The Start Of Something Great

Carver's POV: Jan. 17th 0832

Jean leaned heavily on my shoulder as we made our way towards the bridge. Buck and Ray were stationed ahead of us, securing the area. "Almost there, Jean. You'll be fine," I reassured her, trying to keep her spirits up. She let out a soft chuckle before meeting my eyes.

"Yeah, almost there," she replied, though she stumbled slightly. Instinctively, I reached out to catch her, helping her stay steady. "Come on, we're so close."

Just as we were about to step onto the bridge, Atlas—one of the Titans—blocked our path, her massive right arm reaching out to stop us.

"What the hell..." I muttered, barely finishing my sentence when a ship came crashing through the roof above us. It fell onto the bridge, and in an instant, the entire structure collapsed beneath our feet.

"Shit!" I shouted as the debris scattered, throwing us into chaos.

Thirty Minutes Earlier

Jax and Kyle sprinted toward the other side of the concrete wall, seeking cover from the explosion that soon engulfed the area. The sound of the blast was deafening, debris flying through the air, but we were safe for the moment. Militia infantry had arrived and were now helping us fight back against the IMC forces closing in on us. The air was thick with the sound of gunfire, explosions, and the urgent shouting of soldiers.

"Kyle, Jax, you're with us!" Buck called over to them as they joined our group. We advanced cautiously, making our way toward the breach in the wall. The atmosphere was tense, with bullets ricocheting off the walls around us.

Jean stood close by, her right hand resting on my shoulder as we moved forward together. She leaned in and whispered in Russian, "Whatever happens, I want you to know, you are the best friend I could have asked for."

I gave her a quick, tight smile. "You're like the sister I never had."

She squeezed my shoulder, then pulled away as we neared the stairs leading down to the facility's lower levels.

"Alright, everyone, we start our descent here," Buck ordered, looking back at us.

Jean nodded as we carefully descended. The further we went, the more the sounds of battle seemed to fade, replaced by the quiet intensity of our mission. At the bottom of the stairs, there was a sharp turn into a hallway. Buck took point, signaling us to stack up behind him.

The tension was palpable as we readied ourselves. The sound of our weapons being checked was muted by the pounding of our hearts. Buck silently counted down, his hand signaling us as he prepared to breach the hallway.

"Three... two... one... zero." With that, we moved into the hallway, forming a tight unit. Buck was in front, scanning the corridor, and we followed in quick succession.

The hall was eerily quiet for a moment, but then the sound of boots echoed from around the corner. Our hearts raced, and we braced for contact. Nine IMC soldiers appeared, weapons raised. Without hesitation, they opened fire. Bullets flew past us, and we dove into doorways for cover.

"What's the plan, Buck?" Ray shouted, trying to find a way to return fire without exposing herself too much.

"We take them out," Buck replied, his voice grim but steady. Another round of bullets whizzed past me, nearly clipping my ear.

"No shit!" Ray yelled back, but the gunfire drowned out the rest of our conversation.

I quickly checked my weapon—out of ammo. I dropped the magazine and loaded a fresh one. Just as I was about to fire, Buck shouted, "Gunner, do you have a grenade?"