Via Dolorosa
Amans In Tenebris
Colonel Moran stood inside the command tent listening to the chatter through the universal communication links. Two of the three parties sent out today were reporting encountering enemies; while the third party that had begun the day early in the morning had fallen silent. He rubbed the stubble that was starting to invade his chin, thinking what he should do. He worked with the Lady Venefica once, and he knew she was capable of handling both herself and her troops in a skirmish.
It was the two creepy girls that he had growing concerns about. However, the one girl with the mask was in the middle of fighting off an enemy of a smaller size than what she commanded; it was though, the silence from the horned girl that bothered him.
"Lt. Hosol, bring up the sector where the first patrol was sent," he ordered.
When the map appeared in holoimage fashion, he began looking at it in greater detail. Several caves dotted the landscape in that sector, but the communication links they were using would be free of any interruptions from the cavern tunnel systems. He dared not think that tragedy had befallen them, but still, he needed to act fast.
"Lt. Hosol, send a squadron of the US to that location there," he said pointing to the caves. "Let the drivers know that they might encounter trouble, so be prepared."
Colonel Moran then instructed the com officer to try to get in contact with the first patrol at all costs. Even if they could somehow find a window of opportunity, at least they can get a message to this Agrona that a squadron of US were enroute to her location.