When Mirage entered the medical tent the medics who weren't tending to the wounded, which were few of them, saluted him.

He gave them a curt nod, seeing the fatigue etched into their faces. Many had blood painting their arms and hands, some even smeared across their faces, none of it their own.

He caught sight of Desertfox who was tending to a soldier in shock. He was treating the injury to his shoulder, one that appeared to have marred the man's arm, deep lacerations cutting through muscle and tendon.

Blood stained his ash grey armor red, his eyes wide. He rambled something incoherent to him but Desertfox answered, comforting him.

"I have bad news," he said, looking away from him.

Those words got the attention of every medic in the tent.

"Paragon as you know is here, however they need us to move out of their way. They've given us four days to do so."

Silence settled over the tent like a heavy snow, a sense of dread permeating the room.

Ibis was the first to shatter the silence, her voice cutting through the groans of the wounded.

"That is an impossible feat." She said, shaking her head, braided black hair falling over her shoulder.

"We can't move them in that time. Half of these men aren't even stable enough to be moved. They'd die before they got to one of our bases."

Her dark skin shone bronze in the light of the tent, her dark eyes locking with his. Several of the other medics agreed, raised their own objections.

"We need more time."

That was a phrase Mirage had heard too many times now, a wish he couldn't grant.

"I've talked with the Admirals but they aren't willing to change their plans. For now get ready to move as many wounded as you can. Paragon will help you as much as they can."

"That won't help much." Desertfox said, looking up at him.

"Not when we need to stabilize more men then we can move."

"I'm trying my best." Mirage said, resisting a sigh.

"But it doesn't look like we're getting what we need."

Mirage fell silent, watching as Desertfox calmed the soldier tended to, reassuring him that he was safe as he switched blood soaked bandages for new ones.

"Are you absolutely sure you can't buy us more time?" Asked Desertfox, his back still turned to Mirage.

"I can try, but from what I hear they won't be swayed." He said.

The looks his medics gave him were almost too much. He looked away, wishing there was another way to give them the hope they so desperately needed.

"I'm sorry." He said, looking at them all again.

"There isn't anything I can do as of now. Our fate isn't in our hands any longer."

Ibis nodded, finishing the stitches and checking with her patient before walking away. Desertfox rose from where he knelt by the soldier he was treating, turning to Mirage.

His dark brown eyes searched his but he said nothing, turning away from where he stood. Mirage opened his mouth to say something but couldn't find the words. Instead he watched him disappear through the tent flap to get some fresh air.

"Mirage," came a familiar voice.

He turned and saw Nova walking into the medical tent.

"We need to talk alone."

This made his heart leap in his chest. Whatever this was about wasn't good.

"I have bad news from Coles." She said, stopping in front of him.

More bad news after more bad news. Thought Mirage dully, his mood matching the dark sky above him.

"The squad Oracle was with is trapped near the center of the city. They were fighting Reclaimer's men with another squad, they got cut off from Delta Battalion. There's nowhere safe to land a ship as of now.

"The only way to them that isn't blocked by enemy forces is obstructed by the destroyed buildings the explosion caused to collapse."

"Is she...?" He asked, unable to finish the question.

"She's alive as far as we know." She answered, quelling his fears.

"We need to get them out," he said, "we can't leave them behind."

"Focus on the army as a whole," said Nova, "I'll take care of them."

Mirage nodded, not saying anything. He turned to leave but stopped, looking back at her.

"Promise me you'll get them out." He asked.

Nova hesitated before answering, her voice quiet when she spoke.

"You know I can't do that."

Those words hurt more than they should, digging sharp claws into his chest.

"There aren't any promises in war." He said, not looking at her.

Nova didn't say anything more, she didn't need to. Mirage knew she would do everything she could, but in the end it may not be enough.

He took a deep breath, walking a way from where Nova stood, not wanting to except the truth he had been presented with.

He may not see Oracle again. It was very real and terrifying truth, one he wished he didn't have to think about.

When he entered the medical tent again Desertfox was inside, sitting with his back against the metal cot behind him. He had taken off the extra supplies he carried when out in the field, his medical pack siting open next to him.

His hands were stained with blood, he hadn't washed them since he had treated the soldier earlier.

Mirage glanced at the man. His eyes were unseeing, skin pale, blood staining the bandages Desertfox had applied. It looked as though his shoulder had been torn apart by whatever he had been in contact with.

"You've had bad news?" Desertfox asked, looking up at him.

Mirage nodded, staring off into space.

"Oracle and several other men are trapped with no way out in enemy territory." He said, the words hard to say.

"She will be fine. You know that. I'm more worried about the enemies trapped with her."

Mirage let a ghost of a smile grace his lips, sitting  next to Desertfox, relaxing only a little. He looked over at him and saw the bags under his eyes, the stress he tried to hide shining in them.

He watched as he fought to stay awake, drifting every few seconds.

"Close your eyes." He said gently, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"What if I'm needed?" He asked.

"You're more useful with a quick hour of rest then you are with no sleep."

"Touché." Said Desertfox quietly, giving him a tired smile.

Mirage let a hint of a smile play across his face, watching Desertfox drift off to sleep. Now it was time to talk to someone he hadn't talked to in awhile, someone he missed dearly.

Too long. He thought, entering the passcode for the COM channel.

Too long.

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Hope you enjoyed as always! Make sure to leave feedback, these upcoming chapters may be shorter then the ones before them just so you know!

~~Nightfury107