The first hundred meters went better than Marcus had expected.
That alone made him nervous.
The prisoners moved through the trees in a loose column, guided by Atlas infantrymen positioned at the front, middle, and rear of the formation. The pace was painfully slow compared to military movement, but considering the condition of the people they were escorting, it was almost miraculous they were moving at all. Several prisoners limped. Two needed assistance just to remain standing. One elderly man had to be carried outright after collapsing near the quarry entrance.
The child from the work detail refused to leave the older man's side.
Marcus watched everything unfold through the Predator feed projected across the operations center wall.
Twenty-three recovered.
No friendly casualties.
No alarm raised.
Not yet.
The last part mattered most.
"Status update," Marcus said.
The drone operator checked his display.
"No movement from Black Fang. Patrol routes unchanged."
Good.
