Snake-Eyes was one of the closest Joes to the explosion as they scattered into the Jungle prior to Stalker's last sent transmission. So close, that his natural night vision was now burning with the reds, oranges, yellows, and the whites of the explosion. The heat was also an indication of how close he was, as the humidity and mugginess of the Jungle night was blasted away and replaced with the kind of heat he had experienced in Death Valley during training exercises earlier in the year. His last reminder of where he was is the fact he is now tumbling through the air, unaware of his bearings – even for a Ninja. As he attempted to get his feet below his head with the gravity of the fall, the back of his shoulders hit the ground. He slides momentarily, all the bearing he needed to get back to his feet. Deeper into the jungle he sees his fellow Joes, breaking from their cover to get a visual of the explosion. Parts of the jungle are set ablaze by the debris falling from the sky like little comets. By his quick count, he sees a majority of the Joes that were with him prior to the explosion, but his battle instinct told him to turn around. When he did, he realized he was not the closest to the explosion, he was the second closest. The entire situation-at-hand was in perfect clarity for the ninja, as he saw Stalker face down near the shore between him and the burning Hovercraft. There was a man down and that man was his long-time friend. He was also the leader of the mission, a mission now perfectly illustrated by the condition of what is left of the Hovercraft on the river. Snake-Eyes ran to his friend's side in a matter of a few strides.
Stalker was conscious, exchanging his coughing and gasping of air for screams of pain. The screams were short-lived as it was too painful to even scream for the long-time Ranger veteran. For most, it would have been a moment of pause seeing a Joe like Stalker in that kind of condition, but Snake-Eyes moved quickly to ensure the flames were out before going to any kind of first-aid. Stalker then only had a few remaining seconds before he passed out from the pain. In that time he explained to Snake-Eyes that he felt like maybe he broke some ribs, and why he couldn't raise his voice above a labored breath, feeling nothing except for pain. Stalker asked his friend, "How bad is it?" and Stalker could tell by his reaction it was bad. He made one last comment that he was going to get up, and lead the mission to its next objective. Then Stalker lost consciousness.
While Snake-Eyes was at Stalker's side, Beachhead was getting a head count from all team leaders. He came up short by two. He broke out of the vegetation line towards the river bank, when he saw the silhouette of his two fellow Joes. He yells back into the darkness, "Barbecue! Get over here! Now!" Barbecue was passing comments to Bazooka and Mutt about how spectacular the blaze was emanating from the Hovercraft. It was his attempt to keep the situation in a light manner. Upon hearing Beachhead's command, he ran towards his voice in the direction of the fire. He was preparing for extinguishing the flames, thinking it was the reason Beachhead called out for him specifically. By the time he seen where Beachhead was, Beachhead was kneeling down next to Stalker, just like Snake-Eyes was, but on the other side of him. As Barbecue got closer to the three fellow Joes, he dropped to his knees at Stalker's head and said, "Dear God, No." in a completely defeated tone.
"You think you can treat him with the proper first-aid he needs, so we can move?" asked Beachhead.
"Aboslutely, I can. I will" Barbecue affirms. "Get two Joes with the field medic equipment over here. We'll have him ready to move as soon as possible".
Snake-Eyes indicated that he has broken ribs, and Beachhead reminds Barbecue to be prepared to treat him for shock as well, should he regain consciousness. Barbecue snaps back at Beachhead "I KNOW! Just get me the help I need to get Stalker out of here!"
"Right." Beachhead simply responds, thinking that was tolerated insubordination being barked at like that. He makes triple time into the Jungle again. Snake-Eyes stays close to his friend, who is laying belly down, with his head turn to the side.
Flint, Lady Jaye and Scarlett are each flying SkyHawks as they escort Lift-Ticket in his Tomahawk Helicopter and Wild Bill in his Dragonfly towards the Extraction Point. Scarlett makes contact with Snake-Eyes with a modified version of Morse code. She simply states, Cobras Jammed in 45 seconds. Snake-Eyes gives a comforting squeeze to Stalker's hand, and then goes after Beachhead who already has the Joes informed of the situation, and preparing them to move out. He passes Bazooka and Gung-Ho who are making their way towards Barbecue and Stalker as he reaches Beachhead.
After a few moments of "speaking" with Snake-Eyes, Beachhead engages in the first radio contact since the explosion of the Hovercraft. "Status Orange with a one wounded. We're moving towards the Rally Point, ETA in Fifteen mikes!"
"Roger. Who is the casualty? Over." asks Flint.
"Stalker. I've taken command of the unit on the ground." Beachhead barks into his comms piece.
"Understood, we'll move in to provide support for your movement." responds Flint.
"Negative! You'll only give our position away if there are any unfriendlies here! Maintain a holding pattern, until we approach. Provide support when notified!"
"Roger that." Flint wanted to remind Beachhead of who was about to take command in the field, but chose to save it until they were face to face. Getting face-to-face was the important thing, and he reminded himself of that.
Zartan left the presence of Firely as the explosions placed upon the hovercraft were detonated. Zartan's mission was complete, so too was Firefly's. At least, to this point it was. Tele-vipers have communicated to the Cobra saboteur that the Joes placed a jam on their signals, but were able to pick up a form of Morse code, before they lost track of the Joes communications.
Firefly knew the Silent Ninja was probably using the Morse to communicate with the other Joes , and why is not of his concern now. He has a next meeting to attend, and a next contract to set up. Whatever is left for the Joes in this Jungle, it is up to the Cobra forces implemented in the jungle to take care of. With the glow of his work at his back in that Jungle, Firefly disappears into the darkness. He can hear aircraft off in the distance.
Recondo is point man on the lead patrol of the Joe movement to the Rally Point for extraction. Beachhead is in the middle of the formation. Snake-Eyes provides the rear security of the formation, with the rescue team provided for Stalker just to the front of him. The unit is moving rapidly through the Jungle but at a cautioned pace. Their movement to this point was to head due north, along the river's path, but moving further away from the river as they moved. Everyone assumes a defensive position facing the river, just minutes from the Rally Point because gunfire erupts off in the distance, about half a click between their position and the banks of the river. It is at this moment, Beachhead calls in for the support they're about to need from Flint.
