Dahlia's Resolve - Part 2

War is hell... An old saying Dahlia's grandfather had passed on to her during their many talks on government, politics, and conflict. He'd always encouraged negotiations, having fought and lived through more than his share of battles. She'd been warned of the horrors of battle... The explosions, the gunfire... The screams... She wasn't ready for what she'd stumbled into.

The sounds all blended together. All around, flashes of light erupted in the darkness, accompanied by the whizzing of bullets overhead. She didn't know how long Quinlon had been trying to get her attention, until he shook her roughly by shoulders and yelled into her ear. Dahlia blinked rapidly and shook her head, doing her best to regain her composure and gather her thoughts.

"Team 2 is almost in position," Quin relayed, his finger holding his communicator earpiece in place. "But we won't be able to hold this position much longer. We should retreat."

Dahlia nodded her acknowledgement. Their plan had fallen apart as soon as they arrived at the facility. The guards were prepared for their arrival, meeting them with a shower of bullets from windows and guard towers. More than 10 men had died before Dahlia's team realized that their attack was futile. The smaller second team had managed to slip through unnoticed while the first fought desperately for survival. She looked into Quin's eyes. "We have to give them more time, Quin. They're our only hope."

"Dahlia, we have to move now!," Quin exclaimed, barely audible over the roar surrounding them. "We'll be pinned down if we wait too long. We only have minutes before more guards arrive."

"Team 2 will be slaughtered if we leave! Just a few more minutes!" Dahlia looked all around. The men and women alongside them were loyal, dedicated to the ideals of freedom, compassion, and justice that her grandfather had preached until his murder. She recognized the faces, living and dead, of people who had given their lives to her leadership... To her movement... No... It's our movement. She took a deep breath and hoisted her rifle to her shoulder, its magazine full from idleness while she sat frozen. God... let me be leading them in the right direction.

Dahlia took aim and, for her first time in battle, fired.