The soft patter of rain fell against the muddy fields beyond. Morgan leaned against a wall as she sat on a worn box. It was a wooden one with alphabet letters stenciled in. No matter how hard she tried, she could't help thinking back to when everything was normal. She was at Parliament when things fell into pandemonium. The press office had never been so busy as she fought the assault of the reporters. Those vultures. No matter how persistent they were, however, she preferred dealing with rude questions and camera flashes taking pictures and recording than them. Authors all wrote about first contact. Never did they think it'd turn out like this she thought to herself. 

"Hungry?"

Morgan turned around as her watch partner returned back from the canteen. She took a whiff. "Those damn baked beans in a can again? I suppose pizza was too much to ask for?"

The man chuckled as he handed over the tin bowl, which Morgan accepted. "Fresh out of pizza love," he said. "I'll be sure to put in a word when our scouts go back into town. We've been cooked up in this position for a while. Wonder when we'll move. Don't want them spiders finding us - particularly the children." 

Finishing up the bowl, Morgan placed the tin to the side as she picked up her rifle. The weight had long since become as natural as her limbs. It calmed her. "Let the Captain decide," she said as she scanned the field beyond. Nothing. "We'll knock the crawlies back before they get too close."

The stair case behind the two creaked as Morgan turned. Another fighter from the Brigade. "Morgan? Captain wants you downstairs. Seemed pretty impatient."

Sighing, she got to her feet. "Cover for me?"

The man nodded as he took her spot. "No worries here."

Following the soldier down, she soon came upon the tent. The Captain looked up and saw her. "Hate to pull our sharp shooter off wall duty."

"What's up Captain?"

"Scouting party. You'll be heading out with Erika. She should be gearing up. I need your eyes, Morgan."

She hated scouting. She was good at it, but preferred the distance. "Objective?"

"Danger and supplies. We need those supplies. Low as it is. However, don't compromise yourselves. Supplies can be found. Capable combatants not so much."

"Got it." Turning around, Morgan exited the tent as she spotted Erika gearing up. She walked towards the woman. She went to the rifle ammo box and took two more magazines and shoved them into her belt. Four clips for the rifle, two for the pistol. "Alright Erika?" Morgan said as she checked her gear. "I'll be counting on you when things get close, yeah? Ready to move when you are."