Ajax's ship came out of warp just above Mars. He looked around the cabin, pressing buttons and flipping switches. A green light turned on, illuminating him in the glow. "This is Fox Leader. Does anyone copy? I repeat. This is Fox Leader. Does anyone copy?" The hunter sat still as he waited for the reply. After a minute, static came over the radio. "This is Fox Four, roger. Welcome back," the voice said. "Fox Four, I hear you loud and clear. My ETA is two minutes. Over," Ajax said. He tilted his ship down to the surface of the planet and made his descent. "Copy that, boss. We'll be waiting for ya." The static channel shut off and the green light died out. The Arcadia class jumpship soared over the dusty dunes. In the night, his two engines gave away his position like a lighthouse. Anywhere else, this would catch everyone's attention, but not in a warzone. On Mars, it was just more reinforcements. It weaved through the night sky-- Sol was hiding, Deimos now guided Ajax. Not just Deimos, billions and billions of stars watched him as well. Hidden in a narrow canyon was a small camp-- about four pitched up tents. "Ah, home. Home away from home," Ajax said after sighing quietly. He spun his ship around and made another pass. "Prepare for transmat..." Billy, Ajax's ghost, said as he measured all the calculations in his core quickly. Ajax took a deep breath out and his body tensed up in his seat. "I hate doing this," he said, reminding himself. Soon, the hunter was just a bright blue-white light in the ship. He reappeared on the surface jogging a step or two. Ajax looked up and watched as his ship flew down the line of the canyon, off to wherever Billy could hide it. Ajax tilted his head to eye level. There ahead of him was the rest of the Desert Foxes-- one of the Vanguard's special operations teams. The team consisted of Castro, the medic; Gideon, a master assassin; Khanan, assassin trainee; Rory, the team's lead scout; and Yuri, the cook-- as everyone teased. They were all hunters. "Welcome back!" Rory yelled to Ajax. "We've missed you," he continued after he threw his arm over him. The team turned and walked back to camp. "How's Tower life, bud?" Castro asked as he wiped his knife clean. "Stressful," Ajax replied as he rubbed his neck. "I don't miss the paperwork." "No one ever does," Castro followed up. "The boss is back home, boys! This calls for a round of drinks!" Yuri yelled as he dashed for a tent. Everyone but Ajax cheered. He'd never turn down a cold Red Death, but he was a man of business. The team walked to a tent that had a holographic map of Mars on the table. Amy, Rory's ghost, was already in there studying the map. The team shuffled their way around the table to discuss their next target. Ajax leaned up against the table, staring at the holographic ship that flew above the planet. "Any news on what they're planning?" "None so far," Rory answered. "I went out yesterday. I saw ive harvesters dock with it. We still have no idea who's still on the ship, but from the formation of the harvesters, someone important has been moving in between." "Have any of you seen who's been getting on or off of these harvesters?" Ajax asked as he looked around the room. "We haven't, but I overheard some chatter from Discovery, and it seems they have heard something about a Valus or two," Gideon answered. "So, it is confirmed that the Cabal requested strategic aid? Maybe this battle can be won yet!" Ajax exclaimed as he sat down. Yuri pushed through the canopy. "First thing's first-- the boss gets the Red Death, I get the Hard Light!" He yelled. Yuri tossed a bottle through the air, which Ajax caught. "I got Bad Juju, Dragon's Breath, Lucky Raspberry, and Thorn..." "Dragon's Breath!" Castro yelled. Yuri passed him the bottle. "Lucky Raspberry, good sir," Rory said. Yuri passed him a bottle. "I'll have Bad Juju," Gideon said. Yuri tossed him a bottle. Khanan looked around in disbelief, then to the bottle sitting on the table. "D***it, why am I always stuck with Thorn?!" He asked as he aggressively took the bottle. "Probably because you never speak up?" Yuri asked as he took a sip of his drink. Castro shook Khanan's shoulder and laughed as his partner reluctantly took a swing of the drink. The six hunters sat around the table, enjoying the beverages to the last drop. That is, everyone but Khanan. The hour had passed, and everyone was satisfied. The hunters stepped outside to enjoy the Martian weather. The wind was howling, kicking up a dust storm above them. Even though the canyon kept the camp safe, once the wind ceased, that sand would eventually settle on them. Natural camouflage, they called it. Inside the tent, Ajax and Rory still discussed the events that had happened while the lead hunter was back at the Tower. "What's the plan?" Rory asked. "As of now, you're gonna get some rest. You've been out for too long, I can see it in your eyes..." Ajax rubbed his chin, then patted his cheeks to keep himself awake. Rory stiffened. "Sir, you don't look too good yourself. If you can stay awake, so can I." "I need to make a call, first. You've done your part, now let me do mine. Get some rest," Ajax ordered. Rory began to speak, then stopped. He stepped out of the tent and left his leader in silence. Ajax turned to his ghost, "Billy, could you get me a channel with Discovery team?" The ghost expanded his shell and gave off several pings. "This is Ajax Ramsey of the Desert Foxes. Does anyone copy?" "I jus... ...ceived your ident...cation number from ... ghost. This is ...ander of Disc..." Replied a man through the weak signal. "Well, Alexander. I would like to talk to you about some information your team gathered on the Cabal..." Ajax said.