Unexpected Resistance

March 24th, 2513

Corbulo Academy of Military Science (CAMS), Circinius IV, Circinius System

0145 Hours

"Conduct a fighting retreat, we're not here to hold the place! Do not dig in, keep moving, the mortars and units here will conduct suppressing fire to cover you-aw shit-!"

From his command post near the sports field for the Corbulo Academy of Military Science, Circinian Rifle Brigade commander Orville Hendrik reflexively pressed his face to the ground as a bullet whizzed past his head. Holding his binoculars to his eyes, he watched as most of his riflemen began slowly drawing back. But there was one unit that wasn't pulling back.

Keying his headset, he attempted to contact the unit. "E Platoon, Dormitory number four, why aren't you pulling back?". Only static came over the other end. Repeating the query, Hendrik growled as he realized their communications equipment must have been damaged in the fighting. "Runner!" he called out, and quickly a young rifleman, wearing only his fatigues and belt with ammunition on it, came to his side.

"Yes sir?" he asked.

"I need you to run to Dorm Four, and tell E Platoon to pull back, else the mortars are going to be dropping right on top of them."

"Understood." the rifleman responded as he bounded off, and as if on cue, the walking barrage from the mortars resumed, the shells landing perilously close to the area E Platoon was currently inhabiting. Turning his binoculars to the other units, Hendrik let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. They were pulling back in an orderly manner, squads covering each other as they moved back piecemeal, and those CAMS cadets who attempted to engage them quickly fell as the riflemen's bullets found their marks.

Turning back to Dormitory Four, Hendrik saw E Platoon had evidently received his message and were pulling back. But they had evidently run into heavier resistance. They weren't up against easy targets like cadets, but instead the UNSC military garrison at the Academy. Keying his mic again, Hendrik ordered "Sharpshooters, turn your attention to the units at Dorm Four! Other units can go without, but E Platoon's got regulars holding up their retreat!". As if on cue, the UNSC troops were forced to take cover from the hail of sniper fire from the treeline. "Mortars, continue your barrage!" he ordered. Now with E Platoon in earshot, Hendrik yelled "Pull back, the place is about to come down!".

Some evidently heard his command and began running for the treeline, and soon enough others followed suit. As the last of the unit reached his position, breathing heavily, Hendrik gave one final order. "Pack it up, head to the rally point, radio silence from here on out." he stated, before turning off his mic. Turning to E Platoon, he said "You're with me, let's go.", before they jogged off deeper into the surrounding forests, leaving the burning campus of CAMS behind.