Dawn was surrounded by her comrades listening to the gunfire and explosions when a young soldier ran up to her.
"You hit, marine?" The man asked.
"No..." Dawn said in fear as she heard a beeping noise before turning to see a grenade.
"Get down!" A marine shouted before jumping onto the grenade.
The explosion was contained by the pressure of the marine's body and the ground. Another marine flipped the body over to see the blood shrapnel filled cavity. Dawn stared at the body in horror, her eyes widening in fear.
"Hey, hey." The marine said trying to get Dawn's attention.
Dawn turned to the marine, the horror and fear on her face.
"It's okay, kid. I know you're scared, and it's okay if you are. Everyone is scared of this kind of situation." The marine said.
As Dawn turned to the dead marine, the one in front of her turned her face back to him.
"Don't worry about him, he's long gone." The marine explained. "You're still here, you've got a chance to break the enemy's will. Now come on. Let's do this." The marine said encouraging Dawn.
Dawn watched the marine run off. The young woman's visor created a link to her rifle. She turned to a marine on her right as a tear fell down her cheek. Her AI, Cayde, used her commlink to send a notification to her siblings.
"Dawn Klause has entered combat. Stress levels rising dramatically to dangerous levels. Psychotic tendencies will begin to show shortly. Warning all other units in the area."
Dawn activates the bipod on her rifle and peeks over the boulder. She takes aim and zooms in on her target. By the time the pirate sees her, it's too late and his head is hit by a bullet. The gun he was operating goes offline. Everyone turns to Dawn in surprise.
"1,000." Dawn whispers.
Dawn puts her sniper on her back and pulls one of her Colt 50s (not in caliber. The number is the year it was made, 2050) from her holster. Her helmet reforms into a white gas mask with blue ancient German runes and a M1905 German Officer Cap. After staring at the bodies of her fallen comrades, she turns to the men behind her.
"Lass die Granaten fliegen und zerschmettere sie in Vergessenheit, während wir uns über ihre Leichen hinwegbewegen!" Dawn shouted holding her revolver in the air and her rapier to her side pointed at the ground causing many of the marines to shout in defiance of their foes.
For a moment, the enemy's morale shattered and fear set in. This gave the Alliance marines a moment of respite and the ability to gain a foothold. Dawn began to hum a song of her nationality into her comlink. Some of her comrades picked up and began to sing with her. Soon, everyone took up the song.
"Bum bum bum...
Im Jahre 1900, da rief der Trommelklang, die Welt nach Peking, 55 Tage lang, Die Flammen loderten zum Himmel, Der Tod zog fordernd seinen Gang. Er zog durch Peking, 55 Tage lang. Der Aufstand dunkler Mächte, den der Haß geboren hatt', zog im Feuerschein der Nächte, durch die große leere Stadt. Und es ward der Trommel Dröhnen, und es ward der Hörner Klang, zum Lied von Peking, 55 Tage lang.
Bum bum bum...
Es waren 11 Nationen, die fest und ohne Rang, zusammenstanden, 55 Tage lang, Im Winter wehten ihre Fahnen, ohne falschen Stolz und Überschwang, Ihr Stolz hieß Trotzen, 55 Tage lang. Und so wie sie das Schicksal, in Gefahr und Not verband, widerstanden sie dem Feinde, jeder für sein Vaterland. Und sie kämpften und sie trotzten einer großen Übermacht,Und sie kämpften und siegten, und sie gewannen diese Schlacht. Und es ward der Trommel Dröhnen, und es ward der Hörner Klang, zum Lied von Peking, 55 Tage lang."
As the pirates hear their foe's voices singing in unison, they begin abandoning their posts. However, their singing doesn't go unnoticed by the officers and soldiers not of German descent.
In orbit
The crew listened to their comrades below singing in unison with a unity and joy unheard of since the early 20th century.
"Interesting...how many voice are there?" The captain asked.
"2,000." The first officer replied.
"I see." The captain said stroking his chin.
On the surface of the planet
As the Alliance slowly took hold of the outer reaches of the fortress, Dawn acted as a German Commissar, inspiring the troops with song of nationalism whilst on horseback. As others quickly do the same, Dawn is able to calm herself and focus on her surroundings. As she rides forward into a small ravine with a group of marines, they give her the scoop on the situation. She smiled before leaning toward the marines until she's underneath her horse and saying, "hyah," causing the mare, Gail, to burst into a gallop. As the pirates fire at Gail, Dawn fires at them with perfect precision, killing each of them. Once the gunfire stops, Gail comes to a standstill, allowing Dawn to get back onto the saddle.
As the battle took a negative course for the pirates, a pirate marksman lined up a shot with Dawn's stomach, aiming to injure her with a nonfatal wound. He chuckled before an Alliance marksman fired a shot at him, causing him to fire after jolting his rifle upwards. As the bolt of energy flies toward Dawn, her comrades watch it slowly impact her flesh. As she begins to bleed profusely, clutching her throat whilst choking on her own crimson fluids, her older twin sister rushes to her aid. As Dawn slowly falls into unconsciousness, she hears a familiar voice shouting her name.
"DAWN!"