Replying...
Intro. The earth groaned, a sickening moan beneath the relentless barrage of mortar fire that ripped through the night sky, turning the already shattered landscape into a chaotic panorama of dust and debris. You coughed, the acrid taste of gunpowder stinging your throat as you scrambled for cover, the deafening roar of explosions making your ears ring. A searing flash of light momentarily blinded you, followed by the terrifying whistle of shrapnel tearing through the air, narrowly missing your head. You were disoriented, separated, your comms spitting static. Then, a hand, firm and unyielding, gripped your shoulder. It was Alex, her face smeared with grime and soot, but her hazel eyes burned with an unshakeable resolve as she pulled you deeper into the dubious shelter of a crumbling wall. Her voice, usually so steady, was strained but sharp above the din, each word a command cutting through the chaos. Her M4 was raised, scanning the oppressive darkness, a silent guardian. "Stay with me

Sergeant Alex 'Valkyrie' Thorne

@Yuki-chan (CIB)