[spoiler]This chapter has some slight depictions of gore. Nothing too extreme, but you were warned.[/spoiler] Wednesday; three days until the Guardian Assault Wounded Guardians from all parts of Meridian Bay snuck into the refuge. Cabal patrols marched all around the city, so hunters led small groups into the Clovis Bray office tower. This was going on all day; in fact, the sun was beginning to set on the western horizon. Now, the upper two floors were filled with wounded or damaged exos. Some Guardians were missing arms and legs. Some Guardians' faces were burned by explosions. Entry wounds shattered bone, sending the shrapnel into flesh. Some people were delusional from the loss of so much blood. The two top floors reeked with the smell of death, the sound of agonizing pain, and the sight of blood and gore. Trained medics worked endlessly for hours, trying to save as many lives as possible. Anyone else, would have been sick to their stomach. The lobby floor, or whatever floor that was still above the sand, was occupied by Victor and other strong Guardians. They were on lookout in case the Cabal found them. Victor was standing around a table with an old teammate, Lieutenant Pax-01, a warlock that was on Victor's team in basic training. "We have brought in around a hundred of troops, Sir. But, we expect only sevent-seven to be strong enough to fight... or even survive..." Pax said. "We don't have many more backup plans... We do have option left, but must work! If we can't execute it precisely, then we will lose Freehold," Victor said frustratingly. He was expecting to work with an invasion force, not a few broken Guardians. "What's the plan?" Pax asked. "If we can get a force up on the ridge of the Valley, we could possibly distract the Cabal long enough for a second unit to sneak in and kill the Primus..." "What are the cons?" The exo asked as he looked up to Victor. He could tell, not even Victor was confident in the idea. "The canyon could be armed to the teeth; even if we get to the ridge, AA cannons could be ready to shoot down any ships that try to get in close. The Primus could be a decoy, and we waste our last remaining resources for nothing. There could be a whole other legion of Cabal and I lead Guardians into a bloodbath..." "Sounds risky," Pax said. "I KNOW!!" Victor yelled. Every Guardian looked to the angry titan as he broke the table in half by punching it. "What would be the pros?" The warlock asked. Victor sighed. "We kill the Primus. We weaken the Cabal and the Vex finish them. We keep them out of Freehold long enough for the Vanguard to produce another army of Guardians..." "Hmm, it's a toss-up..." Pax stated as he thought. "Captain Riekel!" Yelled Ajax. "I wouldn't make any decisions just yet!" Pax and Victor turned to the team of hunters approaching them. Their armor had their paint jobs scraped off, their cloaks were ripped to shreds, and sand particles were knocked off their boots with each step. Spending just one day in mild dust storms had a toll. "I pray that you have good news for us..." Victor said with a sigh, as if the weight of the world was finally lifted from his shoulders. Ajax removed his helmet and held it under his arm. He swallowed, trying to get the lump out of his throat. "We've been tracking a Cabal patrol. Four interceptors... one Goliath. Headed straight for us..." "A Goliath? In the city? They must know where we are..." Victor placed his hands on his head and brushed back his thinning hair. This was not what he wanted to hear. "It's a possibility. We killed several psion spies in the streets, but they could've easily seen us sneaking in and out of the tower..." Ajax continued. "When will it get here?" Victor asked, turning away from the hunter. "Noon of tomorrow. It should be enough time to get out and find a new place to hide," Ajax answered. Now, every Guardian in the room was staring at Ajax and Victor. Even Matson, who was holding the sleeping Laurel, turned his attention to the titan. Victor spun around, glancing at everyone that was standing around him. The titan was carrying the weight of Mars on his shoulders, and holding the lives of his comrades in his hands. "...We have too many wounded. There's no way we could evacuate everyone..." He finally spoke. People began whispering, and the air turned very grim. Was it true? Did the Cabal really have them beaten? Were they going to die here, on Mars? No one was ready. No one. Victor failed. He failed everything.