Tyrnek dragged his weary body out from the battlefield, the scorched remains of a once proud space vessel detailing the only evidence of the pitched battle that ravaged the area only moments before. His head throbbed from where an enemy projectile had struck him, but he was relieved to still be alive; the rest of his platoon had not been able to share the same fortune as him.
He struggled to move, but he knew that he had escaped what would have been almost certain death. Facing his enemies was nothing new to Tyrnek, a member of a race of intelligent turtle people known as the War Turtles. He had been fighting in this unending war since he was barely more than a pup, and in the years since, he had become an expert marksman and a consummate warrior.
His comrades respected him as a leader, as he led his troops to many a famous victory. This battle however, had been anything but a victory. Casualties had been large and Tyrnek had lost many close comrades who he had grown to call friends. The sense of failure threatened to overcome him, yet he refused to surrender to it. He had been trained to never give in no matter how dire the situation and he was determined to keep that philosophy for as long as he could.
Tyrnek pushed aside his emotions and focused his mind on what tasks he needed to do next. He had been sent as a scout and messenger as a part of his mission, and he had urgent communications to deliver to his superiors regarding the battle. Laying his hand on the small communicator at his hip, he clicked the button and said “Tyrnek here, I need an extraction at my coordinates, I have important messages that need to be delivered.”
A moment later, he heard a voice crackle back through the static. “Acknowledged, Tyrnek. An extraction team is on its way. Don’t worry, you’ll be back home in no time.” Tyrnek sighed in relief, grateful for the knowledge that his mission would be completed shortly. In the meantime, he remained vigilant. This war was far from over and it was his duty to make sure that he, and his team, remained alive to fight another day. He mentally prepared himself for the next battle while he awaited the extraction team.
Suddenly, he heard a loud whooshing sound and turned to see a regiment of fighter ships flying right towards him. He quickly assessed the facts. The enemy was attacking and gaining ground. Fear threatened to overwhelm him, but Tyrnek held firm. This wasn’t the first time, and it wouldn’t be the last, that he would have to face danger. But with his allies at his back and his determination strong, he was determined to stand his ground and fight back. He drew his blaster and as the first wave of enemies descended..