Vince: – I think Fritz there came a little.

Franz: – Oh shut up and give us the vector to objective. While you’re at it, roll call!

Vince: –‘Ere, not a scratch!

Alvares: –Here, fine.

Francoise: – No damage here either.

Thembe: – All good.

Sergei: – They did rough me up, but nothing serious. I’ll walk it off.

Zhang: Me and Chen are good, but low on ammo.

Matsuda: System damage minimal: 0,021%. I’m fine.

Franz: –Alright, and Akhmed?

But nobody answered.

Franz: – Akhmed, come in! Squad, search ze area! Come in, Akhmed!

In ten minutes they found him. Well, what was left of him. Apparently it wasn’t him throwing a grenade – from how he lay, it could be seen that the beasts swarmed him. He would’ve made it, but one of them must’ve pulled a pin on his grenade – Akhmed wasn’t the type to blow himself up, under any circumstances, despite what people might’ve thought of him.

The squad has gathered around the small crater and bowed their heads in a minute of silence.

– Goodbye, brother – Franz finally said, solemnly.

– Goodbye, brother – echoed the squad.

Franz: – Now, pick up ze supplies from ze drop and let us move out! I vant these two miles covered in eight!