GREEN RAGE AND RED RAGE

The sun rose over the devastated Resistance base, its golden light revealing the full extent of the destruction. Walls lay in rubble, the remnants of the containment lab were scattered across the courtyard, and smoke curled lazily from scorched debris. Despite the carnage, there was a tentative sense of relief in the air.

The Hive had retreated.

Soldiers moved through the ruins, searching for survivors and salvaging what they could. The leader stood on an intact section of the command center, surveying the scene with a heavy heart. Every victory seemed to come at a greater cost.

---

Jester approached, his usual grin subdued. "Morning, boss. Looks like we've got our work cut out for us."

The leader nodded, their expression grim. "We held them off, but it's only a matter of time before they regroup. We need to move quickly."

Jester gestured to the wreckage. "Move quickly? Half the base is in pieces. We're gonna need more than duct tape and prayers to get this place running again."

"Then we call for reinforcements," the leader said. "I'm not giving up this fight."

---

Luther emerged from the ruins, his towering form streaked with soot and ash. His glowing green eyes scanned the area, his claws flexing involuntarily.

"Luther," the leader called out. "Status?"

He approached, his voice a low growl. "The Hive's retreat wasn't random. They left behind scouts. I've seen their tracks near the perimeter."

The leader's jaw tightened. "They're watching us."

"Probably planning their next attack," Jester added, twirling one of his blades. "Can't say I blame them. We're kind of a big deal."

---

The leader turned to a nearby officer, who was coordinating the recovery effort. "Prioritize setting up a perimeter. We need defenses back online immediately."

The officer saluted. "Yes, Commander. What about the wounded?"

"Get them stabilized and evacuated to the nearest safe zone," the leader said. "We can't afford to lose any more people."

---

As the day wore on, the team regrouped in a makeshift operations room. A salvaged holo-table flickered to life, displaying a map of the surrounding area.

"We can't stay here," the leader said, pointing to key locations on the map. "The Hive will return, and we're in no condition to face another assault. We need to relocate to a more secure base."

Jester raised an eyebrow. "And how do we do that without them tracking us? Pretty sure they've got eyes everywhere."

"We use the device's signal against them," Luther said, his voice steady.

The leader looked at him sharply. "What do you mean?"

---

Luther leaned over the table, his claws tapping on the surface. "Before it was destroyed, the device wasn't just transmitting—it was receiving. If we can replicate the signal, we can lure the Hive away from us."

"And straight into a trap," Jester said, catching on. He grinned. "I like the way you think, big guy."

The leader considered this. "It's risky. If the signal fails, we'll be overrun before we can escape."

"It's a risk we have to take," Luther said firmly.

---

Over the next few hours, the team worked tirelessly to implement their plan. Engineers scavenged components from the ruins to construct a makeshift signal emitter, while soldiers fortified the remaining structures.

Jester took it upon himself to boost morale, cracking jokes and helping wherever he could. "You know," he said to a soldier struggling with a heavy crate, "if this whole war thing doesn't work out, you'd make a great weightlifter."

The soldier managed a faint smile.

---

As night fell, the signal emitter was ready. It sat in the center of the base, a towering construct of wires and metal, pulsating with a faint red light.

The leader addressed the gathered soldiers. "This is our chance to turn the tide. The Hive thinks they've cornered us, but tonight, we strike back. Hold your positions and follow the plan. We will not falter."

A cheer rose from the crowd, though it was tinged with nervous energy.

---

Jester clapped Luther on the back. "You ready for this?"

Luther nodded, his gaze fixed on the emitter. "We don't have a choice."

"Good answer," Jester said, spinning his blades. "Let's give them a night to remember."

---

As the signal activated, its pulse echoed through the night, a beacon that could be felt as much as heard. The Hive responded almost immediately, their forces surging toward the base with terrifying speed.

The battle was about to begin.

---

To be continued...

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