<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Kari caught bits and pieces of what was going on over the channel, recognizing people more from snatches of voice then anything else. She’d already IDed Allia, and the second voice was almost certainly Damien.<em>Good to know he’s still here,</em>she quickly assessed, mentally improving their chances just that extra little bit.<em>Damien’s dad’s right hand. He’s the man who does the hard work in keeping this boat afloat. And if he’s alive…</em>Maybe it was wishful thinking, but the hope that her father was alive was enough to boost her spirits just a little bit.<br/><br/>The<em>Shadow Cat II’s</em>Starmates were still out there, however, and she still had no idea what sort of numbers they were facing. These Falcons were dangerous and driven, not taking any prisoners and not even pretending to adhere to Clan honour. She’d already seen them cut down survivors of other units that had tried to surrender without a second thought, and knew that it was not going to be an option. It also meant that any of the Black Suns that didn’t get away were dead, no matter what.<em>Not going to let that happen,</em>she told herself.<em>We will survive this.</em><br/><br/>“Charybdis, this is Bravo Lead,” She replied over the command channel. “Lay down smoke rounds north-west of your position.” She was assuming that his Mortars still were working and still had ammunition, but it was at least a fragment of a plan. At the very least, the combination of smoke and the woods would even further hamper the Falcon’s targeting. And right now, every little bit helped. “Keep pulling back to rendezvous.”<br/><br/><em>We’re nearly there,</em>Kari told herself, less reporting the situation as she was trying to reassure herself that they had a chance.<em>Not too much longer now. Come on, dad. Where are you?</em><br/>