[headquarters]

SHANDON ,CA OCT.11th 0831 hrs TEMP : +2 C*

Grease felt the unwelcome chilly draft of outside air streaming in to cool his sweat soaked fatigues through the multiple shrapnel and bullet holes in his PainTek mk2 MOPP suit . The realization was not enough to stop him in his desperate run away from the bunker with its omnious klaxon of doom sounding ever more faintly as he ran.The steady buzzing of his breath sounded from the gasmask filter .It was almost soothing compared to the stress level of inside the bunker.Shouts,screams and gunfire had given him an uncomfortable ringing in the ears - it felt like it was going to be permanent. As he cleared the gun emplacement where DeCorba was busy reloading a new shell into the breach , his steps tok him out into the open area surrounding the bunker .The NDP had done a great job of clearing the fields of fire and filling in all the little depressions in the terrain here !
From a technical standpoint it was smartly done.
A deep ravine ran North to south crossing his route directly in front of him some 300 meters away.

That had to be the best cover .It was at least 100 meters across at the rim and looked to be plenty deep to cover him from both spotters and gunners that were bound to be positioned further out from the bunker.

The little village about 700 meters south seemed to be teeming with them At least 2 companies worth of NDP were swarming around down there ,conducting an orderly retreat for some reason .

To the north ,towards the mountains he could see a line of soldiers retreating as well , they looked like tiny ants on a hill as they moved in unison -away .retreating as well.

The hot airblast and roar from an old Huey helicopter buzzing by not more than 30 meters overhead rattled him .

That birdie had come suddenly!

He was suddenly aware that he was trailing a possè ,the two young prisoners they had released were behind him and slowly catching up .
Or one of them was -the other had turned back and was jumping from one foot to the other -as trying to decide which way to run .

Up on the mountain , a small gathering of black specs against the dull reddish grey of the stone face had detached itself from the main line of figures moving north. They were heading towards him .But still almost half a mile away.

Panting he looked down the length of the ravine and saw movement . Three dust covered dirtbikes were heading up the ravine trail -engines screeching high pitched. Both carried a dusty mopp suited NDP trooper as well as the driver .

So not everyone was running here ...

Overhead , the helicopter was making another pass .This time in a wide slow arc at around 250 meters height and about 500 meters out . it looked like it was circling the area.

In the east a pale sun rose in the dusty haze.

It gave no warmth.

He glanced over his shoulder and saw that Iron Man was out in the open too ,running for the ravine but at a more southernly route . Out of breath he tried a warning shout .

But Iron Man was too far of to hear him through the mask.

"Got to keep on moving and stay sharper than the other guy " he reminded himself.

250 meters to go .