"The last group of civis are almost at the ship keep pushing men!!!" I commanded. Laser after laser flew around us as we ran through the musty bayou. Coming over the horizon we finally made it to evac.

"Set a perimeter around the civilians!!! T5 call down a turret and defend our flank! E8 and Q1 defend south and east respectfully. We're almost done boys keep it together!!!"

I quickly ran towards the panel and called for our evac ship.

Evac in t-120seconds

I can only hope my squad holds strong .

The evac timer ticked down agonizingly slow. Sweat dripped down my brow as I gripped my plasma rifle tight, eyes darting for any sign of enemy movement in the thick bayou foliage.

"Sir, turret is up but ammo reserves are at 30%," T5 reported, his voice wavering slightly. The distant whine of the turret firing in controlled bursts punctuated the tense air.

I nodded curtly. "Noted. Hold position and make every shot count."

A sudden explosion rocked the ground nearby, sending plumes of dirt and splintered wood flying. Screams erupted from the huddled civilians.

"They're flanking from the west!" E8 yelled over the comm link, his words nearly drowned out by the staccato of gunfire. "Engaging hostiles but we're outnumbered!"

I swore under my breath. "Q1, reinforce the west perimeter! T5, reroute power from non-essential systems to the turret!"

Acknowledgements crackled through the comm as my squad hurried to follow orders. I risked a glance at the evac timer.

90 seconds.

Another explosion, closer this time. The smell of charred ozone filled my nostrils. I glimpsed the bright streaks of enemy lasers crisscrossing the darkening sky, a deadly light show in the fading sun.

"Man down, man down!" E8's panicked voice cut through the chaos. "They've breached the perimeter!"

70 seconds.

My heart hammered against my ribcage. I switched to the civilian comm channel. "Everyone, prepare for immediate evac! Head to the loading ramp on my signal!"

Terrified affirmations echoed back. I caught the wide, fearful eyes of a young girl clutching a tattered teddy bear in the crowd. Something twisted painfully in my chest.

"Hostiles, danger close!" Q1 warned, his words punctuated by the telltale sizzle of plasma against flesh.

I made a split-second decision. "All units, fall back to the evac point. Those who can Deploy artificial cover do it! For the others Provide cover fire for the civilians!"

50 seconds.

We formed a protective ring around the scrambling civilians as they rushed up the ramp into the waiting ship. Lasers singed the air, barely missing vulnerable flesh. The turret sputtered and went silent, its ammo spent.

Once all the civilians were behind cover in the protective ring I gave the order. "Inner men ready your grenades throw on my command! Outer men keep firing!"

"Grenades ready!" the inner circle of men shouted in unison, their hands holding the pulled pins.

I took a deep breath, my finger hovering over the trigger of my rifle. "On my mark... Now!"

A chorus of metallic pings filled the air as the grenades were thrown. "Get Down!" I yelled, ducking behind cover.

The grenades arced through the air, tiny spheres of destruction glinting in the fading light. They landed amidst the advancing enemy ranks, exploding in a cacophony of sound and fury. Screams of binary mixed with the deafening blasts, the shockwaves rippling through the bayou.

"Go, go, go!" I urged, waving the outer circle of men towards the newly deployed cover. "Covering fire!"

We leapfrogged back, one group providing suppressing fire while the other retreated. Plasma bolts whizzed past, scorching the muddy ground and splintering trees. The acrid stench of burnt foliage and melted metal assaulted my nostrils.

Landing now clear the immediate area.

The civilians rushed into the ship protected by my fellow helldiver's.

"Everyone accounted for?" I barked into the comm, not daring to take my eyes off the regrouping enemies.

"All civilians on board!" The Pilot confirmed.

"Squad, get to the ship! Move!" I ordered, laying down suppressing fire. My rifle grew hot in my hands as I poured plasma into the advancing enemy line.

E8 and Q1 sprinted past me, their armor scorched and dented. T5 limped behind, clutching his side. I provided cover, my finger never leaving the trigger.

A searing pain erupted in my shoulder. I stumbled, nearly dropping my rifle. Blood bloomed across my armor, a crimson flower in the gathering dusk.

"Captain!" T5 shouted, turning back.

"I'm fine!" I gritted out. "Get on the damn ship!"

I backed up the ramp, my vision blurring at the edges. The enemy surged forward, their ranks seemingly endless. Lasers painted the ship's hull in angry red streaks.

With a final burst of energy, I leaped into the cargo hold. "Raise the ramp! Get us out of here!"

The ramp groaned and began to lift, agonizingly slow. Lasers slipped through the narrowing gap, scorching the metal floor. I slumped against the wall, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Punch it!" I barked at the pilot, strapping myself into a nearby seat.

The ship shuddered as the engines roared to life, lifting us off the ground with a lurch. I felt the familiar pressure of acceleration pressing me back into my seat as we hurtled towards the safety of the upper atmosphere.

Relieved sighs and muffled sobs filled the cramped cargo hold. I glanced around at the haggard faces of the civilians, their clothes dirty and torn, eyes haunted by the horrors they'd witnessed. My squad looked no better, their armor scorched and dented, faces grim with exhaustion.

But we were alive. Against all odds, we'd made it.

I closed my eyes for a moment, allowing myself a brief respite. The image of the young girl with the teddy bear flashed behind my eyelids, her innocent face a stark reminder of what we fight for.

A hand clasped my shoulder, startling me from my thoughts. It was T5, his helmet cradled under one arm. "We did good today, sir," he said quietly, a weary smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "We made it," T5 breathed, his face pale beneath the grime. "We actually made it."

I managed a weak smile. "Good work, squad. Let's get the civilians settled and tend to our wounds."

As if on cue, medics rushed into the cargo hold, their expressions grim but determined. I waved them towards my squad, my own injury forgotten.

"Sir, you're wounded," a medic said, her eyes widening at the sight of my blood-soaked armor.

"It's nothing," I lied, pushing myself upright with a grunt. "See to the others first."

I limped towards the cockpit, each step sending a fresh wave of pain through my body. The adrenaline was fading, replaced by a bone-deep weariness.

In the cockpit, the pilot glanced up as I entered. "Captain, we've cleared the atmosphere. Engaging hyperdrive on your command."

I sank into the co-pilot's chair, my vision swimming. "Do it. Set course for the nearest friendly planet. Those damn machines blew up my command ship mid mission. Hopefully they have one on standby or we'll have to hitch a ride back home."

As the stars blurred into the swirling vortex of hyperspace, I finally allowed myself to close my eyes. We had made it, but at what cost? The mission was a success, but the weight of those we lost hung heavy on my heart.

I hope I'm living up to your expectations Captain Ross….

There would be time for mourning later. For now, I had to be strong for my squad, for the civilians we had saved. The fight was far from over, but for this moment, in the calm of hyperspace, we could breathe.

BOOM!!!!!

The ship shuddered as enemy fire impacted the hull. Alarms blared, red lights flashing in warning.

"DAMMIT THOSE MACHINES MUST'VE FOLLOWED US!! THIS ISN'T A COMBAT MODEL SHIP WE'RE SCREWED! Screamed the pilot. Seeing the severity of the situation I stumbled into the hangar bay, my injured shoulder throbbing with each step.

"Captain, what are you doing?" T5 called out, his eyes wide with fear and confusion.

I didn't answer. My gaze was fixed on the small, one-man fighter tucked away in the corner of the hangar covered in dust. It was a last resort, a desperate gamble.

"I hope this thing is still operational."

I climbed into the cockpit, ignoring the searing pain in my shoulder as I strapped myself in. The controls were familiar, a remnant of my training days.

"Captain, you can't!" E8 shouted, her voice cracking. "We need you!"

I met her gaze through the cockpit glass. "Make sure our people get to safety. That's an order."

The hangar doors opened, the void of space yawning before me. I caught a glimpse of the enemy ships, their hulls gleaming in the starlight.

I engaged the thrusters, the small fighter leaping forward. The inertia pressed me back against the seat, my vision narrowing.

The comm crackled to life. "Captain, what are you doing?" the pilot asked, her voice tight with worry.

"Buying you time," I replied, my voice steady despite the fear churning in my gut. "Get the hell out of here. I'll hold them off."

I didn't wait for a response. I switched off the comm and focused on the enemy ships growing larger in my viewscreen.

I juked and weaved, my fingers flying over the controls. Laser fire streaked past, barely missing my wings. I returned fire, my shots impacting against their shields in bursts of light.

The Automaton ships were relentless, their movements precise and calculated. I was outnumbered and outgunned, but I refused to yield. I glanced at my radar, relief flooding through me as I saw the friendly ships disappearing into hyperspace. They had made it.

A sudden impact rocked my fighter, alarms screaming in my ears. Smoke filled the cockpit, acrid and choking. My controls went dead, unresponsive beneath my fingers.

I was spinning, the stars blurring into streaks of light. Another impact, this one sending pain lancing through my body. Warning lights flashed, the hull integrity compromised.

Through the cracked viewscreen, I saw the Automaton ships closing in, their weapons trained on my crippled fighter. I closed my eyes, a strange sense of peace settling over me.

I had done my duty. My squad, the civilians, they were safe. That was all that mattered.

As the darkness closed in, I whispered a final prayer. For my squad, for the civilians, for the future of Super Earth.

"FOR LIBERTY!!!!!!"

I slammed the self destruct button And then, there was nothing but the cold embrace of the void.