"Hey, Ivan," Tanya put her hand on his shoulder. "I've called in for an extraction, we're done today."
"No we're not," Ivan looked up, his eyes hidden behind his visor. "We need to secure the LZ before the transport touches down."
"Ivan, be reasonable," Tanya sat down. "We have no sniper support, our morale is busted, and we're stuck here without a silo programmer. That walker is down, we're done here."
"It's not fair," Ivan pounded his rifle into the snow. "That should've been me, not Kush."
"It's not your fault," Zhang Yi rasped. "Y-you, needed to live. If it w-wasn't for you, we'd all be dead."
"Still," Ivan looked away from his battered squad.
"No 'still', c'mon, the transport's here." Tanya dragged him up as the Yastreb clamored down. Six fresh Coalition Army soldiers hopped off the transport and deployed a sentry gun while a single engineer tried to undo the damage to the silo's computer.
"Who the hell had the bright idea of shooting this thing?" The burly Russian engineer at the console growled.
"That'd be me," Tanya replied defiantly.
"I should shoot you right here, right now," The man replied, "this entire console's busted. The only thing we can do now is set up some charges and blow this silo. It's useless now. Nice job."
"Hey, at least now the EU can't use this one either," Tanya smiled.
"Zacroy s'voy pisavati rot suka!" The engineer roared. "If it wasn't for your idiocy, we would be ahead of the EU in silo counts right now!"
Tanya's arms stiffened at the man's words. It wasn't the knowledge that the EU and the PAC are now even in silo control that struck her anger, but the fact that she was being insulted by this snobby engineer.
"I'd take back those words if I were you," Tanya snarled.
"Or what suka?" the engineer wheeled about, bringing his Malkov to bear.
"Put the damned thing away," The squad leader stood between the two. "If you want to kill each other, do it when we're back on the Titan."
"Not worth my bullets anyways." The engineer spat and took out his sudnik launcher.
"Tanya," Ivan grabbed her arm and whispered. "Don't do anything stupid."
"Seriously, let's move, the pilot's looking pissed." Heliang said as he grabbed the ad hoc stretcher carrying Zhang Yi.
His action seemed to have jolted Tanya back into reality. She gave the engineer a murderous look that was hidden behind her visor before she picked up the other end of the stretcher and boarded the transport.
Ivan didn't board just yet, he walked to the crimson snow where Kush's body laid and picked up the dog tags. This man would receive the honors of a confirmed KIA. As his fist clenched around the small cold tag, Ivan silently promised that he would personally make sure that Kush receive more than just a KIA. The man deserved an Order of the Lotus Banner.
"Ivan, let's go!" Heliang yelled as the Yastreb's engines began warming up.
"Alright, let's get back aboard the Titan," Ivan climbed into the transport.
"So, Tanya," Heliang put his arm around her shoulder, "how's it going between you and that engineer eh?"
"I want to murder him and feed him his testicles by slices while he roasts over a fire." She replied. "But other than that, we're good."
"Oh, I don't think you want to do that," Heliang smiled slyly. "I think you want something else."
"Oh please," Tanya removed her helmet and flashed Heliang a stare cold enough to freeze an eskimo.
"Oh I think I see something going on between the two of you," Heliang's smile grew wider. "First we have some tension, then some yelling, then a fist fight, and finally you jump each other and declare your undying love for each other one grunted syllable at a time."
"Keep talking, and you'll find yourself in a casket." Tanya said matter-of-factly.
"I dunno," the pilot turned around, "I think the kid's got a point."
"Shouldn't you keep your eyes forward?" Tanya asked, clearly annoyed.
"It's on autopilot," the pilot replied, "So, what are you two going to do on your first date?"
"Good grief," Tanya exclaimed, "it's just a fight, nothing more will come out of it!"
"I dunno," the pilot winked. "Your squad is down one man, you'll need a replacement. Who knows."
"You know, I think I took some flying lessons before," Tanya turned to Ivan.
"Huh?" Ivan asked, not paying attention to the conversation at all.
"I think I took some flying lessons," Tanya repeated herself, "I don't think we need a pilot."
"Alright, alright," the pilot turned around, "just trying to lighten the mood. Killjoy."
The faint red shield of the Orlov appeared in view as the Yastreb clunked through the sky. Remarkably, nothing has tried to shoot down the transport. Not even the usual Talon made a random foray into the area. The pilot disengaged the autopilot function and took the controls as the Yastreb shuddered upon nearing the Titan. The shuddering grew stronger and louder while the craft slowed for final touchdown. In about thirty seconds, the transport was sitting on the deck of the Titan while a team of medicas rushed forth and brought down Zhang Yi.
"I need two units type O," one of the medics yelled as he placed a gurney underneath the stretcher.
"None here, wheel him down first." the other medic yelled back as he hooked an oxygen mask over Zhang Yi's face.
"Hemostatic gel?" the first medic asked.
"Last pack on me, there's word that Delta squad took some serious pounding at silo seven." the other medic yelled. "Something about an invisible walker. Shit, if that were true, then we need to dip into the supply crates downstairs."
"Dammit," the first medic grumbled as the two wheeled Zhang Yi to the infirmary, "we're going to run out of supplies soon if the assault doesn't yield anything soon."
"You're telling me," the other medic replied, "at least we're due in for some resupply from Europe soon. Hell, just hope that those ports in Germany can remain open. Because if those are gone, then we're completely cut off."
As the two medics disappeared, Ivan couldn't help remember the statement about an invisible walker. That means the EU has just changed the rules of the game. If you can't see a walker coming, no matter how much firepower you can pump into your walkers, you're still a sitting duck.
"We need to tell the commander about the invisible walkers." Ivan turned to Tanya.
"No need," Tanya pointed behind Ivan. The commander was there, and he didn't look very pleased.