"Roger that Nines," Myrinda spoke into her commo. She dropped back slightly so she could cover the rear if this went south. As innocently as she could manage she unsafed her weapon. Trash blew and billowed in the alley ways, these aliens lived like animals. Even an animal might be able to pull of an ambush in a rat warren like this though. The rear ward elements of the squad were forming a rough diamond, the better to contact trouble from the rear.

She didn't worry about what was going on up front. He might be an ass but you didn't worry about Nines, or Blue for that matter, at the sharp end. If the enemy crushed the front elements the rearward groups could close up. Maybe with Smiles covering them they might even make it out.