Northwest direction... Small groups of retreating enemy troops... This problem must be solved.

Your squad is flying further and further from Fred's Hangar...

The cold of the wind...

Humidity in the air...

The clouds in the sky seem to form some gloomy images that are fleeting and quickly disintegrate.

As if the surrounding nature itself reflects all the horror of the recent bloody battle.

So, your experience in reconnaissance missions affects the success of your perception.

You and a squad of your warriors soar and fly in the gloomy evening skies at the maximum distance from the retreating enemy squads in order to minimize the risks (you have little strength - only a ten warriors - this is if you count Ben, you are the eleventh).

Of course, it is simply impossible to discern the words of the retreating enemies from such a great distance...

However, you have other ways to try to understand the current situation.

Even from a great distance, your keen and observant eye discerns disturbing aspects of the movement of small enemy detachments to the northwest of the settlement of Fred's Hangar.

These detachments of babilians-slaveowners, like their main attacking forces, had been routed in the recent battle...

But they were not completely disorganized or driven to a panicked, disorderly flight.

The enemy retreated cautiously, keeping their weapons in their hands and even shooting back at the reconnaissance detachments of windriders.

While the main forces of babilians were retreating in the southern direction (they were pursued by the main forces of windriders led by Satlon), these few detachments in the northwest were doing something not quite logical...

They were heading west - towards the dilapidated and frightening ruins of an ancient, huge metropolis.

War-chief Satlon had not entrusted you and your detachment with the reconnaissance mission in vain - you really quickly understood the significance of the threat.

Anyone else in your place might have ignored these facts and thought that the enemy was simply fleeing.

However, you immediately imagined the possible scenarios in your mind: “They are clearly not fleeing… This is an organized tactical retreat. Why not to the south? They maybe have some hidden reserves nearby. Or they hope to disguise themselves and begin covert sabotage and attacks on our supply routes at the moment when our main forces have gone far to the south. In any case, I must stop them!”

Ben flies around you and enthusiastically shouts: “There are not many of them - only about three dozen… Should we try to attack these bastards, Captain Dar? I really want to shoot them all…”

Your strong wings help you glide on the powerful currents of rising air.

You answer, trying to dampen your subordinate's misplaced zeal: "Don't shout too loudly, Ben... We don't want the enemy to notice us too early... As long as we stalk them carefully and try to maintain stealth..."

"But, Dar?..." - your friend Ben tries to object and gestures to his trophy weapon, which he acquired after a recent bloody battle. A Winchester Model 70 Super Grade hunting rifle. This one looks a little rusty and worn, but for now, that weapon works. And it's clearly better than the crossbows and spears that are still the main weapons of most of the warriors in your squad.

Throwing bombs, which were used in battle?

There are few such weapons left in the army of windriders and these bombs are quite heavy. Therefore, war-chief Satlon has decided not to give your squad a single throwing bomb.

You, with a heavy feeling of responsibility, look at the bandage on your friend's forehead. He was recently wounded. And now he is eager to fight again with the recklessness of a young warrior who has more courage than caution.

The pain from your own wounds is felt in your body. Of course, in a couple of weeks these superficial wounds will heal ... But the commander is obliged to plan the actions of his squad and try to protect the lives of his warriors from unnecessary risks. Your recent past only confirms these thoughts.

What happened that time? What keeps coming back to you in your memory?

Warriors of your squad were ambushed. Then - the capture of you and Ben, slavery and escape from slavery, despite extremely small chances ... All this happened very recently. And these events fall on your shoulders like a heavy burden of guilt. Only a lucky coincidence prevented the worst-case scenario – the destruction of your squad.

What was the reason for what happened then?

You think about it every day.

And the conclusions are disappointing.

You failed your job that day.

You failed as a commander.

You were careless and allowed your warriors to commit an extremely reckless act – exploring ancient ruins without sufficient safety measures.

In the end, Tina and Ben survived.

But what if fate is not so kind to your mistakes next time?

You answer Ben with a cold inflexibility in your voice: “No! No attacks without my orders. No objections. I am the captain. And I have made a decision. We will carefully pursue them and try to maintain stealth.”

Perhaps (judging by his displeased look), your peremptory commanding tone was offensive to Ben.

But he was **** to obey you.

Ben is your friend. Perhaps he is your only friend.

But that doesn't mean you'll neglect your duties as captain.

So, your squad continues its cautious pursuit of small groups of armed enemies who are retreating west towards the ruins of an ancient metropolis.