The immediate perimeter remained silent, there was no movement, if the rebels intended to attack it obviously wasn't going to happen now. As soon as the last marine was off the ramp, the drop ship's pilot spoke over the radio "I'm lifting off" he said firmly "I'll fly station for as long as I can before going back for refuel, once I do you'll be on your own for about 30 minutes" As soon as he finished saying this the ramp began to close, taking less than 10 seconds to do so. Another 3 seconds later the drop ship was in the air. Moving smoothly as it began to circle around the marines' position each circle larger than the one before.