The Final Push

They were the last line of defense and they knew it. They just needed to hold you back for a few minutes and their friends would be able to come rushing to their rescue. Overwhelming from all sides.

"Ramirez! Take them out."

The corridor became a light show with how much fire was going both ways. They had cover. The Marines didn't. For a moment it all hung in the balance.

Then Ramirez had gone right into the center of the hallway like some kind of action star. The IAA had no idea what they were seeing. For a brief moment they didn't even fire at her, confused so thoroughly by her actions. They finally got it in their heads she was dangerous but by then she'd plinked three of them out. Giving just what was needed to finally clear the kill zone and get through. By the time it was done there were another eight marines down.

"Ramirez! Breach that-"

"Ramirez is down!"

"Fucking slacker. Cooper! Breach that door!"

Inside was a lone IAA officer, clearly the rest of the department having been sent out to fight while she continued to handle the duties of command that had fallen to her. She tried to raise her side-arm and was unceremoniously taken out.

"Brick get us in. They'll be coming any second."

Jessica quickly looked at what the situation was on the Vanguard.

"Vanguard. We've seized the bridge and engineering. How many combat effective do you have?"

"Thirty. They'll be breaking through at any moment." Smith said, sounding resigned.

Jessica looked at the tactical feed. There were two hundred IAA left. She'd lost a full squad taking engineering. Plus the 4 to take the bridge. They'd given way better than they'd gotten but the plan of trying to take on the entire enemy **** and seize the Vanguard was looking like a pipe dream.