The fighting might well have been over for now, but the crisis certainly wasn't. The hostages still needed recovering, Arcade's condition was worsening, and the latest laser-comm report indicated Kuraiko might also be in bad condition as well. This wasn't turning into a successful mission - but then, there was also the fact that, for bandits, the group had been exceptionally well-equipped and well-supported, which had thrown off the operation. And they'd caught the Roughriders by surprise, something which had cost them one of their own.
"Wait one," he indicated to Esailia, the head of the [i]Harlock[/i] turning to regard the ATCV, and the autocannon still trained on the pair of prisoners. "Arcade took a hit, and Maxwell is ferrying him and Sykes back to the [i]Claw[/i]. I haven't heard a contact from the team at the mines yet, and if that's where the hostages are, I want backup before we move. Besides, someone needs to secure these prisoners, the recovered hostages you have there, and Sykes' GEAR."
Switching channels, the vulpine pinged a signal off of Ken's Skyhawk, and managed to - much to his relief - get through to the [i]Claw[/i].
"Colonel," remarked the captain with some evident surprise as soon as she came on the channel. "We've been trying to reach you, but the atmospheric distortions are too great. The [i]Claw[/i] is moving to your position currently. We're closing distance now-"
"That's great," he replied, cutting her off. "And we need the support. We have a man down, who is being medevac'd to you now. Have crash teams on standby, as his condition is critical. We also need a security crew out here to pick up POW's as well as recovered personnel - not to mention getting Sykes back to his GEAR as well. We may also have another casualty, or possibly two, over".
There was a pause, and then a reply loaded with regret. "I understand, Blade. But there's positive news: HQ sent us the last of your teams' pilots. They dropped them off by heavy tilt-rotor about half an hour ago. They're loaded and ready to rendezvous as soon as we reach the area. I'll despatch them to the area to provide security, along with the utility helo to recover the prisoners and the rescued hostages. We'll get a medical team out there too, over"
"Roger," he replied with some relief. "Have the new pilots proceed directly to the mine to reinforce and secure the area there. Myself and Sprinstream's team will also rendezvous at that location with the rest of the unit. Once Maxwell has landed and off-loaded, send him and Sykes back out here, and get Sykes dropped off en-route to secure his GEAR. We need to find out what the hell is going on here. Over".
"Roger," replied the Captain, her voice confident and firm. "We'll be backing you up. Take care Roughriders, CIC out".
Blade turned his attention back to Esailia. "Sprinstream - we've got backup inbound. They'll take the recovered prisoners off of your hands, and these two jokers as well-" he indicated the pair still kneeling in the foxhole with a dip of the autocannons' barrel. "There are three new pilots and GEARs inbound too, with the intent of providing us backup. So, we'll head to the mine as soon as the help arrives to secure the area for us. How're your team for ammo and the like? We may need to move into the mines themselves to find the POW's and secure the area. It might get a bit... sporty". 

At the [i]Claw[/i], Irry turned to the three female pilots, lowering her hand from her headset. "All right, ladies - your presence has been requested by Colonel Blade. His orders are to rendezvous with the other Roughriders' GEARs at the mine indicated on your tactical battlemaps, and hold position until the unit reassembles there for a push into the mine itself. The other GEARs will be squawking friendly IFF, so there should be no blue-on-blue incidents. A UTV* will accompany you with medical personnel for Lt. Kuraiko, who may have been injured as well. Get moving, and good luck!"
The ramp at the front of the landcruisers' cavernous bay lowered to the ground, bumping and rattling as it hit the ground, the ship still underway as it dropped. The ground crawled past outside as the ship headed for the area of operation,

On the upper rear deck of the ship, support crews waved the Sky Hawk in for a landing as the utility helo departed at the same time, hauling away towards Blade and Esailia's position to relieve them, and pick up the recovered personnel. 

At the [i]Harlocks'[/i] position, Blade caught sight of the incoming helicopter with his GEARs' sensors as it approached. 
"Heads up," he advised over the comm network. "Here come friendlies".
The helicopter circled the area, before banking in for a tight landing, the onboard security personnel jumping out with professional speed and fluid motion. They quickly zip-cuffed and manhandled the two POW's onto the chopper, and awaited the handover of the recovered civilians from Esailia's team, before the helicopter climbed back up as promptly as it had arrived, and angled toward the [i]Claw,[/i] which was still out of sight, although much closer than earlier. 
"All right," said Silverwind over the [i]Harlock's[/i] loudspeakers this time. "Let's go and find out what happened to the rest of the squad. Move out!".
With a whirr of motors and electronics, the GEAR spun off on its' foot-wheels, keeping pace with the ATCV as it headed for the mine.