Engagement part 4 by Ronald Faltus

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"He's a tough kid, take more than one bullet to keep him down." Hines spoke with a full measure of confidence, hoping that he could persuade the Lieutenant to soften her concerns. As impressed as he was with her demeanor while storming the villa, her concern for the private further exemplified what kind of officer she was. Upon first meeting her, he was convinced that she was a ridged career minded individual who's ability empathize to her troops would be lacking. Fortunately, his estimation was incorrect, or a single gunshot wound would have been the least of their troubles. If Myers hadn't joined the assault and sub-sequentially taken out the turret, he and his commandos would have not survived the day.

Motioning to the villa, he invited Myers to walk with him. "Beacon's placed and the wounded have been tended. I say we take a look and see if this exercise was worth it."

Myers glance passed form the ruined shuttle to what remained of the structure, and finally coming to rest on Private Henderson who seemed to be resting quietly. "I should sure hope so."

The two approached the building, as the other commandos were busily removing the dead terrorist and laying them out of view around the corner. Trying to ignore the sight, compulsion forced her to look at the man that was being carried out. She recognized the corps as the one that had shot Henderson and if it wasn't for her reflexes taking over would have done the same to her. A slight shudder ran down her back as she relived the moment. Enemies had fallen before in combats she was a part of, but that was form the safety of a cruiser's bridge. This was the first person she was forced to kill face to face, and while his passing wasn't nearly a poignant to her as the turret operator's death, her first's rough features were burn indelibility into her mind. Felling the surprisingly soft touch of an armored glove on her shoulder, she understood that the sergeant had noticed her reaction to the body.

Attempting to physically steer her thoughts, Hines guided her into the building. "We found the transmitter on the second floor. Along with a few other interesting items."

"Interesting? As in how?"

Standing in the foyer, the sergeant halted, and began to unfasten his helmet. "It's best just to show you. I really can't explain it, because I have no clue what they are."

Myers looked at him with a puzzled expression; both at the cryptic response, and a strangely growing anticipation of seeing what the man behind the mask looked like. The commando squad arrived in full combat gear when they first boarded the shuttle back on the Azorean Grey. And while she probably had passed Hines in a corridor at some point during her time on the cruiser, she really had no idea what he looked like.

Hoping that speaking would hide her anticipation, "I thought you guys never took them off while in the field?"

Hines undid the last clip, and lifted the helmet off his shoulders. "Ahh, that's the regs. But I've been wearing it all day, and I just need to take a breath of fresh air." Tucking the gear under his arm, he was able to free up one of his hands to brush the sweat form his closely cropped hair.