The roar of the M249 SAW echoed through the ruined streets behind Tony.
Atlas had opened the weapon completely now, no longer conserving ammunition. The thunder of the machine gun rolled across the broken town like distant artillery, every burst forcing the pursuing militants to slow their advance.
Tony knew exactly what Atlas was doing.
Buying time.
The narrow corridor between the collapsed buildings twisted again before opening into a larger section of the ruined town. Cracked pavement stretched ahead, scattered with the rusting skeletons of abandoned cars and shattered storefronts.
Tony slowed slightly and turned his head.
Saint and Cipher were still with him.
Both breathing hard.
Both running on pure adrenaline.
"How far to the outer highway?" Cipher asked between breaths.
"Two blocks," Tony replied.
If they could reach the highway, there was still a chance to disappear into the desert roads before the militants sealed the entire area.
But even as the thought formed, the distant thumping sound of helicopter rotors grew louder.
The searchlight swept across the rooftops again.
They were being hunted.
Saint glanced upward.
"That bird's not leaving anytime soon."
Tony said nothing.
Instead he raised his HK416 and scanned the road ahead.
Movement.
Four militants appeared from behind an overturned van at the next intersection.
Tony fired instantly.
The rifle kicked lightly against his shoulder as three controlled bursts left the barrel.
The first militant collapsed.
The second dropped a moment later.
The other two dove for cover behind a burned-out vehicle.
Cipher slid behind a concrete pillar and raised his M4A1, returning fire down the street.
Saint moved beside him, firing short bursts whenever a militant tried to advance.
For a moment the firefight balanced again.
But Tony's mind was already calculating the numbers.
There were too many enemies.
Too many directions.
And they were closing in faster now.
Behind them, the thunder of Atlas' machine gun finally stopped.
The sudden silence felt heavier than the gunfire.
Tony didn't turn around.
He didn't need to.
Atlas was gone.
Cipher lowered his rifle slightly.
"That was the last belt," he said quietly.
Saint nodded once.
The three men exchanged a brief look.
Six soldiers had entered this town.
Now only three remained.
Tony took a slow breath.
"Move," he said.
They pushed forward again, staying close to the shattered walls as they moved toward the main road.
Gunfire echoed in the distance as militants spread through the ruins searching for them.
The helicopter above continued circling like a predator.
When they reached the next intersection, Tony stopped suddenly.
Two militant trucks blocked the road ahead.
Armed fighters were already spreading out from the vehicles, rifles raised.
The escape route was gone.
Cipher swore softly.
"They cut us off."
Tony looked left.
Then right.
Both streets were filling with enemy fighters.
Saint checked his remaining magazines.
"Not much left."
Tony knew the truth.
The mission had turned into a massacre.
And the enemy clearly intended to leave no survivors.
"Raven," Cipher said quietly.
Tony turned.
The hacker held the hardened data case tightly against his chest.
"This information… it's why they did this."
Tony nodded.
"Probably."
Cipher exhaled slowly.
"Then someone has to get it out."
Saint understood immediately.
"No."
But Cipher shook his head.
"You know I'm right."
Before Tony could speak, the first militants opened fire from the trucks.
Bullets slammed into the walls around them.
Tony returned fire immediately.
Two militants dropped.
But the enemy numbers kept growing.
Cipher stepped backward toward a narrow alley behind them.
He looked at Tony.
"Go."
Tony stared at him for a moment.
The meaning was obvious.
Saint grabbed Cipher's arm.
"We go together."
But Cipher shook his head again.
"If they get this drive, the whole mission dies with us."
Tony clenched his jaw.
He hated this part.
The part where survival demanded sacrifice.
Cipher forced a small smile.
"Tell people I died doing something useful."
Saint gripped the hacker's shoulder briefly.
Then he turned to Tony.
"Go."
Tony hesitated only a second.
Then he ran.
Saint ran beside him.
Behind them, Cipher stepped into the open street and raised his M4A1 carbine.
The rifle barked repeatedly.
Militants dove for cover as the hacker unleashed everything he had left.
But numbers eventually win battles.
Gunfire erupted from every direction.
And within seconds, Cipher disappeared beneath it.
Tony and Saint pushed through the alley as explosions echoed behind them.
The road on the far side finally opened onto the outer edge of the ruined town.
Beyond it stretched the dark desert highway.
Freedom.
Almost.
The helicopter searchlight suddenly locked onto them.
"Contact!" a voice shouted from above.
Gunfire erupted from the helicopter door.
Bullets tore across the ground near their feet.
Saint pushed Tony forward.
"Run!"
They sprinted toward the edge of the highway.
Militant trucks roared toward them from both directions now.
Tony turned and fired several quick shots.
One driver slumped over his wheel.
The truck veered sideways into the ditch.
But another vehicle was already approaching.
Saint suddenly stopped.
Tony turned.
The medic had dropped to one knee behind a chunk of broken concrete.
His M4A1 rested across the barrier.
Saint looked up at Tony.
"Someone has to finish this."
Tony's chest tightened.
"Don't."
Saint smiled faintly.
"You're the only one who can carry the story."
Tony understood.
Saint began firing toward the approaching trucks.
Tony forced himself to keep running.
The highway stretched into the dark desert beyond.
Behind him, the sound of Saint's rifle echoed again and again.
Then the helicopter guns roared.
And finally…
silence.
Tony Fox kept running.
Into the darkness.
Into the desert.
The last survivor of Raven Team.