"Lara, can you get a view?"

"Negative sir"

Lara was not in a position to scout the ships that suddenly appeared from the forest. The team found themselves between a rock and a hard place, in front was a team of five ships fully armed, and across was another team of seven incoming.

If a battle erupted, their positions would be easily discovered which would put the natives in more danger. They needed to be careful but the more time they wasted, the more dangerous it would become.

"How far off are they?" asked Derek.

"Ten minutes tops"

"We can't attack now, that will alert them, and they will intercept Kol."

"Permission to speak, Sergeant," asked Wein who had remained silent this whole time. He was next to Derek as he had kept near him this whole operation, he too was crouching hidden from view waiting to rain fire on the ships that were only now landing.

"Speak."

"I suggest Private Kol, bring back the natives and bring them back to the base. In the enclosure there was a mess hall of sorts, it will be big enough for them all to fit and secure them from stray attacks."

Just as Wein said, the settlement the insurgents used had a big enclosure, big enough for all the natives to be hidden from sight.

Wein was reminded because he recalled something he read about the materials the hall was made of, they were strong enough to withstand a few rounds of attacks and bombs. He had seen that in passing with one of the labels as they were searching for the base.

"The entrance is not within view of the landing bay, and they can retreat as quickly as possible without being seen. We will hold down from there."

The suggestion by Wein was feasible, and Derek thought it was good. He did not have time to think for another and it minimised the risk of casualties.

"Kol, you heard him. You know where the hall is. Quickly return, we will also begin our attack" he commanded to Kol.

With that, Kol stopped the convoy and sent them back, running as quickly as they could. While he and Harlan we on guard duty on the sides, Harlan at the rear, and he at the front, leading. Because of the situation, they ran as fast as they could taking into account the hostages past the desert and back to the base.

…

The rest of the ships had landed and the soldiers from each disembarked with large crates and ammunitions in hand, their numbers far outnumbering the squad.

"Once we take care of these guys, we will need to retreat to a safer location and wait for the rest to come. Let's begin before it is too late," said Derek. "Three…two…."

Lara's aim was back at that couple who had now gotten a little too close to each other, watching them laughing together, she sent a single shot out.

Pew!!!....

The squad hailed shots and shots of energy beams at the enemy like a heavy rainfall shower. The shots were not merely directed at the soldiers between the crates but also at the ships themselves.

The ambush had begun, and the enemy soldiers were caught completely off guard, the squad's weapons unleashed a relentless storm of energy, their beams sizzling through the air, some even causing minor explosions from crates and the damaged ships.

Lara ever helpful targeted the pilots and prevented them from changing the flow of the battle. Her aim interchanged from one cockpit window to another, taking out everyone that came into view. They didn't spare the chance to verify her kills and moved to the next because she trusted her.

Within the whole chaos that erupted the soldiers scrambled for cover trying to identify their attackers and releasing their shots albeit in every direction, but the squad was too well hidden.

Between this skirmish, one of the ships went up in a massive explosion that even the squad had to take cover. Derek was certain that the reinforcements would have heard them and be alarmed.

"Dammit Kol, tell me the hostages are in the clear."

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

He, the leader was more worried now, with that explosion the reinforcement would have to hurry to identify the problem, and if they saw suspicious movement they would rain fire on the natives running back to the base.

"Hu… we have reached the entrance, it will take a few minutes for all natives to enter…" Kol was tired himself from the running. He was also carrying three of the Nol'vs who had fallen from the hurried running.

Behind were a few who had trailed behind, thankfully in front a swarm of the little guys was entering the base as suggested by Wein. Mark was watching the skies on the side to see how far off the ships were.

To limit chances of being discovered they had shot down all the light sources so there was only darkness and the movement of the Nol'vs flocking into the base.

…

"They are not letting up, at this rate we will be surrounded," said Sienna.

"Yeah, I know, right Sienna and Mace follow me and have my back. Wein provide us cover. Let's show them the strength of a Shock Trooper"!

With his determination, Derek flew out from his hiding spot heading to the soldiers who were hidden in the storm of retaliatory shots. On his left hand he had his knife, and, on the right, he had his blaster which he unloaded on them.

Behind the mayhem of the shots, Derek infiltrated the enemy insurgents and began his close combat battles.

…

The thing about Shock Troopers in comparison to normal Troopers was that they were the peak of humans. They were the best versions humans were capable of being, their thinking was better, and their speed, agility, and strength were far better than when they were human.

Granted Troopers were also far superior to normal humans but when you were a Shock Trooper you were able to unlock all your potential, you weren't superhuman per say, but you were the closest thing to it.

…

In the brief seconds that Derek was able to jump over from his hiding spot, he was able to move and identify his enemies. He could dodge the shots fired at him granted he had to time it perfectly, but he was able to move nimbly and close the distance to get to the enemy.

Derek encountered three combatants first, he could see the shock and terror written on their faces, wasting no time he stabbed one in the shoulder and proceeded to shoot another in his face.

As he did that, he pulled his blade out and stabbed the last one under his chin. The blade went so deep it poke through the roof of his head, killing him in an instant. The blood spilled like a fountain from that, spraying even on him.

He proceeded to kick the first one he wounded on the shoulder far off to the crate where he had noticed other enemies hiding moments ago, all the while shooting multiple shots from his blaster.

On the sides Sienna and Mace emerged from the shadows also moving at peak human speed, granted Mace the largest of the three was slower but he was far faster than the average man.

The three moved as one, using the fallen corpses of the enemy as human shields, dismembering their enemies, blowing their faces with blasters, and doing so with precision and skill that was only possible because they were Shock Troopers.

Wein the only Trooper there followed with his MA-25 and took out the enemies who showed themselves and provided him a clear shot. With meticulous and excellent work, the team was able to clear out the whole landing area in minutes.

Wein could feel his hand wanting to shake along with his legs, he was trained but this, this was next level fighting.

In the end, they were all spilled with the blood of their enemies, the area a mixture of torn metal fragments from explosions, fire and the blood of the enemies. There were some body parts and corpses spread across the battlefield that laid a testament to the gruelling battle that just took place.

"We cannot rest yet, we need to retreat to the base and secure all positions," Derek ordered as he took off running his breathing heavy. "Lara, cover our backs if we missed any."

The four did not waste time and ran as fast as they could to the base where the Nol'vs and the rest of the team were. In the sky, they could hear the sounds of ships getting closer and closer.

"All Nol'vs are secured along with the front entrance" reported Kol on the comms.

"They have arrived, sir. They have also drawn out their weapons" noted Lara.

"Thanks, keep yourself hidden, for the time being, let's hurry."

…

"Ple…ase spare me…" a broken voice cried out belonging to one of the insurgents, blooded and on death's door. His eyes cried for mercy but from the cruel look of Sergeant Angela who stared back with her blaster pointed at him, replied with a blast.

"The mine has been cleaned, returning to base" she spoke as she calmly made her way back, her steps elegant.

"Don't be hasty Angela, you and Lara will be our hidden aces, don't show your positions until the enemy is compromised" replied Derek.

Angela began running to the mine exit, passed the flickering lights and the dead bodies she had killed herself scattered through the tunnel of the mine. Her suit was dirty with the blood of her enemies mixed with the soil she had rubbed on by rolling and dodging.

"We have entered the base" spoke Derek. "How is the situation now?"

Angela was reaching the exit and even she could hear the sound from the ships that had begun searching the base. She ran even faster.

…

"For the time being they are clustered at the landing sight, sir" spoke Lara, she was watching through her rifle scope and could see the ships up close from her distance.

From her observations, a few ships were investigating what had happened to the others ships while the rest moved over the base.

"Two have peeled off and are over the base. Will it hold if they dare attack" she wondered.

"It will, the reason they installed it was to protect themselves and give themselves time in case they were attacked from the air. After all, they never expected to be infiltrated and attacked like this. It will hold" replied Wein.

…

"We have movement, they are disembarking from the two ships. Also, the rest of the ships are swarming over to the base. They will be coming from the sides and the front entrance" spoke Lara.

This meant the insurgents had decided to attack the team, two lines of men climbing down ropes were seen from the two ships that hovered above the base.

Once on the ground, they pulled out their weapons and approached the front entrance with caution, while a few were headed to the sides.

"It's beginning boss," said Lara.