him. "You can't see their eyes..."
"Gotcha sir," replied Harris slinging his rifle tying up the two crewmen with plastic ties.
Both officers waved their hands across their bodies, internal sensors made to pick out metallic objects. They were clean. They moved on following after their prey.
The UH-60 Jay Hawk's engines whined softly as the automatic startup procedure commenced. Four figures trotted from the warm dry confines of the observation deck, up a flight of stairs and onto the helipad. The blades of the Jay Hawk whipped past as Lieutenant Commander Brags ducked his head, running around the nose of the aircraft as his copilot got in and the two gunners piled into the center the rest of Chock Two immediately after.
Connecting his helmet into the comm. System he swiveled his microphone to his mouth and keyed the starter. It clicked three times and the loud wining of the massive turbines turned over. He set his navigational heading instruments and continued with the startup procedures as the progressively louder roar filled the cabin and the blades started to make the helicopter lighter.
"Tower, this is Firebird One, at helipad alpha, requesting permission for immediate departure to the east."
"Firebird One, you are clear for departure," said the deep growling sound of the Air Traffic Commanding Officer. CDR. Brag turned and smiled, "hang on boys. This is going to be one helluva ride." He cranked on the yolk and the Jay Hawks engines whined and groaned under stress and took to the sky banking hard to the side and spun away from the frigate.
Briggs pulled his mike away a little and it clicked on the Lieutenant Taikosha's squad frequency. He switched it over to his primary com channel. It was full of static and the sounds of gun fire pierced through his helmet speakers.
"Fire bird one? This is Lieutenant Taikosha, multiple enemy contacts. - Watch the left! - we need immediate air support now!" he was screaming so loud the speakers cut out from the noise. A massive explosion detonated in the background as a mushroom cloud expanded on Bragg's immediate horizon. He felt a heavy feeling sink in the pit of his stomach; the sight of it made him sick. Did he just lose his?-
"We have eliminated all the smugglers from the ships interior, its secured. Be advised however, - Take cover!" another explosion ripped across the com channel, static filling the rest with blips of harsh breathing the sounds of gunfire ceasing. Lieutenant Braggs wanted to say something but all that filled him was fear for his fellow officer.
He pushed the throttle and yolk all the way to maximum power. The pitch of the helicopter dove as the loud engines were at a howling whine.
"Lieutenant? Come in Taikosha, this is Lieutenant Commander Braggs, Fire Bird One," he stammered stumbling on his sentence.
"You hear me Lieutenant? We're almost there; ETA: one minute," he felt himself grow suddenly impatient. "Common man respond!"
The soft sounds of coughing and groaning quietly came through noticeably changing the tone in the cockpit. Their team was in deep trouble but alive.
Marcus coughed sprawled face down pain wrenching his body. Wood, metal, dust, all sorts of debris were littered as though sprayed across his body with a paint gun. The surrounding scene gave it an almost eerie, alone feeling. He tasted copper in his mouth, and the metallic scent of the air filled his nose and lungs. The floating dust and smoke hung in the air making it feel as though all time stopped and this was where his grave would be. The rain hadn't stopped but the winds of the storm calmed. Everything was surreal, his body hurt all over.
He didn't know if he was alive or dead, he hoped he was dead. Pieces of shrapnel were deeply embedded into his armor some even made it through to soft flesh seeping blood at the edges of the wounds. As though for the first time Marcus opened his eyes, finding himself on the ground gazing across the metal deck to a flight of stairs. What he remembered as having been to the helipad.
His cracked visor blocked out the rest beyond that. His HUD was inoperative, flashing dull crimson then static. His mind drifted if the visor on his helmet was cracked he was sure he had multiple fractures and contusions on his body. A sad thought, he didn't really even get to say good bye to his daughter, or his wife, friends...?
Marcus tenderly shook his head; he let his team down. They were probably worse off than he was. Everything was going as it should have, what were they hit by? He tried his hardest to remember before the explosion. "Was it an explosion? Yes, yes it was. Keep it straight man, you're not that screwed up." He thought focusing as hard as he could.
His helmet speakers- what was left of them- crackled and the voice of someone came over. He thought it was his father. He groaned softly, _not now, this is definitely not the time. _He thought, and just let himself give in letting out a soft sigh.
"Common man! Fucking respond I know your there, don't bullshit me!"
He knew that voice, which it was... he concentrated. It was Braggs!
Oh shit! No! No! No! Everything came back to him in an instant flash; his mind, it all played back. The giant ass reptile with the RPG! He was almost at the bottom of the stairs when-
He coughed hard struggling to talk, "Brags! No! Be, be-! - Wave off! Enemy RPG! Get out of here!" He struggled to his hands and knees lifting him up to a kneeling stance. The sound of the chopper filled the air. "If this is too hard, you shouldn't have joined," echoed the distant words. He looked around frantic, his M4 lay next to him he grabbed it and stood the searing pain rushing his body. Glancing at it, it was ruined the breach was ironically breached by the explosion and the barrel was bent at a dangerous degree.
Clattering to the deck he limped forward without it. His team was around him strewn about the deck not moving. He growled deeply snarling almost, baring his teeth as he managed to the stairs. The Jay Hawk screamed over head the winds of the rotor wash kicking up mist and debris. His heart pounded as he started up the stairs ignoring the pain limping with each step. Thump Screeeeee! Marcus looked up as an RPG screamed towards the Jay Hawk almost impossible to accurately track it through his visor.
The Jay Hawk banked hard overshooting the helipad; turning facing the oncoming RPG and jerked to the right it grazing just past the fuselage. The sound of the twin Rotary Cannons buzzed loudly churning the deck above him into harsh shrapnel. Taikosha was almost there, just a few more steps. He held tight onto the railing panting hard as he stepped over the lip and onto the helipad.
The Reptile turned wielding the RPG right towards Lieutenant Taikosha. He fired; Taikosha's eyes narrowed on the puff of smoke behind the Reptile, his ears relaxing forward almost as though there was relief in knowing the inevitable. The rocket screamed towards the lone leopard as he stiffened standing straight up bringing his sidearm up into both paws leaning slightly forward.
"This is it," he thought, "all of this- what I have accomplished, coming to an end..."
"Wait you fool! Take that bugger with you! You die he dies!" screamed a voice in his head. Clenching all his muscles tight he clasped his XD 45 and squeezed the trigger. The gun bucked hard the blast echoing loudly as the rounds etched up the enemies' body. Taikosha flexed all his muscles making himself as small as possible bracing for the impact. The rocket went wide screaming inches past the leopards' body out to sea.
Lt. Taikosha's mind flashed then opened his eyes looking to the sky. Was he alive? He couldn't believe it! He must be dreaming. Staggering forward he brought his XD up and trained his sights on the inside cabin. The smugglers cowered in fear within an expensive looking helicopter, speaking in a language he recognized.
"Levantan los manos, ahora!" command LT. Taikosha in Spanish. It was spotty at best, but it got the idea across. Each member held up their hands and scouted out of the aircraft into the drenching rain cowering on the deck. Each of the six was facing him in a line showing no hostility. Suddenly something, more like a shadow, moved from the tail section of the helicopter and opened fire wildly the rounds hitting nearly nothing. A lucky shot pinged off the back of Taikosha's helmet making him drop to the deck swinging his sidearm across his body aiming at the silhouette. There was a trio of loud bursts and the frenzy of shooting stopped. The body exploded red mist and staggered forward red gore gushing out as it crumpled to the deck.
Lt. Taikosha had his pistol gripped in one paw ready to shoot, but instead saw his team mate Lakota. He let out a long sigh of relief lowering his side arm thanking god that it he was ok. Behind Taikosha there was shouting and the six others bolted away from the helipad to the edges. Taikosha twisted instinctively training his sights on each man but held his trigger finger, 'they want to swim in dangerous waters? Don't deny them the opportunity," he thought.
"Knew you'd come out of that one," said Taikosha turning back to Sergeant Lakota.
Lakota coughed a little and nodded, "you'd be surprised I come from a long line of hard headed asses. It's nothing, good to see you did the rest of my job while I was snoozing."
"What happened? Did you see that guy?" asked Marcus.
"No, it came out of nowhere, nothing on thermals or night sensors," said Sergeant Lakota turning seeing the other two team mates walking up clearly not seriously injured.
"I'm surprised you're alive though Lieutenant, that RPG hit right next to Foxy and me but it went through a cabin wall. Which was where you were standing... above you was the cabin it went into..."
Marcus walked up to the railing peering off the deck to where he had stood. A massive hole in an overhang's- presumably an office- floor was blown out. He couldn't believe it either, how did he survive? He wondered. Lakota walked over and gingerly rested a gloved paw on his friend's shoulder. Marcus blinked and turned holstering his XD and limped stumbling nearly falling. Lunging over both Lakota and Mandrel caught him and slipped their Lieutenants arms around their shoulders and helped him off to the side as the Jay Hawk came back kicking up water and wind slowly making its way to touch down on the helipad.
Team Two piled out of the Jaw Hawk and secured the perimiter, their team leader walking to Marcus as the Wolf and Vixen lead him to the chopper.
"Status report Tai?" asked the large Tiger his frame slightly bigger than Marcus.
Marcus was about to answer when Harris placed a glove on his shoulder, "Status is clear, no one else hostile inside, we'll help you clear the building. Marc here needs medical attention."
"From what?" smirked the Tiger crossing his arms flexing his large muscles.
"Come with me, I'll show you something," said Harris then paused turning looking at the rest of the team. "Which of you guys is going back with him?"
"Mandrel you stay with the LT, I'll keep these look-a-likes in line alright boss?" said SGT. Lakota leaning in gazing at the cracked silver visor, his friend not moving.
"Sir?-"he paused as thumbs up came and nodded. "Alright Mandrel, get on the chopper you're out of here,"
"Aye sir!" said the Vixen and hoped in taking a seat next to LT. Taikosha as he sat up leaning against the fuselage. "C'mon Harris let's make sure these hooligan look-a-likes don't get into too much trouble," joked Lakota as he stepped back from the chopper giving a friendly wave. The chopper whined as it lifted off the deck delicately twisting back towards the frigate giving an easy ride back.
"Hey Tai... Good to see you made it in one piece out of there man," said the Pilot. "You had me worried there for a moment."
Marcus let his mind rest, filling with the comforting sound of the engines' hum, the gentle throb of the blades vibrating through the cabin.
"Thanks for keeping me here," he said softly but enough for his helmet's microphone to pick up. "If it wasn't for you I'd been still laying back there thinking I was dead."
Commander Brags turned his head looking back, "hey, what else are big brothers for anyways?
Thank you for reading more to come soon!