There are sounds that herald imminent danger: the snarl of a hungry predator, the cocking of a gun, the squealing of brakes, the heavy crack of something pushed past its physical limits. Warning noises that over the millennia have taught Man to be on guard, to be ready for what’s coming for him.

Add to that list the electronic alert signaling the Colonel’s imminent presence prior to addressing the battalion on the Emergency channel.

The special two-tone warble coming over the radios brought all conversation to a halt, as Kai and Rúna gave one another a worried look. That sound could only mean one thing, and as the squad instinctively drew closer, the colonel quickly confirmed it.

“This is Warlord 6 to all units,” Colonel Holme informed them. “Long range sensors have detected several vessels entering the system, and we have confirmed that they are not, repeat not, Valkyrie or Corsair.”

“Damn it,” Kai swore, “I thought we’d have more time,” while Rúna shushed him.

“Given the tactical situation,” he continued, “I have ordered Fiddler’s Green to withdraw to a safe distance and avoid contact until further notice. As yet, the Tangos have not engaged. We do not have confirmation regarding their identities; however, we must assume the worst. Therefore, I have ordered all units to go to Full Alert and stand by for additional orders.”

There was a brief pause. “We’re ready for this, people,” he continued. “Keep your eyes and ears peeled and stay sharp.” First squad checked their weapons and scanned the skies as one last message came over the channel, this one hitting each of them like a jolt of electricity.

“Semper Fi, Valkyries,” the colonel saluted them. “Do us proud. Warlord 6, out.”

They were already scrambling for their positions as the transmission ended, standing at the ready as the squad cranked up the magnification on their helmet displays, searching for any sign of the enemy.

“There!” Becca shouted, pointing off in the distance. “Multiple contacts, bearing 107 degrees, range… twenty kilometers!”

One by one they located the targets she’d spotted; a series of streaks visible high in the atmosphere, shuttles dropping out of orbit and burning hard for the surface. “Confirmed,” Kai said at last, “Mark 107 true, 20k distant.” He forwarded the information to the CP, before raising an eyebrow at Rúna. “I would have expected them to drop right on top of us.”

“Me too,” she agreed, “unless…”

“Unless?” he prompted.

Rúna took a moment to gather her thoughts. “Unless they’re playing for time, too,” she said at last.

For the next seven hours shuttles continued to land and take off, hard at work and yet hidden from view. Updates continued to come in from the other companies, and the occasional report from Fiddler herself. At that range there was little else they could report to command, which is why the orders to report to Lieutenant Danielov were met with a certain amount of fatalism.

“I’m guessing you know why I summoned you,” he asked, coming straight to the point.

“You want us to learn what they’re up to,” Kai answered, as Gunny Satou nodded in agreement.

“We don’t even know who they are,” she pointed out. “Are they planning an assault? Digging in? We need to gather whatever intelligence we can on them.”

“Captain Inaba specifically requested your squad,” the lieutenant informed them, as the other members stifled a few unhappy groans. “We need information, not a body count, so get in and get out without being spotted.”

“We’ll try, sir,” Rúna nodded.

“Do more than try,” he cautioned, “we need you alive, not dead.”

“Aye, sir,” the sergeant agreed.

“Prep your squad,” Gunny Satou informed them, “and move out after dark. Questions?”

“No Gunny,” Kai answered, shaking his head. Recon patrols were nothing new for them.

“Then get to it,” Danielov ordered, “and good luck.”

“Thank you, sir,” Rúna answered for them as they exited the bunker.

“... damn it, us again?” Rivka protested. “Aren’t there any other squads in this fucking company?”

“The reward for work well done, is more work,” Doc Svoboda recited with a heavy sigh. “We need to screw up or something.”

“Not on my watch,” Kai growled. “All right, you all know the drill. We go in light, so that means essentials only. Ammo, water, and one field ration. Doc, check their First Aid kits and top off what they need. Same goes for your bag.”

“On it,” the medic nodded.

“Yendrick,” he continued, turning to the scrounger, “Ammo, as much as you can get. I want everyone carrying at least two belts for the gun. Plus, whatever other goodies you can find.”

“I’ll do my best,” he promised.

“Do better,” he insisted, as Arthur raised a tentative hand.

“Sergeant, I thought we were supposed to avoid contact?” he asked nervously.

“And I hope we can,” Kai agreed, “but if we get spotted, we’ll need that ammo.”

“Aye, sarge,” he swallowed.

“Rúna,” he said finally, turning to his team leader, “coordinate with higher and find out what kind of fire support is available for this. I’m not holding my breath, but I’ll take what I can get.”

“I’ll look into it,” she agreed. “Doubt we’ll be able to call on anything’ til we’re within sight of friendly lines though.”

“Probably,” he shrugged, “but that’s why they pay us the big bucks.” That earned a round of chuckles since no one got rich in the Valkyries. “You have your assignments. The rest of you, start your pre-patrol checks. If it shines or rattles; tape it down, cover it up, or lose it. Any exposed skin gets covered. Becca, you’re in charge of inspections.”

“Copy that,” she shrugged.

“Nautical twilight is in less than three hours,” Kai continued, checking his chronometer, “so move like you’ve got a purpose. Dismissed.”

What followed was a flurry of activity as they prepped for the mission. Yendrick returned with enough ammunition to supply a minor war, including a wide variety of grenades for Arthur’s launcher, plus plenty of the handheld versions for the others. Doc distributed bandages, IV bags, and painkillers, warning them he wanted the drugs back when they returned.

Rúna reappeared, the bearer of bad news. They could only count on fire support up to five kilometers from the line. Any further than that, and they were on their own. The news surprised no one, but it lent a grim undertone to the preparations.

At Minus 30, Kai called for final inspection. One by one he examined them for any defects, having each of them jump up and down as he double-checked for a rattle. They camouflaged any missed bits of flesh, tied down anything loose, readjusting their gear until it fit like a second layer of skin.

They were ready.

“From this point forward we operate under full EMCON blackout,” he ordered. “No communications, no anything the enemy might pick up and triangulate, except for emergencies. Hand and arm signals only.” They all nodded in agreement. “Bravo team, you’re on point. Move out.”

Shifting her team ahead, Rúna tapped Becca on the shoulder, giving her the nod. The scout slipped forward, silent as a wraith as she reconnoitered the route ahead, with the rest of the squad in tow. Passing through friendly lines without incident, they wound their way into the valley that would take them to their destination. In less than an hour they were already deep into what they still called… for reasons long forgotten… ‘Indian Country’.

Only one of the waning moons was visible in the night sky as they made their way across the alien landscape. Waist-high grasses bent and swayed in the wind, dotted with shrubs and brush that were home for several animal species. The Sonoitii hadn’t told them much about the surface; as water-dwellers it wasn’t important to them. But they’d already discovered numerous insects, small burrowing animals and creatures that hunted in the night, their mournful cries echoing across the countryside. To the best of their knowledge none posed a threat to humans, but they still avoided them just to be safe.

The night-vision enhancements built into their helmets cast an eerie shimmer as they slowly scaled the hills, snaking their way through the boulders and lichen-covered outcroppings that now dominated the scenery the higher in elevation they climbed. Several hours passed in silence as they neared their objective when Becca abruptly raised a clenched fist, the squad immediately freezing in place.

Rúna scanned ahead, searching for whatever had triggered the scout’s sudden caution, when the sound of rocks knocked loose drew her attention to the left. Ice filled her veins as she spotted movement; a handful of figures moving across the scree, with weapons of their own.

Enemy patrol, her mind whispered, as her thumb flicked off the rifle’s safety switch. The squad watched noiselessly as the other group picked their way through the rubble, afraid to move, afraid to even breathe. The minutes ticked by as they worked their way to the ridgeline above them, slipping through a crack in the rock one by one until the last disappeared from sight. Several more minutes passed while they ensured the patrol wasn’t doubling back before Kai signaled Becca, pointing off to the right, intent on giving the enemy a wide berth. Nodding in receipt of her new orders, she changed course, leading them away from the other patrol’s last known location.

Two hours later Becca, Rúna, and Kai slithered on their bellies as they crested the hill’s rim, gazing down at the activity far below. Cranking up the magnification in her visor, the corporal stared at the new encampment, slowly taking shape on the flat plain.

“Strange configuration,” Kai murmured, recording the evidence. The two women nodded as the layout of the garrison was unusual, not conforming to known examples, although there were similarities to architecture she’d seen before. Something about its construction tugged at her memory, whispering to her in familiarity, until a sharp intake of breath betrayed her recognition.

“What?” Kai whispered.

“I know what it is,” she said, her voice cracking.

“Well, don’t keep it to yourself,” Becca hissed, her eyes never leaving the enemy.

Pointing at the positions being dug, she directed their attention to the southwest section of the new base. “See those concentric rings? That’s a standard Ixi bivouac,” she told them, before moving to the southeast. “And those rigid lines are pure Legion, unless I’m very much mistaken.”

“... fuck,” the scout gasped, “that tangled mess to the north.” She turned to them, her wide eyes glowing in the dark. “Zaitai. Has to be.”

“God damn it all to hell,” Kai swore. “They’re throwing three full brigades at us.”

“Since when did those outfits cooperate with one another?” Rúna wondered aloud.

“Since someone damn well paid them to,” Becca answered, the words sour to the taste.

“The Troika,” Kai nodded. “If that’s not proof, I don’t know what is.” Looking back at the scout he cocked his head towards the activity below. “Plant a camera,” he ordered, “the brass will want to monitor the situation for as long as possible.”

“Copy that,” she nodded, digging an electronic device out of her ruck and wedging it into the rock, taking a moment to aim it at the enemy base and dial in the proper settings before camouflaging it. It would record continuously, sending burst transmissions that were difficult to triangulate. Someone would find it eventually, but until then it could provide valuable intel. “It’s set,” she informed him a few minutes later, as they crawled back the way they’d come and disappeared from the hilltop.

With the camera now set, remaining in place was simply too risky. All three had documented the site with their helmet cams; for an exploratory patrol they’d done more than enough. Follow-up excursions could expand on what they’d found here, but it was imperative to get back to base and report to higher what they’d learned. Taking the lead, Sergeant Kai led them back down the hill, heading for the coastline and safety.

With the enemy now known to be patrolling the area, stealth became a higher priority than speed. Taking a more roundabout route, the sergeant swung wide of the pathway they’d taken getting here, dropping them into a narrow ravine that offered excellent cover and concealment. Hidden from view they could pick up the pace, and as Rúna double-checked their position on the display she mentally revised their ETA. With any luck, they’d be back behind friendly lines within a couple hours.

Threading their way through the many switchbacks and arroyos in the canyon was disorienting, even with the maps Fiddler had provided. Not that it mattered; as long as they stayed in the canyon itself they couldn’t get lost, plus it emptied into a basin only a handful of kilometers from the base. Kai varied up their route as much as he could; doing his best to keep any potential attacker off-balance.

It likely saved their lives.

The whoosh of a rocket threatened to wake the dead, while those still alive took cover as it exploded directly in their path, showering them with rock chips. “Incoming!” Kai shouted as they dove for cover. The squad immediately returned fire; the guns hammering away as they searched for a target. The low ground that had concealed them was now a liability, penning them in and preventing their escape.

“Dagger 6, this is Dagger 1-1, we are under heavy fire and request immediate extraction, over!” Kai shouted into the mic.

“There!” Rúna howled, pointing toward an embankment overlooking their position as she shifted her aim, “three o’clock high, behind cover!”... just as a second gun opened up on them.

“They’ve got us in a crossfire!” Tawfiq screamed, hosing down the new position while Rivka slapped in another belt of ammunition.

“Dagger 1-1, this is Dagger 6,” the radio squawked back at them, “you are too far out. We cannot support you, not until you’re within range, over!”

“A fighting retreat? Are they kidding?” Yendrick said in disbelief, even as he slapped in a new magazine and kept firing.

“They’re damn well not kidding!” Rúna realized with a sinking feeling. “Sarge! We’ve got to break contact!”

Explosions began dotting the hillside, as Arthur found his range. “Right! Bravo team fall back! Alpha team, covering fire!” Kai snarled, as the squad fought to escape.