Thursday; two days until the Guardian Assault It was midnight. Finally, people were sleeping. It was tough though, people were still afraid that this was the day they were going to their final death. But, they slept nonetheless. All but Victor. He was on the top floor with the wounded. He was standing on the balcony and was looking at what remained of Freehold. Fires were blazing throughout the city, glowing brightly. Light always shone brightest in the dark. Matson found the lone titan. Victor was in deep thought, and never noticed the hunter coming. Matson stood beside the titan and propped his arms on the rails, then laid his head on his arms. "Are we going to die here?" The hunter asked. Victor glanced down to Matson. "I told you Mars was no place for someone so young..." Matson shrunk down. The titan was right. Victor fought to keep Laurel and him from Mars, but here they were. "I also said that I wouldn't let you die," Victor continued. The hunter perked back up a little. "So, what's the plan?" Victor fell back into his meditative state. He stared off into the distance, trying to think. How could he save his comrades one more time? Finally, the tall man spit out a single huff of a laugh. "What?..." Matson asked nervously. "We're going to steal a Goliath..." Victor said, rather calmly. Matson was stunned; he was not expecting that. "Really?" The hunter asked. The concept began to sink into Victor's head. "Yes... Yes... We're going to steal a Goliath!" The titan ran to the staircase, and rushed to the lobby. Victor was serious, and Matson realized it. "Oh, s***..." he said quietly to himself before chasing the titan. Victor already gathered several Guardians in the lobby, and was discussing his plan. "The Goliath is coming right through town, and it most likely knows where we are, so we have to act quick! We will split into two teams! My team will stay in this tower while Lieutenant Pax takes a team to the south tower. When the patrol comes through, we'll ambush them and high-jack the Goliath!" "Sounds like a plan," Pax said. "Ajax, take the Foxes and track that patrol! Make sure it stays on course," Victor continued. "Copy that boss," said the hunter as he led his team out of the lobby. "All medics stay behind and watch the wounded! Save as many as you can!" Victor demanded. "Yes, Sir!" Yelled several medics as they saluted the titan and ran up stairs. The captain turned back to the remaining Guardians. "All right! We still have about twelve hours before that patrol is expected to arrive! Get any supplies-- food, water, and ammunition-- then, get some rest! Remember, they are bringing a [i]Goliath[/i]! They want us dead!... We're not going to let that happen! We have brothers and sisters up there--" Victor pointed up to the ceiling. "They... are counting on us to take out that patrol! They... are counting on us to take out the Cabal once and for all! They... are counting on us to save Freehold!" "Oorah!!" Shouted the Guardians. Victor gripped his friend's shoulders tightly. New strength was in his aging hands. "Pax, get your men in the south tower and get some rest. And be careful." "Don't worry about me, Vic. It's this tower the Cabal are targeting..." The exo snickered, then ran off with about twenty other Guardians. Victor led his team of Guardians back up the stairs. "The Cabal will be targeting this whole tower, so we need to get as many wounded below ground. The more we save tonight, the more that will live to fight another day." "Yes, Sir!" Replied a Guardian. Victor watched proudly, like a father watching his kid win the game for the team. Hunters, titans, and warlocks were carrying injured friends, family, or complete strangers downstairs. The tower became a living conveyor belt-- Guardians were climbing up and down stairs in an endless loop, getting people to safety. Laurel and Matson joined Victor on the indoor balcony as they watched the army of Guardians driven with enthusiasm. They were not going to die on Mars today. "Once we get the tank," Laurel said. "What do we do next?" "We use it. We figure out where their Primus, their commander, is hiding and pull up right to his front door. Then, then the Cabal will break!" Victor declared as he clenched his fist. "And then, Freehold will be free..." he continued. "It seems you got these men and women hyped for it..." Matson added. "Sometimes, all we need is a little hope," Victor turned to the young Guardians. "With hope and determination, a man can do anything. And you two... have given me hope." The titan said. Both Laurel and Matson smiled brightly. The twelve hours had passed. It was now high noon. Victor was standing on the edge of the window that overlooked the street. On the other side, was Pax and his team waiting for the captain's signal. Victor tapped his mic, getting the attention of everyone on the radio. "Okay, one more time. Once the patrol is under us, we will ambush them. Laurel, Matson, and I will take the Goliath. Everyone else, get interceptors or sparrows. Air support could be coming in, but we could be alone." "Copy that, Captain!" Pax said over the radio. Victor looked up and saw the warlock give him a thumbs-up. "Oh, oh! Can I drive?! Can I drive?! Pleeeaaassse!!" Laurel begged. "If you think you can handle it," Victor said. He turned to his hunter partner. "All right, Matson, you and I take the guns." "Fine by me," Matson replied with a laugh. "Captain!" Yelled a titan, who was crouched down and looking through a pair of binoculars. "The patrol is two klicks out and closing!" "Binoculars!" Victor ordered. The titan looked in the distance. Sure enough, there was a Goliath; a hulking mass of metal and weaponry. Victor turned to the Guardians behind him. "Today is the day, when Freehold will be liberated. We have been fighting these bas****s for long enough, but now, victory is within our grasp. Today, we ride, not to war, but to victory! Today, we ride into the dark, to shine brighter than ever!!" Victor inhaled deeply. "We are traveling into the heart of Cabal fortifications. I will not hold it against you, if anyone wants to stay behind..." Every Guardian took one step forward and readied their weapons. Victor smiled under his helmet. "Is this the 'Guardian Assault' the Vanguard planned?" Nathaniel asked. "Because that was planned for two days from now... Saturday..." "It was also planned that there would be more Guardians fighting. Not everything goes according to plan, Nate," Victor replied. "Raisin, are you going to be okay?" Crimson asked as she scanned her Guardian. "Y-y-yeah, I'll be fine..." Laurel said as she sniffled. "I just... never thought... I would be fighting in a war..." "Don't worry, bro," Panoptes said. "I'll have your back..." Said the ghost as he flew around in circles. "Thanks," Matson replied. "But it's not me I'm worried about..." The hunter glanced to the warlock standing beside him. Laurel did not notice, but Matson watched as she swayed anxiously. "Get ready! We jump on my signal!" Victor yelled. Every Guardian moved to the edge of the deck and got ready to attack.