A single shot was fired, the sound bouncing off the blackened walls. Initially I didn't dare look. I didn't want the last thing I saw to be that of a grotesque alien monstrosity. But as the microseconds ticked by without my spine being snapped in two, I eventually managed to pry open my eyes. The Slug was still standing over me, but with a neat hole dug into its head.

The cumbersome creature slumped down to its knees before fully toppling over, its hideous bulk landing just beside my feet. Looking past the body I saw Happy standing there, rifle in hand with a small amount of smoke still coming from its barrel.

"That was a good shot, even if I do say so myself, got him straight between the eyes...well... antenna." he said with a smile.

Taking the time to catch my breath and compile my thoughts, I stepped over the body and on instinct went to pick up my rifle before turning to face Happy once again. "I think this goes without saying, thanks, I think you saved my life." I said to him.

"Not a problem in the slightest. You're very welcome." he replied. It was clear to see that he was still impressed with the accuracy of his shot as he was carefully inspecting the entry wound on the back of the Slugs enormous head. I didn't care, I was just happy that it was the Slug on the floor and not me.

Unlike poor Robin, who's lifeless corpse lay crumpled at my feet. I didn't feel much for him, not any more than any compassionate person would for seeing another human life coming to an abrupt end. I hadn't known him that well before hand and that made it easier not get overwhelmed, but part of the reason I didn't feel much was because I didn't allow myself to. I was scared I wouldn't be able to handle it along side Maxine.

I also had to face the fact that I was, no matter how quickly, becoming used to death. In the past few hours I had seen more death and suffering then what most people will ever see throughout their entire lives. Maybe I was already beginning to harden to that cold fact that people die.

However what scared me the most as I stared at the dead mans pale eyes, what terrified me, was the fact that a part of me just simply didn't care.

"Right then." Colter said dropping his shield as he did. "Lets clean up."

The rest of the mission concluded without another incident. The blue forcefield that had been separating half the team was removed by destroying the small silver generator that was hidden just beside the door frame.

Everyone began the routine reorganisation checks, making a note of how much ammo they had used, what their stats where currently showing and applying any further hormone nodes that might be needed. The multiple defence platforms that surrounded the large area where shut down and recalibrated using the access points within the control room. This opened up a safe corridor for a plethora of ships, both big and small to begin their descent down onto the planet.

Troop carriers, logistic supply ships, ground support craft, battle cruisers and destroyers could be seen bursting their way down through the planets atmosphere, with the bright glow of re-entry highlighting them in the dark night sky. Only hours after the defences were shutdown the spaceport became an epicentre of life and activity. Thousands of troops poured out of bulky almost cube like carriers. Waves of tanks and other armoured vehicles where dropped off from specially designed transports and began to immediately manoeuvre into their pre-determined positions. The many unoccupied hangers and storage facilities became filled with fresh supplies, construction mechs, support drones, food, water and medical supplies with an army of people organising it all.

Prefab buildings, that would serve as barracks and defensive structures, where deployed from support craft overhead. It was a construction site, raining from the sky, with the small buildings being guided down towards the ground by a series of small rockets and retros. Ground crews welcomed the slowly descending buildings down, securing them on their foundations as they did. Before long, the previously empty runways and launch points became a mini city of light and blue concrete.

Eventually our transport arrived, appearing out of the swam of ships that were overwhelming the night sky and came gliding down in-between the surrounding buildings with a surprising amount of grace. Loading up was a relaxed operation. With the expecting of getting the injured catered for and shipped off on a super eye transport, neither Colter or the other leads pushed for any particular sense of urgency, allowing everyone to get onto the ship as they pleased. Not that anyone took their time, the idea of leaving this place being enough to make everyone act like Happy on any normal day.

Something that I certainly hadn't been expecting, I was the last to bored. From the second I arrived on this blood soaked land all I could think about was leaving as quickly and efficiently as possible. So finding myself standing alone with everyone else already onboard was indeed an odd situation.

I just didn't want to leave her. I didn't want her to be alone.

She wouldn't be left down here indefinitely obviously, very soon a clean up team would be along to bag and tag the dead to be carted back home and given the proper rights. However they wouldn't be along before I had to leave and in that brief window she will be by herself. Alone on the cold ground. Thousands of lightyears away from her loved ones. Alone with no one to protect her, and that idea made me feel sick. She deserved better.

But eventually the time came for me to go, despite the relaxed approach, I would be stretching my luck by staying any longer. So I knelt down and took her cold hand into mine, feeling the chalky mud between our fingers and whispered my goodbye.

"Thank you Maxine. Thank you for being there. I'm sorry."

I boarded the carrier and took one of the empty seats. The large landing bay door came to a close only moments after I found my place, with the carrier as a whole beginning to shake and rumble to life. I could hear the three engines go from a low rumble to a high pitch drone as they began to spin up, ready for lift off. I rested my weary head against the back of my seat and prepared to go off planet. Then as the final engine joined in with the mechanical soundtrack, the craft just as gently as it had landed, began to ascend between the surrounding buildings. As we pasted over the nearby rooftops I caught a glimpse of all the activity outside through one of the many circular portholes that ran down the length of the ship. All the activity that Alpha Division had made possible. It was beautiful in a slightly saddening way.

I didn't get long to take it all in because once the ship was clear of the buildings the engines opened up even more and before I knew it, the planet was disappearing bellow me. Shaking as it passed through the atmosphere, in one quick motion the carrier took quite a sharp angle up towards the night sky, moving at an impressive speed. Normally I found flying incredibly nerve racking, but at this point I was too tired to care, my head felt like a bag of coal and my limbs felt like they had been put through a blender.

Before long the crafts insistent shaking and unnerving rumbling came to an abrupt stop as it finally left the atmosphere and made its way into the vacuum of space. Out of the port hole I could see the planets dark surface bellow, with lights scattered everywhere. I was glad to be leaving but still the thought echoed in my mind like an open wound, that she was still down there, amongst all the dirt, blood and monsters. She deserved better.

The journey to the flag ship that was currently in low orbit around the planet was short and uneventful. We arrived back at one of the many docking points, the ship making one final uncomfortable shake as the holding clamps found their place.

Everyone poured out of the landing doors and made their way towards the briefing rooms. Standard practice after any mission. Here we were subjugated to a number of tedious rundowns of what we had accomplished and what to expect in the future. Our weapons were taken away and stored in the armoury, while our armour was taken away for servicing. Eventually we were dismissed and allowed to get some hot food and sleep in the barracks. I didn't waste time, I found my bed and got some well needed rest. I dreamt of her as I did.

I awoke the next morning with a heavy head. Despite the sleep, my body still felt broken, a side effect of using hormone nodes. They disrupted the natural cycle of things to such an extent, that it took the body much longer to recover and get back to normal.

Forcing myself to sit up, keeping my face in my palms as I did I decided it was best to get some breakfast as soon as I could. The food was good on this ship, many people complained about it but I think that was just a social thing, everyone bonding over complaining about the same thing. So ignoring the comments about having to endure another breakfast from the people around me, I made my way to the already busy mess hall.

I enjoyed my breakfast despite the headaches I had to endure while waiting for my toast. Afterwards the call came in to report to the briefing rooms once again through the mess halls speaker system, so I made my way over feeling much better as a result of the food. Upon arriving I saw Happy and Colter standing to one side so I quickly joined them.

"Rickey my boy! How are you feeling? I saw in the reports how many adrenaline nodes you used!" Colter said as I took my place, resting my shoulder up against the wall like a school yard "cool" kid.

"Not too bad now." I replied with a smile. "However last night was not so pretty."

Colter laughed in response. "Don't worry its never pretty, I remember my first time after using hormone nodes and I looked just how you look now. It gets easier."

"I feel great to be honest." Happy chimed in.

"Nothing new there then." I replied with a chuckle.

We all continued to make chat for a while until a sudden silence fell over the rest of the room as an officer in a very well pressed uniform made his way towards the centre of the room. Upon seeing this I joined the rest of the room in the silence.

"Good morning everyone." He said before quickly continuing. "We have another one for you, Alpha Division is moving out."