Night had fallen, and aside from the piggish squeals and guttural warcries over a hundred meters away, most of the fighting had been reduced to flashes in the dark like lightning, as well as more distant rumblings from artillery and large looted tank shots. Katia had cordoned the force off into squadrons and set each of them a ground car. As it was, Zeb was with her, along with Colonel Hagman, Grimdal, and Specialist Rikkard. Their team would spearhead the group into the enemy line from behind in a clear form of leadership, which was a risky gamble but if it paid off, it would be invaluable for morale. Rikkard needed to be with them. If anyone could get the vox working, he could. 

The night air was cool, a nice release from the heat of the day. Zeb's burn marks enjoyed the air kissing his skin, though going into Du-Retour was only going to be a temporary reprieve for the tired band. Like as not most men in there were as exhausted as they were, or would at least claim to be so. He shoved the thoughts of rest aside, or he might fall asleep on the spot. He came back to his senses, and evidently he looked particularly brooding because the men cast glances his way as if they felt he had the balls to rush whatever gap they could find without backup. Zeb stifled a groan, still not understanding the stories that coalesced about he and Katia. The Commissar maybe, he could see her inspiring loyalty and doing insane feats of heroism. But he was just a grunt that was lucky enough to still be alive. 

A lithe form approached from behind them, Grimdal holding up his lasgun warily before an artillery flash revealed it to be Katia. The woman was equal parts attractive yet intimidating, but in the shadows there was a lupin fierceness to her sharp features. Zeb had gotten used to her, mostly. Emperor only knows what universe a lowly sergeant was comrades and even friends with a commissar, but it had happened. 

"Get ready to move." Katia told them, hefting her bolt pistol and placing a strong hand on the hilt of her sheathed sword. "Hagman, you're driving. Rikkard, stay low and get that vox working. How close do you need to be to catch their frequency?" 

"Hard to say ma'am," He said, worry evident in his voice. "Maybe half a click to be sure, but a kilometer could work if I can get some feedback."

"The further away the better," Zeb said, though he felt his words were entirely obvious. "I think we should go in dark, Kat. There's enough light by shot to see a few meters ahead and the dykes are straight forward. The only thing we would have to worry about is running into Ork armor and I doubt they would be just sitting there in the way. They're unpredictable but Orks are usually moving, and they aren't as stupid as you'd think. They wouldn't leave machinery lying there in range of gun batteries." 

The others looked at him strangely, and he glanced around, wondering what the deal was. He had been the only man here to fight Orks before back on Lorn IV. Then his mind rewound his words and he realized he had called her 'Kat.' For Katia's part, she decided to save him by not acknowledging it in the first place. "Sound advice, sergeant. Anyone else? Good. Now let's move or we'll be dead by sun up."