Blackness. All around is blackness.
Gradually he became aware of a ringing in his head. This slowly morphed into explosions, shouting and the general sounds of destruction and mayhem. His vision coming back, he raises his head from the rubble and shakes it. He wonders muzzily where hes at, and why his brothers and cousins were making so much noise. The shouting comes closer.
'Grab the newbie and lets go!'
He feels hands grab him and drag him across the ground. His mind clearing, he fights to get his feet under him. Shaking brick dust from his eyes, he finds two of his teammates staring at him.
'Gunfytr, can you run? The Orbital Bombardment is off by two whole grids!. We gotta go!!'
Nodding dumbly, he falls into line, sprinting towards the extraction point. Looking around as he runs, he is horrified at what he sees. Whole hab blocks were being leveled by the OB. Here, a once beautiful park ablaze, there, a crater where a school once was. But why? Granted this was a rebel city, but was this necessary?
Gun and his team had been tasked with holding one of the broadcast stations in the city. Part of a citywide "takeover". Easy enough, slip in under cover of darkness and when the citizens wake up, all the Goverment buildings, banks, Police stations and broadcast centers were now under the control of Sol Banking. No muss, no fuss, and limited bloodshed. Easy peasy.
Then they got word that Sol Banking wished to make an "example" to the population of this world. The Pathfinders and other Merc units had been told that the intended target was a forest to the west of the city. Plainly visible to most of the population, but little to no threat to life. A good example of the ICC Battlestations capabilities. Yeah, sure. Until they MISSED by two whole grid squares, and gutted the heart of the city. And it just kept coming.
Frantically running through the destruction, the team makes its way to where, hopefully, their lander is waiting. Breaking out of cover, the see the PF lander just coming in. Running up the ramp, they throw themselves onto the deck of the craft. A PF Captain grabbing the last one on board and throwing him the rest of the way. Jets screaming, the lander takes off.
Panting, Gun lays where he had fallen. He stares up as the Captain repeats into his comms, "Any Pathfinder unit! This is Lander 117, pickup is available, give me your location!" His response is only static. With a frustrated shriek, he turns and punches the side of the lander. Switching channels, the Captain comms again, "This is Bronco 5 Actual, I'm still missing 4 teams in this goat rodeo." He nods to an unseen voice. "I have Troopers who need medical attention before anything else." He frowns, "No, Sir. I'm going to drop off these Troops and go back out." Shaking his head, he protests, "Sir, I have men out there! I'm not going to leave them...." The voice buzzes insistantly. Reluctantly, the Captain looks out the still open ramp and blanches. Gun follows his gaze, and sees that what isnt covered by smoke, is slowly being glassed over by the Battlestation. Defeated, the Captain slumps onto a bench lining the lander. "Yes Sir, we are returning."