A short rest

The day was dying down, the sun's orange rays were descending under the clouds.

"Once we arrive, you'll have 2 hours of rest, after that were going on patrol duty so you'll be wearing the patrol gear." The officer spoke.

In a few minutes, the moonlight lit up the sky as the sun fully descended down.

Minutes passed as they continued flying, their fuel slowly going down as they continued going forward, the gleaming spots of light on the city illuminated their destination. On the platform were lines of white lights, signaling where they will land. Spotlights lit up the platform, further helping to identify.

Varis' boots landed on the lit up platform with the others, staff began helping the landed soldiers, taking off their gear, only leaving the oxygen tanks on.

"Head to the quarters and start resting, eat some rations and report to the briefing room in 3 hours." The officer ordered.

Varis walked on the platform as the wind hit him full force. Managing to breathe with the mask.

He stepped inside the room, the thick doors quickly opening and closing once everyone was already inside.

The briefing room past the door was well lit up, rows of metal chairs all faced a shut off screen on the wall to the right.

Through another door they went and they entered an open walk, soldiers and personnel, all wearing oxygen masks walked around. From quarters, to storage rooms, buildings lined both sides of the entire hall while Varis walked onward with the others. Despite the twilight, lights illuminated every corner of the hall on the walk, separated from the civilians as they all went about with their duties as soldiers of Mecombia.

They reached on resting quarter in particular, a small building bearing a symbol above the closed gate leading to the inside, the battalion symbol. A falcon with 2 rifles forming an x behind it.

The doors opened to the large room within, in the middle was a long table, extending to the other end of the room with beds on the left and right, individual beds for each soldier to rest in.

Varis sat down on his bed, contemplating after the battle earlier, collecting his thoughts.

Other soldiers entered inside, immediately resting in their beds. On the table, a pile of MRE rested, some soldiers already starting to eat them, sitting on the benches. Chowing down on the rations.

Varis stared away, consumed in thought, looking all around at his fellow soldiers, some beds though remained empty.

Relieved that he was back home and relieved that the battle was over, Varis lied down on the bed, looking at the ceiling as he felt the comfort of his bed take hold. The atmosphere was filled with conversations and the noise of MRE packets getting torn up and soldiers eating. Varis stayed quiet, slowly falling to slumber. His eyes slowly came shut as the sounds around him became silent. Slumber finally took over.

Varis woke up, feeling satisfied and energized after his slumber, the faint scent of the rations filled the air with the pile of MREs now smaller, more soldiers sat on the benches, playing cards while a few slept.

The gate's sound of opening alerted them, quickly standing up and away from the benches as they all faced the door. Varis quickly stood up with the rest, facing the gate. The battalion leader walked inside, already holding his flak rifle.

"Your 3 hour rest is up. The Vulture battalion already completed it's patrols, get up and start heading to the briefing room for the assignment." He ordered, walking out after the quick briefing.

Varis stepped out first while soldiers cleaned up the table or getting out of their beds. Outside, more personnel were walking around as the distant chatter of civilians down below went on. Even in the inside and being isolated from the open stratosphere outside, the cold weather breezed around, hearing it's whistling as he made his way to the briefing room.

Through the doorway, the cold winds ceased. Inside, the leader was already standing next to the screen.

He immediately sat down on one of the chairs in the back as more soldiers started entering inside, sitting and staring at the screen which was turned on. On it was the map of Mecombia from the top, showing the different sections of the nation with arrows and lines circling around it.

"Today we'll patrol the lower levels of Mecombia, we'll spread out to cover more areas. Our patrols begin starting from the fuel rooms, after each hour we'll begin switching, making our way upwards until we reach the civilian housing area just below this place." The picture changed to a map of the nation from the side, showing the different levels of the country. "Your gear will be shining a bright red green light so you don't get confused and engage. The radar teams above us will notify of any movement that isn't ours. Briefing over, ready up outside in 5 minutes and we'll begin our patrol." The briefing ended, the screen shut off and the leader walked out with the rest following behind him. Varis already felt energized from his short rest, ready for the task ahead.

Personnel helped him wear the armor, a large bulb of light was attached to his armored ammunition backpack.

Once finished, a large green light glowed behind his head, others also glowed in the bright green light. The leader stood in front of the battalion as other units descended and ascended, switching patrol shifts with different colored lights on each of them. Everyone was now ready as the personnel ran back to briefing building.

"5 Minutes is up, make ure your gear is fastened and your flight gear is ready." The leader began ascending upwards, the others followed suit. Rising from the ground, Varis ascended upwards slowly, holding his rifle with both hands.

They were now ready for the patrol, in a few seconds of hovering, they flew away, departing from the platform and headed for the levels down below.