"Captain?!"

Wiping powdered dust and sand from his fatigues Finn shifted to a kneeling position his form aching, while briefly scanning his new surroundings. The words had slipped from the young demolition experts mouth without thought, seemingly left unheard as he glanced over toward his captain, tensing his jaw. His gun! - Where the?! Shit!

"This is Captain Redfield to Alpha Team, do you copy?"

A deafening crash echoed around the ruins causing both men to wince as the still standing remains shook with the ground quake.

"Affirmative captain, is everything alright down there?" The thick gruff Scottish tone of Andy Walker filled the device "what happened down there sir?"

"No time for small talk ... my team has momentarily disengaged, I'm in need of cover fire."

"Roger that Captain"

Moving his fingers from his ear piece, Chris was quick to regain his composure, briefly glancing over the foundation covering his and Finns position then over to Piers who was seeking cover within one of the open entrances opposite.

The young ace had his back pressed flush against the stable, stone frame, knuckles turning white with his trusty Anti-Material Rifle carrying a fresh clip of 10, 12.7mm rounds cradled within a tight embrace. A look of concern furrowed his brow, hearing nothing but a distorted transmission reeling off, nought but static. His jaw tightened, catching flesh from his inner cheek, resentment interlacing with his perturbed expression.

A gathering of wheezing breath echoed throughout the narrowed, makeshift, staircase behind him. J'avo were closing in.

"Piers? - Dammit!"

Well calculated shots, undoubtedly caring rapid precision were heard, each was too close and singular to be the cover fire Chris had requested.

"Finn?! ..." His tone was surprisingly subdued, brows pulling tightly together, darkening the concerned expression. The young subordinate edgily moved closer while the Alpha Leaders glance remaining fixated upon his partner's last sighted position. "You're going to need a gun -"

"Y-yes sir ... I - I ..."

Chris was in no mood for explanations or small talk, a further two shots resounded through the remains, as he shoved his own 'specifically engineered' assault rifle into the trainees chest. "Now just follow my lead, we're all making this out together."

They had to move and quick, as valuable seconds ticked away, pulling them even further behind schedule. Substantial footfalls carried in time with foreign cries vibrating harshly against the ground overhead. Taking a step back Chris pulled out his standard issue 'Nine oh nine' hand gun, 'designed for more precise shot', from its holster, with a click the pre-loaded magazine locked into place.

The Ogroman took a side step twisting its colossal sized torso with arms elevated. The rapid pursuit of cover fire was now in full effect, led by the expertise of Andy Walker and Ben Airhart. With the ideal distraction 'now' was their time to move.

Captured with the right environment, you would 'just' able to hear the crack of the bullet exiting the hold of its captive barrel only to be quickly followed by the clink of the discarded outer casing briefly bouncing back and forth against the dusty hardened ground. A clean headshot threw the attackers body stumbling back, wearing an almost stunned expression - almost human, before blood coveted and engulfed the mutilated features. Muscle and bone fragments scattering away from the point of entry.

A small faction of J'avo had attempted to flank the talented marksman to no avail. His deft and nimble fingers pulled back against the trigger with quick succession. Bodies of the fallen laid scattered, rapidly bubbling with the intensity of an acid eradicating a signs that they ever were.

Now could be considered as 'the calm before the storm' a phrase the Ace's father used when setting the scene, adding a touch more anticipation and emotion to his own mission experiences. The sound of chafing fatigues filled the brief silence, ending with an abrupt stop nearing the stairway, tips of military boots skidded and held position.

Beyond the walls, the ground trembled as the Ogroman carelessly stumbled back in a weak attempt to avoid the profuse quantity of expeditious fire.

"Captain? Cap ..." Hearing Finns concerned and undeniably high pitched tone, sent an almost noticeable tremor down the lieutenant's spine. His eyes frantically searching for his captain through the narrow door way.

What was Redfield looking at?

His handgun was drawn, expression pulled tight with concentration. Showing such intricate detail - tight drawn lips that ... A huge shadow moved casting over their position.

"CHRIS!"

Moving without thought and swift precision, the mature soldier was prised from position.

It was surreal how laboured everything around them moved, yet, the heat coursing through his body rapidly brought a burning flush to his well trained poker face. The width of the entrance was deemed as narrow for a single man, though through the predicament placed upon them, narrowly avoiding the forceful contact of the uncoordinated footing; the pair were now compactly pressed up against one another. Every move, every breath - voluntary or otherwise was felt by the other earning a slight groan of perturbation.

So close; he could practically taste the heated tension building between them. The raising desire to have his captain promptly and confidently advance, forcing him into submission made his knees tremble. Revelling within the hidden dream of crushing his lips against those of his superiors, sensing a welcoming and mutual need.

"You alright Nivans? ... Piers?

The call of his name brought his thoughts back to their current state, as the already decorative red haze darkened upon his cheeks. Nodding quickly in response, eyes widened almost comically on feeling a familiar twitch within his trousers, escorted with an virtually distinguishable bulge. Avoiding his captain's gaze Piers swallowed hard, how could mere seconds have felt - timeless?

Chris gradually moved, reluctant to waste anymore time. Patting the snipers shoulder in thanks. A smile lightened his face for the faintest moment before Andy's booming voice crackled back into life, his fingers moved to press against the comm as the details of what they'd discovered were filled in.

"It's the exposed membrane on its back sir, we focused our fire on a hunch and that's what caused the near fall ... Glad you got out of there okay. You had us worried there for a minute."

Piers listened intently, as the orders were called out for them to keep close, turning to palm down the front of his trousers needing to get his head back into the mandatory mindset, the ATL sniper rested his finger against the trigger, holding his weapon of choice flush to his chest. Chris had reacted how he expected him to - not as he wanted him too.

Chris was surprised, putting it bluntly, the driven professional within him urged him not to react to the inconsequential incident back within the door way. They were in the middle of a war zone and once again his trusted second had saved his ass. If he was to keep this up Chris would end up owing him -

It had to have been the surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins, though the expression on the snipers face practically begged him not to comment. Urgh ... Now wasn't the time. He was flattered, never really giving much thought to anyone realistically seeing him in such a manner; that was of course 'if' it was the case. There had been nothing since Jill and even that developed no further than harboured emotions and the occasional 'heavy petting' after a few drinks.

The sound of heavy footfalls cascaded up the derelict staircase leading to the upper level. Finn was quick to aim the specially modified rifle, taking aim towards a silhouetted outline, drawing attention to itself with laboured wheezing. A loud shot rang past his ears, causing the rookie to glance back, his perpetual vision spying Captain Redfield, positioned in stance, holding his nine oh nine securely with both hands. The shot was clean, capturing the infected within the centre of its malformed profile.

"Finn! The main artillery guns should be up ahead, - get to work deactivating them while me and Piers secure the area. We need to find a way of taking that tough son of a bitch out."

Chris watched as Piers stepped forward, lining his shoulders level with his own, his expression unnerved. As the young bomb expert ran ahead, he made point of keeping his back pressed against the wall, tucked up, within the shadows before opening up his utility belt and pulling out a special tactics bag. An overcharge of shots and grenades could be heard from the open space within the adjacent building, echoing around a crashing of surrounding stone and another bellowing cry.

"Piers? Are you ready for this?"

"I'm right behind you captain"