There was always nervousness when stepping foot into a drop-ship after Jason's experience on Loki. The gut-wrenching feeling of spinning frantically during free fall had always stuck in his mind. Watching helplessly as some of his colleagues were sucked into the atmosphere were some of his most harrowing memories.

Landing onto Vidar would never be the same type of experience. The satellite was mostly dense vegetation. As a result, areas around the satellite could not be defended by anti-air weapons.

With the correct flight plan, good stealth technology and a competent pilot it was possible to get to the forward operating base (FOB) without a single shot fired.

There was still an air of uneasiness about this trip. Ceti's controlled a good eighty percent of this satellite and all of the orbital weaponry. The nearest support vessels would take at least three hours to get to the surface, fortunately, the FOB was well fortified.

The trip down had been somewhat uneventful. Despite all the time spent with the unit, there was not the same cohesion within the Blue Ravens as there was before the assassination mission a month ago. Some would glare whenever Colonel El Hadji appeared, the rest glared when they saw Jason or Donnelly.

At least it was becoming obvious whose side everyone was on.

And then there was the woman herself. Lieutenant Jacqueline Donnelly.

Despite Jason's desire to spend time with her outside of normal routines, he had avoided doing so. She had made it clear that a relationship of any sort between them was futile. However, every time Jason caught her eye he could see her face light up before fading as if she initially embraced his desire before remembering that futility.

The last month had been awkward and now to be placed on the front line again was a welcome relief.

The Blue Ravens had been called in due to some high profile targets being located on the satellite Vidar. One of the targets was a Ceti equivalent of a General. Unlike the Generals of the USM, the Ceti's Pros'hek fought on the front line with the rest of their troops.

This specific Pros'hek, codenamed 'Achilles', has been a bane to the troops on various satellites in the Alpha Centauri system, including Vidar. He was a brutally efficient warrior, an excellent tactician and a boon to the morale of Ceti forces in the area.

To capture 'Achilles' would be a major win for the Blue Ravens and the USM.

To challenge a Ceti of such stature was a welcome distraction for Jason, plus it was a reminder of what this war was actually about, winning for humanity.

"ETA FOB Bogotá, five minutes" called Major Turner as he raised his hand displaying each of his fingers.

Jason had come to really appreciate his dark-skinned commanding officer. Turner had been a calm head over the last month and the pacifier of the unit, maintaining order where sometimes it seemed impossible. His official stance on current situations, orders and agendas was 'I'm a soldier, just tell me where to point and I'll shoot,' his unofficial stance was of deep worry and regret. He knew things were not right but until enough proof was found, he was very much on the sidelines.

Jason envied that impassive stance. Sometimes he just wanted to hide in a corner and forget everything that happened. He also knew it was not possible; he felt compelled to act and deal with the unprecedented situation.

The five minutes quickly passed as the dropship ducked and dived through the terrain. Initially over the dense forest before pushing up towards the mountainous region where the FOB had been set up.

There was a shudder as the dropship landed successfully on the ground. Jason hadn't realised it before, but he was now strangely at ease knowing that his life wasn't in the hands of the pilots.

Almost instantly Colonel El-Hadji was standing and barking out orders. "The brass has informed us that Achilles is somewhere in the region and one of the local units confirmed his sighting three hours ago, along with Ajax and Odysseus. Our instructions are to capture Achilles while Ajax and Odysseus are fair game." he sighed as he continued the briefing. "As stated, this intel is at least three hours old. The local unit are in passive pursuit but Achilles is one of the best. If we still have sight of him, lady luck is very much on our side. Major Turner."

Elijah Turner stood and continued the briefing. "Our initial priority is to locate the local unit and establish contact. They are currently radio silent and last reported in twenty-five minutes ago. Their next contact will be in twenty minutes but I want to catch up with them before that happens. Edwards, Donnelly, Kang, Scharn, Muller, you are group alpha with me. Rose, Bertrand, Theabeaux, Del Rossi, Hawkins, Santiago, you are group Delta. Santiago has the initial route to take. The rest of you are to establish camp and communication at the FOB. Code words. Establish contact is London, Engage Hostiles is Rotterdam, Man down is Stuttgart, Mission Success is Luxembourg, Mission Fail is Detroit. Quick and quiet people, quick and quiet."

Jason always felt goosebumps when Turner gave instructions. His deep commanding voice screamed authority but it also meant the mission was just moments from initialising.

Disembarking from the vessel the Blue Ravens went into autopilot, activating their impressive armour and beginning the trek along the mountain region. Despite the unit they were tasked to find being at least twenty miles away, the improved motor functions that the armour provided would mean they would be there in no longer than thirty minutes.

While traversing the mountainous region, Jason took the opportunity to admire the scenery of the planet Vidar. Despite their route being rocky, below the mountaintop was a canopy of various shades of greens, blues, purples and yellows. The flora was something quite magnificent to behold and a pleasant sight to temporarily detract his mind from all his troubles. The trees all swayed in the wind, yet some of them appeared intimidating in stature.

It reminded him briefly of one of the reasons he had joined the military. To experience places like no other, and Vidar was certainly that.

The team reached a ridge that had a view of the landscape for miles. It was a perfect place for reconnaissance and the most likely position the unit had to set up camp.

As Turner's unit arrived they each raised their weapons in anticipation of a firefight, instead they were greeted by dust blown by the light breeze in the air.

"Fan out." instructed Turner.

Training kicked in and each of the Blue Ravens started studying the area for friend or foe.

Jason felt uneasy about the situation as if someone was watching their every move. Using everything at his disposal, Thermal Sensors, Electronic Sensors, and even his own eyes he scanned the area determined to find something.

He wasn't the only one who felt it.

"Keep your eyes open, something doesn't feel right." instructed Turner.

The faceless helmet of Donnelly looked toward Jason before looking up the side of the ridge that engulfed the area around them. If someone was watching, that was the most likely place for it.

Donnelly and Jason raised their weapons towards the ridge and started strafing in separate directions. It didn't take long for the rest of the unit to follow suit. With them all walking in various different directions there was no way they could be easy targets.

"We are representatives of the United Solar Military, raise your weapons to the sky and slowly come out, failure to do so and we'll be forced to open fire." ordered Turner.

This was not an ideal situation. There was no way to tell who they were pointing their rifles at, where they were positioned and how many armed personnel there were. If they were hostile, they had the element of surprise.

Before things could escalate further, three soldiers in USM uniform raised their weapons in the sky and slowly stood from behind some well-placed rocks.

"Garfield." called the lead soldier, a female.

"Odie." responded Turner, lowering his weapon instantly. The rest of the Blue Ravens followed instantly as the safe word was confirmed.

Clambering down the rocks, the lead soldier was chaperoned by her two subordinates. "Sergeant Pendergast, 223rd Rifles." The woman greeted.

"Major Turner, 17th SORu."

"Hear that boys, the Blue Ravens have come to relieve us. It's an honour sir." she responded with a touch of arrogance and sarcasm.

'That voice, the posture, the name. Could it be?' Jason wondered.

Touching the side of his helmet he revealed his face. "Aurora?"

The lead soldier turned her head towards Jason and stared for a few seconds. "Jason?" Lifting her helmet off her head she revealed the facial features of his long lost friend Aurora Pendergast. She quickly rushed up to him intent on hugging Jason, before she realised they were both in full battle gear.

Jason had missed that smile and he couldn't take his eyes off it. Eventually, he managed to look at the rest of her face, a face that seemed somewhat darker and more battle-worn than what he remembered.

Donnelly placed her hand on Jason's shoulder as she turned away from the reunion "Keep the reunion short, don't forget we're here on a mission." she instructed, walking away.

Aurora watched as Donnelly stepped away, refusing to expose her facial features.

"Who's the bitch?" Aurora asked Jason.

"A little respect, Aurora!" Jason reprimanded.

"Sorry. Who's the bitch... Sir?" she chuckled.

Jason shook his head but couldn't help but smile. He didn't realise how much he missed his childhood friend and her prickly attitude.

Before they could continue to reminisce, Turner had already approached Aurora for a SITREP.

"We lost contact five minutes ago, sir, as they went along the ridge. Our orders were to hold position until reinforcements arrived." Aurora informed.

"Do you think you can pick up the trail?" Turner responded.

Aurora nodded. "Yes sir, we've reconned the area and that ridge really only provides one access route. Unless the Ceti's have learnt to fly of cause."

Turner looked towards Jason who subtly shook his head. Returning his gaze towards Aurora he sighed, "What about climbing down the ridge?"

"Not advised, the Ceti's know as well as we do that the wildlife in the forest are extremely hostile and dangerous."

Turner briskly turned to the rest of the team and barked out orders. "Kang, Muller provide overwatch. Sergeant Pendergast, gather your team and fall in. We follow the ridge until we pick up a trail. Remember, the moment we step forward we are officially behind enemy lines so keep your eyes peeled."

As Turner took the lead, the rest of the team followed in a staggered formation ready to travel along the ridge. Aurora positioned herself alongside Jason knowing that she had the staring eyes of Donnelly on her back.

"Just like old times." Jason smiled as his helmet enveloped his head once more.

As Aurora glanced over her shoulder towards Donnelly she smiled before placing her helmet back on "Not quite."

They stepped forward onto the narrow ridge in the hope to gain ground on 'Achilles' before they managed to slip away. Turner looked towards the side of the ridge to see the long drop towards the forest below listening to the various calls of animals living in it. This mission seemed like it had a number of variables that could prove a major issue for his team, but the key thing at this time was that he had established contact with the team tasked with following the enemy.

Now one thing remained before they encountered the enemy there was no turning back. Inform home base.

"Raven Nest this is Raven Alpha, London. I repeat, London."