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had been blasted into the air by the explosion. He let the odds advance past him and into the heaviest part of the cloud. Just as his scanning contact with them became fuzzy he ordered them to cover and the evens to resume their advance. They continued this leapfrog all the way to the enemy line. Danford was getting concerned now, having advanced to the enemy position with extremely light casualties. The enemy fire had intensified in a couple of spots, but a rocket barrage and some mortar fire had allowed his men to rush them and overwhelm the remaining strongpoints.
    “Find a good spot and dig in. Keep your eyes peeled.” Danford flipped over to Lt Hanford. “How’s it looking on your end?”
    “Good sir, light enemy fire, no probing though. It’s like they don’t have the strength to do anything about your attack.” Lieutenant Hanford sounded concerned.
    “Agreed, but we know they have the strength, we’ve been fighting it all damn day.” Danford contemplated that for a moment. “Watch your flanks. They might be getting ready for their own attack, letting us bleed our strength and extend our lines.”
    “Yes sir, I’ve got my two rocket teams ready for them, either flank.”
    Danford switched to Lt. Diggs’ comm channel. “Lieutenant, what is your situation?”
    “Heavily engaged sir, between us and the rest of the battalion hitting the enemy on both sides. We’ve only got about a platoon strength unit between us and Lt Colonel Cain. He’s preparing to stage the final breakthrough to us now.” Diggs sounded out of breath and distracted.
    “Be advised, we are not facing originally estimated enemy strength in our assault. The enemy has diverted most of their strength elsewhere. They must have moved underground or in small groups because our eye in the sky hasn’t called in any large movements. Estimate we have at least a battalion at large.” Danford didn’t relish the thought of the enemy having nearly one-thousand uncommitted troops to attack at the time and place of their choosing.
    “Understood. Now if you’ll excuse me sir…”
    “Of course. Keep me updated on that breakthrough.” Danford switched back to his own unit and connected to one marine in particular. “Gilson, I need you to pick a team of two to push out beyond the line. I need them to scout for the missing enemy battalion. I’m thinking the best place to put that battalion is on the last hill overlooking Haikou.” Danford highlighted in the shared tactical map. Since the scout platoon had lost everyone above the rank of corporal, Danford had given Gilson half the scouts to watch their flanks and the flank of their spoiling attack. She was running a shattered heavy weapons platoon already, but he knew she was more than up to the task.
    “Yes sir, I’ll push them out right away.”
    “And remember, I need them alive to report, nothing foolish.”
    “Yes sir, I’ll ensure they understand.” For some reason, Danford suspected that there would be a number of interesting phrases and colorful language in her conversation with those two scouts. He didn’t envy them at all he thought, smiling slightly.
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    “Sir,” Gilson came over the comm. “Our scouts report evidence of enemy activity to the east. They couldn’t get any closer, too much jamming and suppressive fire. When they launched drones, the enemy destroyed them with excessive force. Whatever they’re doing over there, they don’t want us to get a close look at. Fleet might be able to see more, but the scouts reported the entire area is blanketed by a fog that seems to be interfering with scanners.”
    “Very well. Hold the line Sergeant.” Danford connected with Corporal Lisa Song, senior of the scouts he had retained under his own command for scouting the approaches to Haikou. “Corporal Song, status of the scouting elements towards Haikou?”
    “Sir.” Her voice was still a little jumpy,