[centre][h2][colour=ff4d27]Yalu 'Suumko[/colour][/h2][/centre]

The quieter moments of the pursuit gave Yalu some moments to reflect. The mission was not going flawlessly. He did not know whether the enemy commander would still be at the landing pad by the time they reached him. It would not be over by then, he told himself. If the human rebels could fly through these tunnels as a routine, then he might...

He paused his thought before they opened the door to the landing pad.

There was little time else for Yalu to do than to take a shot alongside the others at the commander. [colour=ff4d27]"He has a gauntlet. Need more firepower-"[/colour]

The grenade flew across them. Yalu reflexively ducked and covered his head as it went off. He grit his teeth at the shock that had blasted against his now EMP-drained shield. This breach was dead in the water.

But he did spot some other aircraft in the landing pad.

They had perhaps a few seconds before their quarry could load up another grenade and they could not push an assault without shields. That was the first concern. [colour=ff4d27]"Grenade out!"[/colour] Yalu risked an arm out of cover to pitch a fragmentation grenade out ahead with plenty left on the timer. It bounced, slid, and coasted to a stop across the forerunner floor, spinning in place ahead of the pelican's ramp before detonating.

Yalu was already switching to his concussion rifle for the next stage. He had only six shots left to pin down the enemy while the rest of the team followed up.

[colour=ff4d27]"The quarry covers his allies' retreat,"[/colour] Yalu observed. [colour=ff4d27]"We are not hunting a coward."[/colour]