Carthage took her SMG back from Thebes; he’d kept it safe for her after she’d vacated her suit. She checked it over while walking to where all the gear was stashed. Athena met her in the middle - the sniper’s faceplate peeled back to reveal sparkling green eyes, an angular dark brown face and a relieved smile. Carthage and Athena locked hands and touched foreheads briefly. “You can’t get rid of me just yet.” Carthage grinned.

“The Datius is right. Get mobile everyone, we’re behind schedule.” Thebes concurred, moving to stand near Rareth with his rifle raised. “You should recon the waterfall, we’ll catch up.” He suggested.

“Nice tats.” 595 commented, moving to the centre and picking up the cargo she’d dropped during the firefight. Carthage looked at her. “Thanks, spook. It’s mood ink, so i actually can wear my heart on my sleeve.” The soldier stuck her tongue out, and 595 noticed it was separated for a few centimetres down the middle, like a snake. She glanced at Carthage’s whole body tattoos again and grunted with surprise. 

The intricate artworks were all slowly moving around her body. An ancient bireme was sailing across choppy waters on her left arm, toward an enormous city of white buildings on a hill with a palace on top across her chest. A sea monster with too many limbs engulfed a lighthouse on the other arm. On that wrist, there was an anatomically correct Human heart, beating very rapidly.

“Very nice. You ok with your load?” 595 asked, shouldering her pack. “Yeah, i’ll be fine.” Carthage huffed, grabbing up some of the equipment but Athena took it off her. “You’re travelling light, we’ll share your load.” Memnon backed toward them, still training his repeater at the trees nearby. Athena hooked some of the webbing onto his armour. 

595 looked at Nirann, who was all ready to move. “Good shooting back there. Are you at carrying capacity?”