The group quickly spotted the guards of the western wall, both Marines and griffins, falling back from the incoming mob of Troopers chasing them. Gilda shouted an order to the lead earth-griffin—a Fortus Knight carrying Guerrero. He raised his claw, which signaled all the earth-griffins following him to fan out, taking to the air before landing on the rooftops of the nearby settlements. The Marines unloaded themselves from the griffins they rode, took a moment to aim their rifles at the charging black wave, then opened fire a second later. 