Chapter 754: Successful Evacuation
The five transport vehicles formed a single file and drove out of the garage. Valerie and the five "Security Consultants" positioned themselves at the front, rear, and flanks of the convoy, forming an escort formation.
The Swarm immediately surged forward. Zerglings attempted to pounce onto the hulls, while Hydralisks fired volleys of spines from a distance.
"Keep moving! Do not stop!" Valerie shouted, simultaneously picking off Zerglings leaping onto the hoods with precise rifle fire.
The "Security Consultants" shielded the convoy behind a formidable wall of firepower. The roar of bolters, the hissing of Zerglings, and the impact of spines striking vehicle plating intermingled into a chaotic cacophony.
The convoy pressed forward toward the center of the residential district with difficult but determined progress. Along the way, they passed the defensive perimeter held by Tychus.
"The transports are here!" Tychus roared excitedly upon spotting the convoy. "Civilians, get ready to board! Move it!"
Inside the structures, Dr. Hanson organized the civilians into an orderly egress. Carrying meager belongings, their faces were etched with fear and hope. The Raiders and colonial guards formed a human wall with their bodies, holding back the Swarm's assault to buy time for the boarding process.
"How many can each vehicle hold?" Raynor asked over the comms channel.
"Sixty at most, but it'll be packed tight," Dr. Hanson replied.
"Then pack them in! Priority goes to women, children, and the wounded!" Raynor ordered. "The rest of you, follow the convoy on foot! We will provide cover!"
The five transports were swiftly filled to capacity. The remaining five hundred or so civilians had to proceed on foot, clustering around the vehicles under the protection of the Raiders.
"Everyone, follow the secure corridor and evacuate toward the starport!" Raynor's voice boomed through the loudspeakers. "Strongpoints One and Two will provide covering fire! Maintain formation, do not fall behind!"
The massive evacuation column began to move. The five transports advanced slowly, flanked densely by civilians on foot, with an outer perimeter formed by the Raiders and colonial guards.
Valerie and her "Security Consultants" rejoined the column, assigned this time to the rearguard. Like sharks smelling blood, the Swarm converged from all directions, attempting to shatter the evacuees' formation.
The battle reached its fiercest crescendo.
Raynor directed his troops, constantly maneuvering along the flanks of the corridor to intercept approaching Zerg. The bunkers and automated turrets poured down sustained fire, yet the Swarm's numbers seemed endless.
"Matt! Can the Hyperion provide close air support?" Raynor roared over the heavy gunfire.
"We can sortie Wraith fighters for low-altitude strafing runs, but watch out for friendly fire!" Matt replied.
Minutes later, several Wraith fighters descended from orbit, their pulse lasers tearing into the Swarm clusters on both flanks of the evacuation corridor. This alleviated some pressure on the ground units.
The evacuation column pressed slowly yet resolutely toward the starport. Every hundred meters advanced required immense effort.
Valerie recorded the combat data with detached precision: Swarm attack doctrines, unit compositions, resistances against various weapon types... All of this information streamed back to the Eternal Seeker in real time.
She also evaluated the Raiders' operational performance: Raynor's command was decisive and effective, and unit morale held firm under intense pressure. Though their gear was far from top-tier, their fighting spirit and tactical synergy were formidable.
An hour later, the column finally reached the outer perimeter of the starport. The interlocking fire from Strongpoint One provided their final cover.
"Drive the transports directly onto the landing pads! Foot personnel, double time!" Raynor shouted.
The five vehicles rolled into the starport, pulling up beside the waiting dropships. Civilians disembarked rapidly and boarded under the guidance of the Raiders.
The pedestrians trickled in soon after, utterly exhausted, many nursing wounds, but their faces finally reflected the relief of having survived.
"All dropships, prepare for takeoff!" Matt ordered from orbit. "Launch as soon as you are full, do not wait!"
One dropship after another lifted off, ascending toward the Hyperion.
Valerie watched the final wave of civilians board. Dr. Hanson was among the last group to step onto a dropship; her face was pale, but her eyes were firm. Before boarding, she approached Raynor and gripped his hand tightly.
"Thank you, Commander Raynor. Thank you for saving these people."
"Just doing our job, Doctor," Raynor nodded. "Get on board first. We'll talk later."
Dr. Hanson boarded the dropship. The ramp sealed, and the engines engaged.
Inside the starport, only the Raider combat squads and Valerie's team remained. The Swarm continued to press in, though the intensity had waned—their primary targets had seemingly been the civilians, and with the populace gone, the fervor of the assault dropped noticeably.
"All units, execute a phased retreat to the dropships!" Raynor commanded. "Set scuttle charges on the bunkers and turrets; leave nothing for the bugs!"
The forces began an orderly withdrawal. Swann's engineering crew was the last group to board, setting countdown timers on the defensive installations.
Valerie and her "Security Consultants" boarded a dropship. The five warriors sat silently in their harnesses, their power armor splattered with green alien ichor and creep residue, yet fully operational.
Raynor and Tychus boarded the final dropship.
"Take us up!" the pilot pushed the thrusters forward.
The dropship lifted off, banking toward open space.
Looking down through the viewport, the Agria colonial starport shrank into the distance. Seconds later, the scuttle charges detonated, a chain of explosions engulfing the facility in fire and incinerating the encroaching Swarm.
Breaking through the atmosphere, the dropships returned to the vacuum of space. Ahead, the massive frame of the Hyperion awaited them.
On the hangar deck, the evacuated civilians were already undergoing medical triage and receiving quarters. Dr. Hanson directed her assistants to support the Raiders' medics.
Raynor stepped off the dropship, looking over the crowded yet orderly scene in the hangar, and let out a long breath.
Valerie walked up beside him.
"Mission complete, Commander Raynor. Preliminary casualty report: approximately one hundred and fifty dead or missing, the rest safely evacuated."
Raynor nodded, his expression somber. "Still couldn't save everyone."
"Given the circumstances, this was the optimal achievable outcome," Valerie said smoothly. "The Raiders' performance aligns with Far Star United's criteria for a reliable partner."
Raynor glanced at her without replying. He turned toward Dr. Hanson to coordinate subsequent resettlement logistics.
Valerie led her "Security Consultants" out of the hangar and back toward their temporary quarters. She needed to compile the mission data and submit a comprehensive debriefing to the Eternal Seeker.
The evacuation of Agria had concluded, but the Raiders' campaign was just beginning. For Valerie and the silent observers watching from the dark, further testing opportunities lay directly ahead.